First wedding related decision

So after discussing with Steve...I think we've landed on our first decision. I think we're going to wait for Casa Larga - which means that we'll have to wait until May/June 2010 to get married. Although we both kind of want to get hitched before that...we really do have our hearts set on Casa Larga. And besides, if we want to take our Honeymoon in Hawaii, the condo we'll be staying at is only available to us in 2010. My aunt Vivian lives in Hawaii from September to May. She has a little cottage on the lake here in Rochester too, so she's here from May to September - which means her condo in Hawaii is empty in those months. Next year, 2009, she has other family members staying there for the summer, so it's booked.

Staying at her condo for part of our vacation would tremendously reduce the costs of going there. Lucky for us, she won't charge us a penny to stay there. So, if we decide to go there, we could stay at her place for 1 week for free, then island hop to other places. We'd have to pay for island hopping and staying at other hotels, but it's only for a week probably. So, one week for free, and one week paid. Not a bad deal!

At first, we were deciding between Jamaica and Hawaii. Jamaica so we could find some reefer!! But, after thinking about it...we'd be stuck on a resort if we went to Jamaica. They say there's tons to do, but you're limited to the resort. I guess anywhere off the resort can be a bit scary.

AND, I think if we did an all inclusive thing in Jamaica for two weeks, it'd be on the expensive side. More than $5500 I think. So I really think that our best bet would be Hawaii. There are TONS of activities to do, see the sun rise on top of a mountain, ride a bike down the mountain, a zipline course etc. My friend Heather is there on her honeymoon now and this is where I'm getting all of these ideas. They basically booked themselves each day with an activity.

I ended up going to Barnes and Noble to get the wedding planning binder and I got a good one - I think. For $30 it better be good! I took the time too while I was there to pick up a few magazines. Now I don't feel guilty flipping through them! Haha...I went to Mom's house for lunch too on Saturday and we poked through the magazines and chatted about what potential ideas would be. I know my colors will be white and blue. Different shades of blue. I know I want flowers everywhere. I want an arch to stand under when saying our vows that's covered in white and blue flowers. I want an aisle that has flowers petals on either side. I want white chair covers with a blue sash. I want white table linens and blue napkins and blue flowery centerpieces with votives all around it. I know I want Chinese take out containers as favors that will have a mix of fortune cookies with personalized message on the inside and regular sugar cookies. I know I want little umbrellas with name tags on them for people to find what table they will be at. I know I want the table numbers to be in Chinese and English - and maybe not even numbers, but Chinese sayings "love" "fortune" "happiness" "luck" and people will have to match their nametag with whatever is on the tables...not sure yet on that one. I may be giving away too many details, but these are ideas that are flying around my head!

I've asked the wedding coordinator at Casa Larga to let me know available dates in May and June of 2010. If we can get married earlier than later, I'm all for it! I've also requested a tour of the facility again when we're back from camping. Steve is gonna love it! What's so nice about the place is that we'd get the entire place to ourselves. All three rooms will be for just our party, so no random people will be floating around. Plus, there's the back deck that overlooks the vineyards. Amazing.

Ok, so enough wedding talk. Tonight, I'm going to start packing us up, to get ready for camping. I am obviously going to start with the items we have, in the basement and I'm going to start a little pile of stuff we're definitely taking. Air mattress, sheets, comforter, pillows etc. Tent, hammer, all that type of stuff that we don't have to purchase new. Then Wednesday night after work, I'm going to stop at Wegmans and pick up the other stuff, zweigles, cases of pop, water etc. Chips/dip. You know, snacks. We all know we'll have the munchies!

Ok, really, time to get to work! Lots to do today!

First things first

So, as I'm learning how to be a future bride...I'm reading tons. I don't know the first thing about planning a wedding, so I'm banking on my friends who have gone through it, along with awesome websites like TheKnot.com. There's this checklist that helps figure out what needs to be done and by when.

