{7.31.06}

two things

I'm quite over: 1.) Allergies and 2.) My peevish attitude towards exercising.   

Adam has been working with a personal trainer at the gym during the week and last night he worked with me, showing all the different types of exercises I can do with my weights and yoga ball. He typed out a great exercise routine for me and saved it to my desktop. I plan to spend 30 minutes every other day working out on my lunch hours. I'm determined to lose this 10 pounds that's been lingering around my mid-section, which I'm sure has absolutely nothing to do with summertime drinks.

The weekend was good and busy. Phew, I swear I come back to work to rest. Friday night we went out to John and Amy's for John's going away bbq for the paper. We had to leave somewhat early because my allergies to their cats kicked in. Two Benadryls later I was down for the count.

Saturday, we decided very last minute to host a bbq and invite a few friends over to celebrate our engagement. I scrambled to clean Adam's house and plan the menu. It wasn't fancy by all means, but we had a great time. Lauren and Nathan gifted us with a yummy bottle of red wine and a very sweet card. Good times.

Yesterday I had good intentions. Good intentions to go to church, attend a baby shower, exercise and research wedding planners, but did I? Nooooooo. I was so tired and ended up taking a nap with Brenner. I did get my grocery shopping done for the week and cleaned the Chamber. After our two hour power nap, we took Brenner to the park to fly his dinosaur kite that he's been dying to fly. Before dinner I washed/vacuumed my car and pulled weeds in Adam's flower beds, which this morning I'm paying dearly for. Gotta love allergy season. I'm SO over it.

{7.28.06}

engaged

After one year, four months and 16 days dating Adam, he proposed marriage. The place: Cork. The date: July 27th. The time: No clue. How: He gave the waitress the ring to bring out with our dessert. The dessert: Peanut Butter Cheesecake with a pretty orange flower on top. Did he get on one knee?: YES. Did I cry?: Dah, of course. Am I the luckiest girl alive?: Most definitely. Do we have a date set?: No, so stop asking.

My cheeks hurt from this perma smile I'm wearing today. I love this feeling and hope it never goes away. Even though we have been talking marriage for months, I refused to buy a single bridal magazine or visit the wedding site that I've been told is fabulous. While driving to work this morning all of my ideas came rushing in all at once. Now I'm engaged, now I can plan, now I can do all the things I wouldn't allow myself to do until Adam said those four beautiful words to me: Will you marry me? I'm in heaven.

{7.26.06}

jen

I'm a firm believer there are only a few core friendships people find, keep and cherish in a lifetime. My friendship with Jennifer Weis is one I will treasure forever. I'll never forget the day I met her, I was in awe with her honesty and permanent smile she wore beautifully. Over the years she has the ability to ground me in ways no other can. She tells me like it is and gives the best hugs ever, when I need them or don't. She has seen me through my divorce and when I started dating again. Lord, she deserves some kind of medal for all the fabulous advice she gave me during that period of time! When she hurts, I hurt. She is strong yet a tender spirit. I pray daily that she finds the man that deserves the wonderful person that she is. I love the friend that she is, has become and will be years to come. She is my kindred friend.

{7.24.07}

my fancy

Things that tickle my fancy:

a.) feeling completely recharged from my vacation. b.) the state of being madly in love with adam. c.) riding in adam's new fast car. d.) date night. e.) my new green purse and watch. f.) a clean desktop. g.) new goals. h.) brenner's refrigerator magnet messages i.) new music on my ipod. j.) burt's bees lip shimmer.

Things that annoy my fancy:

a.) getting sick on vacation. b.) hacking up a lung last night. c.) lack of motivation to exercise or eat healthy. d.) feeling completely helpless. e.) martyrs who seek sympathy for their plight. f.) the jerk who hit my car and RAN. g.) returning to work to a nice heaping pile of CRAP. h.) my shoe box this is at least 20 degrees warmer than the temperature outside. i.) knowing i have a working air conditioner NOT in use. j.) the cracks in my nose.

