The Holidays

Man do I love the holiday season. I love festive smells, wreaths, Snowmen, mistletoe, and Christmas music! I love that after Thanksgiving I am allowed to watch my beloved movies and put up decorations. It's great.

I focus on the spirit rather than the spending. I ask myself regularly where my focus is so I can stay caught up in the giving spirit, not in a material sense but a loving, caring sense.

Deck the Halls people!

Wedding Plans

Brent and I are getting married on June 22, 2008 at the Panola Valley Gardens. I can't wait. It seems to be all I can think about. We are going to keep it simple, but simplicity also requires planning. My goal is classic elegance. Nothing too cheesy and nothing too extravagant.

I usually get what I want, I mean, I got Brent didn't I? (wink,wink)

I will try to keep you posted as plans progress.

The Melting Pot

Last night to celebrate Brent's 29th birthday, we went to the Melting Pot in Minneapolis with Charlie and Jacquie. It was by far the most enjoyable dining experience of my life. Our waiter was excellent. He knew the menu, what sauces were compatible with what meats, and was attentive but not overbearing. Needless to say he got a substantial tip. Both couples ordered what the restaurant calls "The Big Night Out." We started with cheese fondue and dippers. It was a Mediterranean Cheese Fondue that consisted of Fontina and Grùyere cheeses blended with roasted garlic, dates, shallots and a touch of white truffle oil. The dippers were different breads, tortilla chips, fresh vegetables and green apples. I didn't think I would like the apple, but paired with such yummy cheese it was awesome!

Our salads came next. Brent chose the House Salad. It consisted of crisp greens, Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, and Emmenthaler Swiss cheese, served with sweet and tangy House Dressing. Brent was quite impressed with the dressing. I chose the California Salad that had mixed baby salad greens, Roma tomatoes, walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese, with Raspberry Black Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing.

Then the entree. We chose the Fondue Fusion with Coq au Vin as the cooking style. The broth had flavors of fresh herbs, mushrooms, garlic, spices, and burgundy wine. I had no idea that fondue with meats meant that raw meat was served and we cooked it ourselves at the table! Everything essentially took 2 minutes to cook and the Coq au Vin ensured that the food would never burn. My favorite bite was probably the pork tenderloin, it was incredibly tender. Here is what the entree consisted of:

Lobster Tail
Filet Mignon Medallion
Balsamic-Marinated Sirloin
Garlic and Herb Chicken
Citrus Pork Tenderloin
White Shrimp
Wild Mushroom Ravioli
Roasted Red Pepper Rigatoni
Fresh Vegetables

And then desert. At this point we were all so happy and pleased. We had been sitting for over an hour enjoying a leisurely meal and great conversation and then bam!- the chocolate fondue. We chose the Flaming Turtle for the table. It was milk chocolate, caramel and chopped pecans, flambeed table side. The dippers included fresh strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, tasty marshmallows, pound cake and brownies. Let me tell you, I have never experienced something as decadent as a fresh strawberry dipped in such delicious chocolate. I wanted to dip my fingers in by themselves just to get at the chocolate!

I enjoyed the evening so immensely that it stayed on my mind through-out the course of the day. I was pleased to be able to give my fiance such a wonderful memory on his birthday. All four of us had a great time. And if you are wondering why I went into such great detail on the menu, it's because I want you to try it yourself! Let's all fondue!

Here is the website if you are interesed: http://www.meltingpot.com/

Silly Donkey!

I posted this picture over a year ago and in reviewing old blogs was inspired to post it again.It is just priceless. Brent and I still laugh our asses off when we see it. Get it? We laugh our ASSES off! That is a real knee-slapper.

Okay, maybe not!

Much afoot...

There have been many things going on in my life and I have been busy to say the least. We have had mandatory OT for the past six weeks ranging from 4 to 10 hours per week. The extra money is nice, but as a newly engaged woman I would much rather be spending that precious time with Brent. It's hard to work 10 hour days and come home with energy. The sad part is, this will continue until the end of February. Last year, the requirement got up to 14 hours a week. FUN!

Besides that, about three weeks ago my company had a "realignment" and laid off over a hundred people. I am fortunate to still be employed but I did get transferred to a new department. That also entailed obtaining a new location in the building and new boss. Neither of which I minded to be perfectly honest. I love my new desk. It is more private and larger. The atmosphere is also more quiet and focused, which are both positives. I didn't always click with my old boss either so was glad that changed. As Brent says, I got a fresh start and didn't even need to do anything.

