"Where does the time go?"- a simple, hilarious line from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, but one that has struck a chord with me recently. So much has happened in the last month. It truly is insane. But I am happier because of it. Here's the lowdown-
WORK WORK WORK!
Up until this week, I have been putting in as many hours as I possibly can at Victoria's Secret. You know- to make as much as I possibly can before moving. I enjoy it, though! Each day brings new challenges, but I am finding my way through them all. I really hope transferring works out for me. Keep yo' fingers crossed, ya'll!
When I am not working at Victoria Secret, I am usually either-
A. Attempting to put in more hours with AmeriCorps to finish up. (Key word- ATTEMPTING).
B. Enjoying a few hours off here or there with coffee, working out, reading, and/or going to a park/lake.
C. Attempting to see/hang out with friends both old and new in the Madison/Wisconsin area. (Again- Key word is ATTEMPTING)
D. Rehearsing for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
E. Attempting to make my moving arrangements
F. Attempting to make wedding arrangements
G. Hanging out with Ben
Basically- ALL OF THE THINGS!
Went to Ben's 10 year high school reunion. Which was weird, but good. Met a lot of people. Listened to many stories. But, I did pretty well. I usually get terrible pains of social anxiety at gatherings such as these. It really depends on my mood as well as the vibes I get from my surroundings and the other people around me. But, all things considered, I was relatively social anxiety free. Eventually, Ben and I decided to call it an early night and decided to rent a movie to end our night. It was a lovely weekend in Sturgeon Bay.
Rehearsals for BBAJ have definitely been one of the highlights of my summer. I really enjoy everyone in the cast and consider it such a blessing to be a part of the show. Again- I really pushed myself to be as social as possible and to really branch out, letting my personality show quicker than I normally would. I made it a point to sit somewhere different every night and try to talk to/ get to know a different cast member or two every night. This strategy worked pretty well and I feel at ease with the cast. Every day, I look forward to rehearsal and every night I come home with a post-rehearsal high and a happy heart. Happy to be doing what I love.We are now in the middle of tech week and OPEN THIS FRIDAY!!!! AH! The MOST excited!
I went up to Point last week to participate in a master class for an interview candidate for the head of the musical theatre program there. It was refreshing to be back in that atmosphere, even for just a few hours. It was enjoyable for me and I really challenged myself to do songs that were in a difficult range. It was also nice to spend a little time with Ben.
I turned 25 last weekend. I enjoyed a nice, relaxed weekend with Ben. On Saturday, Ben arrived from Stevens Point. We ate lunch, walked around the zoo for a little bit, then went KAYAKING! I had been looking forward to kayaking all summer and I hope to go one or two more times before leaving Madison. So relaxing and SO MUCH FUN! After that, we walked around some shops on Monroe Street before heading home for a little while. Ben took a nap while I sent some emails. Then we ran a few errands before having a yummy birthday dinner at Red Lobster. The next day, we got coffee and then created a prop for BBAJ. Ben is an artist, so I volunteered his artistic abilities for this silly, difficult prop. It was fun for me to watch him in artist-mode. Next, it was lunch and walking around the mall whee Ben got me my birthday gift- A tea waterbottle and fancy tea leaves from Tea-Vana. I had a little break down at how expensive it was, but Ben assured me that he wanted to treat me for my birthday. He is too sweet sometimes.
Welp- that's about it for now! More to come in the next coming weeks. If you are in the Madison/Wisconsin area- you should totally see Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson! It shall be EPIC!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Officially Summer
It is officially summer, you guys! And I am officially busy!
The beginning of June flew by like nobody's business. The final weeks of school at Hawthorne were relatively quiet and I just kept chugging along- revising the volunteer orientation materials as well as making a tip sheet for future AmeriCorps members. School ended yesterday and everybody (including teachers and the principal) were kicked out as of 3:00 pm on the last day of school so they could begin renovations (FYI- we still had kids that day and school lets out at 2:30....um...impossible, much?). Insanity! So now, I am working from the MSCR main location until summer programming begins and I can log in hours by volunteering at those sites. I still need to make up quite a few hours, but....I will get there!
Victoria Secret kept being fun and I am officially Bra Certified! This means that I can work in the Fitting Rooms and actually help women find their perfect size and bras that work best for their shape/needs. It is actually really fun. I've gotten a lot of pregnant women in my first few days in the Fitting Rooms and I am sure I will encounter lots of other fascinating situations. I knew that as an actor I would need experience in Retail/Food Industry for between project jobs. Well- I really hit the jackpot for this being my first retail job. Victoria Secret has been an AMAZING place to work so far. I really do love it. And thank God for that!
Ben and I have continued wedding planning. We've settled on a venue for ceremony/reception and we've asked 7 out of 10 people to be in our wedding party. More detailed updates on this to come soon on my Wedding Planning Blog! Here: http://adventurepartnersinlove.blogspot.com/
Two weekends ago, Ben and I traveled down to Chicago to celebrate his mom's birthday. Cynthia, her fiance Larry, Maggie, Ben and I spent Saturday down by Navy Pier enjoying the weather and Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. We then went to Grant Park for Chicago Blues Festival. The event was free and SO MUCH FUN! Some really great music going on. I also got the chance to see my friend Amber down there and talk about theatre and moving to Chicago and stuff like that. The next day, we toured Cynthia and Larry's townhouse that they are closing on, had a yummy brunch, and went for a walk around an outdoor mall. Cynthia purchased our first wedding items: headbands for the flower girls! They are pretty adorable.
I have occupied the rest of my time (you know, when I'm not working two jobs) with theatrical endeavors. A group of friends and I are going to put on a staged reading that my friend wrote. We rehearse this week and perform on Thursday. I'm excited! It is a stage adaptation of Chekhov's short story "The Grasshopper." I also started rehearsing for "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" on Sunday. I couldn't be more excited! Just two rehearsals in and I can already tell what a blast this show will be. Maybe I am just artistically frustrated from months of boredom, I dunno. But, I really think it is just the fact that this will be an AWESOME show. So far, we've only done Rachel/Andrew stuff, but next week we start working with the rest of the cast. Excited to meet them and work with them all.
I also got to have dinner with an old friend of mine from Casper. He is originally from Wisconsin and moved back here after his time in Casper. Well- we have been in the same state for, like, 4 years and have never seen each other. Finally, I had to make it happen. Ryan and I plan to have more sushi dates this summer. :) Hooray for friends!
