Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Old Flames on Planes

A few weeks ago I saw a boy I used to love on a plane.  I thought it was him, but then I doubted myself.  I used to think that he was the dreamiest and now he looks, well, he looks old.  Tired, worn and bald.  Not that there is anything wrong with bald, Crush is losing some of his locks and everything about my sweet man is sexy.

My high school crush and I were friends over sixteen years ago.  Close friends, actually.  I dreamt of him on the regular.  I wanted to be so much more than platonic and a few times I really thought that he was going to kiss me.  He never did.  Soon before he left for college, Bitch told him that I said something about him that wasn't true (so high school).  I can't even remember what it was that she accused me of saying, I blocked it from my mind. And then I felt stupid and ashamed.  I was too embarrassed to clear it up and I didn't want to apologize for something I didn't do, so we drifted.  Never spoke to him again.  I hadn't seen him in over fourteen years and wham, there he was, sitting two rows behind me on a Southwest plane.

I stared at him until he said hello.  I had the feeling that if I didn't catch his eye, he would have ignored me as I couldn't tell if he didn't know who I was or if he just didn't want to acknowledge me.  People from the Midwest can be weird about this I have learned.  Ignore you for no reason other than not feeling like having a quick chat.

He was with a girl that he seemed to be dating and I believe that she may have attended our high school, too.  If she wasn't with him, I would have bugged him a bit more.  I would have told him that I once loved him and see how his life turned out, but it just didn't seem like the right time or place. He seemed rather uninterested in talking to me and I can sympathize because it was 6:00 am and I was all revved up on fresh coffee and engagement adrenaline.

When I looked into his eyes, he perhaps lacked true recognition for me or maybe he just doesn't like me because of something he thinks I said over a decade ago.

It is funny how someone can touch you so deeply in life and not even know it.

He was my Jake Ryan and I was just some girl that he went to high school with that he kinda sorta remembers.....

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Going to Graceland

Crush and I planned to not see each other at all this summer.  I am super busy finishing up my work obligations and I am focusing on bettering myself with diet, exercise, and therapy.  When I get in the zone, it is best for me to stay there a while.

The other day, Crush called me to tell me that he just had to see me.  Atypical behavior for him as he is often a cool customer.  Crush shared that he would love to spend a few days away just the 2 of us.  His treat.  In neither of our hometowns, so we can relax, sleep in, and do whatever we want to do.  Crush would plan and book all of the details.  How could I say no?

We actually need this little trip very much.  The last few visits have been full of events, family, and friends.  We have had many incredible times in the company of the ones we love, but we haven't had a just us visit since NYE.

I like alone time with my significant other.  Many of my past relationships didn't allow for this after a while and I believe that in some ways it is what helped destroy the bonds that started strong and weakened over time.  Couples need to plan the "just the 2 of us" time even if it is a mere date a few times a month to reconnect.  There has been so much excitement about the future that Crush and I have lost a bit of the we that we shared in the beginning.

So, in 5 weeks, Crush and I will be heading to Memphis.  We plan to tour Graceland, Sun Studios, and the Gibson Guitar Factory.  We will tear up the town on Beale, see the ducks parade at The Peabody Hotel, and have some nice suppers.  Crush said it best, "I just want to have fun with my miss" and I agree, I can't wait to walk hand in hand, have some happy hour cocktails overlooking the Mississippi River, and order late night room service.  I plan to even bring my workout clothes, so I can balance the BBQ with some cardio.  I have learned that even the littlest changes in the right direction can create some big results.

Crush and I will also celebrate our first anniversary of correspondence and Mister Crush's 35th birthday while we are in Memphis.  Last year, the week I will now be spending with Crush in Memphis, I spent with Smartie Best Friend down South while she helped her gorgeous littlest sister acclimate to college at a major institution in a little sleepy state.  I had an incredible time: I got mistaken for a mom (of a college aged kid!) several times, drank many incredible martinis, and had out of control good sushi and Thai.  I reminisced about college, felt old, felt thankful that I wasn't in college anymore (I need my sleep now), and I even slept on a freshman door room floor after I had a 2 hour laughing fit with Smartie and her sis about it (I think my back still hurts from this...!).

