spring fever

Well, folks, I have the flu. Let's just say it gives new meaning to spring fever.

Yesterday morning, I just couldn't get out of bed and it pretty much stayed that way until about six o'clock. I was boiling with fever and my head and lower back felt like they were made of lead. That's why my sleep schedule is shot and I am bright-eyed at this glorious hour, hopefully over the worst of it.

So I missed work, but tried to keep up with emails. JT's best man's first baby was born yesterday morning. He had to drive four hours from a conference in Kansas City, but made it for his daughter's big debut. She was about three weeks early, but ready! She will be such a great girl with awesome parents. Anyway, I was so disappointed I didn't get to go see her, but JT was sweet enough to make sure I felt included:

JT with Emmercyn Averie :)

say it with resolution!

I am not waiting until New Year's to begin my resolutions.

Stay tuned for a more detailed list.

1110

Planning a wedding has been crazy, to say the least.

But it's been a little over three weeks and we have a church, a reception place, pastors, a caterer, a photographer, a dress, bridesmaids dresses, a florist, a band, musicians for the ceremony, candelabras, a place to make our cake, centerpieces almost figured out, and probably more.

And we have each other.

I am incredibly blessed every day to have JT in my life. He's kind and spontaneous and considerate and strong and passionate and bold and smart. He's a student of life, an artist, an athlete, a wonderful friend, and he's mine. He's not the man I have always dreamed of; he's proof that God knows our hearts and has better for us than ever could have imagined.

I can't wait to be his wife.

Until then, it will be busy busy busy as we try to merge our family traditions and tastes and opinions on everything. Our alone time has become more precious. Moments seem stolen and that much more sweet.

My mother, on the other hand, is full speed and million miles a minute as far as wedding talk goes. I don't think I've had a conversation with her that doesn't revolve around the wedding. That can be exhausting. We did find the most amazing candelabras today at a little florist shop. They are wrought iron, very reminiscent of the medieval/gothic period, and have intentional flaws that give them character.

Alone time and girl time has been lacking. I am kicking Project LGN into full force again. I am going to be one hott, buff bride if I have anything to say about it. My abs are certainly saying something about it today. Ughh!

So I am hanging on. Things at work have been crazy, but we're hiring two new people on Monday, so my job will get a lot easier. I'll have a more appropriate workload, anyway. You have no idea how relieved I am.

My goal, sometime in the near future, is to make it a habit to get up at least an hour early. That way I can exercise and pray and write and spend time by myself to gather my wits and strength to face another day. One thing I have learned is that sometimes being awake in a leisurely, relaxed frame of mind can be loads better than sleep for the sake of energy and sanity and peace.

grown-up wishlist

I want him.

these perfect, perfect shoes
(bye bye collapsed arches, blisters, blisters on blisters,
rips on blisters on blisters)

my future last name
I am soon to be LT!

you have no idea how much I love him!

You can read about my recap of the Tulsa Run here. Sorry I've been so bad about updating. Life has been crazy and a half!

August and the Macarena

Is it bad that I am so nostalgic and slightly number-obsessed that I stayed awake solely for the purpose of being alive and coherent when the month changed? I miss doing math. I got to do a little bit at my old job.

I don't know if you've been keeping up with Project LGN, but I am about to kick off the second leg of the weight loss journey. I somehow managed to lose 10 lbs since JT broke his ankle, so it'll be interesting!

Well, while I'm starving and chocolate-deprived, here's a little something to make you lose your appetite. No, seriously. I love this picture. My roommate is a wonderful photographer. (But it helps that I'm totally crazy about him!)

Fun story: After deciding we weren't going to see each other today, a bad dentist appointment for JT and a rough day at work for me changed our minds as we chatted on gmail chat from our respective workplaces. I offered to go to his house after running errands on his side of town, but that didn't happen, so I told him there was dinner at my house for him and I could bring it if he wanted me to. He texts me:

JT: "I'm on my way home."
LB: "What do you want me to do?"
JT: "I want you to do the macarena."
(he calls)
JT: "It would be a waste of gas for you to drive to my house since you didn't run errands."
LB: "Well, there's food here for you, but you don't want to come all the way over here."
JT: "I'm tired, I didn't sleep well, and my mouth hurts, so I think it'd be best if I just go home."

We drop it and talk about the gamut of things, when all of the sudden, he says, "Are you ready to do the Macarena?" The doorbell rings, and he's there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it when he does stuff like that!

We've been watching Shaq's Big Challenge. Tonight was the season finale. Somehow, some way, I did not cry. I came awfully close, though. There's this kid on the show, and in the first episode he became my favorite because he said, "No one's ever cared about my health before." His parents didn't come with him to his consultations, either. I thought about who he reminds me of. A kid I went to high school with, around six and a half feet tall and upwards of 400 lbs. He was bitter and hateful toward everyone. I remember him cussing me out on his TI-83 in the tenth grade, but we kind of became friends right before we graduated.

