Water Drama

Two steps forward, one step back! Seriously, that's how my life feels sometimes! In all reality, our water drama was NOT that big of a crisis, but it did throw a kink into our daily lives.

Sunday, Dave & I along with JonO and Lexie went to the Hot Sauce Festival in Waterloo Park in downtown Austin. Lexie has decided that it would be great if we could all get together and continue to do couple things that are inexpensive to do. She got the Austin Chronicle and has been finding fun stuff for us to try in our own city. The Hot Sauce Festival was free with the donation of 3 canned goods from each person. So not only is it low cost, we are giving back!

Well, anyways, we all piled up in the Jeep with our folding chairs and headed downtown for some Hot Sauce. It was really fun and very Austin. If you live here, or have ever visited here you know what I mean when something is very Austin. This city is so diverse, it's a mixture of hippies, liberals, yuppies, working people, business people, cowboys, college students, you name it. We had a really good time tasting all sorts of hot sauces.

When we got back home I walked through the frontyard chasing after Thor I found a swimming pool in our own front lawn! Apparently a pipe busted somewhere in the front lawn and there were several different puddles everywhere. After calling the city and learning that it is a customer issue, meaning that a plumber must be called, all they could do was turn our water off for us. Yay...no water. I quickly showered while Dave ran around the house filling bottles of water (the dogs would still need water) and filling big buckets with water so that we could flush the toilets. The water eventually got turned off and Dave learned how to turn it on and off. Problem solved for the night.

Monday I had already planned to take the morning (which turned into the whole day) off because we were having the washer/dryer delivered. I thought it would work out because hopefully the plumber would come during that same time. Wrong. Our water was not fixed until Tuesday afternoon. We finally had water when we got home Tuesday after work. So we had all these dirty clothes and a brand new washer and dryer and no water! Oh well, it all worked out in the end and now life has fallen back into place.

However, Thor was not super happy about the delivery about the washer and dryer because it took up his space from the utility room.... I was at the table working on some wedding stuff and he sat in this position for about 5 minutes. He couldn't quite figure them out I guess.

As we like to call this around our house: A-THOR-ABLE

1001 Things to Ask Before You Get Married

I came across a really funny website this morning! It is called STFU, Marrieds. It is a website dedicated to calling out married couples & couples, in general, who write stupid Facebook/MySpace/Twitter updates either back and forth or just one sided. Some of them were so funny. My favorite was the one where a man would post about what he was doing or buying and then the spouse/babies mama would comment asking why they could post a status update but can't return a phone call/text. Very entertaining and also a great reminder that no one wants to know your mushy business & I should keep my updates free of that! I have to admit, sometimes I too am guilty of TMI. I don't really feel like people pay much attention to my posts, so I just say what I feel or mean! Well, anyways, the website is definitely worth browsing.

Yesterday, on my lunch break I went to Half-Priced Books to peruse a little bit and to look for a CD I wanted. While I was there I made my way over the the Self-Help/Relationship section because OF COURSE everything that I do now a days is wedding related (I seriously have issues). There I found this book:


Although, Dave and I have tackled a majority of life questions about one another, such as kids, religion, values, beliefs, education, careers, yada yada. However, I think this book is going to be a good relationship building step for us. I have been flipping through the book and so far it looks like we are going have a good time, or, let me re-phrase that. I will have a good time. Dave would probably prefer to be water boarded, but it will be good for us! The book starts out by discussing how to manage differences in answers, and almost ventures out to call it conflict management. Should be interesting. I've always known that planning a marriage is way more important than planning the wedding even if it's not as fun. I have even discussed going to couples counselling with Dave prior to getting married. The thing is, Dave and I don't have any SERIOUS issues...we have issues that's for sure, like we are both tremendously stubborn and that creates a majority of our disagreements. It is something that I am very aware & of course, I'm working to improve it....