Ben update: He is enjoying his new job at Menards. I think it has been a lot less stressful for him, but still challenging as he needs to learn about all the products and such. He enjoys playing softball on Tuesdays and Sundays and acting as Assistant Coach for the team. He's still DJing on the side. At the end of the month, Ben will have his 10-year High School Reunion! Um....weird! But I shall go along and be by his side as his fiancee-lady.
Trying not to rush the summer, but still getting antsy for my move come August. Cheyanne and I have had many-a skype session and I am just ready to begin a new chapter. However, I must remember to cherish this time and this place of my life. I am sure I will once "Bloody" rehearsals really get going. Lots of excitement in these parts!
The beginning of June flew by like nobody's business. The final weeks of school at Hawthorne were relatively quiet and I just kept chugging along- revising the volunteer orientation materials as well as making a tip sheet for future AmeriCorps members. School ended yesterday and everybody (including teachers and the principal) were kicked out as of 3:00 pm on the last day of school so they could begin renovations (FYI- we still had kids that day and school lets out at 2:30....um...impossible, much?). Insanity! So now, I am working from the MSCR main location until summer programming begins and I can log in hours by volunteering at those sites. I still need to make up quite a few hours, but....I will get there!
Victoria Secret kept being fun and I am officially Bra Certified! This means that I can work in the Fitting Rooms and actually help women find their perfect size and bras that work best for their shape/needs. It is actually really fun. I've gotten a lot of pregnant women in my first few days in the Fitting Rooms and I am sure I will encounter lots of other fascinating situations. I knew that as an actor I would need experience in Retail/Food Industry for between project jobs. Well- I really hit the jackpot for this being my first retail job. Victoria Secret has been an AMAZING place to work so far. I really do love it. And thank God for that!
Ben and I have continued wedding planning. We've settled on a venue for ceremony/reception and we've asked 7 out of 10 people to be in our wedding party. More detailed updates on this to come soon on my Wedding Planning Blog! Here: http://adventurepartnersinlove.blogspot.com/
Two weekends ago, Ben and I traveled down to Chicago to celebrate his mom's birthday. Cynthia, her fiance Larry, Maggie, Ben and I spent Saturday down by Navy Pier enjoying the weather and Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. We then went to Grant Park for Chicago Blues Festival. The event was free and SO MUCH FUN! Some really great music going on. I also got the chance to see my friend Amber down there and talk about theatre and moving to Chicago and stuff like that. The next day, we toured Cynthia and Larry's townhouse that they are closing on, had a yummy brunch, and went for a walk around an outdoor mall. Cynthia purchased our first wedding items: headbands for the flower girls! They are pretty adorable.
I have occupied the rest of my time (you know, when I'm not working two jobs) with theatrical endeavors. A group of friends and I are going to put on a staged reading that my friend wrote. We rehearse this week and perform on Thursday. I'm excited! It is a stage adaptation of Chekhov's short story "The Grasshopper." I also started rehearsing for "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" on Sunday. I couldn't be more excited! Just two rehearsals in and I can already tell what a blast this show will be. Maybe I am just artistically frustrated from months of boredom, I dunno. But, I really think it is just the fact that this will be an AWESOME show. So far, we've only done Rachel/Andrew stuff, but next week we start working with the rest of the cast. Excited to meet them and work with them all.
I also got to have dinner with an old friend of mine from Casper. He is originally from Wisconsin and moved back here after his time in Casper. Well- we have been in the same state for, like, 4 years and have never seen each other. Finally, I had to make it happen. Ryan and I plan to have more sushi dates this summer. :) Hooray for friends!
Ben update: He is enjoying his new job at Menards. I think it has been a lot less stressful for him, but still challenging as he needs to learn about all the products and such. He enjoys playing softball on Tuesdays and Sundays and acting as Assistant Coach for the team. He's still DJing on the side. At the end of the month, Ben will have his 10-year High School Reunion! Um....weird! But I shall go along and be by his side as his fiancee-lady.
Trying not to rush the summer, but still getting antsy for my move come August. Cheyanne and I have had many-a skype session and I am just ready to begin a new chapter. However, I must remember to cherish this time and this place of my life. I am sure I will once "Bloody" rehearsals really get going. Lots of excitement in these parts!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
The "Calm" Before The Storm
The last few weeks have been busy, but I know that right now is calm compared to what my summer is going to look like. In fact, just today things are looking a lot busier for the summer.
I went to Point to see "The Great Gatsby" with Ben one night. It was a fun little date night. Since then, I have listened to the soundtrack on Spotify about a dozen times. It was a really good movie. I would definitely recommend it.
Lots of work. Sometimes bad days, sometimes good days. It just depends. Same old, same old.
Ben started a new job with Menards! I am probably waaaaay more excited than Ben is about it. But I am just so happy about it! The company has a lot more in terms of advancement than his old job, plus transfer opportunities into Chicago. I finally feel like plans to make the Chicago transition are coming into place for the both of us. I couldn't be more excited about it. Plus, I am proud of Ben for taking these career steps. It's all good!
I have been working out a lot more than before. Doing a lot of abs, cardio, and some running/jogging. I want to do the color run in Milwaukee in August. And I don't want to be walking most of the way. Not even half of the way. Not even a third of the way! Hopefully I will be able to get that endurance.
I have been having crazy skin problems lately. Lots of itchy, red, dry, rash-like spots. I am not sure what is causing this and it is really weird-ing me out. Sorry if this is TMI. I like to share. :)
Ben and I went to Door County last Tuesday and had a lovely day looking at possible wedding venues. It was fun, relaxed, and the weather behaved for us (even though we thought it was going to rain all day, it only rained for about 10 minutes in mid-afternoon). I wished that day could have lasted forever. Hopefully, that means it will be the same on our wedding day. More details on this trip to be posted on my wedding blog sometime in the nearish future.
When I got back into Madison, I checked my email to find even MORE opportunities for my summer including modeling and acting. I know I will say "yes" to the acting opportunities, but I will need to figure out a way to fit some modeling in, hopefully. The extra $$ would be helpful. But, then again- more responsibility and lots of scheduling hoops to jump through. I dunno.
Putting things into place to go full time with Victoria Secret this summer. It will be a little bit of a pay cut because I will no longer have income from AmeriCorps. I am honestly contemplating doing some couch surfing in July so I don't have to pay rent for that month. It certainly would be nice. Because I certainly can't get another part time job, because rehearsal will be my part time job. :)
Having car issues, which is not good. I am sosososososo ready to be DONE with having a car. I know Ben is going to want his car in Chicago. And that will be fine- to have one car between the two of us. But I absolutely CANNOT have a car on my own in Chicago. Too much money between parking, maintenance, and getting it registered and whatnot. Number 1- I can't afford it. Number 2- I am just annoyed with having to have a car. I enjoy my occasional drives and such, but...it will be nice to not have to worry about it anymore.
