it's here. it's finally here. the week before my, i mean, our wedding.
two weeks ago i moved everything i have from roanoke, virginia up to delaware. and i was sick. my fiance was out of the country flying a mission in the middle east or western asia or something (i can't keep track), so my parents and i were left to load the u-haul, drive it up to delaware, and unload it ourselves. i helped my dad load the truck, but by the time we got to dover, i was hurting. i spent the rest of the move sitting on the couch, half out-of-it, watching as my dad piled the boxes higher and higher in my new living room. after we finished i got spend the afternoon in urgent care, it was a fun weekend! matthew came home from his mission, forgetting i had moved all my stuff in, and walked into a living room with floor to ceiling stacks of boxes. needless to say he was a bit shocked. (for the record, i tried to warn him about how much stuff i have...he obviously didn't believe me.)
last weekend i was blessed to have two wedding showers. saturday was in syracuse (where i grew up and where the wedding will be) and sunday was in columbus (where matthew is from.) it was a LOT of driving. i got to spend the 8 hour drive to columbus with my mom and nana. let's just say not only was it a lot of driving, but it was a looong car ride. 3 generations of women in a cadillac for over 16 hours...you can only imagine the conversations that took place.
this past weekend i actually got to spend with matthew and get some final details ironed out for the wedding. final dress fitting, get the program ordered for the wedding, pick out music for the reception, make sure the organist is still playing all the music we choose, pick out gifts for our parents, discuss the marriage book we need to finish for our premarital counseling...things normal people do weeks before the wedding, not 7 days before the wedding. good news: it's done now.
and now, it's just 6 days until the big day! brides-to-be out there, hang on, it goes by quick. i know everyone tells you your engagement will fly by, but believe them, it really does.
i am hoping i will actually post a little more this week before the wedding. but knowing me, i probably won't. so next time you hear from me, i will be 9 letters lighter in my last name!! i can't wait!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
things they don't tell you when you get engaged
according to the various wedding movies i have seen over the years, being engaged is synonymous with joyfully frolicking through a field of daises in my favorite pale pink sundress. reality - on contraire. so for those of you who are engaged, may be getting engaged soon or someday hope to be engaged, i have complied a list of things you might want to keep in mind that the movies do NOT clue you in to.
1. your fiance may want his groomsmen to wear tails instead of regular tuxedos, even though you are NOT having a black tie affair. boys do not understand the rules of dress...that his uncle joe from the back country of ohio is planning on wearing cargo khakis and a polo may feel a bit out of place if everyone else is in black tie.
2. your grandmother, though she already planned your mother's wedding, may still want a say in most of the decisions you make. if you don't let her have a say, she will still state her opinion: that choosing black and ivory as your colors will look like a funeral processional walking down the aisle.
3. random people you have not seen in the last decade will offer their congratulations (or best wishes) followed directly by a request for an invitation. this could be done in person or via facebook. both are equally awkward.
4. no matter how big of a wedding you are planning, the guest list is the hardest part to plan. they are always more people you want to invite, always more distant relatives or friends of your parents that you have never met, but somehow people expect you to invite. brace yourself. the guest list is difficult.
5. your fiance may believe that by registering for items, he is expected to buy you anything that is not purchased after the wedding. thus, he may encourage you to NOT register for the kitchen aide you have always wanted because he does not want to buy it if no one else does. you may have to have multiple conversations with him.
6. when your brother's girlfriend drags your brother to the bridal shoppe you are looking at wedding dresses at with your mom and grandmother, your grandmother may loudly exclaim how inappropriate it is for a boy to be looking at the wedding dress. other people may turn and look at the posse you have brought with you to go wedding dress shopping and give you the look.
7. after already shown your future in-laws your ideas for rehearsal dinner sites, as well as the church and reception, your future-father-in-law may want to go back and take a picture of every possible location you might have the rehearsal dinner. your own father may be expected to chauffeur him around the city. this can take up to 3 hours.
8. your grandmother may buy you a christopher radko wedding cake ornament and stand that she wants you to proudly display in your home through the wedding day. though it does not fit with the decor of your living room, she will insist that your roommates will love it, and that it goes with everything.