Now I am getting special attention from my new manager and feel like I am an "engaged" part of my team again. It's great. Work has become a lot less stressful due to these changes and I am so grateful for that. I was ready to start looking but didn't want to leave my teammates with such full plates. That wouldn't be very nice, would it? ;)

With all of that happening at work, my mom has gotten some bad reports from the doctor and I convinced my sister that I should get married sooner rather than later. So, now we are planning on June of 2008 (instead of 2009). She had initially wanted to wait until she was moved back to the US to help me plan, but she can help me plan via Skype as we proved this past Sunday. Poor Brent about lost it listening to two sisters discussing wedding details! We want to keep it as simple as possible but are waiting for Georgia's vacation dates to cement a location and date.

I have also been thinking a great deal about family as the wedding and holidays approach. It hasn't gotten any easier being away from my parents on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Last year I experienced them both without any immediate family members. I have been welcomed into Brent's family with open arms, but there is nothing like my mom's warm embrace and daddy whispers of "Merry Christmas Little Girl." Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. With work requiring so much overtime, I only get the actual holiday off and will most likely have to work Christmas Eve this year. Maybe not a complete day, but it will be something.

But anytime you have new management, there are questions with no answers as of yet. It all requires patience which I have plenty of. We were dumped on a new team so of course they don't have all of the answers. And believe, we are analysts so we have TONS of questions.

I feel like I have written too much, but is it ever really enough? I am so happy right now despite missing my family and being at work too much. I am so in love. Tonight Brent had dinner waiting on me when I got home at almost 8 pm. What did I do to deserve such a loving man? I haven't always been so fortunate in love and that just further emphasizes what a prize I have now. I am truly loving life.

Trip to Grand Forks, ND

Brent and I took a weekend trip to see his family in North Dakota. We arrived on Friday afternoon and he took me on a brief tour of the town. His family lived there for two years during his middle school years so it was interesting to see where they used to live and what school he used to attend outside of what I have always known to be his home in Chisago county. We had a relaxing time talking, eating out, and playing the Wii. Here are some pictures of our journey:

Erik, Angie, and Jessi (Erik is Brent's oldest brother)

Twiggy the family dog. She is 8 pounds of fury!

A picture from the road somewhere in ND.

Jessi playing Dance Dance revolution with Angie helping out on the arm movements. Jessica REALLY LIKES DDR. She has limitless amounts of energy so something that can keep her entertained is a good thing!

Kids Incorporated

My mom has been urging me to post about Kids Incorporated, which I didn't remember anything about until I typed it in on Google. Once I heard the jingle, it all came back to me. I remember it being a part of my childhood Disney experience. The show ran from September 1, 1984 until September 1, 1993. It consisted of a group of young teens (that occasionally shifted every few years as members grew too old to be "Kids" and were replaced) who performed cleaned up versions of pop music standards of the era, with most of the Kids noticeably pretending to play their own instruments (they did sing, though). Along the way, lessons were learned through the conflicts of the kids (e.g. the value of honesty, or why not to cheat on a test.)

Many child actors debuted on the show including Mario Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Robin, Martika (solo record of "Toy Soldiers"), Renee Sands, and Stacey Ferguson (AKA Fergie). Stacy Ferguson held the record as the longest-running cast member, staying with the show for six seasons. After Kids Incorporated ended, some of the kids remained successful in the entertainment industry while others simply fizzled out. Stacey Ferguson and Renee Sands joined forces to become part of a group called Wild Orchard. The group was popular for their R & B sound, but broke up in 2001. In 2003, Stacey started going by the name of Fergie after joining the Hip-Hop group The Black Eyed Peas. She is now persuing a solo career.

It is amazing to me how a show can generate such an amazing career. The Mickey Mouse Club has also given many child actors/singers their start. I wonder what the next equivalent will be in today's generation. And please don't say Hannah Montana or High School Musical!

Check out the pipes on a young Stacy Ferguson:

The Career Path of Fergie:

Missing my Sister

Lately I've thought about Georgia a dozen times in an hour. That's aggressive. I miss her. I was driving on Highway 169 the other night and saw the 49th Ave exit and teared up. It has been almost a year since I have been able to hug her and share stories in person. Our recent Skype date was canceled because she is having computer/phone issues so now I am really thinking of her: wondering how she is, who she is talking to, who she is laughing with, who she is confiding in.

I spent time with Kelsey tonight who went to the same church as my sister. I haven't seen her since Georgia left. It's really hard to see people when the only thing I have in common with them is Georgia. All there is to talk about is Georgia.

