Can you imagine the uproar?

Forgive me for this brief rant, but I have to get this off my chest:

Reading the comments on Yahoo articles pisses me off so bad. What if all the Jews voted to make bacon illegal, and anyone who chose to eat bacon would be deprived of 1/2 their social security/tax benefits and health insurance, because the Jews didn't want to finance those benefits out of "their tax dollars." And we all know it is not healthy for children to be cared for by bacon-eaters, so lets make their families second class. Can you imagine the uproar? So let me marry my damn woman and give her insurance and equal recognition under tax and social security codes/laws. That's all.

Awwwwwwwwww! That feels so much better!

Excuse me if I offended anyone, that is far from my intent.

Note: I like bacon and I have no problem with anyone's religious identity. I just have a problem with people who try to infringe on the rights of others.

Proof of my affection for bacon.

In other news, wedding planning is going splendidly! We're visiting Kim's family in South Carolina the first weekend of April and shopping for wedding dresses. We've also hired our wedding planner, photographer, gotten the ceremony venue secured, and decided on an all-around theme/feel for the wedding. We had to adjust the date for the wedding, some friends won't be able to make it due to pregnancy (we're talking due date the same day as the wedding!) and being out of the country for work, but it is hard to accommodate everyone. The good news is that we chose a bye week, so no one will have to miss a big game to help us celebrate... And neither will we :)

Allllllllrighty, back to work!

<3 Lacey

The Funniest Thing I've Ever Seen

Lacey here... and I'd just like to review for you one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

You may remember Kim's last post, and how distraught she was that our mail lady seemed incompetent at the least.  I got the fun end of the deal, watching Kimmy finally confront her with all the rage of a chihuahua who has been ignored for 5 minutes too long.

(not our dog)

I was trying to take a nap after a 24-hour shift at work, and Kim was sitting on the edge of the bed visiting with me.

 Suddenly she hopped to her feet and her little chihuahua ears perked up. She had heard the mail truck.  She bolted down the stairs and I just yelled, "What the ^%$^% is going on???" and she shouted something incoherent back as she made a bunch of noise and slammed the front door.

I got out of bed and went to our office window.  There I saw Kim trotting to the mailbox.  She opened it, fumbled around a little bit, then starting sprinting full speed down the road, with a handful of "return to sender" mail, sweatpants hiked up to her knees, and galoshes on her feet.  Clunk.  Clunk.  Clunk.

She waived and hollered at the mail lady to get her attention when she finally got to the truck, then interrogated her, hands on hips and all (so as to imply "are you lazy or just stupid?") before handing over the envelopes.

That little girl trotted back in her heavy rain boots, and was proud as a peacock.  She walked through the front door and I was doubled over laughing.  If you only knew Kim's quiet personality you would understand the humor in watching such a spectacle :)

Now the mail lady usually picks up the outgoing mail, but still doesn't get the concept of putting down the flag, despite the lesson Kim gave her.

*So proud*
Lacey

I Don't Understand

So I'm sure one of us has mentioned before that I sometimes get to work from home.  By sometimes I mean 2-3 days a week.  There are definitely pros and cons to this type of schedule, but I'll save all of those for another post.

 Well there is one thing that I've noticed while working at the house....our lazy Mail Lady! 

Two days ago I put some outgoing mail in the empty mail box and lifted the red flag to make her aware of this outgoing mail. That's how it works, right?  So why is she ignoring all of this?  She still delivers our mail each day, but never takes the outgoing mail....I don't understand.  

Maybe it's because she's too distracted while talking on her Bluetooth :)

I know I'm fussing, but I hate when people don't do their job (especially when it's one of the main parts of their job...collect mail!).  So if I get the privilege to be home tomorrow then I plan on "kindly" reminding the Mail Lady to take our mail when the little red flag is at attention....geez!  What if I had bills waiting in there?

 Good coffee whenever I want it! One of the pros when working from home...along with keeping the USPS in check!

~Kim

Decisions, Decisions...

Ever planned a wedding in the DC area?  If so, you would find yourself deciding whether you will wait fifteen years to have children and having your ceremony and reception at one of the popular local venues.

We don't want to wait fifteen years to have kids.  So, that has left us looking for alternatives.  Hmmmmmmm... Where could we possibly host a wedding for our family and friends, but not completely blow every dollar we have and put ourselves in $major debt$?

My first thought was the back yard.  Kim has all but vetoed that idea.  As much as we love the big tree and everything, she just doesn't see it as practical and beautiful (insert sad face) for a ceremony.

I was at a loss... I really want to get married in Maryland now that it is legal here, but all of the historical buildings cost $1000+ for a few hours on the weekend and have a bunch of crazy restrictions about food and alcohol service, insurance, permitting and licensing... They kind of kill the joy of wanting to do anything celebratory!

And then yesterday I got off work at 8am after a 24+ hour shift, took a nap, and found myself with some time to explore the local area.  I loaded up one of the little dogs and drove a few short miles down to Fort Washington Park, a historic Civil War fort.  Let me tell you, this place is cool AND beautiful!  After texting a few pictures to Kimmy and relaying the fact that a permit for an event at a National Park is only $50, Kim was sold :)  She loves that being down by the water reminds her of her hometown, Charleston, and the Civil War heritage also reminds her of her Southern roots.  I love that it is cool, an unlikely spot, and picture perfect!

 A view of Fort Washington down by the water.  I took this with my iPhone on a cool/cheap app called "Photosynth." 

 I definitely recommend it when you're taking touristy pics or setting up a "photo tour" for something.

One details down a million to go!  I am still lobbying for the reception at our house.  We aren't planning to have many guests and I think we could make it warm, inviting and fun for our friends and family.  Am I crazy?

Happy Tuesday!
Lacey

Wrapping up 2012

Happy 2013, y'all!