I'm looking forward to working through this book during the next 135 days until the wedding. My goal is to work through 2 chapters a week...I'm hoping I'm low-balling out ability and that we are able to get through it quicker, because it's so much fun! Wishful thinking....possibly.

Time Apart

Dave & I spent some time apart this weekend. It was probably the most amount of time we have spent apart in a really long time! It was a full Saturday apart....crazy! I know. We live on the edge.

I needed to go to San Antonio for some wedding things that Dave really did not need to help out with, picking colors for table cloths, napkins and centerpieces that will be used at our wedding reception. You see, Dave is color blind & Dave is also stubborn sometimes. He will insist that a color is a color, and will fail to admit that it may not necessarily be that color, and that he is in fact color blind. Like reds, he will often see them as brown. Greens are hard for him to tell sometimes, too. Blues he can see really well, and that is his favorite color and a main reason we are using blue as our main wedding color. Anyways, Dave being color blind is something that I really love about him, I don't know why, I think because it makes him different and it's fun sometimes to tell him, "noooo Dave that is purple, not orange."

Okay, well that was not the point of this blog, where was I. Oh, yes, time apart. My parents came to our house bright and early Saturday to pick me up and take me to San Antonio since I had asked my mom, sister and grandmother to accompany me. Dad did the driving and we all caught up on the way to San Antonio. We went to my 11 o'clock appointment with the venue man, then did lots of shopping and poking around. Watched the Little League World Series game, Mexico vs. Canada. Mexico won, of course. Had lunch at a Chinese Buffet! Yum! Seriously. Chinese buffets are my guilty pleasure. Half the time they aren't even that good really, but I think that every so often a Chinese buffet will be good enough that makes me what to try another. I did really well though and did not overly stuff my face. My mom, grandma, Sarah and cousin then went to Florisville to drop my cousin off at home and got to hang at my aunt and uncles a little bit. Then back to P-ville to my honey. I missed him, and I told him how much I missed him when I got home, and he said, "eh, it's the same as being away from each other for work, Monday-Friday." And I was like, "Oh, I guess you are right."

Sunday, Dave and I slept in!! Wooohooo. We never sleep in because we usually can't with Thor acting insane in the mornings like he ALWAYS does. He will run back and forth around the house, jumping on his couch, and then back off, and then jumping on our bed, and then jumping off when we yell "Thor OFF!" Well, Sunday, Dave threw Thor in the backyard around 5am (Thor's normal wake-up time), and it was heaven. We were able to sleep in until 7am!! We had to do our long run this morning, so we slowly took our time getting ready, sipping some coffee, stretching and putting on our sneakers. We didn't leave the house for our run until about 8am, when it really started to get too warm. We did approximately 5 miles and Thor about died. We had to take a route back that we knew would take us pass water so Thor could get a sip.

After we got home from our run, we got ready for the day, tidied up a little bit, then head for some shopping. We went to Toys R Us to Dave's nephew (our nephew :o) ), Reese, a gift for his first birthday, then to Ikea for some browsing, then we went and saw District 9 (blaaaah), then to the Copelands house for dinner and to drop off our gift for them to take to China. We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse (YUM!) with the Copelands and then Dave & I headed home. Our evening was nice and relaxing, just played with the pups, got ready for the week and then watched True Blood before heading to bed...

Life was really good.

Our running goal: 2.14.2010

Dave and I already have a date for our very first Valentine's Day together as a married couple.

We will be running the Austin Half Marathon on the morning of V-Day! So excited that we have decided to take this goal on together. I could not be happier than training weekly with my fiance. We started our 26-week training program on Tuesday of this week. We actually started 2 weeks early accidentally because Dave originally wanted us to run a race on January 30Th in Dallas, but we decided running more locally would be a better idea. (I hate sleeping in an unfamiliar bed the day before a race.) The extra two weeks for training will actually work out really well because for about 2 weeks in January we will be so consumed with the wedding events and the honeymoon.

