Memories, Tidbits & Quirks

Concerts.

2011-12-19T20:07:00.013-05:00

I love concerts. There's simply nothing like the energy of a crowd as the main act gets ready to play. I love the pulse of the music, the bright lights, and simply the sound of live music. Everyone is there for one purpose: to witness something great.

My favorite show has some great quotes about concerts:
"...It's like when you go and see a really great band, live for the first time and, you know, and nobody's saying it, but everybody's thinking it, we have something to believe in again."

"Every song has a CODA, a final movement, whether it fades out or crashes away. Every song ends, is that any reason not to enjoy the music?"

Over the weekend I bought 2 tickets to see Coldplay in concert July 2012. Even though it's over a half-year away, I find myself excited already. It got me reminiscing about all the concerts I've been to and the great memories I've accumulated from each one. I decided to compile my most memorable moments from each concert I've been to. I'm sure I'm missing a few but as I think of more, I'll add to the list (or you can remind me of one we went to together in the comments!).

Nsync. This was my first concert ever. I was 13. It was 2000. Nsync was going on tour. I had to go! There's no denying I was fully immersed in the boy band craze (and, if I'm being honest with myself, haven't quite grown out of it as of today...). This was their No Strings Attached tour and me and a friend, Anna, were die-hard Nsync fans. We got our nose bleed tickets for the July 21st show at the (then) First Union Spectrum (now Wells Fargo Center). It didn't matter that once we got there all we could see were little tiny dots on the stage. All that mattered to us was that we were breathing the same air as Justin Timberlake! Oh. My. God! I do remember my Dad dropping us off and picking us up for that concert. At the time I remember wanting him to drop us off around the corner so no one saw, now I'm surprised he let me go to a concert without parental supervision at 13. My funniest memory of the concert (although at the time was the single most appropriate response to the situation) was hysterically crying when JT came out and sang "This I Promise You." There was no question, of course he was singing it to me.

Default. This was my first concert with my Dad. I can't remember the exact year but I believe it was around the same time or year of the Nsync concert. The difference here: not only was I not embarrassed to be going to a concert with my Dad, I felt cool because I knew my Dad had the "inside scoop" to rock music. My Dad was a musician in his 20s and is a wizz on the guitar. I knew this was my Dad's realm, and I loved it. I remember feeling very protected at this concert. Both by my Dad and by the music. I think this was when I truly fell in love with live music (sorry Nsync). It was at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia and, if you've ever been there, you know how intimate the place is. I felt like I was a part of the band, a part of their process. Default has since come and gone, but I'll never forget this concert.

Y100 FEASTival. This was one kick-ass concert! It was 2003 in Camden, NJ and my best friend at the time, Stephanie, and I went with her Mom. One poignant memory from our drive there stands out. We were driving there, in traffic, late, and Stephanie and I had to pee really bad. All we had were some water bottles so we took the opportunity to learn (well, I learned, Steph was already a pro) how to pee in a small necked water bottle without spilling. I gotta say, I did pretty good. The concert featured 311, The Offspring, Dashboard Confessional, The Used, Smile Empty Soul and Jet. I remember The Offspring kicking some serious ass. I know I crowd surfed quite a few times during their set, particularly during the song "The Kids Aren't Alright." (Listening to that song now and totally picturing a mosh pit that I want to be in...). I remember jumping up and down a LOT and flailing all about with the rest of the crowd. We had seated tickets, but that didn't stop us from making our way to the pit once the lights went down. 311 also put on a really great set and I've been a fan of theirs ever since.

All American Rejects. This was also at the Theatre of Living Arts on April 1, 2003 (and yes, if you must know, I'm using Google to help me find the dates and years). I went with Stephanie and we waited outside for a while before the concert started, fully prepared with our punk clothing attire and Converse sneakers. This was another intimate affair, but much more intimate than Default. I remember feeling so smushed at one point that I could hardly breathe. Then again, we were at the very front of the venue right up against the metal fence that separated us from running up on stage. Two things happened at this concert: 1. The main singer Tyson Ritter sweat right on my head. Literally. He was so close that the sweat dripped from his smoothly singing face right onto my forehead. I thought it was the best thing in the world. 2. One of the band mates threw their water bottle out into the crowd and I caught it. I brought it home with me and my Dad unintentionally threw it out the next day.

Jessica Simpson. This was in 2004 at the outdoor Hershey Park Pavilion. It was July 2nd and a blistering hot day. There were chairs but since it was outdoors, I remember running to the front to snap a few up-close photos of JSimps. I remember thinking She's so beautiful and I do know that she sung live, so that's always good. I did get quite a few good photos from this concert but, unfortunately, digital cameras weren't popular yet and I only have them in good old fashioned print so you'll have to just take my word for it.

Finch. This band was my absolute favorite through most of high school. I used to listen to their What It Is to Burn CD every day on the bus ride to and from school with my Discman. I had every lyric memorized. Finch played at the Theater of Living Arts and I went with Stephanie and another good friend, Mason. I definitely lost my voice at this concert because I was singing along to every song, every line, every word. I was engrossed in the moment and didn't care that my throat was screaming at me. After they left the stage, I was not satisfied with leaving. Stephanie, Mason and I asked a bouncer outside if he knew when Finch would be out and he directed us around the back of the venue. We just walked inside a door, up some stairs and hey! there's Finch sitting in their dressing room. I took off my Converse sneaker and threw it to the lead singer, Nate, asking him to sign it. He did, threw it back, and told us we couldn't be up here and needed to leave. We left with no fuss but not before I yelled how much their music had changed me.

Saosin. I trekked once again to the Theater of Living Arts on November 3, 2007 to see Saosin with a dear friend Charlene. This concert was so full of energy and hard-core moshing. One of my all-time favorite songs by them "Voices" was also one of my favorite moments at this concert. Charlene and I had listened to the CD on the way to the concert and I remember hearing the CD version of this song and just itching to hear it live. When that moment came and they played the first few riffs I just went to a place of euphoria. I remember looking up at the ceiling, closing my eyes, and just letting the lyrics and sound wash over me. That was one moment I will never forget. The feeling I had, knowing that music, or even a single song, can define how I'm feeling. Charlene was such a fun concert buddy and we danced, moshed and scream-sang the night away from start to finish.

