Real Quick

Well I didn't get to work this weekend like I wanted to, the server seemed to be down at THQ or something. All my other sites worked but not Great Plains. Oh well, I need to rest now and then, right? Otherwise it was an amazing weekend! Ended up going out on the town on Friday for a most unexpected but much needed booze time with the buds - HG and MR. They are so much fun - an example (see pic). Hee hee. We had a lot of fun. I feel very lucky to have such good friends here. This is the first time that I've had to meet and make friends as a couple, not just "Crystal". I have to say that I like it. HG and I have our fair share of alone/girl/exercise time but we also have fun couple time too. I can't wait for everyone to meet HG and MR in Mexico. It will be a blast. And I think it's cute that everyone can sort of link to each other's blog and sort of develop an understanding of one another before we all meet. Well, everyone except AMY who still has no blog *taps foot*. :-)

Saturday was spent doing laundry, homework, personal finances, and working on the save the date cards. I need to get some addresses this week then I'll be all set. SS, Dane, and I hung out in the evening and watched Birth, good movie.

Today was spent making good, fat free food, spending time at the market in the rain. We got a smaller, travel hooka. Good times. Then I took a nap because I couldn't get online to work. I must have needed the time off though. I feel guilty but there's only so much I can do. Plus as I get older I'm learning the value of time off and why people need it. I'll work extra hard this week especially since I have the following week off of work. I haven't heard anything from DM about Merle, so I'm assuming all is well and she is continuing to improve. SS starts work tomorrow - he's nervous. Nick and his girlfriend are fighting. I personally think she is a piece of sh*t and I caught a look-see at a few of her messages to him and they included bad mouthing and name calling. I hate her. I hope he leaves her in the dust.

I made my breakfasts and lunches for the week. And I did my 2nd upper body workout session while dinner was cooking. I already feel like I'm toning up. I've been practicing gibon poomse as well. OMG - totally embarrassing story!

So I have an IUD (now-a-days known as IUC) that basically prevents me from having a period (Google Mirena IUC) but every now and again I spot. But you have to figure (prepare for graphic details, sensitive viewers should leave now) that when I do spot the blood has been up in there for months. Not weeks, MONTHS. So it is not a fresh, red color. It is a dirty, nasty brown. Another little tidbit about me = I don't wear underwear. Haven't since I was 15 or 16. I feel that underwear is unnessary. Well, my TKD uniform is a pristine white color. Unbeknownest to me, I began spotting during class. What with all the side kicks and forms, the spots were not spots, they morphed into trails. Then Master Lee had Mister Dave split me, basically I spread my legs as far as I can and then he grabs my belt and splits me farther. And I'm happy, talking up a storm, life is good. It wasn't till after class when HG and I were changing that I noticed it looked like I had the runs and got sh*t all over my white TKD pants. I put the pants back on to see what I looked like doing side kick and the splits and sure enough - there it was in all its glory - my runs. *sigh* So now I'm all shades of embarrassed and HG mandated granny panties for TKD from now on. I concur.

Thank gawd for stain stick.

New Things

So there have been some changes at TSA - a LOT. I shall make a list.

1) HG has moved into the Revolving Fund position - mad props to her, this is a GREAT achievement and I can't think of anyone better for the position.
2) The Zanze has resigned (whoo hoo)!
3) DM has moved into HG's portfolio.
4) I have moved into DM's portfolio, which includes Cda Kroc (for now anyway), Gray's Harbor (questionable officer), River Valley (questionable non-officer), Spokane (uber corps), Tacoma (uber corps). Since my old King County portfolio and the Zanze's portfolio have no CFA's, it's up to the rest of us to absorb them. So I still have my Eastside and Seattle Temple. Plus whoever I'm backing up for when they primary is absent.
5) Steven from CO now works in the TSA development department, YEAH STEVEN!!
6) Merle is in the hospital. :-(

I'm a little distraught at this last piece. At the risk of being over-dramatic, I'm going to get my thoughts out on the blog and that's it. I'm actually quite shocked at how I'm taking the news of Merle in peril. I've always bitched and complained about her "always being on my back" but deep inside I did like that someone actually paid that much attention to what I did. Plus I get so busy and flustered that I can't catch all my mistakes. So while I bitch about Merle and lose my patience with her sometimes (never to her face), it would appear as though I actually care about her. I must because I sat doing the journals she requested me to do until 7. Technically I was supposed to relinquish SWC on Monday, but I can't let it go until I wrap it up in a pretty box so to speak. I promised SWC I would do that. And so I'm reading all these journals from Merle and getting a little soggy in the eyes thinking about her in the hospital. I must have said like a million prayers for her today. And her husband. I just want her to be better, and get well. I don't want her to hurt or worse. :-( And now I'm even more apprehensive to giving SWC up. Maybe I can talk RB into letting me trade ST for SWC. She wont go for it, but the last thing the Majors need is another CFA on top of all this. I don't know, I guess I'm over-reacting. I'm just worried and scared and trying to control something so I feel like I have a hold on it. *sigh*

In happier news I've been doing really well with my workouts and eating habits. I have less than a year till the wedding and I want to look h-0-t. TKD and BD classes are going well, though I have to practice harder at TKD. HG and I are going to start taking TKDBD breaks and belly dance and kick box our way through the TSA halls. BYAAAHHH!!!