{7.23.06}

back east

My last day on vacation. Truly a sad thing. I could easily get used to sleeping in until 10am every morning and doing whatever I wanted for the day. Our trip back East was fabulous. The wedding was picture perfect and so was meeting Adam's family. We had so much fun. I'd like to thank the makers of Dramamine, no parent should ever travel without this wondrous medication.  For most our travels via plane, train, subway and car Brenner did great. He rarely complained but did ask "Are we there yet?" about a million times. He's our traveling champ. I did come home with a nasty cold and cough, most likely from the yummy circulated air on the plan. We were planning on making the trip to Trinity Lake for a few days with friends, but I couldn't travel one more mile feeling the way I did. Adam was such a sweetie and surprised me with a basket of goodies for my cold.

Friday we decided to car shop for Adam. He was born to drive an Audi A4 Quattro turbo, standard, Dolphin Grey exterior with light grey leather interior. It's a sweet ride and so much fun to drive. Yes, he let me in the driver's seat...but only once thus far. Jen picked me up at the dealership to meet her Aunt and friends for drinks at The Blacksmiths for Happy Hour. After hours of eating, drinking and laughing we drove to 7th Street where Adam and Lauren joined us for a few beers. Before heading to Kayo's to continue our girls' night, Adam took us for a little joy ride. Great fun.

Saturday was date night for Adam and I. We watched "Click", had dinner reservations at Pine Tavern and strolled down to Drake Park to complete our evening. We plan to have date night on a weekly basis.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our trip to Maine, New Hampshire and Mass.

 

{7.13.06}

happy friday

Happy Friday to me, happy Friday to me, happy Friday to meeeeeeee...happy Friday to me! It's my Friday today and I couldn't be happier. The audit is over and in 2 hours 21 minutes and some seconds until my vacation officially begins. Minus the anxiety attack I had this morning after writing my to-do list for the third time I'm really excited about our trip to Maine. I have ALL my packing to do tomorrow before we leave for Portland to catch a late flight back East. Why oh why do I wait until the very last minute to get anything done lately? I've never been this way...NEVER. I'm such an obsessive organizer and planner and ponder the reason for this ridiculous behavior. Effective immediately, I Melissa Marie Jane Mooney McIntosh resign as CEO for people pleasing. For assistance, please contact someone else...anyone. Thank you very much and have a nice day.

Lunch was nummers. Minta and I escaped to Italy (aka Puleo's) for lunch today. We spent the hour outside, surrounded by pretty flowers and tucked away nicely from the hustle and bustle of life. It's a shame I told my boss where we were going because I could have easily spent the afternoon chatting with Minta and drinking Arnold Palmers...eeeeeeeeasily. 

Tonight I promised Jen I'd drive in for girls' night at her house. I know I have bunches to do but I need a Jen fix. Even though we live only 20 miles from each other, it feels like hundreds. I wish we lived in the same town, neighborhood, or house. But then again we probably wouldn't get anything accomplished other than drinking good wine and giggling over our random silliness.

Until we meet again (10 days or so) kisses and hugs to all.

{7.12.06}

weeds and whiskey

Do you remember the neglected flower bed, full of weeds, I spoke of a few blogs ago? Well I tackled them last night BARE handed. Either I'm a very determined individual or plain stupid. These babies were almost as tall as me (no lie) and thorny as all get out. Man howdy, my hands are extremely sore and stiff this morning. Gloves on my list. Check.

Once again I over-booked my week and wonder why I do this to myself. We leave for Maine on Friday and I've yet to think about packing. Tonight is girls' night with Heidi and Cheryl, lunch with Minta and girls' night with Jen and Erica tomorrow. Always a good time to catch up with the girls but I hope I can stay engaged in conversation without mind-wondering off to my long list of to-do's.

I best get in the shower and find a mild sedative or flask of Whiskey, whichever is readily available to get me through another day with the auditors. Groovy.

{7.10.06}

about camping

While doing the laundry this morning at 5am, I found myself smelling every piece of clothing that smelled like campfire smoke. I love the smell. It immediately takes me back to my favorite memories with my family.

We had a great weekend together and I can't wait until next year. I am however finding the older I get the less amount of time camping I can tolerate. I can NOT just sit and do nothing. Two days max and I'm ready to get back into my busy routine. Call me crazy, or maybe just not lazy. Whichever we had a great time swimming, floating, canoeing, fishing, roasting s'mores, drinking and reminiscing for hours. I love my family.