Kelsey and I were close years ago, but Georgia was her friend. She misses her. We had a good time talking about the fact that Kelsey is only picky about boys and clothes, playing the Wii, and listening to music. I printed out some pictures of Georgia that I stole from her blog and Kelsey immediately said she was going to put them in her locker. Kelsey is 13 now and completely looks up to Georgia as a friend and role model.

This is how my sister touches people. She becomes a part of their lives. She is selfless, generous, and sincere. She has many traits that define her as a strong, Christian woman and I am proud of her. I love her.

And I miss her.

NKOTB

That's right, I am blogging about the New Kids on the Block. It has been well over a decade since I heard their music and yet, I still know the words. I mean, any girl that was born around the 1980's knows "Hanging Tough," "I'll be Loving you Forever," and my personal favorite "Please Don't go Girl." And yes, I know they have terribly corny lyrics and somewhat nasaly voices... but I loved them when I was a kid. No, adored them. We had all of their cassettes, we bought the Teeny Bopper magazines just to cut out their pictures. And we all had a favorite we were certain would fall madly in love with us if only we'd meet...

I know it's sad.

New Kids on the Block (later NKOTB) was a boy band that enjoyed enormous success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Assembled in Boston in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr, the members consisted of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood. The group went on to sell over 70 million albums worldwide, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in concert revenues, and paved the way for acts like Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.

KNOTB were at the top of their game and lasted in the music industry for several years. They were not a one hit wonder group. Then all of a sudden they were gone, unpopular. If you listened to their music all of a sudden you were a "nerd" or "geek." The industry blaims this on a shift to grunge and gangsta rap becoming more popular, but that claim leaves me suspicious.

I have always wondered what happened to truly cause their downfall. I heard rumors of homosexuality but am unsure of truth of that claim. It does make you wonder how a boy band could inspire cartoons, sheet sets, dolls, and millions of adoring fan and then be gone as quickly as they came.

Guess that's just the business.


Watch "Step by Step" here:

New Hair Color

I have recently changed my hair color... again! What can I say? I like change. My mom wanted to see it so here you go Momma!!

Family

Jessica and Janessa

My beautiful sister Georgia

Dad, Mom, Brent, and I

Brent's parents Butch and Sue

Sheri, Ashley, and Matt

Cutie Ashley

Now that I am engaged to Brent, I am finally looking at his family as my own. All of them have embraced me. The last time I held Ashley her mother Sheri handed her to me saying, "Go see Auntie Lydia." I loved it. I am grateful to have a family close by when mine are so far away. With Georgia in South Korea and mom and dad 20 hours away in Virginia, it brings me great comfort to know I won't be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas alone ever again.

I remember the holidays of 2005 I worked a ton of voluntary overtime because I was depressed to be away from my parents. It was the first time in my life to not have big breakfasts, coffee, and laughs with my folks as they opened their presents from me... there is always a silly one tossed in there! Then came last year, I spent both holidays with the Johnsons since I couldn't make it home.

And yes, "home" will always be Virginia or wherever my parents are. I miss them dearly. Many times I wish I were with them but I know my life is here in Minnesota now. Brent will never relocate and I am fine with that. I love being in the thick of it all. Being in a suberb of a big city has many perks.

There are Farmer's Markets, State Fairs, IKEA, three grocery stores within 5 minutes of the apartment, pizza delivery, and simple things like a McDonalds close enough that your take out is still hot when you get home. And let's not forget the famous Mall of America. In Virginia, everything had to be planned. There was no, "Let's go rent a movie" because it was going to take over an hour to get it. Living in the city definitely has it's perks.

Am I saying that I hated country living? Absolutely not. I loved sitting on the front porch and hearing the river gently flowing across the street. I loved helping my parents mow the lawn and the simple evenings we spent watching TV and talking. I miss the shared looks over hot tea with my mother and the walks around the property looking at various plants with my dad. I miss the mountains.

But let me tell you this, I have never been happier in my life. I am certain as long as Brent is a part of it I will remain happy. The man completes me and if this is his home then it is mine as well. I have two homes and two families. And I feel blessed.

Nature Calls

On a night like this I love to listen
to all of nature's callings;
the wind beating against the trees
and forcing leaves to the ground___
the whistling sound the wind makes
cascading through the meadows
or even the crisp chilly breeze
flowing against my body
as I walk into the river
my toes are cold, but I don't feel the numbness
my hair is wet, but I don't want to notice
I need to feel the night
I need to stand alone
on the river bed
feeling the cool water wrap around by body
like a towel
making me feel all chilly inside
the way it should be
the fish start to nibble at my toes
I laugh out loud
thinking how crazy I am
but when I try exiting the river
I realize I can't
the water has taken hold of me
forever


I wrote the above poem in 1996 when I was still attending Middle School. My mom has always feared that I would drown because I had a few close calls in my childhood. I am sure this poem did not bring her comfort. My thoughts always leaned toward boys and darker issues such as death and rage. I have never understood that phase of my life. On the outside, I was bubbly and bright. On the inside, I wrote of despair. Good thing I grew out of that!