First things first - I have to get my ring insured. I've already called the insurance company and no, I can't just tack this on to our house poilcy, it's a policy all it's own. I need to get the ring appraised (Steve says he got the paperwork for that already) so when that piece of paper gets into my little hands, I have to make an appointment with State Farm to fill out an application. Application? I have to fill out an application to insure my ring? Ok...I hope I get accepted! It's only like $65-$75 per YEAR, so I don't understand why some people don't get their rings insured! What a safety net. Not that I plan on losing it or ruining it...but man...can't not insure something like this.

Then, my next step is to head over to Barnes and Noble to get a "wedding planning binder" which I guess is a must. Never heard of such a thing. But I guess there is a section completely dedicated to wedding stuff, so I'll go there tonight maybe (if Nikki and Tom don't come up tonight) so I can get started on putting things in the binder that I like. And maybe I'll sign up for a Bride magazine subscription too, so I'll get new ideas each month.

Then, after that...I'm going to relax. I want to enjoy being engaged. I don't want to jump head first into planning, because I know that once I start...it's all down hill from there!

I do want to at least ask the parents to start a guest list so we'll have an approximate amount of people we're inviting. We're just simply going to ask the parents to put anyone they want on their list. When Steve and I go through the list, we'll see how many it turns out to be and if it's too much, we'll send the list back to the parents and have them prioritize so we can cut some out if necessary. I'm really hoping we can invite everyone we want to and not be limited by the number. I don't think we'll hit 200!? Right!? And the whole "should we invite people from work" question - the answer is YES! We want to invite everyone we're friends with, so that includes people from work. I will have probably 20 - 25 from work attend, so I'll probably dedicate 2 tables to just Roberts folks.

Ok, I'm already getting too deep into it!

Tonight Tom and Nikki are supposed to be coming up - I hope they still plan on it! We never really know wi until the last possible minute, as they own their own company and have to see if they can get away for a weekend. But, if not, we'll be camping with them next Thursday for the 4th of July, so no worries!

Time to get back to work...

July 4th

For the past 3 years, we've had the same tradition for 4th of July. We've gone to visit Nick and his beach for a backyard with Tom and Nikki. This year will be different. Nick has moved away from the beach (sucks for us!) and so we decided we'd plan something else this year.

We're heading to the Poconos for a 4 day, 3 night camping trip. Nikki, Tom, Alex, Hana, Nick, Steve and myself are planning on getting there on Thursday, July 3rd and staying until Sunday, the 6th. We're bringing Hudson and Shelby. I can't wait! Shelby went camping with us last time, so she knows the ropes...she's so good all the time, I'm not worried about her. Hudson on the other hand...well...we'll see how it goes. I'm planning on bringing treats, bones, anything to keep him occupied. Hopefully I'll tire him out with all the hiking/swimming we plan on doing...

It's been 2 years since Steve and I have gone camping, so I'm totally jones'n for it! We have two camp sites right next to each other, so we'll be close to each other. Some of us will be doing paintball Friday and some will be doing white water rafting on Saturday. I'm doing neither. I've decided to stay back with the dogs, which I don't mind at all. I'll take them hiking, swimming, whatever we feel like! I'll be sure to bring books and BRIDE (!) magazines with me so I'll have plenty to do!

I can't wait to show off my new ring to Hana (who, by the way is also engaged and getting married next June!) Nikki has already seen the ring, she's the one who actually met Steve part way so he could pick it up. Almost all our friends are married or getting married soon! I'm so happy to be a part of that! Now all we have to do is find Nick a girl....

My beautiful engagement ring! Steve did such a good job with this one!

For those of you wondering, it's a cushion cut diamond set in white gold. LOVE IT!

BOO-YAH

We're engaged!!!

OMG we're really fucking ENGAGED! He popped the question last night! I didn't suspect a thing...who would've thought on a random Tuesday night...he'd plan this riciculously romantic evening for the two of us and would actually propose!!

I came home after work and walked in the door. The first thing I see is that the house is dark and the dogs are wearing their fancy dog collars. They really only wear them when we have people over or if we just want to show them off...I know, I know...we're corny dog people...anyways...I look up and Steve is all dressed up. I mean, slacks, button down shirt, a tie, even his new Calvin Klein shoes. He asks me to dance. We dance to a romantic song in our living room...so sweet. Then he takes me to the dining room and I see that it's candle-lit, pictures of us are framed and all over the walls...pictures from before we were dating, pictures of us on vacation, pictures of Hudson and Shelby...perfect. Grandpa and Grandma's crystal candle holders had really long, white candles that were lit and he says "we have SO many great memories together, I've known you for more than half my life and I hope to make many, more great memories together, {gets down on one knee} will you marry me?" Of course I'm sobbing and say YES!