Glee. June 8, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center. I went with my friend Sarah and boy did the actors and actresses from Glee put on a show! They did a set of songs from the show and reenacted some scenes as well. There were lights, costumes, awesome dancing. Oh yeah, and this A Capella group called The Warblers. Needless to say, my and Sarah's fan girl reactions arose full surface on this fine date in Philly. I do know that the concert felt short for the amount of money we paid for our tickets, but it was still a great time and I'm an even bigger fan of the show now. The Glee LIVE concert movie showed in theaters (yes, I saw that too) and is now out on DVD if you'd like to experience what I experienced in a less awesome fashion. And that's what you missed on GLEE!

Britney. Yes it IS Britney beeyotch! There's a reason this woman has been entertaining for over a decade. She knows how to entertain! My sister Jes graciously went to this concert with me even though she's not exactly a fan (though she did know a lot of the words - go Jes!). On August 5, 2011 I finally saw Britney in concert after being a fan since 1998's "Baby One More Time." This was her Femme Fatale tour and it was quite the spectacle! There were trapeze artists, fireworks, crazy props, and real live singing from Brit Brit herself! Nicki Minaj opened for Britney and she was a mini-concert herself. She sang almost all her songs from Pink Friday and was good enough that I'd pay to see her individually! My favorites from this concert were Britney singing "Til the World Ends" as her encore, seeing her first come out on the stage singing "Hold it Against Me," and witnessing her infamous dance moves in person.

So those are my highlights of concerts I will always remember and cherish. I am looking forward to adding Coldplay to this list!

A Birthday to be Remembered

2011-06-04T16:56:00.011-04:00

June 3, 2011 was a great day. I'm writing this to share my joy in that day, but also to preserve the memories that I never want to forget.

Phil and I have been using each birthday's as an opportunity to surprise each other with something special. For Phil's 23rd birthday I took him to Longwood Gardens. For my 23rd Phil rented us a boat and we laid out on the water for hours in a beautiful park. On Phil's 24th birthday I got us tickets to see Cirque du Soleil in Philly. And for my 24th, well, Phil made me feel just downright special and loved :)

The morning of June 3rd Phil drove us to Nockamixon State Park about 45 minutes away. He had planned out a trail route for us and packed a picnic lunch with sandwiches, salads, and fruit. It was a gorgeous day, high of 75F, sunny and clear blue skies. We got to the park around 11:30 and started off on our hiking adventure! We missed the trail a few times but it was fun to spend time together outdoors and see all the beautiful wildlife. Phil is not usually the outdoorsy type so it was nice of him to think of something he knew I'd enjoy but wouldn't necessarily choose for himself.

After hiking for about an hour, we ended up at this beautiful spot right near the river. We ended up stopping here and had our picnic lunch. Phil had bought a cooler so everything stayed cold. I'll tell ya, this guy can really plan every little detail! After we had finished lunch, we hiked back to the car. We took a different trail back and ended up trekking through some high grass, but it just added more to our whole adventure!

Once we got back to the car, Phil said he had our next stop planned nearby. About 10 minutes later, we arrived at a cute little creamery, OWowCow. They make their own ice cream, toppings, and whipped cream! It was oh so delish! We got a hot
fudge sundae with lemon ginger ice cream. YUM!
We stuffed our faces full of ice cream and then headed back home.

When we got home, Phil told me that I probably wanted to shower before my next surprise. Sure I was muddy from our hiking adventures, but wasn't in the mood to shower again. Phil pushed it enough though that I finally decided that he probably had a reason to be so adamant...

Around 4:30 we headed out again and Phil dropped me off at Sedona Salon & Spa! He told me I was set up for a 90 minute Swedish Massage. Does my husband know me or what? (I was also thankful that I had showered, thanks Phil!) I asked Phil what he would do while I was getting my massage but he simply said, "Don't worry about it." So I didn't.

An hour and a half later, I was relaxed and mellow. Phil picked me up and took us to our next stop: The Cheesecake Factory for dinner! I had Crusted Romano Chicken and Phil got the pulled pork sandwich. Boy oh boy is their food good... Phil even told them it was my birthday so they came over and sung to me with a piece of cake! Not that either of us had room for cake, but we managed a few bites before we boxed everything up and drove home! Full of food, love, and gratitude for my wonderful husband, I wasn't quite sure what else Phil could possibly have planned but he said it wasn't over yet!

We got home around 9:00 and after dropping off my things in the closet, I looked up to see a beautiful assortment of roses in a vase waiting for me on the living room table (turns out this was what Phil was doing while I was getting my massage!). I walked over and opened the breathtakingly beautiful birthday card that Phil had gotten me with the roses. With tears brimming over, I read on the card that there was still one more present! Phil told me to wait here and ran upstairs. He came down with a box. I opened it, teary-eyed, and found a brand new Amazon Kindle inside! I love to read so this was a very well thought out gift. The night ended with two exhausted, full, and happy people!

I hope I expressed enough to Phil just how much today meant to me. The intricate planning and time spent to make this a special day for me shone through in the excitement he had throughout the whole day. I am blown away by how kind hearted and thoughtful my husband is and can't thank God enough for sending him to me. Here's to another wonderful year in which I hope to share that same love and appreciation back to my husband everyday.

You Gotta Go There To Come Back

2011-02-26T22:25:00.009-05:00

One Tree Hill. This show has been a staple in my life since its pilot aired on September 23, 2003. I know that probably sounds very worldly and media-centered, but there's just something about this show that just cuts straight to my heart. I've been a dedicated watcher since day 1 and have been wanting to visit where they film ever since. I was never able to go in high school since I couldn't drive yet and I didn't have the money to go in college. After hearing that the current season, 8, is most likely my beloved shows last season, I knew I had to go now. Phil, being the supportive husband that he is, agreed to come along and, although he is not as big of a fan as I, he was excited as well.

I started planning, planning, and more planning. I got a list of all the locations they've filmed, mapped them out, and set us up with places to visit each day while we were down there. I joined forums to exchange info with other fans so we could help each other out with filming information while in town. I researched the cast's favorite hangouts in Wilmington, NC. And then, finally, the day arrived!