9. not all invitations come pre-assembled. just be ready that you may have to assemble invitations yourself. this saves money, which is good, but takes extra time. be sure to plan in advance, assemble a team of workers, get a bottle of wine, whatever it takes.
10. if you don't register early, you may end up getting some gifts that you did not know you needed. this can include a 3-foot-long wicker picnic basket
11. your grandmother may dictate what others can buy you after you have registered. stating that after clearing out an entire section of your registry, you will ONLY think of her when you look at those items, and she doesn't want anyone else to purchase any item from that section.
12. your fiance may disregard that the one thing you said you do NOT want to do on your honeymoon: go to a sandals resort. he may continue to attempt to persuade you that you do in fact want to go to a sandals. that even though you think they are cheesy, they are on the water, all inclusive, and the best deal. good luck.
13. your florist/wedding cake woman/manager at the reception will all have different opinions on what your wedding should look like. even if all three know each other and work with each other, you will have to act as a liaison between them. again, good luck.
14. after receiving their invitations, some guests may call other guests stating that the invitation was "nice, but not what i would have done."
seriously, why don't they tell you this stuff the cheesy romantic comedies? :)
*disclaimer: the grandmother comments are only applicable if your grandmother is emily gilmore. i love my nana dearly and she makes me smile everyday. i wouldn't trade her for the world.
1. your fiance may want his groomsmen to wear tails instead of regular tuxedos, even though you are NOT having a black tie affair. boys do not understand the rules of dress...that his uncle joe from the back country of ohio is planning on wearing cargo khakis and a polo may feel a bit out of place if everyone else is in black tie.
2. your grandmother, though she already planned your mother's wedding, may still want a say in most of the decisions you make. if you don't let her have a say, she will still state her opinion: that choosing black and ivory as your colors will look like a funeral processional walking down the aisle.
3. random people you have not seen in the last decade will offer their congratulations (or best wishes) followed directly by a request for an invitation. this could be done in person or via facebook. both are equally awkward.
4. no matter how big of a wedding you are planning, the guest list is the hardest part to plan. they are always more people you want to invite, always more distant relatives or friends of your parents that you have never met, but somehow people expect you to invite. brace yourself. the guest list is difficult.
5. your fiance may believe that by registering for items, he is expected to buy you anything that is not purchased after the wedding. thus, he may encourage you to NOT register for the kitchen aide you have always wanted because he does not want to buy it if no one else does. you may have to have multiple conversations with him.
6. when your brother's girlfriend drags your brother to the bridal shoppe you are looking at wedding dresses at with your mom and grandmother, your grandmother may loudly exclaim how inappropriate it is for a boy to be looking at the wedding dress. other people may turn and look at the posse you have brought with you to go wedding dress shopping and give you the look.
7. after already shown your future in-laws your ideas for rehearsal dinner sites, as well as the church and reception, your future-father-in-law may want to go back and take a picture of every possible location you might have the rehearsal dinner. your own father may be expected to chauffeur him around the city. this can take up to 3 hours.
8. your grandmother may buy you a christopher radko wedding cake ornament and stand that she wants you to proudly display in your home through the wedding day. though it does not fit with the decor of your living room, she will insist that your roommates will love it, and that it goes with everything.
9. not all invitations come pre-assembled. just be ready that you may have to assemble invitations yourself. this saves money, which is good, but takes extra time. be sure to plan in advance, assemble a team of workers, get a bottle of wine, whatever it takes.
10. if you don't register early, you may end up getting some gifts that you did not know you needed. this can include a 3-foot-long wicker picnic basket
11. your grandmother may dictate what others can buy you after you have registered. stating that after clearing out an entire section of your registry, you will ONLY think of her when you look at those items, and she doesn't want anyone else to purchase any item from that section.
12. your fiance may disregard that the one thing you said you do NOT want to do on your honeymoon: go to a sandals resort. he may continue to attempt to persuade you that you do in fact want to go to a sandals. that even though you think they are cheesy, they are on the water, all inclusive, and the best deal. good luck.
13. your florist/wedding cake woman/manager at the reception will all have different opinions on what your wedding should look like. even if all three know each other and work with each other, you will have to act as a liaison between them. again, good luck.
