Honesty in Blogging

Hello, all -

Sorry that I have been MIA here for so long. I have been focusing on my personal life for a while, and haven't been able to spend the time that I normally spend on blogging. I have been debating about saying this for a while because I know a lot of you (friends, family) read my blog and I didn't want to unduly worry you.

We have been having a bit of a challenging time lately, Shaun and I. I realize that the first year of marriage is a tough year for most newlyweds, and we are not an exception. I believe that if we didn't have some problems it would probably be worrying, but at times I have been so frustrated with it all, all I could do was cry. But luckily, we have been doing much better lately and have been listening to each other's needs and wants and have been trying to accommodate those as best we can to make each other happy. I think that a majority of it is because we are young and like to have things our own way (we are both so stubborn) and didn't like compromising on anything. Happily, it seems to be something that we are getting better at, and seems only to be improving. And I guess I feel that that's what it's all about - thinking about another person's needs and making them my priorities, too.

On to happier things. Since I never discussed it, the Tombstone Trail rally race that we did with Andrea and Cory was so much fun!

Shaun, Cory, Andrea and I in the car on our way to the graveyards!

So we had the time of our Octobers doing this. Tempers got a little short, but I think that that's because we all ended up getting so competitive. Shaun's car doors autolock once you start driving, so when we'd want to rush out to go check out the gravestones, we'd be yelling, 'Unlock the DOORS!!!' He finally got to the point where he would remember it all on his own, but it took a little yelling to get him figuring it out on his own. ;-) It was actually pretty cold, but I was so busy thinking (and running) that after the first time I got out of the car I didn't even realize that it was cold. We felt like we were doing so bad because we skipped a couple of graveyards and we were pretty sure that we had missed some questions. But we figured we didn't do so bad for our first year. Anyway, at the end of the night we met up at Godfather's Pizza in Redwing, MN. Turns out that we tied for first in our class but lost the tiebreaker so we got second. We placed 8th overall out of 53 cars. Not bad for our first year, not bad at all. We are bumped up a class for next year now because we did so well our first year. We are already making plans for next year's Tombstone Trailer. (We are determined to get that best costume award! Hehe)

Much of November was pretty uneventful, it was deer season for most of it so we were up in H-town for three weekends in a row. The final weekend we (Mom, Lucy and I) went up to Duluth to visit Jennifer and do a little shopping. We ate at Olive Garden (it was deelish, but a little arugula goes a long way, and this was smothered in arugula) and went to Michael's and Target, where I made my mom purchase cute wrapping paper and ribbons. I didn't actually make her, but I told her that if she wanted me to wrap her presents for her, I refused to wrap them ugly. So she willingly bought the cute stuff. It was a lot of fun, and it was really nice to see Jennifer again.

We headed up to H-town for Thanksgiving. The food was SO GOOD! Everything was going well until my Grandpa made a somewhat uncouth comment in front of my mom, Shaun and I after we were done eating. Ugh. It was something that I really did not want to hear about. But we had a good night once I could sit on the couch it was all better. Tyler, Dana and Gracie came and I was playing with Gracie. She had a little toy of the Wicked Witch from Snow White, and I had her saying, 'RAWR!' every time she looked at it. She also LOVES hearing 'Pattycake'- she scrinches up her face and tilts her head against her shoulder. SOOO cute!

Tyler, Dana and Gracie

Too CUTE! :D

Friday I helped my mom rearrange the living room. Brought the computer out there and we had fun playing Mah Jongg. This weekend we cleaned, but I didn't get as much X-mas decorating done as I wanted to. Oh, well. It'll happen! I decorated a wreath so that we can hang the ornaments that Shaun's Grandparents have gotten us and keep the cats from playing with them and breaking them. But now they keep jumping up the wall to get it. I hope it survives the night - I haven't put our precious ornaments on it yet in fears of that happening. Anyway, time to finish decorating (I hope!) Take care! :)

Hey, kids!

Sorry, I suck. I know it. I am flagellating myself right now over my lack of dedication to my sites. Including my myspace site. I feel bad not checking everyone's out and leaving comments and what not, so I am resolving to get my act in gear after Halloween. I have a plan in mind for a new background and song and what not. It's just taking some time getting it together. And I'll post about last weekend soon too, I promise!

The pics I promised!

They're from the weekend that we went camping @ Gooseberry Falls State Park. They were all taken in Granad Marais on that Saturday because we didn't feel like camping in the rain.

Gosh, Ok, when was my last post?

A long time ago is all I know. Allrighty. I'll just hit the highlights because everything else is mind-numbingly BORING.