February 18, 2011:
Having hardly been able to sleep the night before, Phil and I set out on our 9 1/2 hour drive to Wilmington, NC. We drove south through Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, D.C. Virginia, and into North Carolina. Ten and a half hours and some aggravating traffic later, we were there. The minute we entered Wilmington, NC I could hardly focus on anything except how cute the town is and "Do you recognize that? What's that building called? Do you see any cast members??" Phil was very patient with my fanaticism and started snapping pictures left and right. After checking into our hotel, we set out to see downtown and get some dinner. We ended up at The Reel Cafe, an incredibly delicious restaurant that has the added benefit of being both a former filming location and a popular hangout for many of the actors. I wasted no time in searching for any bits of info I could and asked the waitress if anyone from One Tree Hill had been in tonight. She said no one had but had no problem gushing about the show and each actor's favorite meal to order at the Reel Cafe. I was alert throughout my whole meal and probably scared some people that entered the resto, but all we left with that night was a full belly.

February 19, 2011:

Very busy day ahead of us! After getting ready for the day, we stopped at where they filmed Keith's Auto Shop, Lucas and Karen's house, Haley James' house, and Peyton's house. We then headed to the Screen Gems studio for their tour at noon! This was such an awesome experience since seeing the sets that you watch every week is so much different to see in person. We were showed Nathan and Haley's second house, Brooke and Julian's house, and Red Bedroom Records. One fun fact is that the stairs in any of the houses lead nowhere, they just drop off. So whenever a character is shown coming down the stairs, it's really just the actor standing there and then walking down the few stairs they've built for the set. Pretty crazy how things are so much different than how we picture them on TV.

After the tour, we continued on our ventures to more filming locations. We went to visit where they film the outside of Nathan and Haley's house and then set off to Airlie's Gardens. Wow, was that beautiful. With its arrangements of flowers, sculptures, trees, and paths along the water, it was definitely one place I was glad we visited. One Tree Hill has filmed here multiple times and it was fun recognizing the sites as we made our way around the gardens. My favorite part of this place (aside from the filming locations, of course) was the bottle sculpture building. If you're ever in Wilmington, NC or around the area, I definitely recommend visiting Airlie's Gardens!

The last stop of today was the Indepedence Mall. Yet another filming location but also a way for us to just unwind after a busy day by just walking around and browsing. Well, that didn't last long since the business of the day quickly caught up with us and we were exhausted by 9pm. Don't think excitement can't drain you, because it definitely can. So, tonight was an early night for us.

February 20, 2011:

Back to filming location scouting!! Most of the places that they film are all downtown, so we were able to cover most of the places I had mapped easily and quickly today. The places we saw today were: Lucas and Lindsay's wedding church, the bridge from the intro, Tree Hill High, Clothes over Bros/Karen's Cafe, Keith and Jules' wedding church, Lucas and Brooke's first date (Blue Post Billiards), CD Alley, lingerie store that Brooke set up on Naley's scavenger date, Dixie Grill, Hell's Kitchen (where Taylor worked), spot where Lucas and Keith crashed, police station, courthouse, Tric, rivercourt (my favorite!!), and the riverwalk. Along our fun journey, we ran into two other One Tree Hill fans, Heather and Amanda, at Nathan and Haley's first "date" table when Haley starts tutoring him. After talking for a bit, we ended up exchanging information so we could help each other out if we spot anything!

Later that night, we met up with two other fans for dinner, Carina and Julia, who had traveled all the way from Germany! I had met Carina on Twitter and found out that we were both coming to Wilmington the same week! It's always fun meeting other fans :) We ended up at the Reel Cafe again. Another one of my recommendations if you're in the area.

Finally, the four of us set out to walk around downtown and, on our way, we ran into Lauren and Heather again! We grouped together and began our search for cast members. All the bouncers knew our names by the end of the night and were very helpful in sharing any information they had. We got to see this cute town at night, get to know our new friends rather well, and try out a few of the locals bars. It was a very fun night! Finally, about 1am, we decided to split ways for the night and headed back to our hotel.

February 21, 2011:

For breakfast, we made our way to the Dixie Grill, a place we had heard rave reviews about and, oh, it just happens to also be a season 6 & 7 filming location :) The hype was right, it was a very cute diner with fun decor and killer food! As we were waiting for our breakfast, Phil spotted a familiar face walk in. Mark Schwahn! Who is he you ask? He, my friend, is the creator, the mastermind, the genius behind this show called One Tree Hill. I quickly approached him and exclaimed, "Mark Schwahn! I love your show!" After an autograph and a picture, I managed to hold it together enough to get filming locations for the following day; what luck!

After our successfully delicious brunch, Phil and I went to visit where they filmed Jamie's school, Dan Scott Motors, Brooke Davis' house in high school, Felix & Anna's house, the house they used in "I Will Dare", and the Scott house. We also drove by the cemetery they use for any grave scenes. Later, we visited Wrightsville Beach since it was a nice day and, you guessed it, they've also filmed there. The weather turned against us and the wind drove us back to our hotel to get changed and relax for a bit, before dinner.

We met up with our four new friends again for dinner at...the Reel Cafe!! I was ready to try something new, but Heather and Amanda hadn't been yet, so we enjoyed yet another delicious dinner here. After dinner, the six of us headed to Wilmington's International Airport. Carina had worked her magic in finding out which flight Sophia (Brooke), Austin (Julian), and Rob (Clay) would have to be taking back to Wilmington in order to make it in time for filming the following morning. So yeah, we waited at the airport for them... I like to think that I went there to see it since they've filmed airport scenes here, but I know the fan in me was really hoping to see the three of them get off that flight. By 10:45pm, everyone had deplaned and no celebs had shown up. We left, disappointed, and were then even more crushed when I found out the following morning that other fans had waited longer and saw them show up at 11:00pm! I would be more devastated if the next day hadn't gone the way it had...

February 22, 2011:

Since we had gotten the list of filming locations from Mark yesterday, we all planned to meet at Sea Path Yacht Club near Wrightsville Beach where they were supposed to be filming the majority of the day. When we got there, we saw makeup trailers, equipment trucks, and vans they use to transport the cast. It was such an awesome experience to see everything happening in action. I am so used to seeing the final product in every episode, but here I was seeing it happen from the beginning! James Lafferty was filming here today and we actually got to catch some of the filming! We heard "cutting" "rolling" "play back" and saw all the hard work that goes into filming just one scene. It sure does give you some appreciation for the filming industry. After a few hours, we got comfortable and grabbed our blankets and peanut butter sandwiches. James had told us earlier that he would come out once he'd wrapped filming, so no way were we planning on leaving until then. While we were all sitting there waiting, chatting, and trying to keep warm in the 30 degree weather, we hear someone say "They're taking pictures over there!" In one big leap, we grabbed our stuff and ran to the source, only to see the one and only, Sophia Bush!! She had come outside to greet all the fans waiting. She was very sweet and patient enough to take pictures with everyone there. My first words to her were "Hi, you're so pretty." Yeah, I tend to babble when I'm excited and nervous. I also asked if she remembered me from some exchanges we'd had on Twitter and Crowdrise, and she did! It was very very cool meeting her :)

After that, we continued to wait for filming to wrap. Finally, James came out and kept his word! He came and said hello to everyone, took pictures, and signed autographs. I couldn't believe I was talking to Nathan Scott!! :)

Afterwards, Julia and Carina had to catch their flight that night since they were off to NYC before heading home to Germany. We all had dinner together one more time, this time at the Front Street Brewery, and then said goodbye to our two new friends!