14. after receiving their invitations, some guests may call other guests stating that the invitation was "nice, but not what i would have done."
seriously, why don't they tell you this stuff the cheesy romantic comedies? :)
*disclaimer: the grandmother comments are only applicable if your grandmother is emily gilmore. i love my nana dearly and she makes me smile everyday. i wouldn't trade her for the world.
Monday, August 16, 2010
No Excuses
I thought I was the blogging type. Apparently not.
After a month + of not posting anything, I don't feel that I can call myself a true blogger.
This is my attempt to get back in the game.
It's been a busy summer with weddings, my own wedding planning, and driving up and down the east coast between Syracuse, Roanoke and Dover. I know everyone says the same thing every summer, but seriously, where did the time go? How is it half-way through August already?! And my real question: How is it that my best friend has been married for over two weeks?
She had quite the wedding. Really the whole week of festivities were wonderful. Between the bride and her family, the groom and his family, there was no chance at not having a fabulous wedding. It lived up to all my dreams. Great dancing, great company, a beautiful ceremony (I cried throughout all of it), and a perfect couple.
Contrary to popular belief, I am not the greatest public speaker. Somehow when Karina and I agreed to be each others maid-of-honors back in kindergarten, I never thought about the fact that I would have to give a speech. Reality set in the week before the wedding.
I had been working on a speech for several weeks, but was nowhere near ready to say it in public. I may have waited until after the rehearsal dinner to really sit down and finish the speech, maybe. Somehow, despite my lack of wit and lack of an ability to make people laugh, I pulled of a pretty good speech. I thought I would take this opportunity to share it. (I know I'm not the "funny" girl, so I went for "witty" in hopes someone in the crowd would at least snicker at my comments.)
Peter, after 21 years of friendship with Karina, I wanted to give you my best advice. So here are my Top Ten Ways I've Learned to Love Karina.
10. Mornings are not Karina's forte. So if you MUST wake her up before 8 AM, have coffee ready. Cream only please.
9. Though Karina is not nearly as competitive as she used to be, she is still better at most things than you are. Don't try to one-up her. She will win. Learn this early.
8. Karina Time can run anywhere between 10 minutes early and 15 minutes late. IFFFF it happens to be the latter of the two, don't rush her, it will only maker her later and get you into trouble.
7. Come to terms with the fact that you will probably retire and/or live in New England at some point, where Karina's Rhode Island accent will become more prevalent. It's inevitable.
6. Once a Pipes, always are Pipes. Know that youa re now more a Pipes than a Hagan no matter what NYS says your last name is. Karina will always be a Pipes. In fact, it is a true honor to become one (just ask Megan, she's been trying for years and now her last hope is Owen.)
5. There are few people in the world that are more stubborn than Karina, but know that you are not one of them. The earlier you learn this, the fewer "discussions" you will need to have.
4. Since 4th grade in Mrs. Olson's class, Karina has not been partial to skirts and dresses. Use positive reinforcement anytime she does opt for one of these by telling her what a "smoking hot wife" you have.
3. While buying a gift form Pottery Barn or Williams-Sonoma is very respectable, if you find something BLUE from any of your favorite stores, you will score infinitely more brownie points with Karina. Personally, I think a little blue box from Tiffany's could satisfy both your go-to stores.
2. Peter, holding hands is not considered a form of PDA. The more you do this spontaneously, the greater reward you will get. On the same note, you are married now, it is fine, normal, even expected for you to cuddle with your wife. Do this often.
1. My best piece of advice you already know, but will spend the rest of your life learning. You had Karina's heart before you want on that first infamous DTR date at Pastabilities regardless if she will admit it or not. Keep Christ at the center of your relationship and love her more tomorrow than you did today. I know she will spend every ounce of energy she has loving you.
Here's to you Peter and Karina. I love you both dearly!
After a month + of not posting anything, I don't feel that I can call myself a true blogger.
This is my attempt to get back in the game.
It's been a busy summer with weddings, my own wedding planning, and driving up and down the east coast between Syracuse, Roanoke and Dover. I know everyone says the same thing every summer, but seriously, where did the time go? How is it half-way through August already?! And my real question: How is it that my best friend has been married for over two weeks?
She had quite the wedding. Really the whole week of festivities were wonderful. Between the bride and her family, the groom and his family, there was no chance at not having a fabulous wedding. It lived up to all my dreams. Great dancing, great company, a beautiful ceremony (I cried throughout all of it), and a perfect couple.