I'll post pictures later tonight when I'm home!!!

Yay!

Moving on

After last week's drama, Steve and I are back to our regular routine. Let's just hope this psychopath really leaves us alone this time.

Steve had to work on Saturday (as he does 3 Saturdays a month) so I ran a few errands and just hung out at home. Friday I had spent the day in Minnesota on business, so I was up at 4am, on a plane at 6am, meetings all day, then back on a plane to come home at 7pm. I didnt' get home until around 10:30pm Friday night. Needless to say, I was exhausted. I have a newfound respect for my colleagues who travel like this on a weekly basis. I was lucky enough to travel on a Friday, so I didn't have to get up at a certain time Saturday morning. I woke up around 7:30, hopped on the computer for a bit, then back to bed until 10am. I ran some errands and was back home around 2pm.

I must have fell asleep, as I don't even remember Steve coming home. I fell asleep AGAIN, only to wake up in time to make dinner for Steve. We kept it very low key Saturday night and just enjoyed each other's company.

Sunday morning we got up and it was gorgeous outside. We decided to take the dogs swimming (Hudson had his first experience swimming Friday with Steve) and I wanted to see how he did. He was reluctant at first, then realized that he wasn't going to drown, so he jumped in full force! It was so great to see him having so much fun, he's definitely a water dog. He swims much faster and smoother than Shelby. She takes a minute to get used to it, so her first pass is always trashing in water, looking like she's about to go under. It was so fun. We were able to play outside and get some sun.

We got home, ate some lunch and went for a nice, long motorcycle ride. It was the perfect weather for it. We rode around and ended up at our usual spot in Canandaigua to get ice cream.

Then we headed home, and just hung out for the rest of the evening. We went to my parents' for dinner, got my dad two golf passes, then went to his parents' for a bit. We got Peck a golf shirt, a lrge bucket of balls gift card, and a glof glove. Both dads were happy.

I have a half day on Friday, Steve has off. We're hoping Nick and Tom make it up for Korin's graduation party...but not sure if they will make it.

Here we go again, with the stalker

So for the past 3 years that Steve and I have been dating, we've constantly been battling his crazy ex. She calls, sends cards, calls CHRISTMAS morning, calls on Steve's birthday etc. I have never said anything to her about it, because, I can't stop what she does, but I have talked to Steve about it.

It's not that I'm jealous or threatened by her, as I know Steve wants nothing to do with her, and I know she's really harmless. However, that being said, I just don't want to be annoyed by her anymore. I've tolerated her calls, her cards, whatever. I've dealt with it for 3 years. Steve was hoping she'd get the hint when he ignored her. I mean, really, what normal person continues to call and send cards if they've been ignored for 3 years? So finally, when she called the last time, I took it upon myself and sent her a message - simply asking her what it is she needed help with on her car (because that's why she calls, she needs help). So I sent her a one line question that was not mean or rude. She decided to write back and curse me out. Apparently I'm the one who needs to get a life and get a grip. I'm the one who is obsessive, I'm the one who needs help, even though she's the one who calls, sends stuff to OUR house etc. I have never, ever contacted her before this. So I flipped out. I called Steve and told him that he had to deal with this psycho person.

He called her and told her that enough is really enough. He told her that she had to stop sending stuff to the house, stop calling, stop asking him for anything. Well, that didn't go over too well with her, so she decided to once again leave me a message and curse me out again. She also thought it'd be fun to patronize me and say "so funny that when Steve called me, he wasn't even mad...hmmmm..." so now I hate her. Before I didn't want to deal with her. Now, she has a sworn enemy. So again, I turn to Steve, since she's really his old, nasty baggage, to have him deal with it again, because apparently, she didn't get the message the first time.