Heather, Amanda, Phil and I then went to Blue Post Billiards to enjoy a game of pool! We had asked the crew earlier today where filming would be tomorrow, so we were set.

February 23, 2011

Today was all about finding and watching filming. We knew they were filming at the airport, Tric, and a hospital. We made it to Tric before filming had started and saw Austin Nichols drive up in their infamous white vans shortly after we arrived. He was kind enough to come over after I screamed "Austin!" ;) I chatted with him briefly and got a photo and an autograph. Score. After Austin left, Jana Kramer arrived! She also responded to my shout out and came over to greet us. Talk about an awesome start to our day! Later, we saw Michael May and Stephen Colletti show up since they were filming at Tric. Once we found out that Stephen would be filming all day and wouldn't come out until he'd wrapped, the four of us set out to grab some lunch (Papa John's) and then went to visit the high school where they'd filmed the Tree Hill High gym. Emsley A Laney High School is also where Michael Jordan graduated and his jersey number just happened to be 23 (Nathan in the show is also number 23). We were admitted as visitors and got to look around the whole school. The gym looked quite different than it does in seasons 1-4 since the crew probably brought most of their own props to showcase the Ravens. It was still cool to see though :)

After, we headed back to Tric where we waited another two hours before filming finally wrapped. Stephen did come over and we got to meet our third cast member of the day!

After Tric, we quickly drove to where they film hospital scenes (at Cape Fear Community College-they bring their own props to make it look hospital-like). We got to see Sophia and Austion (Brooke and Julian) film a scene for Julian's documentary in season 8. It was a very brief scene and after it wrapped, we made our way over to the River Room on Front St. for a wonderful charity event!!

Sophia had told us about it Tuesday afternoon when we met her, and had invited everyone to be a part of the charity for a crew member, Amy, who needs a transplant. Of course we went. It. Was. Awesome. When we got there, we saw James Lafferty, Robert Buckley, Stephen Colletti, Michael May, Sophia Bush, and Austin Nichols. We were able to grab pictures with both Robert and Michael since we hadn't met them yet. Everyone aside from Sophia and Austin left shortly after group photos, but boy was it something to be in the same room with all these people from my favorite show! I had to keep reminding myself that, yes, this was actually happening. The night ended around 9:30-10pm, and we had gotten to chat with both Sophia and Austin. The actual charity event was a huge success, raising over $10,000.00 for Amy! The top prize was a private tour offered by Sophia and Austin that went to two different groups for $1200 each.

The four of us left the River Room in a daze, not quite believing that we had just partied with the cast of OTH! All of us left the following morning, so we took one last long walk around downtown Wilmington. While stopping at one of the last few spot we'd wanted to take photos of, we landed in front of Deluxe Restaurant. Someone came outside and asked us how we ended up in Wilmington. After we explained, she told us "You didn't hear this from me, but the cast of A Cinderella Story 3 is eating inside." I had heard they were filming here and knew that Lucy Hale is starring! She is in another show that I watch, Pretty Little Liars. We made our way inside and I was able to meet her and grab a pic. I was the only one who cared since Heather and Amanda don't watch the show, but it was very cool to meet her!

Finally, we had to say our sad goodbyes to Heather and Amanda and then head back to the hotel to pack.

February 24, 2011:

Time to go home. Much to my dismay, we packed up our car and headed on our long journey back to reality. I could definitely live in Wilmington, NC someday. It's beautiful, peaceful, cute, and full of such nice people! It took us 11 hours to get home and we hit a lot of traffic. But, this trip was one that we will not soon forget.

We Change, We Wait

2010-08-13T20:40:00.005-04:00

We are moving. September 25th is the big day! I gotta say, I'm darn excited. I just hope this is not us on moving day -->

Let's backtrack a little.

Phil and I have been unhappy where we're currently living for a while. The summers are hot and the winters are cold. Insulation? What's that? Our windows here are older than Dumbledore. As we've also noticed, our windows aren't so keen on keeping out bugs either, especially in the summer. So..the search for a new place began! Ten apartment places, 156 pictures, and 17 videos later, Phil and I have found our new place!

We stumbled on it on Craigslist.com. It's a two-story, two-bedroom 1.5 bath townhouse. From my first walk around it, I knew I wanted to move in. Phil and I talked about it, turned in our application, and were approved the next day!

I'm so excited to start fresh in a new place. I love decorating. A part of me thinks I could've been really good at interior decorating. I love looking for new furniture and decor for a place that has a blank slate.

In other, equally exciting, news, Phil and I will be cruising the Caribbean at this very moment next month! We're celebrating our one year anniversary by sailing the clear, blue ocean, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying our nice movie screen theater poolside on our cruise. I know, marriage is hard.

I'm so excited that Sunday is our one year anniversary! This year has been more than I could ever have imagined and I thank God everyday that he matched me with Phil. We're celebrating Sunday with dinner reservations at the Melting Pot. Hellloooo yum!

I hope everyone is enjoying (and staying cool) this summer!

Every Night is Another Story

2010-01-16T22:38:00.003-05:00

Yesterday marked Phil and my 5 month anniversary. Each day that I wake up beside Phil I am reminded by how blessed and truly happy I am in my life right now. Marriage is absolutely wonderful.

As of January 14th Phil has been approved for his Green Card! Since I failed to blog for the past few months you have missed a chunk of our life where we were busy filing forms to adjust Phil's status to that of a permanent resident. Two days ago we had our immigration interview to determine that we are a legitimate couple. Turns out we are since we were approved and Phil's Green Card is now on its way. It's pretty amazing to find out how much one will go through in the name of love. Of course, it was all worth it in the end, but we are both glad all this visa nonsense is past us.