Contrary to popular belief, I am not the greatest public speaker. Somehow when Karina and I agreed to be each others maid-of-honors back in kindergarten, I never thought about the fact that I would have to give a speech. Reality set in the week before the wedding.
I had been working on a speech for several weeks, but was nowhere near ready to say it in public. I may have waited until after the rehearsal dinner to really sit down and finish the speech, maybe. Somehow, despite my lack of wit and lack of an ability to make people laugh, I pulled of a pretty good speech. I thought I would take this opportunity to share it. (I know I'm not the "funny" girl, so I went for "witty" in hopes someone in the crowd would at least snicker at my comments.)
Peter, after 21 years of friendship with Karina, I wanted to give you my best advice. So here are my Top Ten Ways I've Learned to Love Karina.
10. Mornings are not Karina's forte. So if you MUST wake her up before 8 AM, have coffee ready. Cream only please.
9. Though Karina is not nearly as competitive as she used to be, she is still better at most things than you are. Don't try to one-up her. She will win. Learn this early.
8. Karina Time can run anywhere between 10 minutes early and 15 minutes late. IFFFF it happens to be the latter of the two, don't rush her, it will only maker her later and get you into trouble.
7. Come to terms with the fact that you will probably retire and/or live in New England at some point, where Karina's Rhode Island accent will become more prevalent. It's inevitable.
6. Once a Pipes, always are Pipes. Know that youa re now more a Pipes than a Hagan no matter what NYS says your last name is. Karina will always be a Pipes. In fact, it is a true honor to become one (just ask Megan, she's been trying for years and now her last hope is Owen.)
5. There are few people in the world that are more stubborn than Karina, but know that you are not one of them. The earlier you learn this, the fewer "discussions" you will need to have.
4. Since 4th grade in Mrs. Olson's class, Karina has not been partial to skirts and dresses. Use positive reinforcement anytime she does opt for one of these by telling her what a "smoking hot wife" you have.
3. While buying a gift form Pottery Barn or Williams-Sonoma is very respectable, if you find something BLUE from any of your favorite stores, you will score infinitely more brownie points with Karina. Personally, I think a little blue box from Tiffany's could satisfy both your go-to stores.
2. Peter, holding hands is not considered a form of PDA. The more you do this spontaneously, the greater reward you will get. On the same note, you are married now, it is fine, normal, even expected for you to cuddle with your wife. Do this often.
1. My best piece of advice you already know, but will spend the rest of your life learning. You had Karina's heart before you want on that first infamous DTR date at Pastabilities regardless if she will admit it or not. Keep Christ at the center of your relationship and love her more tomorrow than you did today. I know she will spend every ounce of energy she has loving you.
Here's to you Peter and Karina. I love you both dearly!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
sisterhood of the traveling cars. part I
this summer seems to be the summer of traveling. or at least july is. in the last 10 days i have logged over 2,000 miles driving. i could have driven from virginia beach to salt lake city. ridiculous.
one of my trips was down to charlotte, nc to visit my BFF, lindsay. we went to high school together, stayed good friends through college and after, she got married, and we both ended up living in southwest virginia. a few months ago, her husband took a job in charlotte, so she moved out of the always beautiful virginia to north carolina. i miss her. but, we got to have a wonderful day together exploring downtown charlotte.
after spending the morning at the charlotte museum of modern art, we walked around with no real agenda, except a map we picked up at the visitor's center. while trying to find this "singing wall," that doesn't seem to really exist, we stumbled upon the charlotte public library. (side note: supposedly you could touch different panels on the "singing wall." each panel was supposed to play a different note. we never found it.) BUT, outside of the library were famous quotations about literature on each pillar.