Not too much else going on. Life is kind of boring at the moment. But promises of excitement hang in the air.
I went to Point to see "The Great Gatsby" with Ben one night. It was a fun little date night. Since then, I have listened to the soundtrack on Spotify about a dozen times. It was a really good movie. I would definitely recommend it.
Lots of work. Sometimes bad days, sometimes good days. It just depends. Same old, same old.
Ben started a new job with Menards! I am probably waaaaay more excited than Ben is about it. But I am just so happy about it! The company has a lot more in terms of advancement than his old job, plus transfer opportunities into Chicago. I finally feel like plans to make the Chicago transition are coming into place for the both of us. I couldn't be more excited about it. Plus, I am proud of Ben for taking these career steps. It's all good!
I have been working out a lot more than before. Doing a lot of abs, cardio, and some running/jogging. I want to do the color run in Milwaukee in August. And I don't want to be walking most of the way. Not even half of the way. Not even a third of the way! Hopefully I will be able to get that endurance.
I have been having crazy skin problems lately. Lots of itchy, red, dry, rash-like spots. I am not sure what is causing this and it is really weird-ing me out. Sorry if this is TMI. I like to share. :)
Ben and I went to Door County last Tuesday and had a lovely day looking at possible wedding venues. It was fun, relaxed, and the weather behaved for us (even though we thought it was going to rain all day, it only rained for about 10 minutes in mid-afternoon). I wished that day could have lasted forever. Hopefully, that means it will be the same on our wedding day. More details on this trip to be posted on my wedding blog sometime in the nearish future.
When I got back into Madison, I checked my email to find even MORE opportunities for my summer including modeling and acting. I know I will say "yes" to the acting opportunities, but I will need to figure out a way to fit some modeling in, hopefully. The extra $$ would be helpful. But, then again- more responsibility and lots of scheduling hoops to jump through. I dunno.
Putting things into place to go full time with Victoria Secret this summer. It will be a little bit of a pay cut because I will no longer have income from AmeriCorps. I am honestly contemplating doing some couch surfing in July so I don't have to pay rent for that month. It certainly would be nice. Because I certainly can't get another part time job, because rehearsal will be my part time job. :)
Having car issues, which is not good. I am sosososososo ready to be DONE with having a car. I know Ben is going to want his car in Chicago. And that will be fine- to have one car between the two of us. But I absolutely CANNOT have a car on my own in Chicago. Too much money between parking, maintenance, and getting it registered and whatnot. Number 1- I can't afford it. Number 2- I am just annoyed with having to have a car. I enjoy my occasional drives and such, but...it will be nice to not have to worry about it anymore.
Not too much else going on. Life is kind of boring at the moment. But promises of excitement hang in the air.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Warm and Sunny Days!!!
Warm and sunny days are finally here to stay! It was a terrible spring, but now that it is warm...it is REALLY warm. Not complaining here, I love the warm weather.
The rest of April was relatively easy and fun. Lots of wedding talk, lots of working. My part time job at Victoria Secret is going REALLY well. And, again, no one is as surprised as I am about that. I am really starting to get into my groove, learning more about the business and about bra technology, and enjoying the social aspect of it. My hard work is paying off too! I am going to get more hours over the summer and am starting bra certification this week! I also got to do the Beauty Meeting, which only select associates got to go to. I am enjoying all the learning going on and I believe that I am putting myself in a good spot for rehire in Chicago come August. Like any job, there are the negatives as well. But I am really having fun and that is important. Plus, it will mean I will have a job pretty much right away when I move. That is important.
I am also making some plans to hopefully do a play reading and possibly even a short film festival over the summer in addition to my being in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. We'll see, but the plans and the people to make it happen are there.
More wedding talk and planning has happened. We settled on our date: September 20, 2014. We have started asking people to be in our wedding party. I have contacted 4/5 of my bridesmaids and my flower girls and Ben has contacted 2/5 of his groomsmen. We'll get around to the remaining people eventually. It's a timing thing more than anything else. It's fun, though! I have been itching to ask people to be part of the wedding party for weeks. So I am happy to finally be able to do so.
Ben and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on May 2nd. He came down this weekend for us to spend time together. And though I had to work 7 hours on Saturday and then another 4 on Sunday, we still found time to do some fun things to celebrate. We exchanged gifts and went to a fun little pizza place near my house in Madison that has vintage arcade games that we enjoyed playing. (Vintage meaning ORIGINAL Pacman, Donkey Kong, DigDug, Mario....good stuff!) Ben also just randomly showed up at the mall during my shift later that day and I just happened to be able to go on my 30 minute break at that time. So we had dinner in the food court together during my break. It was a nice coincidence. When I got home, we went to The Malthouse. We had been wanting to go there since I moved to Madison because we heard they had a huge beer selection. We went, tried new things, had some good chats together...it was nice. I felt really quite perfect just being there with him in the moment. Happiness. The next day, we just relaxed around my house before I had to go to work and Ben had to go back to Point. He is playing on a softball team and it was their first game. They won! Anyway- it was a nice weekend, indeed.
Ben's mom, Cynthia, and her boyfriend Larry got engaged about 2 weeks ago, too. Happiness and excitement abounds! They also just closed on a condo in Chicago, so that's also awesome! Ben has some exciting job news, but I am going to wait to explain about it for awhile. But, let's just say, I am SO SO excited!
Now, I am just enjoying the beautiful weather and try to get out as much as I possibly can! Summer is my season!
In other events: I need to work out. Now that it is nice, this is GOING TO HAPPEN! I can't wait to get to Chicago. Seriously, I get more and more excited every day. And, as always, student loans suck, but I have paid more than my minimum payment every time. So, hopefully when I am poor in Chicago, my payment will at least be a little less.
The rest of April was relatively easy and fun. Lots of wedding talk, lots of working. My part time job at Victoria Secret is going REALLY well. And, again, no one is as surprised as I am about that. I am really starting to get into my groove, learning more about the business and about bra technology, and enjoying the social aspect of it. My hard work is paying off too! I am going to get more hours over the summer and am starting bra certification this week! I also got to do the Beauty Meeting, which only select associates got to go to. I am enjoying all the learning going on and I believe that I am putting myself in a good spot for rehire in Chicago come August. Like any job, there are the negatives as well. But I am really having fun and that is important. Plus, it will mean I will have a job pretty much right away when I move. That is important.
