Yes, the rumors are true. We are engaged! We have known this was going to happen almost since we met. I found my soulmate, my home. Its a crazy feeling to be so irreversably attached to someone; its amazing. Thank you for your impact on his life, everything that has made him who he is is something I can be thankful for.
On Sunday, we'll start pre-marital counseling with a pastor and friend from the church we attend. I'm excited for the challenge and the exploration. In March, (I think) we start a class with other couples, led by an older married couple in our church. Should be pretty interesting!
We have not set a date yet, sorry! Its sort of complicated because of my older brother, Lee. He and his wife never had a formal ceremony and have always wanted to-- so they finally decided to have theirs June 2010. Soooo, that makes choosing a date difficult because we dont want ours to close to theirs (asking my family from Michigan, Minnesota and the Netherlands to come out twice in one year is a lot to ask). So we're still trying to pick out when it will happen. We'll keep you posted. :)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER and Updates
Well, Nial's made it back from the cold and is back to his regular potting, staging and moving loads of native Washington plants. At least he gets to be outside. My job situation hasn't been quite as good... After returning to Washington I was hired at a small newly-remodeled restaurant on the Snohomish River. Unfortunately, they were poorly run and had trouble getting business. So, because I'm not 21 and can't serve alcohol, I was laid off because they didn't want to have another pay to have me AND another person there all the time. Wahoo. They didn't however inform me of this... it was more like, they stopped scheduling me and that was it. The most unfortuate part about it all is that I have been forced to crawl back to my old job and ask to be re-hired.
Ruby's Diner: Way too many mostly teenage girls wearing horrible red-pinstripped dresses and nylons. Its awful. Okay, I'm making too big a deal of it- but I wish I didn't have to go to work looking foolish and avoiding gossipy girls and tons of fried food. I am grateful that they would take me back and the tips there are generally good; but I have to say its not going to be something I enjoy that much. Oh well :)
IN OTHER NEWS: Nial is moving out of Jordan's house! I think they'll enjoy the space and privacy in their home- they have a 2 yr old and Steph is preggers and sick often. He is happy to move out, he'll have more space and won't be living with my overprotective, but very loving and hospitable oldest brother. :D It was cool, I think they all enjoyed it; it was kind of was a pressure cooker 
situation for them to get to know each other so I'm grateful for it.
situation for them to get to know each other so I'm grateful for it.EASTER: I think I've been nearly blown over with questions of April 12th. YES, WE ARE COMING TO ASHLAND. :-) We've been asked via text (Dallas,) Facebook (Tasha,) phone (rents) and Blogger (Daisha.) It is actually wonderful to feel so invited! I'm so so so so so excited. We haven't been down since November and I haven't ever met Melanie or Tasha in person so that will be great. I'm excited to see the twins especially, over the summer they acted as my pseudo-little-brothers, we had a great time. Sam, my little bro and I are close so it was nice to kind of adopt them while I lived a state away.
I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER: http://icanhascheezburger.com/ is a hilarious website my friend told me about. Check it out!!! They take pictures (mostly of cats) and write funny captions.... you may think its stupid but I love it. :-)
This one scares me and makes me crack up all at the same time!Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Nial's Called Out on Emergency!
Ahh! The weather here is insane! Since mid-December we have had non-stop turbulent weather. I think every government worker, true commuter and avid snow-sportsman are probably about to pull all their hair out. In the beginning, there was snow. And the snow was heavy. Then the Alaskan storm also brought us to the single digits causing perma-icy roads and even a bus collision that resulted in the two buses involved to hang suspended about I-5 {pic on left.} Now there is a jet stream from Hawaii (normal for us, it helps create the mild winter. Its known as The Pineapple Express actually), which brings warm wet weather. So I know you are all smart people and can probably understand WHY these two storm systems occurring one after the other would cause a serious problem. 
{Pic on right is of Snoqualamie Falls, check the video though-- its way cooler :) value="http://www.komonews.com/v/?i=37241889"}
The snowpack is now melting, which only adds to the amount of water being littered all over Western Washington. Therefore: landslides, avalanches, record flooding, major flooding, urban flooding and general discomfort. There are already a few towns in Pierce County that have been completely evacuated. All passes are closed (again, the quick snowfall made them impassable 2 wks ago, now avalanches have covered both Hwy 2 and I-90). And the worst part???
Nial’s job requires their crews to
be on Emergency Response. They don’t HAVE to go but they’re encouraged and make overtime, SO: Yesterday, he found out at 9am that he was On-Call for Emergency Response because of the heavy snowfall in Spokane, roofs are collapsing. Two hours later he was gone! So he’s in Spokane shoveling snow off of schools and other government/important buildings. Everything, hotel, food, transportation is paid for. So quite nice but now quite complicated because like aforementioned; the passes are now closed and they have (in my opinion) a greater need here on the WEST SIDE OF THE CASCADES.
The snowpack is now melting, which only adds to the amount of water being littered all over Western Washington. Therefore: landslides, avalanches, record flooding, major flooding, urban flooding and general discomfort. There are already a few towns in Pierce County that have been completely evacuated. All passes are closed (again, the quick snowfall made them impassable 2 wks ago, now avalanches have covered both Hwy 2 and I-90). And the worst part???
