Gypsy Dog

Our dog, the Tuck, rules the roost. Seriously. He paws at us, we take him out, he whines at us, we pick him up, he brings us a toy, we throw it. He apparently sent us to obedience classes...and we excelled with flying colors.

Having the Tuck around is like having a built in comedian. We make him dance, we give him silly hair cuts, and we pretend he talks like Borat. Fun, right? Until the little monster needs to go outside. And it's not even so bad when he only has to pee, but it's a bitch when he has to go #2. Especially because we apparently live in high society wherein our homeowner's association takes 900 years to approve the plans for our fence so our dog can crap in our backyard. Wait, we should probably submit those plans first...

Anyway, the boy and I are in a constant war over who has to take the dog out, plastic bag in hand. The most common method of solving this complex problem is rock, paper, scissors.

For the third time in a row...V.I.C.T.O.R.Y. This time with papahhh.

Five Years

Five years doesn't seem like that long ago. In fact, as cliche as it may sound, it seems like just yesterday I took my first step on Towson's campus and met a wonderful group of people. I came across this picture last night and it made me think how different my life is now compared to my life in'05. Living sitch: In '05, I shared a 4 bedroom apartment with three other girls. Two of the ladies I am still in contact with , one...well, I have no idea what her life is like these days. Today, I'm sharing a house, my very own, with a man who I will be marrying in 11 months.

Makin' paper: I worked part time at the University bookstore with a fab group of people where I laughed a lot, excelled at sudoku, and threw up a many a times. I've since upped my work hours to full time plus some for a great job with the government. My t-shirts and sneakers have been traded in for suits and heels, morning sodas and advil to coffee and an english muffin.

Friends and folks: I won't say I have a new group of friends rather I've expanded my old gang, because for the most part, we're all still friends. The same group that got busted for underage drinking on Sept 3, 2005 (and for the the record, only the 3 people who lived in the apt got citations) are now legally drinking together. A couple have been lost along the way but a few more have been gained.

Heart matters: Nothing has really changed in this department. Add a major breakup in '07 followed by a major engagement in '09 and you're up to speed. It took us a minute to figure things out but it's been mainly smooth sailing post '07.

It may not seem like THAT much has changed for me in 5 years but with a college graduation, a couple jobs, a white furry dog and my seemingly carefree, somewhat crazy life has transitioned into a big pile of stability. It's amazing that even my clothing style has changed. I've traded my American Eagle/Hollister wardrobe for a new chic look. I do still secretly enjoy plaid still. Even my long brown curly locks have been chopped off into a much easier, stylish do-although at the request of my future husband/mother I am growing it back out for the wedding. Spoiler alert- the day after the big shin dig, it's going to be gone with the wind. I must be doing something right though because I must admit, life is pretty sweet at the moment.

I can't wait to compare life in the next 5 years. Hopefully foreign travel and a closet full of expensive heels are in my future.

What have you done in 5 years?

Double Tap

What better way to celebrate the end of a work week than with a fridge full of beer. Add a house full of people and you've got yourself a party. And if your friends brew their own beer and supply it- for free- your house gets raided. No just kidding... but we did have a house full of peeps and a ton of free beer. Ales and belgians and stouts and all kinds of tasty empty calories shared shelf space in my fridge.

I started off with their "two year anniversary" IPA and quickly discovered the Belgian named Double Tap. Double Tap spent the rest of the night with me. We bonded like two middle school kids in a movie theatre.

However, our bond quickly broke around 2 am. I was walking as well as the Australian goalie guarded the net today...yeah, that good. Talking was nearly impossible and I soon became reacquainted with my porcelain friend. I'm not quite sure where the boy was in all of this because I distinctly remember (which is saying something) R holding my hair back as I tasted my antipasto salad again. Not so good that time in case you were wondering.

I don't remember much after the upchucking. Not sure how I made it into my bed or even what time that was but I do know I was supremely confused Saturday morning when I rolled over. I squinted my eyes, saw the clock flashing 7am and thought, oh hell no, not even trying to move yet. I rolled back over, reached my arm out to put around the boy and saw long brown hair. What. The. Hell.

R was stretched out beside me. In my bed. I did a double take to make sure I still had clothes on (hey, as much as I had to drink...jk) and when I realized I slept with a bra (among many other articles of clothing) on I thought, eff it, I'll find the boy in the morning--later morning.

A couple hours later R and I did the walk of shame down my steps. Well, really it was no shame for her, but I knew I was about to hear stories from several hours earlier. Ps. the demand for oreos and then subsequent throwing up of said oreos (in someone's hand) was one of my favorites.

Double Tap you dirty bastard. Your smoothness may have worked this time...but alas...oh hell, who am I kidding...it will probably work again next time. Until we meet again good sir.

