I'm gonna kill him! I'm gonna finish him like a cheesecake! *

Being married is great. Just great. You get to spend all this time with your best friend, you wake up to them teasing you about being a blanket hog and a boa constrictor that moves in closer and closer each time they exhale (Note to self: research how boas kill their prey). The best part - Chewy has been living on a steady diet of either eating out (aka burgers) or cottage cheese and trail mix. This means that he loves almost everything I cook (excluding my BBQ - which I didn't like either, and my first try at a Jumba Juice smoothie - which...I wasn't crazy about either). But I think my favorite is that we have a Sunday evening tradition of watching an episode of Doctor Who and the fact that Chewy and I read our scriptures and have morning and night prayer together.


Married life = highly recommended.

GETTING married? I could do without. The wedding and reception went really well. I loved being sealed to Chewy for time and all eternity...and having our pictures taken for two hours wasn't so bad (p.s. Remind me to write a raving review on our photographers). But now I'm back to the real world and in the real world I have a new last name. I'm adding Chewy to my benefits and have had to change my name with work, the DMV and the Social Security Administration (I told Chewy that I think the SSA was backwards...pardon my attitude).

I got to the DMV at opening (8 in the a.m. for those of you wondering) only to be told that I needed to go to the SSA first. So I made my way down there. The SSA has incredible hours that work with any schedule (sarcasm).

Mon - 9-3
Tues - 9-3
Wed - 9-12
Thurs - 9-3
Fri - 9-3

See? Excellent hours.

They are located at the end of Carytown which, from what I can tell, is in between it's dying breath and governmental resuscitation. On the right side of the road stand apartments that look newly remodeled, on the left side dilapidated apartments with cars to match. I found a parking spot on the left side of the road. A man (or possibly a woman - kind of in an in between place there) saw my car, began to approach and then sharked my car - which, as I told Chewy this morning, is my new term for when someone kind of stalks you in a back and forth walk (with optional JAWs theme). I think the person was waiting for a ride, but didn't know what the person would be driving, that's how it felt in the end when they finally walked away.

I walked to the main door of the SSA, only to stand in line outside, in the snow (yes, it was snowing this morning).

The security guard came out and had us form the line to the left of the main door - not sure why it mattered. He got everyone organized and then I got a "Hey, how you doing?" to which I smiled because he didn't have to correct where I was standing - leftovers from public education - an abnormal desire to obey and get it perfect.

After that - it wasn't actually so bad. By the time they opened the doors at 9, there were about 10 or so people behind me. One woman said, "It's got to be 9 now" about every 60 seconds, usually followed by, "They should open the doors early cause it's snowing."

Once inside, we were separated and lined up again, but at least it was warm. I got my ticket/number and took a seat. Once I got to the window things went quickly. I went with my application already completed and my driver's license and old card out and ready. I double checked that I could go to the DMV now and he said, "too bad you weren't here yesterday, we had the DMV van in the parking lot" I had seen the poster and cursed my bad timing, then I thought, "there's a parking lot?!" I got to my car and drive to the closest DMV. Surprisingly, it didn't take long at all, unfortunately, they made me take my photo. The DMV has adopted the rules of Chinese school (you know - Chinese school has just begun, if you show your teeth or tongue you will pay the consequences). I was allowed to smile, just no teeth. I'm proud of my teeth - I like to show them off, but I complied.

After that - they charged me $20 and let me go.

Now I just need to work on changing my name with pretty much everything else.

When we are married, will you dance with me? I find dancing very agreeable.*

In the process of turning my house into a home, I have been going through boxes of things that have been packed up since the day I moved in. Several months ago I decided I would do this because the things in those boxes have either sentimental value or none at all. I’ve gotten rid of A LOT of stuff but I’ve also found a lot of good stuff.

For example – these guys

Timbear, Cupcake and Beansie.

Beansie actually came up at Sunday dinner. Kat asked Chewy if he knew of her but he didn’t. I believe he ended up describing her as a, “creepy binkie with eyes”. ‘Binkie’ because she was a security thing for me, well I’m not certain she was security, but that’s how Kat kind of described her.

Another thing I found was a list that my roommates wrote back in 2002 in college to describe my future husband. Mostly they listed my qualities. But for fun – let’s go through the list and see which ones Chewy meets.

1. Tall (Check)
2. Brown (dark) hair (Check)
3. Creative
4. Clean (Check)
5. Sign Language
6. Hilarious, good sense of humor (Check)
7. Athletic
8. Driving "piece of crap" car (Check)
9. Wants to live back East (Check)
10. Michigan (I'm not sure what this means)
11. Picky Eater
12. Big Smile (Check)
13. Reserved, but when comfortable is outgoing (Check)
14. Likes T-shirts, skater shoes
15. Brown eyes
16. Computer tech
17. Listen to rock music and wide range of music
18. Writes poetry (how he'll propose)
19. Nice hands but doesn't touch wrists, no big veins (Check)
20. Family is going to hook you up (Check)
21. Goofy dancer (Check)
22. Touchable hair (Check) 

12 out of 22 ain't bad.  Especially since number 10 doesn't make any sense. 

We're too excited to sleep!*

In just a few days I will marry my best friend (aka Chewy) for time and all eternity. 