Kimmy made it back safely from her trip home.  We had a lovely evening to ourselves to exchange a few gifts, and charged headfirst into the new year.

In the days following her return we attacked a few things that had been on our list for quite some time.  We FINALLY got the basement in order, which included setting up our new "gym."  That gave us a great new space to start tackling the next thing on our list: Insanity.  Side note: we can barely walk!  We very much look forward to some "beach bodies" in about 63 days :)  Tonight we will complete the 3rd workout.  Ouch.

We finally got to have a mini get-together at our house to help ring in the new year last night.  I cannot believe we both failed to take a picture of the spread we planned for our friends, but, if the cook does say so herself, it was absolutely delicious and all homemade. Yum.  Garlicy cheeseburger sliders on fresh baked buns with caramelized onions, beer & cheese fondue (more garlic), hummus with a kick (even more garlic), fried cheesy buffalo chicken wontons, and melon with prosciutto.  We definitely ate ourselves into the new year!  Nomnomnomnom.

Of course we had great company, between each other, all our furry roommates, and our guests :)

The beautiful women who helped us ring in 2013

We were having so much fun Kim and I forgot to get a solo picture together, AGAIN! 

Surprisingly, despite being dead tired by about 2pm, we made it all the way to midnight and beyond, watched the ball drop, had ourselves a good smooch, and made our way to bed with a glass of water and a couple ibuprofen.

We awoke this morning very much alive and made it to a pajama brunch with our friends, hit up the bookstore, and fell asleep watching a movie... as all new years should begin!

Balancing things out for the recovery

Happy 2013!
Lacey

P.S.
A pic of our house during the first snow that "stuck."

Wintery love from the Fifth House on the Left!

"Ho Ho Ho (Ho)!" From our Furry Family

I am so lucky to be loved by such an amazing crew of cute cuddly fur babies.  They all wanted to say "Merry Christmas" this morning :)

 

"Ho..."
~Biggie

 

"...Ho..."
~Jesse

 

"...Ho..."
~Roxie

 

"...Ho!"
~Kiki (the biggest challenge of all!)

Hope you're enjoying a day with the ones you love (furry or not!)

<3 Lacey  

The Happenings Keep on Happening!

I hate apologies for delayed posting, but here is another one from me! *Sorry*

On to the happenings in our life lately!

1. Kim went on a business trip the week before Thanksgiving and it gave me the perfect opportunity!  The opportunity to plot, and, most importantly, shop alone.  I've been wanting to write this particular update for some time, but wanted to wait until we got pictures to share.  Doesn't look like that's happening anytime soon, so here goes!

I picked Kimmy up from the airport after some flight delays (lame!  I was excited!!!).  If she hadn't gotten home late I was going to take her to do a little mini spa trip before brunch with friends, but instead, I greeted her at the airport with a little bunch of flowers.

Not very clear (I was driving and not being safe!), but isn't she just adorable with her little flowers?

With those flowers was a little note that said something about an "adventure" (I really need to find those cards for a better recap!) and Kim freaked out "But I need to go to the bathroom!  I can't go on an adventure!"  I told her to calm down, we're only going to brunch and then having friends over to watch some football.

We had a great brunch with great friends, and when we were done I told Kim we needed to stop at Whole Foods really quick before heading home.  That gave our friends an opportunity to get to our house before us.  When we finally got home I acted like I was getting the mail while she went to let our friends inside who were "impatiently" waiting at the front door.  On the front door I had stuck another little note.  The note led her inside to find about 8-10 more notes and a few more bunches of flowers.  Biggie, our lab, even had a clue around his neck.  She eventually ended up on our front step, where she had proposed to me, and I gave her the ring that I was able to pick out while she was gone.  Of course she said she'd "marry me back" as I asked her, and she looks soooooooooo pretty with that ring around her finger!

 

It was fun to have our girlfriends there to take pictures and squeal with us :)  Hopefully we can get some of those pics up here soon!

Ain't she purdy?

 

2.  We got to celebrate our first Thanksgiving in our new house!  It was soooooo nice to be able to share that time together and start planning our new family traditions.  Having some time together also really reminded me how much I love the amazing woman I get to spend the rest of my life with.  We had a great time sharing good drinks and good food.  Yummmm!

Kimmy even wore an apron!  Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuah!

 

3. I finally took and passed my RD exam (a major contributing factor to my being detached from the world for so long!).  So, now I'm a real dietitian with lots of letters after my name.  I spent way too much time studying, but I was glad to pass it on the first try.

4. I had a birthday.  Now I'm the big two-eight (as old as Kim for almost a whole month!).

5. We got all prepped up for the holidays, picked out a tree (not the one Kimmy's holding, that one was just cute and little like her!), and hung our stockings.

 

 Look at that cute little Kimmy-sized tree!

 

Decorating for our first holiday season in our new house!

 

6. Kim is on a trip right now to go visit her family in South Carolina for the holidays.  It wouldn't be much fun for her to stick around here while I have to go in to work for Christmas tomorrow.  I don't want to complain about the working, I think it is very nice what we do (hand out fruit baskets to all of the patients who are stuck in the hospital on the holiday), but it sure would be nice to come home and have a nice dinner with my loved ones!*  I am banking my Karma from this year, though... I fully expect someone else to work on the first Christmas when I have kids :) 

 

*Note: I am so happy I have such a loving furry little family to come home to after work tomorrow.  They are amazing and I am loving all this time with them over the long weekend!
....Oh, and I am also very thankful my whole workweek will be made up of half days.  THAT is awesome :)
...ANDDDDDD I'm very excited to have our own little Christmas when Kim gets back.  Why does it seem like I'm always waiting for her to get back from things?!

Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Man!
~*Lacey*~