LOVED IT!
and my personal favorite...
it was the perfect afternoon. we found a fabulous bakery, incredible ice-cream that linds hadn't had since she was in texas, AND on top of the public library we also found this children's library....
this is the kind of thing that makes me want to move to charlotte, settle down, raise my future children and take them to the charlotte children's library. daily. seriously.
it was a fabulous weekend. lindsay and her husband are expecting their first baby in september, and i have to say, i'm a little jealous she WILL get to walk her kids down to this library. i think i am going to have to bring my future children to visit aunt lindsay and her kids just to go to this library.
one of my trips was down to charlotte, nc to visit my BFF, lindsay. we went to high school together, stayed good friends through college and after, she got married, and we both ended up living in southwest virginia. a few months ago, her husband took a job in charlotte, so she moved out of the always beautiful virginia to north carolina. i miss her. but, we got to have a wonderful day together exploring downtown charlotte.
after spending the morning at the charlotte museum of modern art, we walked around with no real agenda, except a map we picked up at the visitor's center. while trying to find this "singing wall," that doesn't seem to really exist, we stumbled upon the charlotte public library. (side note: supposedly you could touch different panels on the "singing wall." each panel was supposed to play a different note. we never found it.) BUT, outside of the library were famous quotations about literature on each pillar.
LOVED IT!
and my personal favorite...
it was the perfect afternoon. we found a fabulous bakery, incredible ice-cream that linds hadn't had since she was in texas, AND on top of the public library we also found this children's library....
this is the kind of thing that makes me want to move to charlotte, settle down, raise my future children and take them to the charlotte children's library. daily. seriously.
it was a fabulous weekend. lindsay and her husband are expecting their first baby in september, and i have to say, i'm a little jealous she WILL get to walk her kids down to this library. i think i am going to have to bring my future children to visit aunt lindsay and her kids just to go to this library.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
10 things i love about summer
summer is here, finally. i have officially been on summer break for four days and i am loving every minute of it!
1. the obvious - no school.
2. sun - the lake - sun - the beach - sun - the pool - sun. (i think i see a pattern here..)
3. ice-cream trucks driving through the neighborhood playing the entertainer.
4. weddings (bachlorette parties, rehearsal dinners, dancing, toasts: the whole shabang)
5. fireflies. (even fireflies that hit my windshield and glow for the next 20 miles)
6. ice-cream cones that start to melt before you can get your first lick.
7. still waking up at 5:45, thinking i need to get up and get ready, then realizing it's summer and i can sleep in. (this may also include staying in my pajamas until 8 or 9 am)
8. staying up until 2:30 on a wednesday night.
9. roadtrips that last more than a mere weekend.
10. the 4th of july. by far my favorite family holiday. i have a feeling this year is going to be epic, but i'll save the details for later.
yep, i love summer!
1. the obvious - no school.
2. sun - the lake - sun - the beach - sun - the pool - sun. (i think i see a pattern here..)
3. ice-cream trucks driving through the neighborhood playing the entertainer.
4. weddings (bachlorette parties, rehearsal dinners, dancing, toasts: the whole shabang)
5. fireflies. (even fireflies that hit my windshield and glow for the next 20 miles)
6. ice-cream cones that start to melt before you can get your first lick.
7. still waking up at 5:45, thinking i need to get up and get ready, then realizing it's summer and i can sleep in. (this may also include staying in my pajamas until 8 or 9 am)
8. staying up until 2:30 on a wednesday night.
9. roadtrips that last more than a mere weekend.
10. the 4th of july. by far my favorite family holiday. i have a feeling this year is going to be epic, but i'll save the details for later.
yep, i love summer!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
meet matthew
meet my fiance.
matthew.
he's a C-17 pilot in the air force, and currently lives in delaware.
ihave to get to move to there after we get married. don't get me wrong, i could not be more excited to be married to matthew and finally live in the same city! i am not as excited however, about living in delaware. fortunately, we will only spend about a year there though, before moving to another base, so i can't complain.
to get to know him a little bit, i thought i would share one of the latest "matthew/carey stories."
one of matthew's best friends was getting married in texas over memorial day weekend. i took an extra day off so we could fly together out to texas and still make it to the rehearsal dinner. matthew was in charge of booking our flights.
thursday morning before school i had gotten up early to make sure i was all packed, my room was clean, i had clean sheets on my bed (every time i go out of town i need to have clean sheets waiting for my return, quirky, i know), and got gas for the 5.5 hour drive to dover. after school i hit the road. of course i hit traffic around annapolis as it was commissioning week. the should-be-5.5 hour drive turned into a 7 hour drive. i wasn't the happiest person when i got to dover.
i also had forgotten a few toiletries for the trip, so we needed to go to target that night. it was almost 10PM by the time i arrived. matthew was working in his office, i was taking my time repacking my suitcase for the flight when i called out asking what time our flight was, "8:30 right? so i can get up at 5ish?"