I'm going into my 6th month at the job I blogged about in my last entry. It has been quite a journey learning the ins and outs and I'm certain I have much more to learn. However, I am very thankful to have a job. I'm really happy to be a part of a team and have an office to walk into every morning and just try to make a difference in someone's life. It is very challenging, but honestly, what job isn't?

Phil and I have been settling into our apartment together nicely. It was so much fun opening all the wedding gifts that we registered for and finding a place for them to go in our home together. There really wasn't much adjusting after we got married; it's as if we were always meant to live together and time was just being patient with us until we found our way.

By the way, Happy New Year! 2009 was quite the year for me, in a very good way. Let's see, in 2009...

I graduated from college
I became engaged to my best friend
I planned a wedding (with Phil's help, of course)
We filed out a ton of paperwork and spent a lot of money to make Phil a legal permanent resident
I landed my first salary job
I got married!

With the closing of 2009 I know that 2010 will only bring more happiness and opportunities to grow and learn. Since I was never one to make New Year's Resolutions (because really, who keeps them and why would you want to set yourself up for failure on January 1st) I want to list a few things that I hope/pray/want to happen in 2010:

I want to focus on the good things in my life and remind myself how blessed I am
Move into a 2 bedroom apartment - the extra space would be nice, possibly within the same complex where we already live
Become more involved in our church community
Help at least one person, in a serious way
Experience new adventures and travel to at least one new place
Grow even more as a wife, sister, daughter, friend, and person

I hope this New Year brings all of you much happiness and peace!

New Job

2009-08-02T12:23:00.004-04:00

I started a new job last Monday. So far, I really like it. As a case manager, my role is to work one on one with a caseload of about 20-25 clients to help them recover from addiction and mental health problems. The first week was really busy and I've only met 5 of my clients so far but I really think I'm gonna like it here.

Alongside my new job, the countdown is truly on to the big day. Everything is pretty much set, now we just wait (and pay off all our vendors). I've been planning for August since February and now it's finally here! I'm so excited for the wedding and our honeymoon! Sweet!

I can't wait to see everyone so soon!

Livin it up

2009-07-02T22:08:00.002-04:00

Life is pretty good.

Our Camry is running well so far. Unfortunately we have had to get a new windshield already though, after discovering a small crack in it driving off the lot the day we bought it. Needless to say, the crack spread...a lot. But $200 later, our new windshield is installed and hopefully nothing else will need to be replaced any time soon.

I've started applying to jobs. So far I think I've applied to about 10 different places, mostly on Monster.com. The jobs vary between Case Worker, Social Worker, along with some other various job descriptions that interest me. I hope something comes up soon, I always forget how restless I get with nothing to do during the day.

The wedding plans are coming along great as well. Most people have RSVPd by now and we just had our first meeting with the pastor who is marrying us to do some pre-marital counseling. It was a good time and I am really glad he's marrying us. Next on the list is to do the seating arrangements for the reception, pick out a cake top and figure out what I'm doing with my hair for the wedding!

I'm so excited for the big day! Not only am I tying the knot with the love of my life but we'll also get to see some friends that we don't get to see very often.

I would also like to wish a very happy first birthday to my sweet little niece Maiya!

Phil and I went to visit NJ last weekend to celebrate her birthday and it was great to see everyone.

In all, life is pretty good in Pennsylvania. I really couldn't ask for more :)

Our 'Lil Camry!

2009-06-16T00:41:00.006-04:00

Phil and I made our first big purchase together (well, besides all the money spent on the wedding so far..), a new car! Well, it's not exactly a brand new car (it's a '99 Camry) but it is new to us so I'm calling it new :) This is our sweet little thing to the right, isn't she sharp? Well, I call it a she but we haven't yet decided on the gender or a name. Let's just say that this is our first 'baby' and we are already protective of it!

We brought it home last Tuesday, June 9th, and I can't tell you how many times I kept looking outside just to make sure it was still there. It is so nice to know that I can just up and run and errand whenever I darn well please! No more waiting until the weekend when we used to rent a rental car.

This car is also the first approval Phil got as far as building credit goes so that's another positive of this whole event. Needless to say, we are pretty excited about it! It's in great shape and was well taken care of. I'm sure most of you reading this will see it in person sometime soon! And here's another shot of it to leave you with...

Graduation.

2009-06-08T16:13:00.007-04:00

Graduation has come and gone! It was a good time; the speaker they had for the Psychology Convocation was actually really good! My dad, mom, Gail & Phil came to see me graduate. It was really nice to walk across that stage and actually realize that I am done! It might not have fully sunk in yet though- just the other day I had the split second thought of, "shoot, did I have homework this weekend that I'm forgetting?" Then it sunk in and all was well :)

In other news, I've now moved up to PA and into Phil's (now mine as well) apartment. We spent quite a good bit of time unpacking my stuff and rearranging so my stuff would fit as well. The compromising has begun. I gotta say though that the transition from living alone for 4 years to living with someone else has been really smooth. I guess it helps when that other person is your best friend and soon-to-be husband! Life is pretty great.

Our latest goal is finding a car! This is pretty much priority one right now as I can't find a job before we get a car. We have been to about 4 different dealerships and looked at a few private sellers as well. No car yet. It's an extremely long and annoying process looking for a decent used car and I don't recommend doing it if you don't have to.

After we get a car I can start my (hopefully not too) long search in finding a job!

What I'm leaving behind...and taking with me

2009-05-20T14:49:00.004-04:00

The past month or so has gone by so quickly and it's been bittersweet. I will be graduating on May 30th with my Bachelor's and it is going to be a huge change. I have spent the last four years of my life here and it has been something I will take with me for the rest of my life. The University of Delaware has given me such a solid education that I can't even remember how or what I learned before coming here (read: high school). I've learned more about life, myself, and my relationships with others than I could have ever imagined. In light of the fact that I will be leaving this campus in just 9 short days, I just wanted to reminisce on some fond memories that will stay with me forever from the University of Delaware...

Oh the memories from Freshman year...if you are close to me than you probably know the horror stories about my two other roommates from Freshman year. If not, some of the highlights included: almost missing my exam because one of my roommates decided to turn off my alarm the morning of. Trying to sleep through my roommate and 'some guy' having sex underneath of me since I was on the top bunk of the bunk beds. Having to endure "mediators" who tried to help the three of us work through our issues when really it just made the living situation worse. I could go on but this is supposed to be happy memories, so I think I'll stop here.

