Friday Poll

Whoops! I almost forgot to post a new poll for this week. Here are the results from last week, and I'm very happy to see there are two other readers who are left handed just like me (woot woot!):For this week I'm curious what you guys top your salads with! Are you all about the creamy ranch or a light vinaigrette?

Salad Dressing Preference:
* Ranch
*Blue Cheese
*Vinaigrette
*Thousand Island
*French
*Lemons
*Nothing
*Other

About 10 minutes ago, Kenny and I bit the bullet and bought a ticket for me to go see him over Memorial Day weekend. I couldn't be more excited about this, because that means I get to see him one. week. from. today!!!!! I must have spend at least two cumulative hours trying to find a flight that would give us the biggest bang for our buck, so to speak.

Here's my flight info so you can see the craziness I go through to see my man! Luckily I love traveling and usually don't have any problems sleeping in airports or on planes.

(click to enlarge and get the full effect)

I love the feeling after I buy a plane ticket somewhere! Hope you all have a great weekend.

Not-Frequent-Enough Flier

I've been flying back and forth to see Kenny for the past two years and I try to visit him every other month. Now, I'm not good at math (I wrote papers about math and played tic-tac-toe in my college math class and I still barely passed— but that's a whole other blog post), but after flying more than 3,000 miles round trip each time I go out there, you'd think I would have racked up enough frequent flier miles by now to have a free trip, right? Wrong.

I'm sure this would be the case if I had stuck with one particular airline, but I'm cheap so I fly by who offers me the cheapest flight. This means I'm part of the Frontier, American Airlines, and Delta flier programs, all of which only give you super-flier status if you fly around a million miles with them.

I think I'm pretty close to getting a free flight (or at least the next membership level which means I'll get a free drink and movie on a flight - whoop) on Delta and Frontier, but here's my dilemma: I'm about to book two more trips for June and July, but the cheapest flight is on American. Do I pay around $100 more for each trip out there just so I can get the extra miles? Or do I go the cheaper route and just hope that someday I reach the next membership level.

Someday My Life Will Begin

Some day my life will begin, but just not at this moment.

I'm so ready for my next chapter to begin that I can hardly stand it. I just watched Grey's Anatomy tonight and it sure reminded me of what love is.

Love is wanting to still touch someone even when they're dripping wet from humidity.

Love is making new friends with strangers even when the thought of "people" scares the heck out of you.

Love is putting up with families that are as different as night and day.

Love is moving across the world to follow someone because you can't stand another day without them.

Love is finding comfort in an email or a text when your significant other is thousands of miles away from you.

Love is being patient when she doesn't understand how to make gravy or how to hang curtains.

Love is realizing that someone is just as beautiful after waking up or after working out than they are when they get all dolled up.

Love is having durn good inside jokes to make each other laugh.

Love is understanding two people are different by finding balances between the two.

Love is taking naps on his lap when you know he'd rather be doing anything but wasting an hour of his day.

Love is feeling your heart ache, because it's missing its other half.

Love is giving up your dream of eloping in Vegas at a drive-thru chapel because your fiance has a dream of wearing a gorgeous dress.

Love is always saying goodbye, but knowing there will always be a hello.

Love is all around.

Love is.

Engagement Photos!

Last week I gave you a sneak peak of our engagement pictures, so today I wanted to tease you with even more! Check out the end of this post for the link to see all 53 of them if you so desire. If you can't tell, I'm pretty darn excited about these, so I hope you enjoy them as much as Kenny and I do!

All photos by Kim Jackson Photography.

If you can stand to see more of us, head over to our SmugMug for 48 more.


P.S. you only have until tonight to vote on the Twitter poll on the right!

The Way I Always Look

This song just popped up on my iTunes and I immediately thought it'd be a great First Dance song.

The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

But then I started really listening to the lyrics:

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you...
And the way you look tonight.

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart...
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
It touches my foolish heart.

Lovely ... Never, ever change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it ?
'Cause I love you ... Just the way you look tonight.

Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,
Just the way you look to-night.

I think they're really nice and would be great for a first dance, and as much as I want Kenny to remember what I look like on our wedding day, I want him to remember that he loves me even on the days when I look like crap, when I'm feeling sick, or when I just got home from running eight miles.