Nial’s job requires their crews to
be on Emergency Response. They don’t HAVE to go but they’re encouraged and make overtime, SO: Yesterday, he found out at 9am that he was On-Call for Emergency Response because of the heavy snowfall in Spokane, roofs are collapsing. Two hours later he was gone! So he’s in Spokane shoveling snow off of schools and other government/important buildings. Everything, hotel, food, transportation is paid for. So quite nice but now quite complicated because like aforementioned; the passes are now closed and they have (in my opinion) a greater need here on the WEST SIDE OF THE CASCADES. {Pic on left is from Concrete, WA were a house slid into another}
I just hope he doesn’t get stranded for too long. Nial is gone until this Sunday or next Sunday so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. At this point so far, he has complained of the cold (given) and the lack of a hot tub (hilarious.) We’ll see if he comes back with all toes and without falling off a rooftop…
{Pic on the left is from Spokane where Nial is}
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Years and Oregonians Visit
Happy 2009! Nial and I had a tremendous celebratory New Years. Bryce, Nial's best friend, Lisa, one of my college friends from SOU, and two other friends all came up to visit us. We had a themed party where everyone wore black and it was a hit!
Post Alley runs diagonally through Pike Place, its home to many interesting things, the Market Theater, some wine tasting rooms, some amazing graffiti art and Seattle's Own.... (drumroll!) GUM WALL! This wall has more gum on it than the CDC would ever allow. Travellers of the alley have seen fit to mark this wall with their spittle in very creative ways; some is draped, pulled, decorated, some is in the shapes of initials or pictures... It is quite hilarious. I am truly glad the owner of the building has not found it in his heart to destroy such a disgusting piece of urban culture. This photo really does not do it justice.
We've had a great time showing our friends Seattle and the surrounding area we live in. We brought Bryce and James (Nial's co-worker from N. Carolina) to Pike Place and went back again to show Lisa today. Nial also took Bryce to Seattle 
Center to walk around the Space Needle and the awesome architecture of the EMP aka Expericence Music Project. I'm hoping to get to take Lisa and Bryce to the Fremont Troll which is under a bridge in Seattle's neighborhood, Fremont. The troll can be seen in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You, which takes place in Seattle. ALSO, Gasworks Park! We'll see how far we get--- BUT as we're trying to get both Bryce AND Lisa to move here, we're trying pretty hard to show them cool things :D
Center to walk around the Space Needle and the awesome architecture of the EMP aka Expericence Music Project. I'm hoping to get to take Lisa and Bryce to the Fremont Troll which is under a bridge in Seattle's neighborhood, Fremont. The troll can be seen in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You, which takes place in Seattle. ALSO, Gasworks Park! We'll see how far we get--- BUT as we're trying to get both Bryce AND Lisa to move here, we're trying pretty hard to show them cool things :D
When Nial first visited with me, thats all I did! Brought him to a concert in Seattle, saw Snoqualamie Falls, spent some time at my favorite secret spot on the Skykomish River, I did all I could to show him how cool Washington is :) I'm devious I know... My mother informed me today that our family's subconsious mission is to take Oregonians from their home state and move them here (Kristin, my sister-in-law is from Roseburg).
Pike Place, for those who don't know is a permanent farmer's market in Seattle on the waterfront. It's named for the cobbled street it lines, Pike Place. The Market is a favorite of mine because of the raw cultural beauty and diversity of all the people and artisans. Everything from fish (classic throwing fish...) to soap to vintage clothes and leatherworks are availible. The fresh flowers are my favorite though I think...or the fruit. Pike Place is also the home of THE VERY FIRST STARBUCKS! Its very brown and vintagey and has shelves of mugs, beans etc with a rolling ladder to reach it all.
Vendors and artisans rent out the stalls on the main arcade and have to set up and take down every day. Others who are downstairs on one of the other 2-3 levels (there is about a zillion ramps and honestly don't know how to count the levels...) can rent space for long periods of time. Its a wonderful mix because the main arcade is ever changing while the other levels and the opposite side of the street are constant.
Pike Place, for those who don't know is a permanent farmer's market in Seattle on the waterfront. It's named for the cobbled street it lines, Pike Place. The Market is a favorite of mine because of the raw cultural beauty and diversity of all the people and artisans. Everything from fish (classic throwing fish...) to soap to vintage clothes and leatherworks are availible. The fresh flowers are my favorite though I think...or the fruit. Pike Place is also the home of THE VERY FIRST STARBUCKS! Its very brown and vintagey and has shelves of mugs, beans etc with a rolling ladder to reach it all.
Vendors and artisans rent out the stalls on the main arcade and have to set up and take down every day. Others who are downstairs on one of the other 2-3 levels (there is about a zillion ramps and honestly don't know how to count the levels...) can rent space for long periods of time. Its a wonderful mix because the main arcade is ever changing while the other levels and the opposite side of the street are constant.
Post Alley runs diagonally through Pike Place, its home to many interesting things, the Market Theater, some wine tasting rooms, some amazing graffiti art and Seattle's Own.... (drumroll!) GUM WALL! This wall has more gum on it than the CDC would ever allow. Travellers of the alley have seen fit to mark this wall with their spittle in very creative ways; some is draped, pulled, decorated, some is in the shapes of initials or pictures... It is quite hilarious. I am truly glad the owner of the building has not found it in his heart to destroy such a disgusting piece of urban culture. This photo really does not do it justice.
Monday everything goes back to RESPONSIBILITY. I'm so disappointed. Neither Nial or I have had to work for the past two weeks so Monday will seem really alien. I actually am starting school again- just Community college (save some $$$$!) so that will be cool. I guess....
Bryce has decided to stay with Nial for another week in search of a job so we've been doing a fairly good job convincing him it seems :) Who's next?!!!! (evil cackle ensues)
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