I should note though that the significance of that hell-ish year was that it taught me to stand up for myself a lot. Those two girls were so incredibly rude and yet I hardly did anything about it (except get a room change). I think about how differently I would handle that situation if it were to happen to me now and I realize that I probably wouldn't have gained as much self-respect if I hadn't gone through it in the first place. Besides, I am quite proud of myself that despite all of that, I still came out with a 3.8GPA the end of that semester!

The Psychology department is another part of UD that I have loved so much. All of my Psyc classes (after getting through prereqs of course) have been absolutely wonderful and have taught me so much about society, other people, and myself. One particular class that really stands out is The Social Self where I learned all about why we interact with others in the ways that we do and how we can change our interactions to better portray what we are trying to say to others. That is the gist of it in a nutshell but I really did enjoy that class and the Psyc department as a whole.

I will dearly miss the friends that I have made here. Before I started college I remember being told that the friendships you make in college are the most solid ones that last forever. I certainly hope that I stay in touch with the friends I've made here because they have gotten me through so much throughout these four years.

You can't put a price on the level of skills I learned while in college, such as reasoning, applying material from other classes to the real world and, sometimes, to other classes as well, and thinking abstractly and in my own way about things. College has helped me to form my own ideas about things and not just soak up every little thing you hear about the world. No. It does you some good to do some research and find out what is really going on.

After all of this, sometimes I wonder how I will ever make it out there in the "real world." I have become a professional student! I am a pro at taking quick notes, studying for exams, soaking up the important material from textbooks and picking out what will likely be on an exam. How can I ever not be a student?!

On the other hand, I am so excited to see what this world can offer me and what I can offer to the world. This is the beginning of a whole new chapter in my life and although I am sad about what I will leave behind, the most overwhelming feeling of all is simply excitement.

Enjoying the process

2009-04-06T15:50:00.002-04:00

The past week has been a whirlwind full of wedding planning! I was on Spring Break so instead of getting ahead in my class work, I was in full-on wedding planner mode! I researched photographers, DJs, wedding cakes, invitations...so much more! I must say, although wedding planning can be overwhelming, it is so much fun!

Right now Phil and I have about 50 photographers and DJ e-mails to go through (I posted ads on Craigslist to get some offers..and boy did the offers come). However, there is a lot that we have gotten done!

Just yesterday we spent about 6 hours in Bed Bath & Beyond being treated like a king and queen. I'm telling you, just drop the word 'wedding' and everyone comes running to help you! It's awesome! Everyone in the store was coming up to us asking if we needed anything, did we have any questions, oh and have you seen this latest product that just every couple is dying to have this year?

When we first got there, we were greeted by who I guessed was the manager. Then came Gary. Gary was a God-send! He showed Phil and I all around the store, suggesting certain items but was never pushy or telling us what we should buy, just what he suggested was the better brands and best item for your money. After about 4 hours with Gary as our guide, Phil and I went off on our own to complete our list! It was fun to be able to scan just about anything you can imagine having. Even if you know for sure no one will buy it, it's still nice to dream :-)

Yesterday night, we ordered our invitations! They are super cute, but you will have to wait until you get yours in the mail to see them.

Last, but definitely not least, I bought my wedding dress!!! I am so excited to wear this dress on our special day that I am just bursting from the inside out. My sisters and niece came to visit last Saturday and we spent some long hours in David's Bridal. I absolutely fell in love with the dress I ended up buying..it took a lot to get me out of it :) I also picked out the bridesmaids dresses and Jen and Jes bought theirs that same day.

Needless to say, the wedding planning is coming along nicely! The next step is to narrow down a photographer and DJ...

Oh ring, how I love thee

2009-03-16T15:52:00.003-04:00

I picked up my engagement ring on Friday (woohoo!). I looooove it. Seriously, it's as if this little ring was created to eventually become a part of my anatomy. At least, that's how I think of it. It's small so it doesn't overpower my petite hands, yet elegant and shiny. It's, well, perfect :)

Here is a photo of my ring. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a clearer picture than this (I tried about 20 times). I'm not sure if it's my camera or if I just couldn't hold myself still enough but hopefully most of you will eventually see the ring in person.

In other news, Phil and I have decided on a church! We are going to be holding the ceremony in a Baptist church in Hatboro, PA. It's right down the street from Phil's apartment so it's very convenient. We are still deciding on a reception area but we do have a few in mind that we are thinking about.

More to come!

I'm Engaged!!

2009-03-10T22:24:00.004-04:00

Sorry about the drought in post updates...I've either been A. Busy or B. Forgetful about this Blog. Since I hardly can think of things to write about in this blog besides "I'm busy, life is good, etc, etc" I've decided to dedicate the blogs following (and including) this one to update you all on my ENGAGEMENT!!

Here's the most up-to-date info so far: My fiance (I still get butterflies everytime I say "fiance" :) proposed to me on Feb 27th in a very romantic and memorable setting. I would write the details here, but most of you who read this already know the story anyway! We went shopping for a ring two days later because Phil wanted me to pick out something I really liked. I found a beautiful ring that we ended up putting a down payment on that day but I, unfortunately, could not walk away with the ring then and there. It was displayed as a size 7 and I am a size 5 so I sent the ring off to be sized to fit my finger! They told me it should be ready for pick-up by March 12th, so I will hopefully have pictures to upload by this weekend! I would link you to the picture on their website at Kay Jeweler's, but the online picture just does not do the ring justice, so I'll just wait!

Ever since the engagement, I have been googling and researching possible places to have our reception, whether it be a reception hall, an area in a church, a park, etc. We are on a semi-tight budget and don't want to take out a loan to pay for our wedding so I'm trying to find the best deal that will give us a nice, but affordable reception. We have a few places in mind, but most of them we still have to go and look at, so I will let you all know when we've got it narrowed down or have chosen a place to hold the reception.

Last weekend, Phil and I went looking for a church where we want to be married in. Catholic churches are simply gorgeous, but neither one of us are Catholic, so that is a no-go. We looked at about 10 churches on Sunday--most of them were closed by the time we stopped by, so we couldn't see the actual sanctuary. A select few were open though and we have a few ideas of places that we are interested in. One in particular (that Phil still has to go see, we're going back this weekend sometime) is gorgeous and has really nice people- the pastor was nice too. Again, when we narrow it down more, I'll give you some more updates!