I am also making some plans to hopefully do a play reading and possibly even a short film festival over the summer in addition to my being in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. We'll see, but the plans and the people to make it happen are there.
More wedding talk and planning has happened. We settled on our date: September 20, 2014. We have started asking people to be in our wedding party. I have contacted 4/5 of my bridesmaids and my flower girls and Ben has contacted 2/5 of his groomsmen. We'll get around to the remaining people eventually. It's a timing thing more than anything else. It's fun, though! I have been itching to ask people to be part of the wedding party for weeks. So I am happy to finally be able to do so.
Ben and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on May 2nd. He came down this weekend for us to spend time together. And though I had to work 7 hours on Saturday and then another 4 on Sunday, we still found time to do some fun things to celebrate. We exchanged gifts and went to a fun little pizza place near my house in Madison that has vintage arcade games that we enjoyed playing. (Vintage meaning ORIGINAL Pacman, Donkey Kong, DigDug, Mario....good stuff!) Ben also just randomly showed up at the mall during my shift later that day and I just happened to be able to go on my 30 minute break at that time. So we had dinner in the food court together during my break. It was a nice coincidence. When I got home, we went to The Malthouse. We had been wanting to go there since I moved to Madison because we heard they had a huge beer selection. We went, tried new things, had some good chats together...it was nice. I felt really quite perfect just being there with him in the moment. Happiness. The next day, we just relaxed around my house before I had to go to work and Ben had to go back to Point. He is playing on a softball team and it was their first game. They won! Anyway- it was a nice weekend, indeed.
Ben's mom, Cynthia, and her boyfriend Larry got engaged about 2 weeks ago, too. Happiness and excitement abounds! They also just closed on a condo in Chicago, so that's also awesome! Ben has some exciting job news, but I am going to wait to explain about it for awhile. But, let's just say, I am SO SO excited!
Now, I am just enjoying the beautiful weather and try to get out as much as I possibly can! Summer is my season!
In other events: I need to work out. Now that it is nice, this is GOING TO HAPPEN! I can't wait to get to Chicago. Seriously, I get more and more excited every day. And, as always, student loans suck, but I have paid more than my minimum payment every time. So, hopefully when I am poor in Chicago, my payment will at least be a little less.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sickness and Auditions= Spring???
Spring? Is that you?
Yesterday was the first day that I
really REALLY feel like it was spring. The sun was out, I only needed a
light sweater to walk outside, and I genuinely thought "today is a
beautiful day." Too bad Mother Nature's mood swings has got me sick
again. At least- that is what I think is causing all of this.
This is the fourth time since the beginning of
February that I feel sick. The first time was the worst- doctor's
appointments, staying home from work, bruising of muscles around my ribs
from all the coughing. It was terrible. After some anti-biotics, I
finally started to feel like myself. And then, about 2 weeks later I
began to feel icky again. This time, not quite as bad. But still enough
to make me sluggish and have trouble eating and sleeping. About 2 weeks
after recovering from that, I started to feel sick AGAIN! A little bit
tamer than the two times prior, probably because I decided to "nip it in
the bud" by making sure I took Nyquil every night and Dayquil everyday.
This third round only lasted a few days. And then I started to feel
better. And it lasted for longer than 2 weeks this time. And I thought I
was in the clear.
And then Saturday night came. I spent the evening
relaxing after work and preparing for an audition I had the next day. I
got my music ready, I got my resume ready, I practiced, everything felt
good. I went to sleep that night and woke up in the middle of the night.
My mouth was dry and my throat was sore. I thought maybe I had just
worked my voice too much and it was retaliating against me. But when I
woke up and saw it was snowing outside and hours later I still felt like
sickness was going to overcome me soon, I knew I was in for round 4.
And I am pretty sure I can blame it on Mother Nature's mood swings. I
went to work at VS for a few hours and then jotted over to
auditions/callbacks.
So, I was nervous for my audition because of this
little tinge of sick I had, but luckily my voice held out for me. That's
what good training does- makes your voice strong so that it will come
through for you! And luckily, I didn't have too many nervous jitters.
Sometimes, I get really really nervous and I begin to shake during
auditions. But this time, I just felt confident and felt "in the
moment." It was good. Really good. It was the shortest
audition/callback/casting of my LIFE! My audition/callback lasted less
than an hour (this is INCLUDING other people's callbacks as well). And
then an hour later, I got the call that I was cast. I have to hand it to
Music Theatre of Madison. They don't mess around! And I appreciate it!
So this summer, I will be playing Rachel in "Bloody Bloody Andrew
Jackson."
I am excited to be in a show again, but I am even MORE
excited that it is a rock musical. Also- I am excited that it is a
substantial role where I really get to sing the music in the show. I
didn't get to be in RENT when they did it at Point and I played an adult
in Spring Awakening, so I didn't really get to sing any of that awesome
angsty stuff. This time around, I get to sing, I get to dance, I get a
juicy and interesting role...it's gonna be good.
In other news- I got my taxes done, made sure Ben got his
done, and have been working a lot. I really hope that the work pays off
and puts me in a good situation come moving time.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Life In The Fast Lane- Part 3: Beyond
So....what do you do after you get engaged? I can't speak for the rest of you, but Ben and I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon- just the two of us. We went to the antique store we love so much and had a yummy lunch at Graffiti's. We also ran a few errands so I wouldn't be as worried about all the stuff I had to do. We just enjoyed each other's company. I only allowed about 15 minutes of wedding talk at lunch. The rest of the afternoon was just spent enjoying and celebrating our engagement before making all the necessary phone calls.
So, we started doing just that- making the phone calls. Of course- my parents were expecting a call that weekend since Ben had called them on Thursday about it. I called siblings next and then Grandparents and a few other extended family members. And then best friends. Ben and I also went to his Grandma's birthday party, which made it an easy announcement for his Dad's side of the family. After the birthday party, we went to Pete's and celebrated with some of Ben's friends. And then we visited a couple of my Stevens Point friends to tell them in person.
It really is amazing how many people want to know the when, where, and how's of what the wedding will be RIGHT after you get engaged. I mean- it is maybe the third or fourth question after the typical engagement questions like "How did he do it?" and "Was it a surprise?" Next comes "So- when's the big day?" I was okay answering this for my close family and friends. But after awhile, it gets exhausting. I tried to keep most of the wedding talk to a minimum because just getting engaged should be a celebration! (For those of you who don't know any wedding plans...keep scrolling and/or reading....some details will be included below)
The next day was spent together. Again- celebrating and lots of phone calls. But also, me working. Culture Night was only two days away!!! EEKS! So Monday morning, I left Stevens Point to go back to Madison. But this time, as an engaged woman.