Cool Puter...

I bought myself a new Gateway Laptop. That's right boys and girls, my very own laptop. Now Brent and I can both be in the office on our respective computers. I have been wanting to write but since Brent is frequently using his computer and let's face it - I can't just WRITE BY HAND - I got myself a laptop. It solves my problem of wanting computer time on Brent's computer. And he's got our machines "networked" to the same wireless Internet and our printer. It's hot. I guarantee I will be blogging more and may start down the essay path of my college years once again. I want to publish something before I die. (Good thing I am only 26 and should expect a long life!)

My Dad referenced Super Mario Brothers!

So my dad recently had a cataract removed from his right eye. He was completely alert through the procedure and said the cataract looked like a Super Mario Brothers fish that tries to eat you! My dad probably hasn't seen one of those fish in a decade but it was hilarious to me that he used that to describe the mass that was removed from his eye. He also said that the last moment that it clung to his eye he saw the spectrum of a rainbow...

I wonder now if drugs were involved in this procedure... LOL.

In the Air Tonight

I remember sitting in front of my mother with my mouth hanging open as she said, "I can take music or leave it." I had just remarked how the song I was currently obsessed with moved me, and she responded with that! Music has always been a huge part of my life and where I find pleasure so hearing made me feel like I had nothing in common with my mother. (Also remember that we often feel like way in our teenage years!)

My next memory in this story is driving down country roads while listening to a Phil Collins hits album. "In the Air Tonight" started playing and my mom was instantly a little more quiet and attentive to the music. As the drums blared out the crescendo her hands beat the steering wheel along with the rhythm. She then replayed the song.

I knew in that moment that she could not simply take music, or leave it. And I will always be grateful to Phil Collins for proving her wrong.

Click here for the music video:

Big News: An Engagement

Brent asked me to marry him on Friday and I said YES! It was completely romantic and I can't express in words how happy and content I truly am... it's perfect. We are going to wait until Georgia comes home for the wedding so needless to say it will be a long engagement. But she has to be there to help me plan. I am not a planner at all. The smaller the better!! With help I am sure it will be beautiful and elegant-- with as much budgeting as possible. I would get married in front of a justice of the peace in a white cotton dress just as long as Brent is there smiling at me and accepting me as a permanent part of his life.

Lazy Weekend

I can't imagine what is better than a weekend without obligation. I love catching up with friends... but aimlessly wondering around shops, sleeping in, and watching tv can be much more relaxing. Brent and I plan on doing nothing today. He is napping and I am blogging. I found a great dress today that I'm excited about as well. No one to cook dinner for, no one to entertain, and no worrying about cleaning. It's all so simply, and easy. Just what we need.

Dog-sitting a Gem

We are dog-sitting this weekend for a friend of mine at work. It has been so much fun that now I want a dog of my own. Lucky is the perfect dog. She doesn't require a leash, she doesn't follow at your heals but at a comfortable distance, she doesn't beg for food... and best of all... she loves to be pet. She will sit on the floor beside the sofa and wait to be pet. (She doesn't sit on the furniture which is also money!) If you don't stroke her right away or enough, she will craney her head back until she has your full attention to keep up the good work. An example of how perfect this dog is: Brent and I got the Harry Potter book and decided to read outside. Lucky went outside with us for over two hours and was not leashed. She never even thought of running off even with people milling around the yard surrounding the apartments. We read and she just laid there watching the action, occasionally wanting to be stroked. On breaks, we chased her around a bit and she would drink from her water dish just as happy as a clam. I fear I won't want to give her back tomorrow and that if we do end up getting a dog... it won't compare. She is a gem.

Worry Free Living

I have to admit- living with Brent is a breeze. I was expecting a few bumps but it has been almost three weeks and we are still loving every moment of it. It is so nice not to worry about where I will be sleeping or if I have my lactose pills with me when we order pizza. It's great. I always felt like I was living in two different apartments. Now I am completely at peace. Sounds silly, but I feel more at home then I have since I lived with my parents! I am sure we will bicker at some point, but it sure doesn't seem close at hand. I feel like a cat laying comfortably in the sun...