It seems like we don't have that much set yet, well, because we don't! However, the planning has just begun and I will try to keep writing as we know more. No date has been set yet (that's the most common question I have been getting from everyone) but I will let everyone know as soon as I know.

I look forward to bringing you all along with us as we plan our wedding. Everyone's support has been VERY much appreciated. Please continue to pray that all our planning goes smoothly and that we find a church and reception hall that is nice and reasonably priced :)

Happy? You should be

2008-11-03T22:21:00.003-05:00

So about now would be the time I would be applying for Grad schools if I were continuing my education right after graduating in May (btw, I graduate on May 30th, save the date!). I've decided I'm going to take some time off before I continue and get my graduate degree.

I'm reading this book called "Generation Me" by Jean Twenge. It's an assigned book for my Social Psyc class, but it's actually something I would read on my own time because it's really interesting. It basically explains how the generation born from 1980-2000s (who Twenge calls Generation Me) is such a vast contrast to the previous "Boomer" generation. Her writing is very cynical about my generation, but it's also very true. Most of the things I am surrounded by (TV, computers, cell phones, you-name-it) I don't think twice about, but it really is a testament to my generation because things were not as they are now even just 20 years ago. She also focuses on how even though youth today have so much more now(considering "more" as material things, better health care, longer life expectancy and a greater percentage of those attending higher education) than previous generations, we are also the most unhappy. Huh? Well, it's sad, but true. More teenagers and young adults are on some sort of anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication than ever before. Study after study has shown that people with tons of money are just as happy (and sometimes even less so) than those in the middle-class. Also, those with close personal relationships and mental happiness are loads happier than their counterparts who are rolling in the dough yet have no one to share it with. As I was reading this section of the book, it really struck me. Why do people live their entire lives searching for happiness yet they are never satisfied with what they have?

This is really important to me, especially at such an "open" time in my life. As those in my generation would say: the world is my oyster. This is why I really want to take some time off and think about my life before I go jumping into graduate school. For some of my classmates who are also Seniors, their responses to my question about what they want to study in Grad school is most likely: "I'm not sure yet but I know I want to make a lot of money. I know it'll suck going to grad school for 4-5 years, paying off the loans afterward and probably end up hating my job, but hey, I guess that's life." Ok, so I may have exaggerated a little, but you get the point. I do not want to be a 30 year-old on anti-depressants because my job is oh-so-stressful and I'd like to strangle my boss. No thanks. Life is TOO short for that. I'm not saying I need my absolute dream job making over $100,000/year, (because 1. that will never happen with a Psyc degree and 2. Money doesn't equal happiness ;) but I would like to gain some sort of joy out of what I am doing.

Thus, I plan on taking about a year off to process everything I've learned as an undergrad (which is quite a lot, and an experience I wouldn't change for the world), spend some time thinking about what career choice would be best, and, as a GenMe-er (Twenge would cringe if she read this) spend some time getting to know myself.

Here are a few ideas I have come up with that I am currently looking into for the next few years (disclaimer: subject to change at any point in time)

- Teach for America Corps. Someone came in to my class last week to speak about this and it seems like a great opportunity. It's a two year, including a summer session of training, that provides full salary (around 45k/year...not bad for a Psyc major), benefits, and helps pay for Grad school while you're at it!!

- Interning at a school with a potential to shadow a School Psychologist (my first choice career at this point in time)

- Look into grad schools..my as-of-now potentials are: Temple, UPenn, Penn U, Eastern & U of D (although their latest stunt puts them at the bottom of the list...and probably off)

I still have to finish the Fall semester and start Spring so I don't want to rush myself info graduating, but I have to say, I am excited to start a new stepping stone in my life. Undergrad has been AWESOME. I truly hope that I can find happiness that I am satisfied with, and don't become a statistic in one of those horrible Psyc studies!

Pretty GREAT news!

2008-09-21T14:04:00.006-04:00

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes and ships and sealing-wax,
Of cabbages and kings.
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings."

Harriet the Spy was on TV the other day (I LOVED that movie as a kid) and this quote was in it. The very first part "'The time has come'" also fits perfectly for the news I am about to tell you. Phil is IN the building ladies and gentlemen! Well, maybe not the building, but he is now officially in the US of A! Him and his parents left early this morning and he has successfully crossed the border!! They are set to arrive in his new apartment around 5-6pm tonight. I cannot even try to express to you all just how happy I actually feel right now. I'm not even sure it's actually hit me! I mean, we've been in a long distance relationship since 2001...that's 7 years! That is a long time to have to say goodbye to someone you love. Even though he isn't exactly moving next door (the job he found is still 1 hr 15 mins away from me..), at least now we don't have to buy a plane ticket to see each other :)

Yes, life is pretty grand right now. It feels really good to not be waiting for all this visa crap anymore. Honestly, I think Phil & I have done enough waiting in our lives...we deserve a damn break!

Classes are also going just fine, they don't have me pulling out my hair yet, which is always a good thing. I've started work again at the call center calling Alum for funds. Although it's not my dream job, it's really not bad. Already I've gotten to talk to a few interesting people about their time at UD (it's crazy to hear how different this school was 50 or 60 years ago!).

I hope to see you all soon. Perhaps the family will be getting together for Thanksgiving? You will all have to see Phil's new apartment sometime too!

on your way

2008-09-02T17:34:00.004-04:00

Once again, things have changed. I am now back in the Delaware dorms! My dad helped me move-in last Thursday and, nicely put, it was very hectic!! Thursday was considered early move-in to try and "beat the rush"...well I guess a lot of other people had the same idea! It was really nice to have my dad's help though (couldn't have lifted all of those heavy boxes without ya pops!) and a nice ending to a great summer :)

I must say...I am quite sad that summer is coming to an end, but I am pretty excited to enter my Senior year as an undergraduate. Ever since my tuition changed for this year, my future plans have also had some adjustments, so I'm not quite sure what I plan on doing after I graduate in May. I guess that's just part of life, it changes.

As for classes, they start tomorrow. As of now, I'm taking a Psyc seminar class - The Social Self, an undergraduate research class, Juvenile Delinquency, English Short Story & Intro to Black American Studies. I think it will be a great semester :)

In other news, Phil just mailed out his entire application for SWAP today to try for his J1 visa. It has been quite the waiting game to receive all the needed paperwork and wait for everyone to complete their sides of things, but it is finally underway and now we just wait...for an answer! I think Jesus has really been testing my patience with this whole process because if you know me then you know I'm not exactly the most patient person in the world. Well nothing can force a person to be more patient than waiting almost a year for the love of their life to finally move closer than 800 miles away. Trust me, you all will know when (and if...should I even SAY if?) Phil is approved for the visa; I will be shouting it from the rooftops!! I know that he and I are very very ready for this whole process to just be over with and for him to be settled in his new apartment.