...nope...the flight is at 5:30AM...
in baltimore.
which is 2 hours away.
and i still wanted to shower before we left.
which means my alarm would be going off at 2AM. aka in about 4 hours. and we still had to go to target.
i was NOT pleased.
i may have gotten a littleangry frustrated with him. we left for target. i don't think i talked to him much in the short drive over. once we got in target, i may have continued to proclaim, "2 AM matthew, 2 AM!!" repeatedly . people may have turned to look at us. and meanwhile, matthew was walking about three feet behind me laughing at how ridiculous i sounded as i yelled "2AM" throughout target. it was a fun night.
we made the flight. i got up at 2 AM, was able to shower and we were fine. i did tell matthew that he would not be making our flight reservations anymore. while on the flight, i was noting how nice it was to travel with someone. i hadn't traveled with other people since i was in high school and traveled with my family. i've been flying from virginia to new york for the last five years to go home, or have met my family at the destination for whatever vacation we had. it is SO much more fun getting to sit next to someone on the plane, have someone to talk to while waiting at the gate, and most importantly have someone watch my luggage while i use the restroom so i don't have to lug your huge carry-on with me wherever i go. i could get used to this.
as we were sitting on the runway, and i was enjoying flying with someone, i also noted that my fiance happens to be a pilot. i've never been scared of flying, but it seemed reassuring that should something happen to one of the pilots, i would always have one with me!
i told matthew this.
apparently talking about something happening to the pilots that might cause them to lose consciousness is not something you should talk about out-loud on a plane. matthew politely reminded me of this.
after having a long drive the day before, and getting up at 2AM i was not the most rational person at this moment. so i did what any girl would do in my situation, i argued.
i argued that it was ridiculous, i wasn't threatening a pilot, i was just stating that should anything happen, i was happy to be flying with another pilot!
matthew nicely asked me to not talk quite so loud.
i argued again. what? it's not like i said "bomb!" they can't get mad at me.
matthew gave me the look.
...i did, i said "bomb" ...on plane.
and that was the start to our first plane ride together.
i'm looking forward to many more flights with matthew. hopefully, that do not require me to get up shortly after midnight and i do not get quite so many dirty looks from strangers.
so that's my latest "matthew/carey" story.
and now you can say you've met matthew.
ps: we were much happier for the rest of the weekend in texas.
matthew.
he's a C-17 pilot in the air force, and currently lives in delaware.
i
to get to know him a little bit, i thought i would share one of the latest "matthew/carey stories."
one of matthew's best friends was getting married in texas over memorial day weekend. i took an extra day off so we could fly together out to texas and still make it to the rehearsal dinner. matthew was in charge of booking our flights.
thursday morning before school i had gotten up early to make sure i was all packed, my room was clean, i had clean sheets on my bed (every time i go out of town i need to have clean sheets waiting for my return, quirky, i know), and got gas for the 5.5 hour drive to dover. after school i hit the road. of course i hit traffic around annapolis as it was commissioning week. the should-be-5.5 hour drive turned into a 7 hour drive. i wasn't the happiest person when i got to dover.
i also had forgotten a few toiletries for the trip, so we needed to go to target that night. it was almost 10PM by the time i arrived. matthew was working in his office, i was taking my time repacking my suitcase for the flight when i called out asking what time our flight was, "8:30 right? so i can get up at 5ish?"
...nope...the flight is at 5:30AM...
in baltimore.
which is 2 hours away.
and i still wanted to shower before we left.
which means my alarm would be going off at 2AM. aka in about 4 hours. and we still had to go to target.
i was NOT pleased.
i may have gotten a little
we made the flight. i got up at 2 AM, was able to shower and we were fine. i did tell matthew that he would not be making our flight reservations anymore. while on the flight, i was noting how nice it was to travel with someone. i hadn't traveled with other people since i was in high school and traveled with my family. i've been flying from virginia to new york for the last five years to go home, or have met my family at the destination for whatever vacation we had. it is SO much more fun getting to sit next to someone on the plane, have someone to talk to while waiting at the gate, and most importantly have someone watch my luggage while i use the restroom so i don't have to lug your huge carry-on with me wherever i go. i could get used to this.