Right now the training is jogs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, cross training on Fridays, and long runs on Saturday morning, light jog/walk on Sundays. Monday and Wednesday will be our rest days. We have been getting up at 5:00 am to do our jogs and then tomorrow we may sleep in till 5:30 for our long run, which will be 3 miles for our first long run. This program seems to be really good and a nice gradual start for both Dave and I. Right now I would say that we are starting out somewhat in shape. We are both pretty active and were working out regularly about a month ago, but have slacked off since then. I hope that we can really stick to this and that my ankles and Dave's knees hold out for the training. I keep reminding us that the key is to really really gradually build up to avoid injury and burn out and naturally get stronger. The peak run in this program is 11 miles with about 3 8 mile runs total, and a bunch of 5-7 mile runs.

Totally do able. Click here if you are interested in checking out the link to the marathon we are planning on running. There is also a cool countdown on that website counting down till the race.

155 days till I'm Mrs. Amanda Marie Copeland!!!
190 days till we run the Austin Marathon!!!

We are skipping our cross training today (I know I know, skipping a work out on the first week!) because are going to the batting cages to get ready for our next softball game on Monday! I'm not even sure if I've even mentioned in this blog that Dave and joined a softball league! We have been playing with the Austin Heat for the past month and it has been so much fun! It is a ten week season, 8 games, and we have played 3 games so far with one bye week. We haven't won a game yet, and we haven't just lost all of our games, we have gotten MURDERED. I can honestly say that I have matured a lot because I have not taken our lost badly because 1)our team really is not great, 2) I'm having that much fun. In high school and just naturally in life, I'm competitive to a fault. I know that it originates from the competitiveness that I have always had with my brother and transpired into a lot of aspects of my life.

That Is Life

I'm trying to be a better blogger, I really am. Right now everything is just kinda jumbled up. We are technically still living out of two places. We sleep and live out of the new house, however we still have a lot of our utilities at the old apartment: washer, dryer, TV, Internet & mail. We stop over there at least once a day to check the mail and maybe do some laundry but I have not been getting online from home at all.

This blog is being written at work, while on my lunch hour of course.

So life has been rather stressful lately, more so than normal, but still manageable. The move has really taken us out of our normal routine and tested our time management skills. Additionally things just keep popping up that need to be dealt with or paid for. As in every move it can get expensive, but add a vet bill for a visit and a surgery on top of that, as well as a brake and blinker light that needs to be fixed (which may not be covered under warranty for some really dumb reason) and a ticket for turning right on red downtown...There have also been some little quirks with the house that have forced me to take some time off of work and deal with. Once the water was turned on we discovered the shower and the toilet in the master bedroom weren't working so that had to be fixed, and the water that was coming out of all of the pipes was soooo stagnant that any time all of the faucets ran the house filled with a sulphur smell. yummy! we ran all of the pipes at once for a while, opened all of the windows and doors and just dealt with the smell till the water heater and all of the pipes were clean.

Lately, it just seems as though if it's not one thing, it is another and D and I just cannot get ahead no matter how hard we try. I have been in a really poopy mood to Dave lately and he has been wonderful. He knows all to well at what times of the month he is allowed to joke with me and when to leave me alone (TMI? possibly, but that is life). He is also really good at reminding me that sometime That Is Life. Things Happen. Things often happen that are out of my control that make feel out of control. No matter how much I complain, I know that D and I are oh so very blessed and in the end the material things really don't matter. I also know that everything is a test for us right now with our first home together. These little trials and tribulations are just quizzes for our next step when we eventually become home owners and not just renters.

Side note about the house: The neighbors that we have met so far have been really cool! (with the exception of one odd one next door with 4 dogs who love to bark at 3a.m.) We have met the guy who lives right next door with his sister. He has created a real MAN CAVE out of the garage and works mornings. Every evening when we have been getting home from work their garage door is open and he is just hanging out on the couch in the garage that is also equipped with a weight bench, full-sized fridge, TV, couple of chairs and i think a dart board. I haven't met the sister yet. Then we met our neighbor about 2 houses down, and one that lives across the street.

