Oh the agony...

...of moving.

We're in our NEW PLACE!!! YAYY!!! We are still unpacking! BOO!

Saturday involved my being a HOSS and helping the BF load up all our stuff into a UHaul at 7 a.m. Good times.

Sad thing is this is "what's left" after half the truck was full, and a car load had already been taken.

See Dozer?

He was NOT happy with us. If he could speak, he would have told us what time it was.

Luckily, there were two more hands for unloading, so it didn't take nearly as long. Now it's just the unpacking that we are still working on. Thus far we have a:

Partial living room.

We also have a:

Bedroom.

We've also got a kitchen & dining room mostly set up... bathrooms mostly together, and the den, 2nd bedroom, and both porches have yet to be fully established. We're getting there. The artwork is coming, and better pictures of the whole shit is coming soon.

Feb 27 to March 2 - 2009

... were the dates of my first visitors! Jenn and Mitch came down to hang out with us, and have a good time in our apartment one last time before we move out of it. They couldn't have been more excited to be here (and I feel like I can speak on their behalf on that, because just wait until you see how elated their faces are in the pics...) and we couldn't have been more excited to have them and show them around town.

Friday was Kickbacks.... naturally. We basically got them at the airport, had the classic "running down the terminal, jumping hugs, excited loud talking" moment, and headed straight there. Beer ensued... as did some seriously delicious jalapeno cheese sticks, chips and salsa, Hamburger Helper (enchilada flavor), breakfast sandwich, fish 'n chips, macaroni and cheese, and I don't even know what else people ordered. Regardless - it was all delicious. After Kickbacks with some people, the four of us headed for London Bridge for more beering and quarters. We then went to the apartment, welcomed them to our "home," and more quarters. I had to crash, because I ran the 10k the next morning (see pics from previous post).

Saturday was my run in the A.M., followed by beach and drinks. Food came after a fiasco at Paco's (DISAPPOINTING... considering how badly all of us wanted Mexican food), so we went to Chicago Pizza across the street (which is much cooler looking from the patio than it is inside). Drinks followed at Fionn MacCools - which was suprisingly UN-douchey. We had two fantastic servers, realized that the best place for four friends to sit at a bar together is at the corner (as opposed to being in a line), and had some secret shots. Good times were had.

Sunday was more of just hanging out together - that's all we were there to do, anyway. We showed them around town. We did a drive-by of our soon-to-be new place. We went to Five Points and had some drinks at Ragland's, and did some shopping at the sweet antique/vintage store over there. We also did some of this:


So that's how that went.

Monday was DISNEY WORLD! We moseyed out of bed, eventually, and got on the road and into Animal Kingdom by noon. Did the walking exhibit to see the tigers. Did some beer and a fantastic jalapeno cheddar pretzel. Did the Flights of Wonder exhibit. Did the safari ride. Did It's Tough To Be a Bug (you can't NOT do that... they loved it). Decided to go to Magic Kingdom next, because they wanted to see the castle (I warned of the children-issue... but I know you "have" to see the castle... so we went). We stayed to see the castle and the teacups, then got the F out of there just in time.

Then there was EPCOT :) I just love that park... everything about it. So we did the beer around the world... which led to this:
This...


Aaaaand this...
All joking aside...... we had a wonderful time with some fantastic friends, and I think we even convinced them to try Jax on for size for after Mitch graduates! So you never know. We might have new neighbors come August :)

What is this!?

Nothing like go big or go home. One of about 45 things on a "resolution list" of sorts, was for me to get my ass to run a 5k. Well, I thought, "why not pony-up? I'll take your 5k and raise you 5, and throw you in the mud for military obstacles!"

This is the 10k Jacksonville Mud Run. You like where that came from?

Courtesy of GlossyFinish.com

So yeah. I ran that with 3 guys from work, and one of those guys' roommates. So we had a team of 5... and we finished 41st out of 198 teams! Yay!

Mitch and Jenn, and the BF were at home sleeping... as we had been out late the night before enjoying each others company. And on that note? Those pictures are to come in the next post. All there is to say: it was a fantastic weekend, with fantastic friends, with good beer and the happiest place on Earth. Can't get a whole lot better than a good weekend with good people.

BAHSTEN, BEEYA, and life.

GREATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT times in Boston, Mass. So much so, that I'm having one of those "what the hell am I doing with my life in Jacksonville?" days, missing Amanda and Theo.