10 things I enjoy about camping:

1.) Spending time with family. 2.) Fishing. 3.) Drinking beer at 10am. 4.) Nature walks. 5.) Eating ALL day long. 6.) Chirping birdies. 7.) Picking berries for breakfast. 8.) S'mores. 9.) Mid-night canoe rides to the middle of the lake during a full moon. 10.) Peacefulness. 

10 things I dislike about camping:

1.) Packing everything including the kitchen sink for only one night. 2.) Unpacking everything including the kitchen sink. 3.) Dirty feeties and fingernails. 4.) Bug bites. 5.) Serenading frogs at 2am. 6.) Campfire coffee. 7.) Finding mysterious dead insects in Brenner's pockets. 8.) Having to pee in the middle of the night. 9.) Running out of good beer. 10.) Laundry.

{7.9.06}

magone lake, oregon

What a best ever weekend camping with my family.

Brenner & Cody...

Piggy Piggy Back Ride...

Monte & Kelsey...

Daddy & Me...

Double Trouble...

Sunday Morning by the Campfire...

Water fun...

Mama & Brenner...

Big Foot...

Picking Berries...

Grammy & Brenner...

{7.7.06}

two mondays

It's funny how having a day off in the middle of the week is supposed to make the week go by fast but for some reason it feels longer. Maybe it's because I had two Mondays instead of one. Whichever, I'm glad it's Friday. Yay. Tonight we leave promptly after work for John Day, my haven. My brother and his kiddos are meeting us at Mom and Dad's, staying the night and early Saturday morning we head to camp at Magone Lake. I have so many fond memories at this lake and I can't wait to fish, take nature walks, veg by the campfire, catch-up with family and park my bum firmly on my floatie on the lake to work on my tan lines.

The down side to taking the weekend off is that I'll have double duty to get ready for our trip to Maine. We leave next Friday, holy crap, how did that happen? The time totally got away from me and I have so much to prepare. Ugh. I'll try not to think about it this weekend. Yes, complete blissful denial, I'll flow with it. Maybe my Fairy Godmother will appear, wave her magic wand and have everything cleaned, packed and ready for me when we get back, no?

Have a great weekend, loves to all.

**Minnie passed away so peaceful at 4:38pm today. Thank you all for your emails and calls. Times like these you really know who your real friends are.

{7.6.06}

minnie mae

Minnie, my Golden Retriever of 10 years will be in peace tomorrow, no more pain from arthritis and cancer. I know this is for the best but my heart aches so much knowing I won't be there for her final moments. Her sweet soul will always have a special place in my heart.

Minnie Mae 1996-2006

{7.3.06}

more than reisens on a rainy day

I love Green Tea, I'm especially fond of Lipton's Green Tea with citrus. I've been trying to cut back on my coffee intake in the mornings for health reasons (constipation). Chad would strongly disagree, but he didn't know about about the 3-4 cups I would drink before coming to work. Yeah, it was that bad.

Last weekend was so much fun. I can't remember having more fun with any other group of girls than I had on Saturday with Jen, Erica, Kyndal, Jenni and Andrea. What an awesome group of girls. We went over to a friend of Jen's that was out of town and took FULL advantage of his pool and deck. We sunbathed, drank girlie drinks and chatted for hours. Some of us came inside a little pinker than others...but I won't brag and say that I wasn't one of them. Heehee. I went home and crashed hard on my bed/couch.

Yesterday was one of the most productive days I've had in a long time. I paid bills, wrapped presents, ran around town shopping for Adam's birthday bbq, cleaned the Chamber, tidied Adam's house, baked him a cake, and steamed out the wrinkles in his new bedroom curtains and bed comforter set. Needless to say, I didn't have a hard time falling into a deep and peaceful slumber.

Today is Adam's birthday - The big 28!!! We are having a few close friends over tonight for a very very casual bbq. Nothing fancy since I had to work today.

Happy birthday babe, I love you more than Reisens on a rainy day. Kisses my sweet.