I remember telling Smartie Best Friend about this guy on Match.com who lived in a different city than me and no way or how did I EVER expect that a year later I would be moving 1200 miles towards a new life with him.  I must admit that I was a bit of a bitter betty on the college trip as I was feeling very desperate, alone, and lost.  I started this blog soon thereafter....never thinking that I would meet Crush in person in October and we would fall in love so quickly.

It is a pretty neat story now that I think about it.  I wished for my Crush on a Florida trip with 1 of my best friends in June 2012 and sent my first email back to Crush on a college trip with 1 of my best friends in August 2012....KISMET!

I have said it before and I will say it again, you just never know when your life will change....

Have any of you glorious readers been or live in Memphis?  If so, please share some of your hot spot and restaurant recommendations.  We will be doing mostly touristy stuff, but I know it is always best to ask suggestions from those in the know when it comes to music, food, and booze.  Any ideas are appreciated!!!!


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Changing My Ways

I have a lot to share and boy oh boy, things have been busy.

Since, I was fired by 2 clients.....oy, still haunting me, I picked up 2 new clients and in an effort to not get fired again, I have been very selective about who I am taking on, I have changed my processes in terms of task completion, and I have created formal business hours for me.....I check email from 8:00 am - 10:00 am (already caught up for the morning) and then again from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Sunday - Thursday.  Of course this is only if I do not have an appointment at these times.  The general plan is 4 hours a day on my email, 2 in the morning and 2 at night.  Let's see how this works.

Lately, I have received a few very clever out of office messages from other vendors who let their clients know when they will be online checking email.  There is a part of this I SUPER respect, but I don't think my clients would appreciate it.  Email is sadly becoming a full-time job and I feel super glued to my computer, phone, and other devices often.  My goal is whenever I see Crush (I am going out tomorrow night) I unplug and in order to do this, I have to bust my behind a few days before I go to get everything set up correctly....

Yes, I am very lucky these days as I saw Crush just a few weeks ago when Little Baby was born and now I am seeing him this weekend and then in 2 weeks, I am heading back for a wedding.....!   SUPER EXCITED!

This trip coming up is VERY special for me.  I will be introducing Crush to 2 of my very best friends who are coming up and coming down with their husbands to visit the wonderful city that Crush calls home and to meet him.  Both of my besties are currently with child and this will be a baby moon of sorts as they are leaving their little ones at home for some good food, some quiet time, and a little site-seeing. Dinner and 1 special lunch reservation are set, but other than that, I want them to have time to just chill out.  I get LOTS of time to focus on me, but I know when you become a mommy, it all changes.

Their visiting means a lot to me because it takes tons effort to get together these days.  I am hoping I can carve out some time to meet both of their new additions come summer when they make their appearances, but I will be in the midst of my busiest work time and I will also be getting all set to move.....I leave September 9th and I don't think I will be back anytime soon....fingers crossed.

Last night before I fell asleep, I was thinking that this could be the last time my friends see me before I get engaged.  I know I am putting the cart before the horse here....but I know Crush is already discussing rings and timing with me....getting engaged in 2013, so we can get married in 2014.....so I do think it may be coming this year..... A girl can dream, right?!  Crush was ready to have a baby yesterday, so I do think seeing my friends with their little bumps may only speed up this process more and I can't say I am frowning about it.

I will be posting a few more times before I go, but I will be a bit quiet come Thursday-Monday when I am with besties and Crush turned off.

Hope all is well and have a great day!

R&F

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Travel Tip for Short Trips

As you all know, I have been going back and forth almost monthly to see my Crush.  I have become a much better packer.