Just.Love.People. Even if they're fat/skinny/tall/short/knock-kneed/ambidextrous/tone-deaf/talented!

It's officially August. My first August that won't include school supply shopping. That's kind of depressing... I guess I had a lot to write about tonight!

Horrors

Monday + morning = disaster.

Today's Monday morning lasted all through the afternoon and shows no sign of letting up to this very minute (5:24 p.m.). I was swamped. The phone and fax were ringing off the hook, every project I started was interrupted, and I didn't have time to break for lunch. Do not worry; I ate, but it wasn't until 3 in the afternoon. The three hours past normal lunch break were excruciating. JT was unsympathetic. I told him I hoped his physical therapist tortured him today, but I was half kidding.

I was so emaciated that my purity ring somehow managed to slide off my finger. HORRORS! What are people going to think? No, it is probably lost in the swamp I sometimes like to call desk. It's kind of a good feeling, though, seriously. Not to know that my finger was once that size, but to know that I've worked hard for those thirty pounds. I may not be able to tell the difference in the mirror, but my missing ring tells the tale beautifully.

Oh, I got paid.

Ummmm...

the end.

Typical Post #239832

OKC was fun. Probably ten people showed up for lunch at our favorite little hole-in-the-wall Chinese place that's within walking distance of the college and offers an entire plateful of mouth-watering (and mouth-burning) food for around $5. When I was in college, I went there so much that yesterday, the waitress spouted off my order before I could even open my mouth, which the friends thought was funny! Anyway, I decided at the last minute to come back last night instead of staying over because my mom's out of town and I felt like I should be at home. But I got to see pretty much everyone I loved, including my professors, who were optimistic and encouraging about the job hunt. The trip was a success!

However, on the way home, the weirdest thing happened. At lunch someone had asked about the movie Premonition, which I absolutely loathed because it gave me the worst feeling all day. We talked about how sometimes we see a picture in our mind of something happening and it actually does. Someone mentioned hitting a deer, so naturally I thought about it while I was driving home in the dark. I shook it away and then was kind of startled when there it was! I saw a deer prancing about on the side of the highway, right next to the road. That'll get your heart racing!

I'm dressed out and ready to begin my Couch-to-5K program I talked about in the Project LGN Blog. Afterward, I'm on a mission to do something creative, but don't know what yet! We'll see!

Oh, and today is New Contact Day! My eyes are happy!

My Motivation

Everyone, meet my new iPod, Truffle Shuffle.

Fair

Well, I went to a job fair today in Tulsa. There were lots of employers there, and a couple of them seemed interested, but I left feeling more frustrated than anything. I'm beginning to think that I won't get a job unless it's through somebody I know. I'm meeting with my old boss on Thursday, so hopefully she can find some good leads for me and give me some good advice.

In other news, I'm starting a new blog to track my lifestyle change and keep me accountable. Just little things like not biting my nails, drinking water instead of Coke, and reading for fun to improve my knowledge and sanity. You can find it here, but I haven't necessarily written anything yet.

Questing

Spring goals (other than the obvious):

1) Sell clothing
2) Find out how to create the perfect curls (that stay!)
3) Secure new Bocce Ball set, hopefully for less than $30
4) Condense belongings in general

Lost in The Wonder Years

I feel like I am living in The Wonder Years. After the NCAA championship game (by the way, GRUMBLE!) we were flipping through channels and saw it on one of those cheesy, low-budget local channels. I've seen Growing Pains on there, too! You have no clue how much this excites me!

Today, I suddenly gathered the motivation to get some sunshine and went for a run. There are two trails right by my house that I can choose from, and this time I took the road less traveled: EAST. It was only about a mile each way, I think, but I ran a lot more than I'd planned! The trail is pretty hilly and wooded, so it made for some beautiful scenery of green and just the right amount of sun and shade. I was energized and pink and had a bounce in my step when I was finished. This will have to happen more often!

Tonight's agenda: painting with Darla and then a visit to Jef's.

Tomorrow: money-making ventures!

Home

New discovery: working out on the elliptical is smoother, faster, and more entertaining when you watch TV. Tonight I watched the end of a House re-run and the beginning of CSI:New York. Before I knew it, I had worked out an hour and had barely noticed the sweat.

In other news, Silly ORU mails report cards addressed to your parents. Even for midterms.

Lame.

I am going to have to find new and inventive ways to keep myself occupied until Sunday night. I hope I hope I hope the time goes by fast!