as we were sitting on the runway, and i was enjoying flying with someone, i also noted that my fiance happens to be a pilot. i've never been scared of flying, but it seemed reassuring that should something happen to one of the pilots, i would always have one with me!
i told matthew this.
apparently talking about something happening to the pilots that might cause them to lose consciousness is not something you should talk about out-loud on a plane. matthew politely reminded me of this.
after having a long drive the day before, and getting up at 2AM i was not the most rational person at this moment. so i did what any girl would do in my situation, i argued.
i argued that it was ridiculous, i wasn't threatening a pilot, i was just stating that should anything happen, i was happy to be flying with another pilot!
matthew nicely asked me to not talk quite so loud.
i argued again. what? it's not like i said "bomb!" they can't get mad at me.
matthew gave me the look.
...i did, i said "bomb" ...on plane.
and that was the start to our first plane ride together.
i'm looking forward to many more flights with matthew. hopefully, that do not require me to get up shortly after midnight and i do not get quite so many dirty looks from strangers.
so that's my latest "matthew/carey" story.
and now you can say you've met matthew.
ps: we were much happier for the rest of the weekend in texas.
Monday, June 7, 2010
reason #215 why i love my kindergartners
end of the year art show.
i got to spend the morning converting the classroom into an art gallery with work i've collected all year from my students. i know i'm bias, but i think i have some real talent in my class. the next winslow homer perhaps? maybe it's premature, i'm just saying, you heard it here first people. :)
(that parents is 6'7"...my displays are not made for short people...he's just ridiculously tall!)
((disclaimer: the following names have been changed to protect the innocent.))
because i can, i am dedicating the rest of this post to my students and some of my favorite pieces. the reasons i love my students just keep adding up...
reason #216. henrietta. students had to stand by their art work. as parents came by and looked at everything, each child spent a few minutes talking about their work. which was their favorite, why, what medium they used, etc. i overheard henrietta tell her mother that it was NOT a picture of her. when i asked henrietta who it was of, she said, "well, it is my mother, just when she was shorter, and a LOT younger."
reason #217. roberta. the day after i got engaged, roberta's mom stopped me as we were waiting for parents to come pick up their children after school. apparently roberta came home and was all excited that "miss s. got a mortgage!" when her mom questioned her, roberta said, "yeah mom, miss s. got a mortgage and has a ring and everything!" i think this is my favorite engagement story. it also helps that roberta is by far the quietest girl in the class, yet was the most excited about my engagement.
reason #218. a 6-year-old wants to be an anesthesiologist. i had to look up how to spell anesthesiologist to type it on her bio. enough said.
reason #219. kindergartners don't see color of skin. ingrid is the palest, blondest, shirley temple-look-alike i know. i love her self-portrait!
and to cap off the night, a few lines from their bios
"roberta likes to read in her spare time, she wants to be a mom when she grows up."
"When olga grows up, she wants to be a doctor by day and ballet teacher at night."
"fred wants to be an ice-cream man when he grows up."
...i love that kindergartners want to be ice-cream men when they grow up!
i got to spend the morning converting the classroom into an art gallery with work i've collected all year from my students. i know i'm bias, but i think i have some real talent in my class. the next winslow homer perhaps? maybe it's premature, i'm just saying, you heard it here first people. :)
(that parents is 6'7"...my displays are not made for short people...he's just ridiculously tall!)
((disclaimer: the following names have been changed to protect the innocent.))
because i can, i am dedicating the rest of this post to my students and some of my favorite pieces. the reasons i love my students just keep adding up...
reason #216. henrietta. students had to stand by their art work. as parents came by and looked at everything, each child spent a few minutes talking about their work. which was their favorite, why, what medium they used, etc. i overheard henrietta tell her mother that it was NOT a picture of her. when i asked henrietta who it was of, she said, "well, it is my mother, just when she was shorter, and a LOT younger."
reason #217. roberta. the day after i got engaged, roberta's mom stopped me as we were waiting for parents to come pick up their children after school. apparently roberta came home and was all excited that "miss s. got a mortgage!" when her mom questioned her, roberta said, "yeah mom, miss s. got a mortgage and has a ring and everything!" i think this is my favorite engagement story. it also helps that roberta is by far the quietest girl in the class, yet was the most excited about my engagement.
reason #218. a 6-year-old wants to be an anesthesiologist. i had to look up how to spell anesthesiologist to type it on her bio. enough said.
reason #219. kindergartners don't see color of skin. ingrid is the palest, blondest, shirley temple-look-alike i know. i love her self-portrait!
and to cap off the night, a few lines from their bios
"roberta likes to read in her spare time, she wants to be a mom when she grows up."