I keep looking down at my ring, even over a month later. I love it. It is made by a jewelry designer on Etsy called Enzo Luccati. I have been admiring the rings on that site for about a year now. They acquire diamonds via The Kimberly Process which is a conflict-free diamond source- meaning that it is a real, natural diamond but not a blood diamond. Also- the designer does not cut or polish these diamonds. They are in their rough state. However, still very sparkly and very beautiful. I mean- I think they are prettier than cut and polished diamonds because they are unique and real and natural. The band is silver and is handcrafted. Somebody designed and made this themselves instead of a machine pumping out cookie cutter rings. Anyway- the band is very unique and simple, yet elegant. I love my ring. And I love Ben for knowing me so well.
Culture Night was stressful, but all in all a success. We had Capoeira, we had Salsa and Bachata dancing, we had storytellers galore, we had singers and dancers, yoga, poetry workshops, everything! And lots of food too. So, while I am sure my stress levels were through the roof, it ended up going over pretty well. As did my midterm evaluation. I was super nervous about it, but most of my scores were pretty good and that's all I can ask for.
March came and I started training for my new part time job at Victoria Secret. Now, before any of you judgy-mcjudgersons start giving me all the reasons why Victoria Secret is a terrible company, let me just tell you some of the good that came out of this. For one- I am hired and they are hiring even more people too. The company seems to be doing well and in an economy like this a girl has got to take work when she can find it. Also- they hired me with no previous retail experience. I have been applying for retail and food industry jobs since HIGH SCHOOL and no one ever hired me. Mostly, I think, because I didn't have any experience. Well- how are you supposed to get experience if you don't get hired somewhere? Third of all- I really like it! I was unsure at first. I was hesitant to even apply. What would people think if I worked at this place? I had bought a total of ONE bra there before. This is mostly because I had a lot of preconceived opinions about the company as well. However, the managers and other coworkers were kind and accepting. They have been very patient with me as I learn how to do this job. And I honestly love when I can help people find just what they were looking for. Do I agree with some of their marketing? No. I do NOT think 13 year old girls should wear underwear with "Party Girl" printed on the back (or other silly words, for that matter). However, I can't blame them- there is clearly a market for it. Otherwise, I don't think it would exist. I can guarantee you- over 60% of the girls under age 18 that come into the store are there with their mother or some other adult figure. It is not entirely the company's fault- it is also a parenting issue.
But- off my soapbox- it is a really great job. There have been a few moments where it has been difficult (angry customers, not knowing everything about everything yet, busy cash registers). However, my managers are kind and friendly people and are very open and willing to help. Basically- I am happy to have this job and they treat their employees and their customers VERY well.
Ben's mother, Cynthia, and her boyfriend Larry came up from Chicago at the beginning of March to spend a weekend with Ben and I and celebrate the engagement. They rented a hotel room, so we were able to enjoy the hot tub/ pool while talking wedding stuff as well as other things. Ben also had gotten a tattoo a few days after we were engaged. It is really pretty- a beautiful twisted tree on his bicep. So, we had fun seeing the reaction his mother had to it. :) It was a fun weekend and I even kind of learned to play pool. (Emphasis on the KIND OF).
Cynthia brought us a gift of champagne and candles with candle holders that she bought the day we got engaged. She also bought a wedding magazine for me to flip through. My mom did the same thing the day we got engaged- bought me two wedding magazines and then sent them to me in the mail. I'm not really much for the bridal magazine thing, but it has been kind of fun and I even subscribed to The Knot's magazine on my Kindle. Hey- I only get to do this once, so might as well indulge in it a little.
So...what now? It was Spring Break awhile ago. Which meant- Johanna works a lot week, basically. I picked up a few shifts at Victoria's Secret, so I was working A LOT! The next few months will be- more tutoring, more service projects, more after school stuff, an audition or two, and really trying to get everything ready to move to Chicago!
Now: Wedding Details.
When? September 2014 (not sure on the exact date yet, but we wanted a fall wedding, yet are certainly NOT ready this fall. But- we HAVE to get married before Ben turns 30- apparently this is a rule? I had no clue. Anyway- Ben turns 30 in October 2014. Therefore- our answer was clearly September!)
Where? Door County, Wisconsin (not sure on the exact place yet, but it will be somewhere in Door County. Mostly because of the trees and the water, but also because Ben grew up there.)
Colors? Fall colors. All of them. This wedding will be VERY colorful- Red, Yellow, Orange, maybe a purple, green, or blue thrown in there.
What will it be like? Fun. Seriously- we are planning on having lots of fun activities to do at this wedding and if you attend, I encourage you to join in and participate with the fun!
Wedding Party? We pretty much know who will be our bridesmaids and groomsmen, but we have not told anyone yet. I don't know when we will do this. Probably when we book the exact locations/dates.
That is honestly just about it (without going into unnecessary details).
ALSO!!! BLOG ALERT!!!! I am going to start two new blogs soon. One will be dedicated to all things engagement, wedding, and relationship stuff. The other will be dedicated to my career in theatre and the struggles/successes of being an artist. Basically- I have found myself wanting to write more on specific subjects- like, themed posts. Posts with meaning. Not that my life isn't meaningful or anything. It's just that this is more like a summary of everything going on in life and I would like to try my hand at blogging with opinion or a purpose or...whatever. Anyway...here are the URL's to those blogs. Feel free to follow them! I have no idea what they will end up being like. But, hey- trying new things is good! Maybe it will encourage me to write more often. Hopefully it does!
Relationship/Engagement/Wedding blog-
http://adventurepartnersinlove.blogspot.com/
Theatre/Art/Music/Career Blog-
http://talesofamigratingsongbird.blogspot.com/
So there it is, you guys! Here's to spring! Here's to new beginnings! Here's to learning and trying new things!
So, we started doing just that- making the phone calls. Of course- my parents were expecting a call that weekend since Ben had called them on Thursday about it. I called siblings next and then Grandparents and a few other extended family members. And then best friends. Ben and I also went to his Grandma's birthday party, which made it an easy announcement for his Dad's side of the family. After the birthday party, we went to Pete's and celebrated with some of Ben's friends. And then we visited a couple of my Stevens Point friends to tell them in person.
