Umm…I got engaged this evening! Story to follow soon.

“At a certain point my novels set. They set just as hard as that jam jar. And then I know they are finished.” – Ivy Compton-Burnett

So, there was the weekend and the weekend was big in a number of ways. First, it was an odd day at work as the lady employees (all 3 that are here currently) took off to see the newborn babe of one of the other lady co-workers. What a precious little doll. Man, I love babies. I still want piles of them.

After visiting the new mom and baby, I ran a few errands with another co-worker before she dropped me off for lunch with Kevin and his parents. They had flown in the night before and we met at Applebee’s. I had the new California Shrimp Salad and wooboy is that good. Olives, avocado, shrimp, some yummy dressing…seemed rather low-carb friendly. The only questionable bit was the dressing and there wasn’t a lot. Highly recommended. It was a nice lunch, getting to catch up with his parents, though I was quite tired from being up so late finishing the last of my Spanish the night before. After lunch, they dropped me back off at work and I finished out the rest of the day doing what I do. Which is top secret and extremely important

Once I got home, I’m not gonna lie, I made a mad dash around the house to finish cleaning up things. It looks pretty good now and I have a few piles of things to organize/recycle/donate, but that’s good. I need to dive into my closets some weekend and really give those a good going over. Kevin and his parents came over and I gave them the grand tour of my 1200 sq. ft. palace. I do love my little house. It fits me perfectly.

Then, we all hopped in the car and headed over to Charleston’s for The First Time Our Parents Met. We met my parents there. And I really don’t know what else to say except that it went spectacularly. I feel like our dads are cut from the same cloth. They are both funny fellas, raised in the South. The restaurant was a little too loud for my liking, but we were still able to do a lot of talking. And the food was great. Charleston’s is one of my favorites. It’s also the place that Kevin and I first really talked while sitting next to each other at a surprise party for a mutual friend.

The next morning I was up early (though not really early, compared to when I wake up for work), ironed my gown, and headed off to Lloyd Noble to line up. Before I knew it, we were inside the center and seated. They kept the beginning short and sweet, the way that sort of thing needs to be. After the first thousand or so names were called, it was my turn (listen for Elizabeth Johnson):

It was a pretty cool moment. Happened really fast and I was back in my seat before I really knew what happened, but man, the freedom. Really, really DONE. I will be the first to tell you that I wasn’t the best student (high school certainly did not prepare me for the challenge OU would present), but I can honestly say that I worked my tail off for my last class and was unsure up until the last moment whether or not I would pass. Well, I don’t have my grade yet, but the professor told me that I’d be passing. Thank you, God.

More about the rest of the weekend later…

Right now I am in Clinton, North Carolina meeting a few members of Kevin’s extended family. I know, I should have some crazy story to tell you by now, but the truth is, his family is pretty great. So while I’m out here spending time in a town that looks much like the one I grew up in you should read about a time when The Pioneer Woman almost had a meltdown in front of many of her “boyfriend-but-someday-husband’s” family members. It’s hilarious. And sweet.

Here’s an excerpt:

I had no choice but to surge on, to get dressed, to face the music in all my drippy, salty glory. It was better than staying in the upstairs bathroom of his grandmother’s house all night. God forbid Marlboro Man or Tim start to think I had some kind of feminine problem, or even worse…constipation or…gasp!…diarrhea. I’d sooner move to another country and never return to my homeland than to have them think such thoughts about me.

It is 11:11 p.m. and on this day Kevin and I have been dating one year, one month, one week, and one day.

This video is pure cheese, but so am I.

The other day The Boyfriend and I went to see Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The music was good and I knew to expect blood–only I didn’t realize how much blood. Call me a wimp, but that was too much for me. Again though, the music was phenomenal. I can totally advocate buying the soundtrack.

Lucky for me though, going to see Sweeney Todd meant that I got to see the wonderful trailers that went along with it. Trailers are nearly the best part of the movie to me. I love them. I am exactly the type of person that they aim these things at, especially whenever they make the film sound like some kind of sweeping epic–I am so there.

On this particular trip to the theater we got to see the trailer to a musical. I am a firm believer that life should, at all times, consist of the following things: singing, dancing, kissing, running through city streets, jumping on top of cars, lots of rooftops, and weddings. I’m not sure if Kevin realized how excited I was about this, because all I did was lean over and say “I’ll see this while you’re gone this summer.” (He’s going to coach at a camp in Pennsylvania for the summer) I don’t know how much he likes musicals, but I hope that he does for the most part. I believe that there are two kinds of people in the world–those who like musicals and those who don’t. I think the latter should be euthanized.

Anyway, this movie is Mamma Mia! and it’s starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth. And I’ve had a deep love for Abba music since I was a wee little thing. Again, I’m so there. I suggest going to the official movie site to view the trailer, because it’s better there, but I’m going to post one here anyway. You can be sure that I’ll let you all know what I think about the film after I see it this summer.

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you’re all spending the day being thankful and…getting bloated. Goodness knows that’s what I’m up to. Other than that I am driving to my hometown to spend time with both sides of the family (Mom’s and Dad’s) with my boyfriend in tow. Yes, today is The First Official Family Holiday Celebration Where I Am Accompanied By The Boyfriend. Here’s hoping that I get promoted to the Adult Table this year!

Kevin and I dressed as Alfalfa and Darla (of Our Gang and Little Rascals fame) for Halloween. While I can only pass as Darla if I’m standing next to Alfalfa, doesn’t my boyfriend make the best Alfalfa?

Starting around $99.95, you can get a personalized photo dog bed made for your furry little family member. Someday, when Lulu lives in the house, I intend to get her one of these, covered with a collage of Kevin to guarantee that she will fawn over it all day. Check out VisionBedding.com for more info!

Kevin says: oh, here is a fact for you
yesterday was the 207th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of San Ildefonso
which gave Louisiana back to France

Tell me, how can I not love him? He tells me random facts about American history and I bake him cookies.