HUZZAH!

Today was a beautiful day, so Adam and I decided to head down to the Maryland Renaissance Festival. It was crowded, but we had a good time walking around and seeing all of the various shows. Adam enjoyed the "Ye Olde Ale" and we both enjoyed juggling, jousting and sword swallowing. Here are some pictures from our day:

Morning Coffee

This morning, I got up and drove to the metro station as usual to go to work. For those of you who know me, usually I have metro stories that include people who smell, people who almost sit on top of you trying to squeeze into the small seat next to you, people pushing, shoving and hitting to get out at certain stations and people crammed in like sardines when the train is late. Well, today was a breath of fresh air...today, I have a positive metro story.

I got onto the train this morning, and, per usual, looked for the least threatening person to sit next to, which today, happened to be an old man, who I would estimate was about 90. I was kind of surprised to see someone so elderly on the Baltimore Metro. I went over, sat down, and proceeded to gaze intently out the window, counting down the minutes until I could escape into the outside world again. The man must have seen my Department of Veterans' Affairs badge, because he started talking to me:
Man: "So you work for the VA?"
Me: "Yes, that's where I'm headed right now. Where are you headed?"
Man: "Everyday, I get on this train and come down to Baltimore to visit my wife"
Me: "Oh yeah? where is your wife?"
Man: "She's been in the hospital for 6 months now, I come down every morning around 7:00 and leave every afternoon around 3:30"
Me: "Wow, you must be a very devoted husband"
Man: "After 65 years of being married to someone, I can't imagine having my morning coffee by myself, so I come down here every morning to have my coffee with her"

We continued to talk for the rest of the ride, then I got off at my stop, and he continued on the train.

The whole conversation made me think about something my mom wrote to me in an email the other day:

"It's funny how things come down to those wedding vows you take when you are very young-"For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, til death do us part." When you are young and healthy and everything is looking great, you don't think about that pledge you make. They are just words. But, when you are with someone for 25 or 30 years-they are actions and thoughts and sticking with someone because you promised."

These are the things that I will think about alot over the next year and 3 months...I hope in 65 years, Adam will love me enough to travel every morning to drink his morning cup of coffee with me, no matter where I am....on second thought, Adam doesn't even like coffee.

Back to work

This week has been spent recovering from vacation, getting caught up on work and just getting back into the swing of things. Nothing too exciting going on...but I thought I would share some pictures of Savannah, and Paula Deen's restaurant, Lady and Sons.

I was kind of disappointed, I guess I was expecting Paula to pop out with a huge pad of butter and some homemade biscuits, but really there was just a big buffet and some mediocre peach cobbler. Oh well. I absolutely LOVED Savannah, even though it poured rain the entire time we were there. I hope someday I can go back for a weekend just to wander around and check out all of the amazing old houses.

Savannah's City Hall:


I took this picture after rushing to the restaurant so we could be in line by 9:00 AM to get a reservation:

I made Adam take a picture of the buffet, which really looks like pretty much every other buffet:


Sorry there aren't too many pictures, but as I said...it was pouring the whole time we were there.

In Tobey news, after his week away from us, he has returned and I think he still remembers Adam and me.

In wedding news, Adam, My Mom and I are going to look at the Hershey Country Club this Saturday....keeping my fingers crossed that it is the perfect reception location.

Beach Bound

On Saturday, I woke up at 5:00 AM and Adam and I started the long drive to Hilton Head Island, SC, where his parents had rented a condo for the week. After 10 hours, and a traumatic stick shift driving lesson on my part, we arrived at the beach around 4:00 PM. Since then, we have pretty much been doing nothing, so there really isn't anything exciting write about. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.



It is my new opinion that I really do not want to go to work again next week, but I guess I won't think about that right now.

Tomorrow we're headed to Savannah for the day and I cannot WAIT.

Plan B

So, to make a long story short, we were screwed over by the Hotel Hershey, who apparently double booked the room the wedding was supposed to be in on December 5, 2009. Thus, we have to come up with a Plan B. I thought I would explain the options, and if anyone reads this thing...please comment and let me know what you think....

Option 1.
Place: Hershey Country Club
Date: December 5, 2009

Option 2.
Place: West Shore Country Club
Date: October 3, 10, 17 or 24, 2009 (whatever weekend is available)

Option 3.
Place: New Room in the Hershey Hotel's "Great Expansion" (the room is supposed to be finished in June, 2009, but we have no idea what it will look like or whether it will be ready in time)
Date: December 5, 2009

Option 4.
Place: Hershey Lodge
Date: Sometime in October

Option 5.
Place: Eloping in Las Vegas with an Elvis-Themed Wedding
Date: Next Weekend


There ya go...if you read this, comment and let me know which one has your vote, as I am kind of up in the air and disappointed right now.

The good news is....tomorrow is the last day of work before a wonderful week in Hilton Head, S.C.

Growing Up Puppy

Today Tobey went to the vet and got 4 shots, one in each shoulder. Afterward he seemed fine, but later on tonight, he got really tired and started looking really sad. I feel so bad for him and hope he feels better tomorrow.

Next week he will have a new adventure...when he goes to the kennel!

Receptions and Flowers and Centerpieces...OH MY!

This weekend was one filled with reception-venue hunting. After mapping out all of my options, my mom, Adam, Adam's mom and I went out on Saturday to look at some different places. Needless to say, it was an exhausting day!

After the day however....WE MADE A DECISION!

The winner is: The beautiful Hotel Hershey















We are both very excited about the decision and cannot wait until December 5, 2009.