So he tells her this time "it's messed up that you contacted Lesley again, it's messed up that you made it seem like I wasn't mad, Lesley sent you a simple message, asking a simple question, and she wasn't trying to be mean, I told you it was done and over, so if anything else is said, there will be problems."

Let's see if it works this time. This bitch has the audacity to call me the psycho one, to call me the obsessed one. Mind you, I've never called her, sent her anything, sent her boyfriend anything, sent her trashy mom anything (yes, she sends cards to Steve's mom too), yet, I'm the crazy one? I'm the one who needs to get a life? She's the one who wastes her time day in a day out to contact Steve. She's the one who has a picture of them on her myspace page. She's the one who has a picture of OUR dog on her myspace page....yet I'm the one who needs help....I really don't get that one. I guess all of this just proves her immaturity, her craziness...I've always known there was something wrong with her...but until now, I didn't have any proof. She's clearly still in middle school with the name calling, the ridiculous myspace messages....she even wrote to Steve saying "I'm sick of this bullshit from Lesley" - WTF? I guess she lives in this la-la land where she thinks I give a shit about her. The only time I ever talk about her is when she's calling my boyfriend.

Steve and I know we're so much better than her...so let's see if she calls again.

I'm officially an executive

Wow. Unexpected to say the least. The VP of my company set up a meeting with me to "go over status of things, to see how things are progressing" so in my mind...I thought it was a "this is a tough client but we all need to push through it" type of meeting. The first 20 minutes was a status meeting, discussing what's going on with my account, what needs improvement, what's going well etc.

Then she dropped the bomb. "Annnnnd....I'm promoting you to Account Executive."

Wait. WHAT!? Really?

AWESOME. Yes, I got misty eyed...so did the VP. It ended nicely with a hug and a FAT raise.

I rock.

Our mailbox? GONE.

Yep - that's right. Our mailbox is no longer with us and what a way to go. Saturday night Steve and I decided to stay in and relax. We've both been pretty stressed out lately, so we wanted to stay in and do nothing. We started the morning off with Hudson's last OB class, and we even got a cute little certificate saying he passed the class! At the end of class, our instructor allowed us to play with some of the agility obstacles in the other ring. Hudson loved it! He loved jumping the hurdles, he loved going through the tunnel, he even walked across the tall catwalk type thing! I might get him signed up for a beginner's agility class.

So we went home, cleaned the house, smoked and ended up on the couch. There I laid for most of the day....it was rainy out too, so that definitely made me want to stay in.

I fell asleep around 11pm or so and at 2am I decided it was time to go to bed. I must have fell asleep as soon as we got up there because the next thing I know, Steve is shaking me to get me to wake up yelling "did you hear that?! Something's going on outside! What the hell!?" and I decided that since I hadn't heard anything...that he must be just hearind things.

We get up Sunday morning, and lo and behold, our mailbox is gone. Just GONE. There's a path of destruction on our front lawn. Skid marks, broken plastic, a headlight cluster, etc. Plus, our little mailbox about 25 yards from our house. WTF!? Steve immediately thought that either kids were messing around hitting mailboxes, but then when he saw the car parts, thought....it was probably a stupid drunk driver. Well...this sucks. Because now WE have to pay to get a new mailbox and Steve has to waste his time to do it. GREAT. THANKS drunk driver dude.

So, I'm getting out of the shower and look out the window - a sherriffs car is in our driveway. Ok....I think...must be about our mailbox. I mean...what else is there? So Steve runs out to meet the cop and this cop says that the cop on duty last night SAW THE WHOLE THING HAPPEN. Great! Well, now we know what happened and it turned out to be some 20 year old idiot, driving with a suspended license, and drunk (3 times the legal limit). So hooray for us! We now will get our mailbox paid for and this stupid fuck of a person not only has to pay for the mailbox, but he blew out two tires on his car, is under 21 (no tolerance) and will probably not get his license back for some time. HAHA. I mean, yes, our mailbox is replaceable. But what if someone was outside? Who cares if it's 3am....there are people everywhere. What if he killed himself?

So hopefully people will get how drunk driving is not a good idea. Hopefully this stupid kid will realize that he could've killed himself or someone else.

And we have a new mailbox.