I don't want him to love me based on how I look on our wedding night while we're dancing the night away; I want him to love me just the way I look tonight...

The Day After

The day and the day after either I or Kenny leaves each other is always hard. We just get so used to being around one another that when they're gone you have to readjust your life. It's back to the IMing and texting each other routine. Yesterday I actually contemplated moving our wedding up several months, but the only feasible time we could have it would be too close to my brother's wedding, and I'm pretty sure that's a big etiquette no-no.

It's not that I feel like the next 302 days will be a waste spent out here, it's just that I want to get on with my life with him. I know it's going to be a somewhat rocky transition (with me picking up my entire life and moving/changing lifestyles/jobs), but I just want it to start as soon as possible, and 10 months from now just seems like ions away.

(I just liked this picture so much I wanted to use it again! AND notice how it's centered around Atlanta - how cool is that? If only the picture was taken about half an inch lower, a little closer to Warner Robins!)

I find myself checking out our engagement photos more often than may be considered healthy, but he just looks so darn fantastic in them that I want to look at him all the time. Hopefully I'll get those photos up somewhere sometime soon so you guys can see them, too. While I don't think they'll be as drool-worthy for you (because if they are I may have to sit down and have a talk with you and tell you that HE'S MINE!), I do hope you'll like them.

I'm spending most of today out in Tome, New Mexico watching my great aunt Tia while my mom and dad are spending a weekend out of town. She doesn't have the Internet there (GASP), so I'm taking a lot of work with me to finish. I wish I had some wedding projects I could start on!

Hope you all have a good Saturday!

An Almost Goodbye

This morning my dad asked me when Kenny leaves. I told him, “tomorrow,” but I must have said it with a gloomy tone, because he asked me why I was sad. Stating what I thought was the obvious, I said, “because he’s leaving!” And then my dad responded with, “Well you’ll only be apart for a week, you’re seeing him next Friday.”

And then it hit me.

People don’t understand. Some people just don’t get that being away from the one you love is hard, really hard. I realize Kenny and I both choose to be in this long distance relationship; I understand that I could have moved out there as soon as I knew I loved him so we wouldn’t have to go minutes, days, and months, apart from each other, but I didn’t move.
Knowing that I’m going to see Kenny next Friday (I’m going out there for the weekend) only makes saying goodbye tomorrow a tiny bit less hard. Couples in normal (i.e. not long distance) relationships rarely spend time away from each other, but my relationship will always be based around countdowns, hellos, and goodbyes, so I just wish people would take our situation a little more seriously.

After I see Kenny next weekend we’re not quite sure when we’ll be together again. The (hopeful) plan is for him to come out for my brother’s wedding in July, but that’s not set in stone yet. Nothing ever is when you’re life is determined by the whims of the military. Other than that, he’ll be deployed in the fall.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it sure makes the rest of you lonely. – Charlie Brown

All Smiles

Talk about a whirlwind last several days! Kenny flew into town Wednesday morning and I’ve been attached to his hip ever sense. (Okay, in all actuality, I’ve been attached to his thigh since he’s a good foot taller than I am). I’ll spare you the hour-by-hour schedule, but it’s safe to say we got a lot of wedding “stuff” done and I’m feeling a lot less stressed about things. This is the only time he’ll be in town before December rolls around, so I thought of the things I wanted him here for and we went to town, literally.

Here’s a brief recap:
* Signed the contract for our ceremony and reception venue
* Checked out rings, tux’s, and started a brief registry
* Had a blast taking our engagement photos (we should hopefully get them back by this Thursday!) (We were originally going to take them at the airport, but after realizing the Sunport isn’t exactly photogenic, we opted to shoot them in Nob Hill. I really can’t wait to get them back.)
* Went over possibilities for a First Dance song, but that's still up in the air.
* And most importantly, I’ve enjoyed seeing my fiancé every day.

When you’re in a long distance relationship, it really makes you appreciate the time you have together.