It really is amazing how many people want to know the when, where, and how's of what the wedding will be RIGHT after you get engaged. I mean- it is maybe the third or fourth question after the typical engagement questions like "How did he do it?" and "Was it a surprise?" Next comes "So- when's the big day?" I was okay answering this for my close family and friends. But after awhile, it gets exhausting. I tried to keep most of the wedding talk to a minimum because just getting engaged should be a celebration! (For those of you who don't know any wedding plans...keep scrolling and/or reading....some details will be included below)
The next day was spent together. Again- celebrating and lots of phone calls. But also, me working. Culture Night was only two days away!!! EEKS! So Monday morning, I left Stevens Point to go back to Madison. But this time, as an engaged woman.
I keep looking down at my ring, even over a month later. I love it. It is made by a jewelry designer on Etsy called Enzo Luccati. I have been admiring the rings on that site for about a year now. They acquire diamonds via The Kimberly Process which is a conflict-free diamond source- meaning that it is a real, natural diamond but not a blood diamond. Also- the designer does not cut or polish these diamonds. They are in their rough state. However, still very sparkly and very beautiful. I mean- I think they are prettier than cut and polished diamonds because they are unique and real and natural. The band is silver and is handcrafted. Somebody designed and made this themselves instead of a machine pumping out cookie cutter rings. Anyway- the band is very unique and simple, yet elegant. I love my ring. And I love Ben for knowing me so well.
Culture Night was stressful, but all in all a success. We had Capoeira, we had Salsa and Bachata dancing, we had storytellers galore, we had singers and dancers, yoga, poetry workshops, everything! And lots of food too. So, while I am sure my stress levels were through the roof, it ended up going over pretty well. As did my midterm evaluation. I was super nervous about it, but most of my scores were pretty good and that's all I can ask for.
March came and I started training for my new part time job at Victoria Secret. Now, before any of you judgy-mcjudgersons start giving me all the reasons why Victoria Secret is a terrible company, let me just tell you some of the good that came out of this. For one- I am hired and they are hiring even more people too. The company seems to be doing well and in an economy like this a girl has got to take work when she can find it. Also- they hired me with no previous retail experience. I have been applying for retail and food industry jobs since HIGH SCHOOL and no one ever hired me. Mostly, I think, because I didn't have any experience. Well- how are you supposed to get experience if you don't get hired somewhere? Third of all- I really like it! I was unsure at first. I was hesitant to even apply. What would people think if I worked at this place? I had bought a total of ONE bra there before. This is mostly because I had a lot of preconceived opinions about the company as well. However, the managers and other coworkers were kind and accepting. They have been very patient with me as I learn how to do this job. And I honestly love when I can help people find just what they were looking for. Do I agree with some of their marketing? No. I do NOT think 13 year old girls should wear underwear with "Party Girl" printed on the back (or other silly words, for that matter). However, I can't blame them- there is clearly a market for it. Otherwise, I don't think it would exist. I can guarantee you- over 60% of the girls under age 18 that come into the store are there with their mother or some other adult figure. It is not entirely the company's fault- it is also a parenting issue.
But- off my soapbox- it is a really great job. There have been a few moments where it has been difficult (angry customers, not knowing everything about everything yet, busy cash registers). However, my managers are kind and friendly people and are very open and willing to help. Basically- I am happy to have this job and they treat their employees and their customers VERY well.
Ben's mother, Cynthia, and her boyfriend Larry came up from Chicago at the beginning of March to spend a weekend with Ben and I and celebrate the engagement. They rented a hotel room, so we were able to enjoy the hot tub/ pool while talking wedding stuff as well as other things. Ben also had gotten a tattoo a few days after we were engaged. It is really pretty- a beautiful twisted tree on his bicep. So, we had fun seeing the reaction his mother had to it. :) It was a fun weekend and I even kind of learned to play pool. (Emphasis on the KIND OF).
Cynthia brought us a gift of champagne and candles with candle holders that she bought the day we got engaged. She also bought a wedding magazine for me to flip through. My mom did the same thing the day we got engaged- bought me two wedding magazines and then sent them to me in the mail. I'm not really much for the bridal magazine thing, but it has been kind of fun and I even subscribed to The Knot's magazine on my Kindle. Hey- I only get to do this once, so might as well indulge in it a little.
So...what now? It was Spring Break awhile ago. Which meant- Johanna works a lot week, basically. I picked up a few shifts at Victoria's Secret, so I was working A LOT! The next few months will be- more tutoring, more service projects, more after school stuff, an audition or two, and really trying to get everything ready to move to Chicago!
Now: Wedding Details.
When? September 2014 (not sure on the exact date yet, but we wanted a fall wedding, yet are certainly NOT ready this fall. But- we HAVE to get married before Ben turns 30- apparently this is a rule? I had no clue. Anyway- Ben turns 30 in October 2014. Therefore- our answer was clearly September!)
Where? Door County, Wisconsin (not sure on the exact place yet, but it will be somewhere in Door County. Mostly because of the trees and the water, but also because Ben grew up there.)
Colors? Fall colors. All of them. This wedding will be VERY colorful- Red, Yellow, Orange, maybe a purple, green, or blue thrown in there.
What will it be like? Fun. Seriously- we are planning on having lots of fun activities to do at this wedding and if you attend, I encourage you to join in and participate with the fun!
Wedding Party? We pretty much know who will be our bridesmaids and groomsmen, but we have not told anyone yet. I don't know when we will do this. Probably when we book the exact locations/dates.
That is honestly just about it (without going into unnecessary details).
ALSO!!! BLOG ALERT!!!! I am going to start two new blogs soon. One will be dedicated to all things engagement, wedding, and relationship stuff. The other will be dedicated to my career in theatre and the struggles/successes of being an artist. Basically- I have found myself wanting to write more on specific subjects- like, themed posts. Posts with meaning. Not that my life isn't meaningful or anything. It's just that this is more like a summary of everything going on in life and I would like to try my hand at blogging with opinion or a purpose or...whatever. Anyway...here are the URL's to those blogs. Feel free to follow them! I have no idea what they will end up being like. But, hey- trying new things is good! Maybe it will encourage me to write more often. Hopefully it does!