It's funny to think that he was right in front of me the whole time.  For those of you just joining us, Chewy's brother is married to my sister, they've been married for I think 12 years this month.  So when I say he was right in front of me, it's no joke.  I remember hanging out at my sister's house and he would be there and I would be afraid to say anything because I wanted to be funny but was nervous I wouldn't be. He's funny people, it's intimidating.

Years ago I had a huge crush on Chewy....and when I say crush I think it's important to remember that this was during my phase where I found it impossible to speak to a guy I liked.  I would just hang out on the sidelines while my sister talked to him and tried not to seem too creepy.  Over the last few years our relationship statuses (is that the right way to say it?) have varied and timing just wasn't right.  Then back in July things finally aligned and I haven't looked back since.  It's hard to believe that we haven't always been together and sometimes one or the other of us will have one of those weird moments when we do remember. 

On Saturday, we moved the bulk of Chewy's stuff to the house.  We worked well together getting everything set up and I'm sure I can speak for both of us that we had no problem falling asleep Saturday night! It was a lot of work and there's still a little cleaning to do, but overall I think the hardest part of it is over. 

On our last trip to his house, his nephews were crawling all over the truck.  At one point, Chase (newly four years old) sat down to work on his knot tying skills he was showing me.  He sat cross legged and so I did too.  He looked over at me and said, "You can cris cross applesauce too?"

Me: Yeah, I sat this way when I was a kid.  We called it something else back then.

Chase: Oh. Can you tell me?

Me: Um, Yeah. It was 'Indian Style'.  I'm not sure that's really P.C.

Chewy (walking by): No.

Chase: No. It's not P.C.

Then later his brother and sister-in-law were talking to us while we all stood around the truck.  They were talking to Chewy about how he wasn't allowed to work on the honeymoon.  His SIL said, "Chewy, the place won't fall apart without you." and Chase said, "No, mom, it will."

That little boy is after Chewy's heart.

Code, we're the good guys now.*

I hate change.

It’s as simple as that.

Change = calamity

Change = frustration

Change = well…change

I bought Diego from the dealership a few years ago. I tried to get my dad to talk me out of giving in to the salesman and buying a new car and all I got was, “Well, if you want a new car it’s a really good time get one.” This from Mr. 4.333 budget man. Since I didn’t really care either way, I haggled a bit with the salesman. I got him to get me a refund on what I had just put down on the old car and found some monies in other places. In the end, I ended up with Diego and free oil changes, tire rotations, state inspections, and car washes for the life of the car.

So in January I was upset to find that the dealership I went to for said free amenities had changed ownership. I received this news via email a week before the change was to occur. They assured me that my benefits would still be honored here. Despite that assurance, when it came time at the end of January for an oil change I looked for a similar dealership where they would be honored. I found one that was equal or closer distance to my house and filled out the online form for an appointment. I checked that I preferred email communication and hit submit.

I never heard back from them. Life got busy and I kept putting off calling the old/new place. You see, I hate rejection in all forms, so I get anxiety when having to call someone on the phone. I much prefer email and online communications. So today I finally remembered to contact the place, but found I could do it online. So I went online, went to the service department and filled out the form. Half an hour later, Willie Jones is calling me saying he’s received my credit information and they have 2012 Altima’s available. I was confused, it sounded like maybe he was trying to sell me the make and model I already own. I called him back to hopefully clear up the confusion, but not before looking at the confirmation I printed off and looking at the site again to make sure that I hadn’t accidentally clicked on ‘sales’. Sure enough, ‘Service’. He never picked up.

A little annoyed, I went back to the Mechanicsville site and tried again. This time I clicked that I wanted a phone call, that way I couldn’t accidentally miss the email (which I finally decided MUST be what happened). I didn’t even enter my email address…no more than twenty minutes later I had an email from that location. I THINK I have an appointment set for the 12th, but after stating what time I would like he stopped emailing me. Could this be any more ridiculous? I just want a free oil change!

Tell them the horizon is an imaginary line that recedes as you approach it.*

It snowed today!  We found out at 9 a.m. that our office was closed - luckily I had already decided not to be a hero (boss' snow day motto, "don't be a hero").  I'm hoping that by posting these snow day pictures (which aren't all that exciting because I am all alone suffering from cabin fever) you won't notice how few books I read this past month.

I saw this little creature in snow today so I thought I'd get some shots....this is the only one where he wasn't super blurry.

Now for books

January = 4

February = 1

Total = 5

Weakness is Not Sin by Wendy Ulrich
This book was pretty good.  I know a lot of people who beat themselves up and I think this book addresses those fears and insecurities that people might have.  Here's a quote I sent to a friend:

 "I realized that my weakness was not in my unwillingness to make sufficient sacrifices, which is what I expected the Spirit to whisper.  My weakness, the one God wanted me to humbly bring to Him, was my unwillingness to receive God's grace as enough.  Even if God does not spare us hardship, He can spare us despair.  The comfort and sustenance of the Spirit can truly be enough if we will let them in.  My problem is less my struggle to sacrifice and obey and more my struggle to receive."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So that's it - I only read one.  I hit a bump in the road when the person whose library card I use to access library books got a fine and I got restricted.  I think we should take a moment to consider how our actions affect other people...just kidding, I should probably go get my own library card.  I've added it to my "to-do list" that I never seem to accomplish.  Hopefully I'll finish a book or two before next month's book post.