Pictures of the New Apartment

If you are interested in seeing pictures of my new place, click on The Raison Clan link. It is posted on 7/4/07. Enjoy!

Georgia "Tagged" Me

Rules"After posting these rules, each player then lists random facts/habits about herself/himself, then chooses several people to "tag". The player will then list the names of those he/she tags and leaves a comment on their blog.

I packed/moved items most of the night preparing for my boyfriend to move in this Friday.

I have to work mandatory overtime for a job that bores me.

My sister is very excited about the package oh goodies I sent her this morning. There are a few things that she doesn't know about so Shhhh....

I love my new cell phone. It has radio and holds MP3s... who needs an IPOD?!

I am tagging no one. (I like breaking rules.)

Robert the Graduate

Robert. What can I really say about Robert? He is such an inspiration. He is the type of guy who can recover from a terrible marriage and go back to college to complete his Bachelor's degree. He is also the type of guy who wants to pursue a Master's degree.

It inspires me that he possesses such strength of character. Robert has always had a lot of energy and optimism, but is just enough of a realist to maintain a firm grasp on life. I don't regret for a minute driving 8 hours to see him walk across that stage on May 18th, 2007. Nope. I was so proud of his accomplishments it made the journey worth it.

Lovely Vacation

Brent and I went to Virginia to spend a week with my parents and had a great time. We were fed like kings and there was spoiling all around. It was nice to see my parents a great deal of the week and still manage to visit with my close friends. I was grateful that Brent was not afraid or uneasy around my lively family- he actually blended in with his quiet, charming ways. Here are some pictures:

There is something to be said for a messy bed...

Leaving a bed unmade is like making a statement. It says you haven't quite finished your dream that lasted all night and you want to return to that place of imagination. Perhaps you felt completely comfortable with the sheets hitting your legs just so. You enjoyed it so immensely you struggle starting your day because the pillows and comfort draw you back. The sheets call you by name with their crisp coolness.

When a bed is made, you have to be committed to pulling back the blankets and climbing in. An unmade bed almost begs you to rejoin it.

Mondays Tragedy at VT

I stayed three summers on Virginia Tech's campus and my parents still live only 30 minutes away from the college, so when I heard there had been a shooting, my skin crawled. I knew exactly where the shootings took place and was concerned for the well-being of everyone on that campus, and for the families whose lives would be forever changed. There is no way to turn back the past and help a troubled young man to see the error of his ways, but we can learn from this experience as a nation.

Cho Seung-Hui displayed many signs of being disturbed, and dangerous, and yet was still allowed to reside in the dormitories. Several teachers had referred him to counseling to no avail. Someone, anyone, should have cried wolf but people are too afraid to intervene in one another's lives. If we can learn anything from this, it may be to stop being so politically correct and just tell someone they are nuts and need to be committed.

And don't smile while saying it.

It's hard to write regarding what happened on Monday. There are so many emotions involved: sadness, anger, disbelief, blame... but we have to face evil in this world head on and start calling the kettle black.

Celtic Woman: A New Journey

Last night I attended a wonderful concert for Celtic Woman in the Orpheum Theatre here in Minneapolis. I felt my eyes fill with tears as their voices soared in harmony. I went with Brent's mom and we both absolutely loved every moment. Between the percussion, lights, voices, and strings... it was magical. I got home and was hyper, I skipped around the living room telling Brent all about the concert, humming as I flitted about. I told him how the fiddler ran across the stage in silver pumps and was by far the most fun to watch. All of the women are highly talented and I cannot express enough what a truly impressive show it was. They have three albums (to my knowledge) and I have all of them. Go get one and hear for yourself.

Jessica vs the Wii

Easter Weekend

Easter was loads of fun at the Johnson B&B. We went overnight and for the first time, I was not nervous around Brent's family. I felt like I belonged. His family has embraced me and I can tell I have won them over. It's a wonderful feeling especially since I want to become a Johnson one day myself! Brent's niece Jessica is a live wire. Two weeks shy of 10 years old and hyper as can be. We forced her to box four of us in a row to try and get some energy out of her. It didn't work, but the picture of her "Sweat head" was a direct result. Ashley is three weeks old now and absolutely beautiful. The picture is Ashley holding Jessica's hair in one hand and her father's hand in the other. Jessica lives in another state and was meeting her baby cousin for the first time. Between playing the Wii, conversation, and laughter, it was a relaxing holiday weekend. Reminder: Brent's parents do not own and operate a Bed and Breakfast... this is simply how I refer to it!