Steven has been staying with us - what a fabu guy he is. He has been cleaning up not only his messes but ours, making me soy mochas, chatting with me at night, and in general being a totally refreshing addition to our house. He's already got a job, an application in at an apartment, and everything seems to be coming together. I'm glad he's in Seattle with me. We were driving home this afternoon (I left work for a pout session at home with my journals and laptop) with the top down and listening to dance music and we had this moment. We sorta looked at each other and the city and smiled. He said what we were both thinking "Let's just run away, you me!" Pysch - he's gay! But he did say "Isn't it funny how life evolves." And although I knew what he meant, I inquired and then we both talked about how funny it was that here we are two years later, working for the same company but in a completely different city. If someone would have told either of us that we'd be working together again in Seattle at a Christian organization, we would have died laughing. But here we are. Wow.

I'm already looking forward to Fall. HG, RB, and possibly Steven (now to be known as SS) will start having a ladies slumber party once a month or so and watch Sex in the City (SITC) and order Chinese. I love that show and miss watching it and eating out of a box on the couch, I'm glad I will get the opportunity to do that with the gals.

Let's see what else. Oh! I'm a horrible aunt and family member. I haven't called the folks and more importantly my nephew for his 3rd b-day. I even got him a card 4 weeks ago that I never mailed and now it's 3 days past his b-day. I'm so horrible. By the time I slow down, it's 9 pm here, 10 pm in CO. That's too late to call. *sigh* I will call tomorrow.

Well that's all for now. Things will be busy for a while, but I'm going to try not to say anything. I don't want to be seen as complaining or this crazy stress person. I've always worn my heart on my sleeve, but I'm learning that people don't like stressed people. So now I've got to work on covering it up more. I'm still a pup in a few ways, but I'm so excited to work and show 'em what I got. All in time.

Noc Noc

Who's there?

Your proposal - you should comb your hair and put on some make up once in a while. :-)

Yeah, so had I known I was going to be proposed to on Thursday, July 13th, I would have revisited my choice in outfit, brushed my hair, and put on my eyes. Hee hee, as my fabulously gay friend pointed out, "well, my dear, shouldn't you always take the time to look fabu?" Well said indeed. Bad outfit and hair aside, what an amazing day it was.

Dane and I have both been very busy (cite reference 6/10/06 post) with work lately and haven't really had much time to chat throughout the day. Also, earlier last week I was really down in the dumps. I was in a funk and didn't know what to do with it and it followed me where ever I went. But I was looking forward to going to the Noc Noc on Thursday to hang w/ HG, MR, TJ, and RB. It was cool because Mog and Bina showed up, along with Delilah and her friend. It didn't occur to me that so many people were there: HG and MR were bummed they missed the 2nd half of the last show we went to, so I figured they wanted to go again, TJ and RB have always talked about going to the show, Mog is there 75% of the time when we are and now that Bina is out of school it makes sense that she's there too, and Delilah probably just needed a night out.

Anyway, Dane was late because he was working. Little did I know that he was finishing up dinner alone at Fado and pacing the alleys of Pike Place Market letting time pass. When the show started I was annoyed that he still hadn't shown up, so I text messaged him one word "Dude!" In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't take the time to put my real thoughts in the message. :-) At the beginning of intermission, they announced a door prize game and wouldn't you know it, I won! I never once thought anything other than "YEAH! I'm going to win prizes!!" When I felt the hand in my hand, I thought maybe it was Laura Rose debuting her next act. All I could hear was the roar of the audience, I couldn't hear Dane say "Crystal, you've been with me through the good and the bad. I love you, and I want to share my life with you, if you'll have me." (disclaimer - I *may* not have that exactly right) I was all about the third prize and then they took my blindfold off and I saw nothing and then Dane on the floor (first shock) then my eyes followed his arm to the ring/box (second shock) and then I couldn't stand anymore. All breath, thought, speech, and sound stopped. I've never been that close to feeling what it is like to faint or be faint. I would liken it to that moment. Everything felt slow motion and it seemed like for just a moment or two it was just us. That's when I reached for him/the box. I needed to touch something in order to prove it was real and really happening to me. And then I immediately needed Dane to comfort me cause I got scared (the hug). Not scared at the idea, he really scared me. Like finding a spider in your car or shower. Spiders are not supposed to be there. Dane wasn't expected to be there.