Ohhh Tuesday

How is it only Tuesday?? The weekend flew by yet this week is c r a w l i n g. Friday night I finally indulged the boy and watched Avatar with him. The graphics were outstanding but probably not a movie I'd sit for three hours to watch again. Saturday I stayed up until 5am reminiscing and embracing my amazing beer pong skills (too bad that can't go on a resume... proficient in difficult pong situations, clutch player...).

I woke up 4 1/2 hours later with a killer headache hoping torrential downpours were happening outside. Not so lucky. Despite the on and off again rain showers, the boy and I put on happy faces and paraded around Glen Burnie donning our green and yellow t shirts.

I passed out early Sunday night and woke up to a screaming alarm Monday morning. The good news is I have a semi-short week. I have a 1/2 day Friday and then I fly off to Atlanta on Saturday for a visit with the fam. I'm looking forward to spoiling the hell out of the munchkins and hopefully taking advantage of some of Atlanta's eateries.

Ohhh tuesday, you've come and gone again. Hellllllo hump day! (Yes darlin', I did that just for you! )

Dating Tips

A friend of mine posted a link on dating tips specifically what the author wished she knew at 21. Of course, I must repost -I'll spare you all 31 and go with (my) the top ten.

1. Guys want to get busy more than anything. They'll say anything to close the deal. -- Yes, yes they will. Those sneaky little penises have just one thing on their mind.

2. They might take a decade to mature. Don't hope they'll grow up or be ready in the next six months.-- Considering my husband-to-be still needs his COD fix every night, I would not anticipate a 21 year old in an "adult" state of mind.

3. You deserve to be treated like a human being. -- As does he.

4. No boyfriend-girlfriend relationship starts with a 1 a.m. text.-- My last (and really only) other serious relationship with my ex started with a 2 a.m. text. This would've been helpful to me three years ago...

5. You can't force chemistry. If you like him as a friend, the attraction might grow, but if it doesn't, don't force it. And don't waste his time. -- And why waste your own? Your time is just as precious, if not more valuable than his. If he's not interested in the words of mario "if you miss one next 15 one's comin"

6. My mom always said, "Men don't think." I thought she meant, "They are mistaken in their thoughts." But they're just not thinking anything at all. About you. They're watching the game. That's why they haven't called.-- I don't wholeheartedly agree with this but she has a point- just because they haven't text or called every 10 minutes since the first "meeting" it doesn't mean they aren't interested... unless, of course, they aren't.

7. Your wants and needs are just as important as his, and if you don't express them because you think it will scare him away, then you're saying you don't count as much as he does-- Point taken.

8. Expectations? They'll ruin every dating experience you have. -- Each dude (or dudette) is different. Not every apple is a bad one (or if the glass is half empty nor is every good apple a good one).

9. Ease up on the sauce. Alcohol clouds your judgment.-- I only included this one becasue it made me laugh. Ease up on the sauce?? In this lifetime??

10. You will never understand men. Just try to understand yourself. -- And if you're anything like me this is going to take a lifetime.

So if you're still single and searching, I hope these dating tips helped...or at least made you laugh, God knows I did.

Sticky Situation

This past weekend was named Wedding Weekend in honor of all the wedding crap my mom and bustled through. I was off work on Friday so this entire weekend consisted of wedding, wedding, wedding. In fact- I was wedded out come Sunday.

Our engagement pictures were taken on Saturday. The boy and I picked out semi-coordinating outfits last Wednesday night since I was headed home after work Thursday. In my rush to get everything packed and out of the door, I left one of my silver rings at home. One that I wanted to wear in our pictures. So in a last effort attempt I cruised through Target looking for a plain silver ring. I found something similar I was looking for and slipped it over my thumb. It didn't look right on my thumb but I thought it might suite my middle finger (opposite ring hand) well. It was a little snug but I forced it over the knuckle. I debated and debated and decided it just wasn't what I was picturing. I pulled the ring back up but it didn't budge.

Yep, it was stuck. And stuck GOOD. I headed to find some lotion to wiggle that baby off, the whole time walking around target with this ring stuck on my finger- the packaging of the ring on the backside of my hand- good times. After a good 5 minutes of searching for the lotion I settled for conditioner (seriously, where in that store did they hide the lotion). A good lubing slipped the ring right off my finger. Success.

Needless to say, my jewelry search ended. My right hand ring finger barren in the pictures.

On a more positive note, our engagement pictures turned out better than I could have ever imagined. Kudos to Lindsay Edward with Edward Photography (edwardphotography.blogspot.com) for the fabulous job!!

Sans Pants

Sometimes you just need a so-crazy-your-pants-get-shredded-time. Last night was that night.