When I am at my goal weight, traveling is super easy as I feel confidant, so I don't need ALL of my potions, lotions, and cosmetics to look good because I feel good on the inside. Also, my skin chills out the less I weigh.....yet another reason to get back down to 160 pounds. 

These days, I seem to be packing a whole bunch of my beauty products.  Not makeup, I have that down to a science (Naked Palette, Loreal Voluminous Mascara, Armani foundation, Nars Orgasm Blush, and Nars Heat Wave Lipstick), but it is the shower, skin, and face products that are weighing down my bags.

It gets difficult as so many of my favorite things do not come travel sized (coconut oil!).  Because my skin often gets irrational when I take it places, I like having my old favorites (coconut oil!) on hand at all times to help comfort a flare.

Enter a very good solution, an empty contact case!

I remember reading somewhere years ago, that an empty contact case can make a nice little pot for broken lipstick.  Meaning that if your lipstick breaks, you can cut it out of the tube, put it in some contact cases and then apply it with your finger (my way!) or a lip brush.

A few weeks ago when I packing to see Sissy, I thought, why not take my coconut oil in a few empty contact cases rather than lug the heavy jar with me.....it worked beautifully.  

Remember, contact cases are designed to hold a liquid, contact solution, so they are secure, if you close them correctly.  I have personally tried it with my vitamin E oil, my argon oil, and my coconut oil. They have all traveled wonderfully, no accidents.  I could see packing eye cream, lotion, face moisturizer,  conditioner, shampoo....sky is the limit, especially for short trips!  

I bought a bunch of contact cases at the dollar store (and I had a bunch floating around, too because I have worn contacts since I was 15) and I labeled them with a black permanent  marker, so I know what is inside of each one.  I put the cases in my carry-on liquid Ziploc, in case they opened, but none of them did.

I took this one step further and now I am carrying a little vitamin E oil in my daily makeup bag for those times when I need some intense moisture for my skin or lips. 

Try it!  It will save you some precious packing space! 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Be Back Tomorrow and BEST FORTUNE EVER!

I will be back tomorrow with updates and some big life lessons.....it has been an incredible week.

I will post in detail here soon, but here are some things I just had to share....

Sissy and babies love Crush.....we had the BEST time.  It all felt SO natural.  The kind of feeling I have always wanted from a romantic relationship.......it is the best peace.  I don't take it for granted.  Also, bro-in-law and I have found beautiful new ground and really bonded.  He loved Crush as well and told me that I deserved a guy as good as him and it brought tears to my eyes.  I am blessed.

Over the moon that I am seeing 2 of my besties for a long weekend in Crushie's hometown in less than a month....eeeeekkkkkkk........just cannot wait to connect them to my love....it has been the missing piece in this real life fairy tale.  The friends factor isn't at all about approval with Crush (it always was before him because I never lived for me until this past year), it is just about sharing this huge important part of my life organically and openly with some people I don't see enough, but cannot imagine life without.....they also both have awesome hubbies and it will be incredible to bring my man into the mix.

Oy, so many business lessons to share here soon.....I have learned my final big ones lately and I feel again at peace....ready to kick it into to high gear and contemplating a MAJOR career change.  I am different than many, but I do have some really special qualities and being a real hard-ass isn't one of them......still thinking, but will share soon.

At supper tonight, we had Chinese and I am still not eating wheat (skin is looking so awesome lately) so Crush ate my cookie (not that one, perverts...), but my fortune read:

DO NOT BE TOO TIMID AND SQUEAMISH ABOUT YOUR ACTIONS.  ALL LIFE IS AN EXPERIMENT.

It was exactly the business advice I needed to know that I did the right thing....my life is really kismet at this moment in time and it is incredible that I am finally at this place......quiet in my mind.

Sweet dreams!

XOXO (watched some GG reruns this week),

R & F

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

A Costly Mistake and a New Life to Make It All Better!