We got to Boston on Friday around noon-time. Had our running-through-the-airport moment with Amanda n Teddy, and got ourselves a taxi. Ohhh the taxi. We walk up, and the guy is not paying attention. Mike asks if the four of us and our luggage will fit, he says "yeah." Well, his entire front seat looked like we were about to hop into a truck drivers truck after about two weeks straight on the road. There was no seat. There was wrappers, papers, garbage, snacks, and a box of Frosted Flakes. Regardless, we toss our shit in and the guy offers a towel for Mike to sit on for our trip. HA. Not only this, but he has the bullet-proof glass slider on lock between the front seat and the back seat, so the three of us are laughing and carrying on in the back, all the while inable to hear or say anything to Mike or the cabby up front. PS the guy had serious coke pinky nails... yes two..

MmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmCOKE!

Anyway. So we got checked into the hotel, not the motel, the HOL...I...DAY...INNNNNN and dropped our shit off. Then we headed off to meet Dan and Maureen. After walking in the bitter cold/wind for about 20 minutes, we found them, and ate at Whiskey's Steakhouse for some good lunch and beers. Amanda and I had a blueberry ale that was pretty delish. After this, they went to the Sam Adam's brewery tour, and Maureen and I went to Faneuil Hall. For the most part, for us, this was a bust... .so we went somewhere where everybody knows your name........CHEERS! We asked the guy if he'd never been to Boston and had two days to see some cool things, what he would do........ and he said "House of Blues." I wanted to say to go stuff himself, but I resisted. So we went on a mini walking tour of Freedom Trail - until it got to be wayyyyyyyyy too cold. We turned around and went to Houston's for another drink, until everyone else met up.

At this point, the only things I've bought myself are gloves. Damnit.

We go to Kingfish Hall for dinner... which was the furthest thing from being anything I would like, but oh well. When in Boston... man up and watch other people eat seafood til their hearts content. Jessica, a friend from college, met up after dinner and showed us over to Little Italy, where we went to a mafia/mob bar. Literally - the kind of place with low lighting, expensive wine, and dudes in suits standing everywhere just watching. This is not a joke. But regardless, it was great to see her and catch up a bit.

Saturday was pretty awesome. Like, start to finish. We got up and around, and started the day with a little muffin and bev's on the corner at Au Bon Pain. This was the day of the engagement pictures... so we started at the coffee shop! Perhaps a lil insight into how the day went, pre-Photoshop? Eh?

A typical morning with the two of them :) (click the pick to see it without the weird crop..grr)

Continued March 6th... I know, I'm behind schedule.

So the picture taking was awesome. We went up and down the streets of Beacon Hill and sat on some pretty stoops and took some shots, and some in front of pretty wrought-iron fencing. We also found out that we were literally "over the hill" from Boston Common. It was pretty in the winter... I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in warmer climates.

The beer festival? FANTASTIC. I mean where else can you pay $40 and drink 2-ounce pours of over 100 different flavors of beer?! It was definitely crowded, the line an hour before go-time was around the corner! Always good to see people loving some tasty beers. I can't wait to see some of the "new" beers in the stores... since most of the ones I was in love with are only poured draft in the bars in their respective locations nationwide.

A good italian dinner followed...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm CARBS!

That night, the BF didn't feel so hot, so he fell asleep at the hotel. Amanda, Teddy Tio, and myself decided to have ourselves a little night. We went to the "real" Cheers (to say we did it) and had a beer and good convo with the super-friendly bartender. He helped us to the next area of bars, and ended up at an irish-saloon place (a-la McFaddens... loud, bro, and bitches). We left after a beer and went to Rock-Bottom Brewery, which is a brewhouse/restaurant. It's dim-lit, some good beers for a restaurant, and pretty large. Nice decor. Quiet. We stayed here until late and had some good conversation and drinks. Amanda had a handful of martinis until she was feeling good... haha... and they both had a second dinner.

All in all, Boston was a fantastic time... I can't wait to go back again and see it in the warm months and full blooms. Until then, here's a few more engagement pics that have been completed. I'm trying my best to keep to my word of two weeks...but we are moving and have had friends in town!

Click the pic to see it without the weird crop....grrr

It's official.

I'm a Florida resident! I just got back from taking my license pic at the DMV. You just know that's always a good time waiting to happen. Luckily for me, I made an "appointment" to have this done. Unluckily for me, either Florida or Michigan's system "went down," and I STILL had to wait... though not as long as the other 150 people crammed into the 30x30' space that is the Jacksonville area Department of Motor Vehicles.