"When olga grows up, she wants to be a doctor by day and ballet teacher at night."
"fred wants to be an ice-cream man when he grows up."
...i love that kindergartners want to be ice-cream men when they grow up!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
let's start at the very beginning
my friend elizabeth (check out her blog... emyselfandi.com ) helped me set up a blog a few months ago, but i hadn't gotten around to actually starting it. matthew and i got engaged a couple weeks ago, and as i start figuring out what it is going to be mean to be a pilot's wife, i thought "why not start the blog about this crazy adventure?" so here we go...a little about me...
i love lists. i love making to-do lists and the instant gratification of crossing things off my lists. i love the satisfaction you get after making a list and being able to complete your entire list. i love having a to-do list for the weekend on the fridge and being able to cross everything off on saturday morning. i love being organized, but i tend to attract clutter. (buuut i still hate clutter). i love that lists help me organize. it seems appropriate then, to start off with a little top ten things on my mind right now list...
1. i'm getting married in less than 6 months
2. i'm going to be an air force wife (i keep hoping that it is going to be nothing like Army Wives...
3. i'll live an hour from my brother after we get married...that's the closest we have lived to each other since i was in high school.
4. this weekend my fiancee gets to fly to hawaii for work, sit there (on the beach!), possibly fly to guam, then back to hawaii and sit there some more. i'm a little jealous.
5. i'm very thankful that virginia SOL testing is finally over.
6. i love my kindergarten class...and may get a little emotional when i think about them going on to first grade next year.
7. i love that one of my students comes into class everyday, looks at my hand and asks if i am still engaged.
8. only 7 more school days left until summer...i can't wait!
9. i am excited to go for a run tomorrow morning before school before it gets to be ridiculously hot and humid...roanoke even made the today show this morning because we are so hot this week!
10. my best friend is getting married in less than 2 months. i tried comparing us to "bride wars." only not quite so bridezilla as kate hudson. she wasn't as amused as i was.
bride_wars_2.jpg)
as long as i pick a different wedding date (check), buy a different wedding dress (soon-to-be-check) and i don't dye her hair blue (check), i think we are going to be in good shape for the next few months.
2010 is shaping up to be a good year!
i love lists. i love making to-do lists and the instant gratification of crossing things off my lists. i love the satisfaction you get after making a list and being able to complete your entire list. i love having a to-do list for the weekend on the fridge and being able to cross everything off on saturday morning. i love being organized, but i tend to attract clutter. (buuut i still hate clutter). i love that lists help me organize. it seems appropriate then, to start off with a little top ten things on my mind right now list...
1. i'm getting married in less than 6 months
2. i'm going to be an air force wife (i keep hoping that it is going to be nothing like Army Wives...
3. i'll live an hour from my brother after we get married...that's the closest we have lived to each other since i was in high school.
4. this weekend my fiancee gets to fly to hawaii for work, sit there (on the beach!), possibly fly to guam, then back to hawaii and sit there some more. i'm a little jealous.
5. i'm very thankful that virginia SOL testing is finally over.
6. i love my kindergarten class...and may get a little emotional when i think about them going on to first grade next year.
7. i love that one of my students comes into class everyday, looks at my hand and asks if i am still engaged.
8. only 7 more school days left until summer...i can't wait!
9. i am excited to go for a run tomorrow morning before school before it gets to be ridiculously hot and humid...roanoke even made the today show this morning because we are so hot this week!
10. my best friend is getting married in less than 2 months. i tried comparing us to "bride wars." only not quite so bridezilla as kate hudson. she wasn't as amused as i was.
bride_wars_2.jpg)
as long as i pick a different wedding date (check), buy a different wedding dress (soon-to-be-check) and i don't dye her hair blue (check), i think we are going to be in good shape for the next few months.
2010 is shaping up to be a good year!
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