I know I slacked on getting my regular poll up on Friday, so I’ll put one up today. But first, the results from the last poll!
It looks like the overwhelming response is that you all like Christmas/Hanukkah the best. I put my vote towards New Years. That’s when Kenny and I first met and I really like the traditional meal my immediate family has that night followed with a celebrations with my friends!

For this week’s poll, I want to know what you like to drink:

Which do you prefer?
1. Sweet Tea
2. Unsweet Tea

I still need to get my photos of the day up, so keep an eye out for those!

After these messages

...I'll be right back!

*My man is in town, so I'm skipping time on the computer to hang out with him. I'll resume blogging when my life becomes boring again*

Kiss and Make Up

I woke up having a “case of the Thursdays” and I hope the feeling departs soon. Kenny and I had an argument last night – nothing serious, but it still sucks arguing over the phone and being 1,405 miles apart. Normal couples can kiss and make up. Us? Well, we say we love each other, hang up, and hope for sweet dreams.

I went on my normal “homework” walk this morning and walked around a local park. It was a gorgeous day, but I still couldn’t shake that grouchy, oh-woe-is-me feeling. I decided to treat myself to some coffee, but after I paid for it and got to my car I realized I accidentally left my caffeine sitting on the counter at Dunkin’ Donuts. “It’s one of those days,” I said with an embarrassed laugh as I went back in and picked up my day’s saving grace.

Yup. It’s one of those days.

When Bliss Says Bye

Kenny's plane took off ten minutes ago and I'm not on it. No, not that I was supposed to be on it, it's just that he's going back to Georgia and I'm staying here, the way it's been for the past two years.

You'd think saying goodbye and dealing with a long distance relationship would be easier after two years of sporadic encounters, but it's not; if anything, it's getting harder.

The two of us had an unbelievable time together during the past two weeks and we were lucky to see each other nearly everyday. In fact, it was almost like having a boyfriend who lived here! But now we go back to our countdown (26 days days possibly; 40 days for sure) and look forward to the next time we see each other.

Till then, I'll truck on and continue my life of having a relationship thousands of miles and several states away, and I'll be thankful for dating in the 21st century when I have devices like cell phones (what would I do without unlimited texting???!!!) and instant messaging.

Here's to seeing my love again in t-minus 26 days...

Happy Delayed Tears

*So I wrote this yesterday, but instead of pressing "publish" I accidentally pressed "save now", so here ya go:

Well, i woke up today at 5 am because of two reasons 1) there's a class at the gym I wanted to go to at 5:30 and B) I have to be at the airport tomorrow morning at 5 am, so I figured I'd try to ease myself into it.

But now I'm awake and sitting on my couch and it's 5:32 because I also realized I wanna check into my flight and have to do that at 6 am. No gym for me. I may do something from my ON DEMAND here after I write this.

It kinda sucks, but there's a slight chance Kenny will be delayed even further. He said he'd let me know ASAP today, so I'll be on pins and needles trying to figure out what to do. I'm going to do my best to not freak out and just go with the flow. This is what being a military issued girlfriend is all about... right?!

On a plus note, my Kenny is too freaking good to me. We were talking last night about him staying in the AF and he asked me if I thought I could do this for another 18 years. I said I could and that it'd be different if we were married, because I'd be there when he got home and it wouldn't be this difficult dealing with airplanes and worrying about time off work. Well, then I reversed the question and asked the same thing to him and he said, "I know i can, as hellicaious as it is out here, i like the job and everything. Im willing to give it up in a heartbeat for you though. And id never ever regret it." And I absolutely believe him.

Heh. Then I told him that I may have been crying (it was an emotional day yesterday!) and he said, "i still feel bed. its my job to make you not cry." And I thought about that for awhile.

When I was younger I used to like this quote:
The one who makes you cry isn't worth your tears, and the one who is worth your tears would never make you cry.

I remember that from growing up and I thought it was silly, because every boy I had been with or liked had made me cry for one silly reason or another. And now here's Kenny. I'll admit that I've absolutely cried over him, but every single time I can think of me crying it's been because of something the Air Force has done. Not him. He has never made me cry. And that makes me smile (and maybe cry a little bit...but they're happy tears! Happy tears don't count, because he makes me cry happy tears all the freaking time!).