Relationship/Engagement/Wedding blog-
http://adventurepartnersinlove.blogspot.com/
Theatre/Art/Music/Career Blog-
http://talesofamigratingsongbird.blogspot.com/
So there it is, you guys! Here's to spring! Here's to new beginnings! Here's to learning and trying new things!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Life In The Fast Lane: Part 2- The Engagement Story
The only people reading this are people who already know I am engaged, pretty sure. But many of you might not know exactly how it happened. Here is the story:
Ben and I had been talking about it a lot. We first started chatting about it when he visited Brownville over the summer for my birthday. Some people might think I ended up in Madison just to be closer to Ben. That, actually, is quite untrue. I was applying for almost any AmeriCorps job that I felt I was qualified for that was in a bigger city. Twin Cities, Chicago, Milwaukee, Spokane, Phoenix, Providence...I mean...ALL OVER THE COUNTRY! In fact, I had held off on applying to Madison and Milwaukee for a long time because I didn't want to be "stuck" in Wisconsin. However, my very first interview was with this position in Madison. I interviewed on my birthday, with Ben only a few feet away from me. When I was offered the job the next day, the answer seemed clear- YES! Of course, after accepting I got offered many, many other interviews. But my decision was made. Who knows- I could have turned down this job and then not have been offered any of those other positions. As much as I love my parents, I was not so keen on the idea of going home for a few months to a year. I really believe I was meant to come here. Not to really advance my career (obviously). More to challenge me. More to help give me time to get onto my own adult feet before heading to a bigger, more challenging city. But most of all- to help keep me close to Ben- someone who has been nothing but supportive, patient, and loving of me since the moment I met him.
So- we first talked about it in July. When I returned from Nebraska and moved to Madison, we continued talking about it...more and more and MORE. We didn't tell many people. We wanted to keep it pretty private until we really knew it would happen. There was so much to discuss and do before actually making the big decision. I showed him a few rings, we discussed a rough estimate of wedding dates and places, and we made the official decision of the place to start our lives together- Chicago. But through it all, I think we learned how much we really rely on each other for support. Even though we are two hours apart, we still talk multiple times a day. Being together feels right, being apart feels wrong. So- we had our answer. We just needed to make it happen.
Thus the trip to Colorado. Not only was it fun, because Ben had never been to Colorado before and it was awesome to see him interact with my family for a longer period of time than before, but it was also important because it meant that Ben could feel more comfortable talking to my parents when the marriage question came up.
Now- I must give a disclaimer here: I was NOT expecting a proposal. Not one bit. I thought May or June. Did not at all think it would be as soon as February. I made it very clear that I did not want a Valentine's Day proposal. And it wasn't. As I mentioned in the last blog, Valentine's Day was pretty low key. However, Ben had already ordered the ring at the beginning of the month. Sneaky, sneaky. And a few nights before I came up to Point, he called my parents for their blessing. Again- sneaky, sneaky. I really had no clue.
So, I went up to Point. I had a lot of work still- Culture Night was coming up on Tuesday and I still needed to do this, do that, do lots of things! I was hoping to relax a bit, but still get work done. Saturday morning, Ben and I woke up. We had already decided that we would spend at least part of the day bumming around downtown Stevens Point. So- while I showered, Ben went out to get donuts for breakfast. He was gone an awfully long time, considering the donut place is only about 5 minutes away from his apartment. But he insisted that it was because the line was long. I didn't think too much of it. (He told me later that the ring had just come in that morning and he went to the Post Office to pick it up! Had it not come in- He wouldn't have done it that weekend.) When he returned, we had donuts and I continued getting ready. He was very hyper. I just thought he was excited to spend time with me or something. Or maybe the coffee was getting to him. He even sat in the bathroom and watched me put on my make up. Finally- we were out.
In the car, I started listing off where I needed to go and what I needed to do before we went downtown. Ben said that we had to do something else first. That threw me for a loop. What could we possibly need to do? I asked him, and he said it was a secret. At that point, I started figuring out that something was up. He took my hand, as we drove in almost complete silence. We stopped in front of Congress Club- where we had our first impromtu date. Ben gave a little speech about how he just couldn't wait to have a date with me and that's why he had asked me to meet him there instead of waiting a few more days for our actual scheduled date. He recounted how he sang possibly the worst first date karaoke song ever because he wanted to impress me with his voice. This is the song he sang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSI-Wk00rVw He sounded good, but the lyrics kind of terrified me at the time. He recounted all the things he really liked about me and learned about me. We kissed and kept driving.
Now, I was pretty sure this was a proposal, but wasn't completely positive yet. Maybe he is just feeling really romantic this morning? I wasn't sure, but I stayed pretty quiet and calm the whole way through. We ended up in downtown Stevens Point. Ben pointed out the little gyros restaurant where we had our actual first date and how I wanted to sit on the floor and he obliged even though he was extremely uncomfortable the whole time. He pointed out the bus stop and remembered the night he first hung out with me and my friends and how I laid my head on his shoulder on the bus ride back to campus. He pointed out The Sugar Bar- which is where we met. He remembered how we had talked and then I left. And how Lexa came back and gave him my number because I was too shy to ask for his, or give it to him myself. We then went to the park next to the river walk along the Wisconsin river. He parked and said "Okay- we have to get out now." So, we got out of the car. It was pretty cold, lightly snowing. We trudged through at least a foot high of snow to a spot relatively close to where a picnic table is during the Spring/Summer. Ben asked me to remember a few nights before I left for Brownville last May. We took a walk to this spot one night and chatted under the stars. We were both sad that I would be so far away and we had no idea what the future held for us at that point. There was an awkward pause in our conversation. We just looked at each other. I was trying to figure out how he was feeling- was he in a lot of pain? was he going to break up with me? He thought I thought he was going to do something...something like propose to me. So he quickly said "Don't worry- I'm not gonna propose to you or anything." I was taken aback- I didn't think that at all. We had only been together a year! We had never even talked about marriage. Why would I think he was going to propose?
Well, he told that story and when he got to the part where he said "Don't worry- I'm not gonna propose to you or anything." He then added, "But, this time- I am." And he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and with tears in his eyes, asked me to marry him. I took a deep breath and took a look around, just so I would always remember the moment. And I said "Yes. Always." and I bent down to kiss him. He put the ring on my finger. And we kissed. In the snow, while it was lightly snowing around us. Two dreams come true: A kiss in the snow AND my true love.
The inspiration from this proposal came from The Office- when Michael proposes to Holly. Obviously, it's not exactly like this. No candles or sprinklers. But the basic concept (taking me to special places and explaining their significance) is the same. Ben and I love the office and believe that we are a lot like Michael and Holly. So it was fitting.
Keep your eyes out for Part THREEEEEEEEEE of this story: Life In The Fast Lane: Part 3- Beyond. It will include details about the ring, the wedding plans (such as they are right now), my new job at Victoria's Secret, and more!