After that and the champagne the night was a blur. Because I'm so classy and more so because I got the next day off of work, I got hammered. Jebis came out in the best from he/she has ever been in. For those of you who don't know (you probably do you just didn't know it had gained such force), my alter ego's name is Jebis. Jebis comes out when Crystal has had too much to drink. At that point, Crystal checks out and Jebis steps in. Back to the story, Dane practically carried Jebis to the car and inside the house where J promptly passed out in the cold reading room. Well, not before leaving a present for sober Crystal. Jebis managed to crawl on all fours upstairs to Dane, but he wouldn't let J to bed unless J "rinsed off in the shower". So my/Jebis' lovely fiance proceeded to clean us off and get us tucked in to bed. He's such a good man. At least one of us deserves him.

Okay, no more Jebis talk - I'm beginning to sound like Smeigel (Lord of the Rings). My precious!!

So a huge weight has been lifted and feel so renewed in my relationship with Dane. I feel like we are a brand new couple. Life is fun and new again. We've already started planning the wedding. The details so far:

Date: July 3rd, 2007
Location: Hotel Dreams, Cabos San Lucas, Mexico http://www.dreamsresorts.com/
Venue: Small sunset ceremony on the beach followed by cocktails, dinner, and reception.

We have some very exciting ideas about activities, the ceremony itself, the co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party, the honeymoon (which would be in Cabos as well), and other things. I have a wonderful wedding consultant named Georgina - so far she's totally earned her keep. She's a hustler and hard worker! AND THE MOST EXCITING NEWS!! Pastor Lilley is going to officiate our wedding! I've known Pastor since I was 8, lived with him and his family when I was 13, and most importantly - he officiated Isis' funeral. He and his wife, Carmen, flew up to CO from TX on 1 day notice at a time when Carmen was struggling with her own life and battle with breast cancer. It meant the world to me to have him there and honor my daughter and we promised each other the next time we saw each other would be under good circumstances. Unfortunately, Carmen died not long after that. While I couldn't make it to Carmen's wedding, she has remained in my thoughts and prayers. I am very excited and honored that Pastor Lilley is coming to Mexico.

Corona tours for all! (I had to end on a happy note)

Promise

I'm getting my 4th tattoo laser session tonight so I should have some time afterwards to sit and post, I promise.

I have so much to write about: the proposal and consequent plans, new changes at work, changes with school, changes with foster kittens - I will not be at a loss for things to say.

Plus - list for Crystal to remember: go to the store after lasing and get healthy snacky stuff and kitten food. Do two loads of laundry (whites and reds) and fluff blacks. Hang clothes up. Post for school. One homework problem. Hang out w/ kittens. Post blog.

The Rock

My beautiful, perfect ring.

Stats:

Platinum band

1.02 carat nearly flawless emerald cut diamond

Classy

Sooprise!!!

I will post more on this later, but for now the link captures it all. Enjoy! I know I did! :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXQPeFcLEoQ

P.S. This is a big file/video so dialup users might want to find a broadband user.

Busy

Dude - I'm stressed again. I'm not where I should be at work and I'm working until I get to where I want to be. More later when I have time.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

WHOO HOOO!! PECK AND JEREMY ARE EXPECTING A CHILD!!! I'm not sure if I have clearance to say that, but I don't care - I'm so excited I can't keep it in! They've been trying now for 1.5 years to make me another god-child (you like how I assume that it's MY god-child - hee hee). The baby should make an appearance around April 07. I plan to fly out to Houston shortly after that, maybe in the summer time. I can't wait!

Congrats Peck, Jeremy, and Drakkell!!

All American Weekend

I did the most patriotic things I could think of this weekend including but not limited to:
- eating fried chicken
- baseball game in the Sunday sun
- beer from a cooler
- illegal fireworks in the backyard
- watched Superman Returns
- played board and card games
- did yard work at an obscene hour
- went for a motorcycle ride
- slept in
- lazed around watching tv and snacking


In other news, Dane and I took on 3 one week old kittens on top of our four week old kitten and momma. The tiny kittens don't even have their eyes or ears open. They are covered in fuzz, not fur. Poor things. The momma doesn't have any milk and/or she's not letting the orphaned kittens nurse so Dane and I have to feed em every three to four hours. I get to take the kittens to work tomorrow, thank gawd, otherwise I don't know what we would do.

I started TKD last week w/ HG. I really like it. I can't wait for tomorrow's class. And since I was lazy yesterday and today I think I'll go on Thursday as well. The only thing is the kittens - I'm not sure what I'm going to do w/ them while I'm at class. We'll see - I have a few ideas. I think TKD will fulfil my yoga needs. We do a lot of the same stretching and stuff. I really think this will help me lose the weight I need to. I hate how big I am. I've never been this big - I can tell how big I've gotten just in the way things feel when I'm sitting and standing. It's so gross, I can hardly stand myself. Anyway between TKD, BD, and the gym I should get things under control.

School is almost over. Other than that not much is going on.