A few Sundays ago Sarah* and I got together for some coffee and a good long chat. I was proud of myself because I even parallel parked in Minneapolis (ok, so it wasn't downtown) and it'd been a really long time since I had done that - or even tried. It was nice to sit down and chat with someone who has very similar viewpoints as me on many topics - and even when we had different ones, it was nice to discuss them anyway and see how someone else viewed the topic. We also talked about our furry babies and how strange yet utterly adorable they are.

I was unable to park in the garage for a couple of weeks due to my car leaking oil (!?!?!). This is the first problem that my car has presented us with, and it had been three years. Shaun took it to the dealer (Friday #1 that I had to get dropped off @ work) to get it checked out. Turns out that my oil pan gasket, rotors, brakes, and intake gaskets were bad. Approx. $1300 worth of repairs and labor when all was said and done. My drums and brakes in the back nearly need to be replaced. So that Friday Shaun took my car to his buddy Dan's place to replace the brakes and rotors. They got it done, even though the new brakes scared me at first becuase they were slippery. I had to get a ride home from Abby. (Thanks, Abby!) Shaun then called me to say that he would be a few more hours at Dan's. The time was 7pm. Turns out that Dan's friend was heading to Dan's and she was in the EP so she picked me up. It was a good time.
The next Friday Shaun took my car to his friend Jason's house in Osceola, WI. (An hour and a half drive) So I got dropped off at work with the promise that I would get picked up no later than 5. My only requirement was that my car wouldn't get broken worse than it was. This time it was the oil pan gasket - easy, right? They just used a liquid sealant that apparently a lot of non-dealership oil-changers use. Anyway, I called Shaun at about 5 to find out where he was. He was half an hour or so into his drive driving Jason's car. They managed to do the one thing I asked them not to - break my car. Turns out Jason turned the bolt too much when replacing my oil pan and cracked the pan, which caused all of the oil to gush out. So Kelly brought me home from work that night. (Thanks, Kelly!) Shaun went back to Jason's to put an epoxy onto the crack and brought my car home on Saturday morning. Yaay. I made Jason white chocoalte and macadamia nut cookies to thank him. I offered to make Dan some, but he said he would just take the thanks, thank you very much. So now my car is safely driveable again.

A week ago Friday we hosted Andrea's birthday party. Which, of course, was the day that Shaun brought my car to Jason's and was late. When we still had to cook and clean. Typical. Anyway, we got everything cleaned up and cooked and baked and had a good time. Andrea and Corey helped us, too. We had a couple of drinks and played a quick coupke of games of Catchphrase. That was lots of fun! :) Then we went to Old Chicago to play pool/darts, but because it was 'crowded' (there were spots at the bar available) they didn't have the balls/darts out. Boo. Then we headed to Mystic Lake where I tried to find Sarah* but she was no where to be found. Andrea was getting tired so we all headed home. I think that everyone had a good time. I know I did!!! :D

Last weekend we headed down to Madison to visit JP and my 'personal attendant' Kari. Steve whom I went to college with also lived with them so it was cool getting to see him, too. We got there at about 9 Friday night and went to a brew house for a quick drink. I had about the best amaretto sour I have ever had. Then because we're all old people and can't stay up late anymore we headed home. Saturday the four of us headed to the Great Dane for lunch - Shaun, JP, Steve and I. Had some good food, and played pool and darts. I am definitely not as good at them as I used to be back in the college days. SO sad! That night JP, Kari, Shaun and I went to Biaggi's where we waited for an hour and half for a table. We knew that we'd have to wait the hour, but I think that they completely forgot about us because by the time we finally got fed up with it and Kari talked to a Manager, he checked it out, came back over to us and said the next table was ours and he'd give us three appetizers for free. So in case you ever go to Biaggi's, the Artichoke dip is DELICIOUS. :D So is the chicken parmesean. The chocolate martinis sans the raspberry liqueur is delish too. But the ones with raspberry are bleck. Unless you like your nose burning. Sunday morning before we left the 6 of us had breakfast - yes, that's right, 6. I called Jenny and Josh and they met us (JP, Kari, Shaun and I) at Perkin's and we had some delicious breakfast. Jenny and I caught up on stuff and spend most of the time chatting and sharing pictures. They have a house and a dog and two cats. So cute! So the next time that Shaun and I get down that way we are going to stop and see their house. Miss ya girlay!!!!

This coming Friday we are heading to Menomonie for homecoming, then heading back to the Cities to hang out and go to a couple bars. Saturday night is just too ridiculous after the game and whatnot. So I am completely looking forward to El Patio and CHEAP drinks! :) (Funnily enough, they used to seem so expensive)

Hope you all are having a great time and I promise some new pictures soon!

I really wanted this to be my myspace bg

But it didn't work, of course. Please open the link in a new window. It could SOOO be better, it's too jerky and makes me frustrated, but when I did a trial and it didn't even work, I decided not to worry about it. Maybe I'll develop for future use, though. We'll see.


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