Tonight we are finally moving the TV to the house because the cable and internet guy is coming on Saturday. The exterminator is also coming on Saturday and an appliance man to fix our fridge....busy day, I know.

Wedding planning update: booked and met with and signed contract for the DJ. Seemed like a really cool guy. My mom did 100% of the leg work getting this guy and I was really glad with how it worked out. The next thing on our lists of to-dos is a florist as well as meeting with the wedding coordinator of our venue to get the tablecloths and center pieces picked. Theses two tasks, much to D's relief, will definately be a girl thing and I hope mom, mama, and sister will be around. All four BM's dresses have been ordered...D is scoping out tux places for the guys. Some upcoming DIY's (Do It Yourself's): Invitations, card box, favors, flower girl ball, pillow, unity candle...and more that I am forgetting for sure.

The Art of a Good Marriage

I came across this passage today from a bride on theknot.com who is planning on using it during her wedding ceremony and I really like it. I don't want to use it for our ceremony because we are going to be doing more of a traditional ceremony, with possibly one exception which I don't really plan on revealing till the Big Day. Any how, I thought this was nice and reflective. I wish that I could say Dave and I practice ALL of these things, but we still have much growing to do as a couple and will just keep working at getting better towards the goal of preparing for a strong marriage. One thing that I have learned about us is that sometimes it is okay to go to bed slightly mad. I tend to get over my angry feelings better after a good night's rest and I'm able to talk about what is making me mad once I become more rational. Well enjoy:

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.

A good marriage must be created.

In marriage the little things are the big things.

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted;

the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,

it should continue through the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.

It is doing things for each other,

not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,understanding and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,

dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

- Wilferd Arlan Petersen

moving starts now.

today is the first day of a bunch of days that we will be moving! we get our keys today at 2pm and get to start paying rent and moving in :o). our lease does not end at our apartment till august 11 so we have an overlap of time that we can slowly begin setting up. however, i just found out that dave rented a uhaul over the weekend so it looks like we are going to try and get a majority of the work done this weekend! yaaaay. i am so ready to get out of this apartment, we just need more room and a yard. We have been living in 920 sq. ft. for the past 15 months and now we will have just over 1,300 square feet....woooohooo. 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, 2 car garage, fireplace (in central texas??? i know.) and a privay fenced in yard for Thor!!!! now we are only renting so i can't get too excited about decorating things and making it our own, but i am pretty excited about being able to do up our room and the guest room.

the best thing about getting out of our apartment ASAP is that we will have time to make the apartment like new again. it is going to take some SERIOUS work....in retrospect, we should have done some things differently in this apartment that primarily surround raising Thor. i use to hate locking him up for long days in the kennel so we would gate him in the kitchen...well he ate all of the molding there and has destoyed a cabinet door and our laundry room door, and our bathroom door (not in the kitchen area and a different incident.) we also have to repaint the accent wall in our living room that we painted sea green....and we need to fill a BUNCH of holes that Dave and JonO have drilled into the walls when setting up the surround sound. and then there is the carpet. which was brand new berber carpet, but not the high quality type that doesn't shed, and clogged up our vacuum after just 2-3 strokes everytime we vacuumed. it even continues to shed like that to this day, 15 months and tons of vacuuming later. so there are lots of little projects that we need to work on to hopefully not owe the apartment anymore money!

i also need to prepare the new house for is to move into it. the bathrooms and counters need to be cleaned and i want to vacuum everything before we start putting furniture down...so that is our plans for our busy weekend. yipeeee. i plan on taking pictures today before we start putting things in the house that i can hopefully upload here.

on a sad note, hardin has a growth on his foot that looks very much like a big blister...its disgusting and it's causing him to limp. a lot. i have an appointment scheduled for him at 2:20 today to hopefully get it taken care of...which reminds me i need to find his leash.