A Story of Boy Meets Girl

Alternate title: A Story of How Girl Arranges to Meet Boy :)

Today is the 10th anniversary of our first date. Not as momentous as our wedding anniversary, of course, but 10 years is a milestone and I know the date because I kept a journal at the time. So for fun, here is the story of how we met:

We were at the same college, living in the same dorm only two floors apart. Being at a tiny college, I had seen him around before, but had never had the opportunity to meet him - he was a year ahead of me and was constantly in the gym playing basketball - not a social butterfly, my husband.

His roommate began dating one of my friends (Meg, who reads this blog and to whom I give all the credit) and they decided that Nick and I would make a good pair. So after talking with me, they arranged a group date in which everyone going knew the purpose was to pair up Nick and me. So it was a bit awkward since we were being watched, but we hit it off immediately (this is not what I count as our first date, by the way).

That night after putt-putting and ice cream we all went to the local golf course where Nick worked and sat out under the stars. Nick and I were a way's away from everyone else and we talked for hours. Nonstop (which is quite the feat knowing what I know about him now - I'M the talker in the relationship!).

The next few days were finals and we were both busy with those, but we still managed to see each other and say hi. About a week after the group date, Nick called me and asked me out. I said yes and we went to Applebee's for dessert on Sunday, April 30, 2000. My roommates threw jellybeans out the window at us as we walked to the car, and Nick and I were both too nervous to even acknowledge it! I was a wreck with nerves. But I remember that he opened my car door (and still does to this day) and that made an impression. There was no looking back - a week later we were both home from college for the summer (he lived two hours away) but he drove down every weekend to see me and two years and a month later, we were married.

So all in all, a successful first date!

My favorite workout

When I work out, I try not to do the same thing too much, because I get bored easily. Running, walking, elliptical, Wii Fit, outside, the gym, the more I vary it, the more I'm apt to go and actually work out. But my go-to workout routine that I LOVE is the following. It fits into my schedule easily and burns a TON of calories, and it changes the whole way through, which is the best part. When I run for 45 minutes, by about halfway through I'm ready to quit. But this keeps me going.

For a treadmill (would work on an elliptical as well):
Minutes 1-16 - Walking 12-15 min. mile, each minute increase incline by 0.5
Minutes 16-20 - Walking 12-15 min. mile, decrease incline by 0.5 each minute
Minutes 20-40 - Increase speed by 0.3 every two minutes, decrease incline by 0.5 every two minutes
Minutes 40-45 - Cool down

I'm at a near sprint by about minute 25 and still on a pretty sharp incline, so I can burn 400+ calories doing this.

Anyway, thought I'd share! :P

Crazy cat

This is where my cat spent the better of the afternoon sunning herself in between the blinds and the front window. The part you can't really see from the picture is that even though she is totally asleep, she is barely on the window ledge - only the blinds are holding her up there. Such a fatty.

Something I haven't killed

About two years ago, I planted these nandina bushes around the tree in my front yard. Typically, I kill every living plant I come in contact with, but these have managed to survive (basically because the instructions for care on these puppies include "leave alone and they will come back year after year"). They've bloomed this year and look better than ever. Maybe there is hope for me yet!

Allergies

I've never had problems with allergies before, but apparently my time has come. Nick's too, unfortunately. Both of us were suffering last night and today and with counts at nearly 6000 yesterday and today, it's no wonder. According to the chart, anything over 120 is in the 'very high' range. So that is why our Kleenex stores are diminishing around here! Ugh. I never thought I'd say this, but is it summer yet???

AHHHCCHOOO!!!

Aquarium Trip

For a fun outing, my friend Renae and I went to the Georgia Aquarium and had lunch in the park afterwards. It was a gorgeous (albeit yellow-tinted from all the pollen) day, and we enjoyed walking around both inside and out.

View of the aquarium from Centennial Olympic Park:


Japanese sea dragons:


Beluga whale:


A fuzzy picture of very cute penguins:


Me and Renae:

It's April already!!

These make me so happy!!

Toe showing time!

You know what today is, don't you?

You are correct! The first allowable day of sandal wearing has arrived. The weather is going to cooperate too - it should be nearly 80! So I broke out the nail polish yesterday and spruced up my tootsies in anticipation (don't worry - I'll spare you a picture of my toes!).

Happy Open Toed Shoe Day, everyone!!