Little Baby joined us yesterday!  Healthy, happy, and very flushed!  Sissy was born for childbirth.  First time with Big Baby, she pushed for less than 15 minutes and the big joke in my family was that she has a HUGE vagina...this time she pushed for ten minutes.....the doctor said that she has a birth canal designed for childbirth....much more complimentary than having a gigantic cookie.

We are super excited and I must admit, I saved the day as Big Baby was so super excited to see Auntie that I was able to get Big to bed in Sissy's absence and in a miraculous turn of events, we both slept all night, spooning.  Everyone was a bit shocked as Big Baby is VERY mommy (Sissy) attached, but Sissy and I do look quite alike and Big Baby was smelling me all night, so we must have a similar scent, too.

So, on Sunday night after my last blog post, I made a VERY costly mistake.  It involved liquid, my former laptop (only 1 year old!) and a huge spill.  The former laptop had already survived 1 major spill, so this was the straw that broke the camel's back....BROKEN!  I was able to retrieve all of my information off of the old one and sucked it up and reinvested today.......it was a costly mistake and it really got me thinking....

Back in June, someone spilled on my laptop and I was lucky, but it didn't work for 3 days.  Then, mere months later, it was spilled on again.  WHY DIDN'T I LEARN MY LESSON?

Now, I had to spend a huge unexpected sum of money to fix my problem which should have never happened in the first place!  Drinks and laptops DO NOT MIX.....I will NEVER make this mistake again....FOR REAL!  REALLY!

But, this little mishap is a true reflection of my life.....I make the same mistakes over and over again and then I am shocked that the results are always the same.....WHY?  WHY?  WHY?

As I drained most of my savings to fix this bummer, I thought to myself, R & F, this just needs to stop. I need to slow my roll, focus, take responsibility, and grow up.  Mistakes can be avoided and life can be easier than this.  I must take the extra few seconds to use my better judgement.  The buck stops here......I can't keep doing the same stupid things.  I no longer have the patience or the money.....OY!

Tomorrow, Sissy and Little Baby come home, so I will be busy taking Big Baby to music class and some other activities.  Playing mommy is fun, but being a mommy seems tough.  All the mommies out there.....I give you MAJOR props!!!!!  YOU ALL ROCK!  I am getting closer to being able to be a mommy in mind, but I am enjoying the rest I can still have for the next few years.

I will be back soon with some updates and I will be weighing in tomorrow, I looked today and I am down another 2 pounds, VERY excited!

Hope all is well out there in cyberspace and get those liquids far and away from your computers!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

I'll Be Back Soon!

Hi All!

Exciting news! Sissy is just about to have her baby!  I am hopping on a plane bright and early tomorrow, they expect the brand-new little one sometime tomorrow afternoon.  I hope I make this one's arrival as I just missed her first baby joining us by mere hours....crazy ex-coworker drama....

I am heading east to help Sis with her existing baby, now almost known as, Big Baby, who is just about 2 and a half and an utter delight and handful all at the same time.  Big Baby is twins with the pig in the book 'If You Give a Pig a Pancake'.....very very busy.

I may be a bit MIA here, but I will be back with a full report on everything and anything in a few days and oh yes, Crush is heading up to meet Sissy and the gang in honor of Little Baby's arrival.   Sissy is just over the moon with excitement at the opportunity.  She told me today, "I am so excited to have this baby, so I can meet your boyfriend....hahahahaha!"

I am pumped for all of them to meet and to see Crush in action with both Big Baby and Little Baby.  He admitted that he has never held a newborn or ever changed a diaper, so I plan to put him to work and teach him how to deal with doodie diapers....especially Big Baby's as they are quite impressive in nature, generally.  I want to see how he handles a total blowout.

Also, my mom taught Big Baby how to say his name, so we plan to surprise him with the new trick, I think he will get a kick out of it!  Of course, Big Baby never does anything on demand, so it may not happen....very stubborn baby, just like I was once many many many years ago (and still today!)...

I will return soon and I hope everyone is wrapping up a wonderful weekend!

Best,

R&F