Highlight? Walking out of the place with my new license (that I look ridiculous in, as the girl snapped the picture while I wasn't paying attention) and there is a woman and her (approximately 4 year old) son, carried by his arm... "YAYYY!! This means we don't gots to be afraid of the police no mo!!!" followed by squeals from the young'n. I wanted to laugh my ass off, but I was right in front of her. So I waited til I got in my car and busted up..... until I realized my sun roof was wide open. So I called Jennifer to share in my laughter. That all happened.

Sooo.... that's ONE thing off of the gigangic list of things that I need to do for myself, including:
1) Visiting tax attorney's office to transfer my title to Florida
2) Getting plates and tags for my vehicle
3) Finding a dentist
4) Finding a doctor
5) Get 6 month teeth cleaning appointment (currently due for)
6) Get cavity filled (currently PASTTT due for)
7) Visit new doctor, establish relationship, demand answers to my dry skin predicament
8) Pay for all of the beforementioned, somehow.
9) Find new place to live before May 1... if not before April 1

IN OTHER NEWS!

Mitch and Jenn are coming to JACK TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only that, but I beat out a trip to JAMAICA! They were between coming to Jax to see us, or going to Jamaica... yeah! So they'll be here next Friday, and then we're going to DISNEY WORLD ON MONDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS!

What an outstanding weekend.

All things are good.

Friday was another good night at Kickbacks.

Saturday was doing my part to revive the economy by dropping a fat grand on hair, tires, dinner, and Matrix Trilogy box set in Blu-Ray. Yep, that all happened. So much for the budget.

Sunday was the DONNA MARATHON... which was SO fun and SO inspiring. I'm pretty sure we want to run it next year... whether it be the full or the half. There's no reason why a 79 year old man can finish 26.2 miles and I can't... that's just a slap in my fat ass to get serious. The idea of running that far makes my head explode... do you know how far that is?

For my Flint readers: it's from Applebees on Miller Road to OWOSSO.

View Larger Map

For my Grand Rapids readers? A marathon is like RUNNING, no STOPPING, from Grand Haven to WALKER:

View Larger Map

MY GOD.

Valentine's Day Eve Eve

Fun weekend ahead!

Okay week behind!

THE OFFICE PART 2 OF 2 TONIGHT :)



Laura's grandmother passed away yesterday morning, early. Rest in peace, Grandma Betty.

Dozer has started running alongside us during bike rides this week.

Work has had it's ups and downs... nothing terrible. Nothing a good lunch-vent couldn't take care of, anyway. Our director of account services is officially leaving the company as of March 13th... to move into a position that is perfect for him. He's a very artsy guy, and this will allow him a lot of artistic freedom and happiness in his new venture.

People still pee and stare at me from the bushes outside of the office.

No crazy people at work this week, thankfully.

I've almost got my tax information collected, and it appears I'm going to be leaps and BOUNDS ahead of where I am now as far as paying off a credit card. WOOT to me (and see other blog!)!

SEVEN DAYS UNTIL BOSTON! ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW MORNING WE WILL BE TOUCHING DOWN AT SNOWY LOGAN INTERNATIONAL! YAYAYAYAYAYYYY! I cannot WAIT to see Amanda, Theo, and the beautiful city and all of it's beer-drinking greatness!

Tomorrow: Work, KICKBACKS... beer me!!!
Saturday: Hiking @ Little Talbot Island with the Doze and the BF, driving around Riverside for a new home, shmancy dinner with the BF somewhere of his choosing, concert @ The Pit.
Sunday: RISE N SHINE at 3:30 a.m. or so..... get out to the beach at 4:45 a.m. to volunteer for the Donna Breast Cancer Marathon (26.2 With Donna)! WOO HOO! I'm excited, really... though it'll be rough showing it at 4 a.m. Afternoon? Grocery shopping (ick). And RELAXING.

So that's where I'll be this weekend!

OH! And I've got a new phone number as of next week... so ask for that (to my three loyal viewers, haha). Also means NO MORE PHONE BILL FOR ME! MONEY IN DA BANK, SHAWTY WHAT YA DRANK!

Kidding.

Have fun at the Lupe show tonight, B! Can't wait to see a few pics. I'm sure it'll be a blast.

Until next time...

Don't even try to challenge Dozer in his badassness.