A special thanks to my dad and Gail for a great summer! And thanks to all my family and friends who have helped me in reaching my last year of University....here goes nothing!

The Waiting Game

2008-08-06T21:42:00.004-04:00

Well, I can't say I didn't warn you. I don't write on these blogs too often, but I suppose that's mostly because I haven't had much of a change to write about, until recently.

Right now I am waiting on a few things: Phil & I are still waiting on this J1 visa (more elaboration in my previous post). As of right now, it is looking pretty hopeful, but nothing is a sure thing until he is actually here.

Since we are sick and tired of waiting, we have taken matters into our own hands - screw the government - and I am going to visit him in 9 days!! Considering the fact that I haven't seen him since the end of May, this is quite exciting for both of us :) Once I return home from the visit, I will be bidding farewill to this little town that has welcomed me for the summer & the warm home my dad and stepmom have provided to me, to venture back home and finish up my Bachelor's degree. It has been a great summer.

Speaking of my undergraduate degree, my school has not been so welcoming this summer. I was quite surprised to receive a letter in the mail recently, stating that I will be charged out-of-state tuition for my last year. Seeing as I have lived in the same state since I was 7 years old (the same one in which the University is) I was quite puzzled. Turns out that since neither of my parents live in the same state as me I no longer qualify for in-state tuition. The fact that I am paying my way through college on my own and haven't lived with either parent for years (save for this summer visiting my dad) does not seem to matter at all. Who knew a multi-billion dollar company could be so greedy? I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

So now that I can tack on another 30k to my future debt, I guess you could say life has brought many changes this summer:
*Phil has found a job in the US (he just needs to find a visa)
*My University doesn't want my support as an Alumni (ya know, since they'll be getting it in one chunk of 30,ooo dollars)
*My dad & I have cut many pieces of cloth to patch up old wounds
*I survived a job in a small town (and it wasn't that bad!)

Suffice to say, this is one more summer that I have enjoyed and savored. The taste is sweet.

A little update, well, ok, a BIG & long update!

2008-07-20T16:52:00.001-04:00

This is new for both of us, so bear with me. Not that writing in general is new to, oh no, I've been a diary/journal writer since I was about 7. However, I'm not one to normally publish my personal thoughts on the net.

Well, I've decided to give it a try. Besides, what else is there to do? I've checked all my every-day sites and I've even checked the new games at addictinggames.com (I know, I'm pretty bored, eh?). Both of my sisters & dad have some sort of blog/website and it seems to be a nice way to keep in touch with all of those people that you-just-keep-meaning-to-call-to-tell-the-latest-news-to-but-now-it's-too-late-so-I'll-call-tomorrow. Yeah you know we're all guilty of it. But that's the nice thing about the 21st century, no more guilt needed! Now if you're faced with the "um, why didn't you tell me?" question, you can retort with "Yeah, that's been posted on my blog for weeks now...why didn't you read it? o.o" Nice, right? Maybe not, but I suppose it will have to do since I'm bored at this moment and wanted to start a blog.

Soo...for a general update in my life: I'm on summer break from college, woohoo! I'm staying with my dad and stepmom in Pennsylvania for the summer in this teeny-tiny town where everybody knows everybody. Yes there's a local diner, theatre that plays 1 movie, and restaurant that everyone in town knows about. Where does that leave me? At the local ice cream shop of course! Actually, it's a pretty sweet job (I couldn't resist). We serve food & ice cream, which means I can pack it in every time I work, nice!

When the summer is over I'll be entering my Senior year in University. Let me take a second to tell you how weird that feels. I keep thinking...is this really my last year in college? Well, yes Rebecca it is. Yeah, I know, but it just went by so fast! You'd think that I would be ecstatic about finishing school, never having to study again, starting in the "real world" (what the heck IS the real world anyway? Am I living in a "fake world" until I get a full-time job?) but that is not the case with me! I am an oddball who absolutely loves being in school. Yep, I'm the one who gets excited about buying new books, the first day of class, memorizing my schedule that I made myself the previous semester. However, although my undergrad degree is nearing its end (I DO still have a year left though), I am quite excited about the next step, which will be graduate school! I plan on focusing my studies on School Psychology so I am probably looking at another 2-3 years after I graduate with my Bachelor's (yahoo!). Although I know it will be different, I hope that I love it just as much as I have my undergrad, if not more!

In other news, my boyfriend Phil has been trying to move to the US for about over a year now. (Little background info, in case you didn't know: I'm dating a Canadian, we've known each other 7 years now, he's graduated college and is trying to find a job in the States) Well, on July 1st Phil got a job offer in Horsham, PA! As excited as we were (and still are), we had NO idea just how much work this moving process would entail. Well, apparently, a whole heck of a lot! First there's the job offer, then there's figuring out which visa (out of like a million) you apply for, then there's getting approved...the list goes on. In order to save you about 3 pages of reading and me 3 pages of typing, I will put the latest news in a nutshell if it will fit. Phil & his parents went to go get the first visa (a TN visa, specified for Canadians) but Phil was rejected on the grounds that he doesn't have a Bachelor's degree, he has a 3-year degree. Apparently, that's not comparable. The next step was to apply for an H1B visa (much different than a TN), but again...things didn't work out. There's a limit to how many H1B visas are given out per year and the quota has been reached already this year (the fiscal year restarted even just in April). So now we are holding on for dear life with our last resort, the SWAP program that issues J-1 visas. The J-1 visa is basically a "foreign exchange" program for recent graduates to gain experience in other countries at specified jobs. As of now, Phil's future boss (hopefully, if all goes well) Chris is looking into it and is willing to try it out. It seems as if he's still really interested in bringing Phil here, which is a good thing. I won't have any news on this visa for a few weeks at the least though, since there's processing time for everything.

I guess that wasn't a nutshell, but I know I've told a lot of my friends and family about Phil's job and it's hard to keep track of who I have and haven't updated!

All that to say that life is going pretty well right now, I am just praying & hoping that this last visa works out! Also, if you haven't found that special someone yet...my advice is to try and limit your search to the same state that you are in ;)