Ben and I had been talking about it a lot. We first started chatting about it when he visited Brownville over the summer for my birthday. Some people might think I ended up in Madison just to be closer to Ben. That, actually, is quite untrue. I was applying for almost any AmeriCorps job that I felt I was qualified for that was in a bigger city. Twin Cities, Chicago, Milwaukee, Spokane, Phoenix, Providence...I mean...ALL OVER THE COUNTRY! In fact, I had held off on applying to Madison and Milwaukee for a long time because I didn't want to be "stuck" in Wisconsin. However, my very first interview was with this position in Madison. I interviewed on my birthday, with Ben only a few feet away from me. When I was offered the job the next day, the answer seemed clear- YES! Of course, after accepting I got offered many, many other interviews. But my decision was made. Who knows- I could have turned down this job and then not have been offered any of those other positions. As much as I love my parents, I was not so keen on the idea of going home for a few months to a year. I really believe I was meant to come here. Not to really advance my career (obviously). More to challenge me. More to help give me time to get onto my own adult feet before heading to a bigger, more challenging city. But most of all- to help keep me close to Ben- someone who has been nothing but supportive, patient, and loving of me since the moment I met him.
So- we first talked about it in July. When I returned from Nebraska and moved to Madison, we continued talking about it...more and more and MORE. We didn't tell many people. We wanted to keep it pretty private until we really knew it would happen. There was so much to discuss and do before actually making the big decision. I showed him a few rings, we discussed a rough estimate of wedding dates and places, and we made the official decision of the place to start our lives together- Chicago. But through it all, I think we learned how much we really rely on each other for support. Even though we are two hours apart, we still talk multiple times a day. Being together feels right, being apart feels wrong. So- we had our answer. We just needed to make it happen.
Thus the trip to Colorado. Not only was it fun, because Ben had never been to Colorado before and it was awesome to see him interact with my family for a longer period of time than before, but it was also important because it meant that Ben could feel more comfortable talking to my parents when the marriage question came up.
Now- I must give a disclaimer here: I was NOT expecting a proposal. Not one bit. I thought May or June. Did not at all think it would be as soon as February. I made it very clear that I did not want a Valentine's Day proposal. And it wasn't. As I mentioned in the last blog, Valentine's Day was pretty low key. However, Ben had already ordered the ring at the beginning of the month. Sneaky, sneaky. And a few nights before I came up to Point, he called my parents for their blessing. Again- sneaky, sneaky. I really had no clue.
So, I went up to Point. I had a lot of work still- Culture Night was coming up on Tuesday and I still needed to do this, do that, do lots of things! I was hoping to relax a bit, but still get work done. Saturday morning, Ben and I woke up. We had already decided that we would spend at least part of the day bumming around downtown Stevens Point. So- while I showered, Ben went out to get donuts for breakfast. He was gone an awfully long time, considering the donut place is only about 5 minutes away from his apartment. But he insisted that it was because the line was long. I didn't think too much of it. (He told me later that the ring had just come in that morning and he went to the Post Office to pick it up! Had it not come in- He wouldn't have done it that weekend.) When he returned, we had donuts and I continued getting ready. He was very hyper. I just thought he was excited to spend time with me or something. Or maybe the coffee was getting to him. He even sat in the bathroom and watched me put on my make up. Finally- we were out.
In the car, I started listing off where I needed to go and what I needed to do before we went downtown. Ben said that we had to do something else first. That threw me for a loop. What could we possibly need to do? I asked him, and he said it was a secret. At that point, I started figuring out that something was up. He took my hand, as we drove in almost complete silence. We stopped in front of Congress Club- where we had our first impromtu date. Ben gave a little speech about how he just couldn't wait to have a date with me and that's why he had asked me to meet him there instead of waiting a few more days for our actual scheduled date. He recounted how he sang possibly the worst first date karaoke song ever because he wanted to impress me with his voice. This is the song he sang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSI-Wk00rVw He sounded good, but the lyrics kind of terrified me at the time. He recounted all the things he really liked about me and learned about me. We kissed and kept driving.
Now, I was pretty sure this was a proposal, but wasn't completely positive yet. Maybe he is just feeling really romantic this morning? I wasn't sure, but I stayed pretty quiet and calm the whole way through. We ended up in downtown Stevens Point. Ben pointed out the little gyros restaurant where we had our actual first date and how I wanted to sit on the floor and he obliged even though he was extremely uncomfortable the whole time. He pointed out the bus stop and remembered the night he first hung out with me and my friends and how I laid my head on his shoulder on the bus ride back to campus. He pointed out The Sugar Bar- which is where we met. He remembered how we had talked and then I left. And how Lexa came back and gave him my number because I was too shy to ask for his, or give it to him myself. We then went to the park next to the river walk along the Wisconsin river. He parked and said "Okay- we have to get out now." So, we got out of the car. It was pretty cold, lightly snowing. We trudged through at least a foot high of snow to a spot relatively close to where a picnic table is during the Spring/Summer. Ben asked me to remember a few nights before I left for Brownville last May. We took a walk to this spot one night and chatted under the stars. We were both sad that I would be so far away and we had no idea what the future held for us at that point. There was an awkward pause in our conversation. We just looked at each other. I was trying to figure out how he was feeling- was he in a lot of pain? was he going to break up with me? He thought I thought he was going to do something...something like propose to me. So he quickly said "Don't worry- I'm not gonna propose to you or anything." I was taken aback- I didn't think that at all. We had only been together a year! We had never even talked about marriage. Why would I think he was going to propose?
Well, he told that story and when he got to the part where he said "Don't worry- I'm not gonna propose to you or anything." He then added, "But, this time- I am." And he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and with tears in his eyes, asked me to marry him. I took a deep breath and took a look around, just so I would always remember the moment. And I said "Yes. Always." and I bent down to kiss him. He put the ring on my finger. And we kissed. In the snow, while it was lightly snowing around us. Two dreams come true: A kiss in the snow AND my true love.
The inspiration from this proposal came from The Office- when Michael proposes to Holly. Obviously, it's not exactly like this. No candles or sprinklers. But the basic concept (taking me to special places and explaining their significance) is the same. Ben and I love the office and believe that we are a lot like Michael and Holly. So it was fitting.
Keep your eyes out for Part THREEEEEEEEEE of this story: Life In The Fast Lane: Part 3- Beyond. It will include details about the ring, the wedding plans (such as they are right now), my new job at Victoria's Secret, and more!
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