Gotta love that Girl Scout blog

Yesterday GSCTX and I launched our first council blog. Woohoo! 36 hours or so into it and we're getting lots of positive feedback. We have a few Google followers; I'm learning how to add more share options; there are fascinating guest bloggers lined up; and we're set to participate in Blog Action Day on October 15. (Be sure to read that one; it should be from one of our 2008 all Girl Scout robotics teams.)

My current gig at GSCTX involves a lot of details. In my previous gig there were more big projects and I could walk away at the end of a day more often with a sense of big accomplishment. This job just isn't that kinda job...mostly. Today has been one of those big accomplishment type days. The blog went live yesterday, I got our Facebook feed up and running today, finished tomorrow's blog post (definitely read that one too) and nailed down some other details. It feels GOOD!

And I'll admit I'm a little bit of a work-aholic but I am so enjoying working late tonight. I know, I'm a freak. But the wedding is so close now that if it hasn't happened yet, well, its probably just not happening. The house is sorting itself out slowly but surely. We've insured the heck out of it, that's for sure. But with all those things starting to have a life of their own, my world is free for a flurry of communications again and I LIKE IT. I'm thoroughly enjoying discovery and trial & error. My brain feels like a sponge for information and goodness, its about time.

See when I said I was looking forward to working 50 hour weeks again, I wasn't kidding. I thrive off this stuff (no matter how freakish that makes me).

Happy Birthday Nancy

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Originally uploaded by cheryl_lynn425.

Today is Nancy's birthday and since I know you are staring at this photo thinking "what the HELL is that?" I'll just tell you. It's a giant rib at the BBQ place we went for dinner. Now get your mind outta the gutter, gosh.

Today also marks the beginning of days that "were supposed to be the wedding." I'm pretty sure every Sunday from now til the wedding fits into this category. 28 more days!

AAAAAAAHHHHH! 38 days!

I went to http://www.theknot.com/ today to do wedding stuff and their counter at the top of the page said "Welcome Back Cheryl & Ross! 38 days til your wedding!"

I promptly smacked my own face and screamed like McCaulay Culkin in Home Alone. I am getting married in 38 days! That's less than 40. That's less days than Lent. That's less than my grading periods in elementary school were! That's only 5 more weekends to finish planning this thing!

I then IMed Brittany and Anna to tell them it was only 38 days. Texted AJ, Val, Megan and Melissa to relay the same message. Screamed a little more. Told Lexi all about it. Told Twitter and Facebook all about it. And oh yeah, texted Ross. (I figure he's mildly aware given that he's the other person in this thing.)

This whole wedding thing has been kinda stressful but today excitement hit hardcore. Don't get me wrong, I've always been excited to marry Ross but my excitement toward the actual event, the wedding itself, has waned. And really is that a shocker? As you figure out the logistics of cups, flower transportation, rain plans, RSVPs and guest hotels, is it any wonder that I person might get bogged down in details instead of caught up in the heady excitement? No, no wonder at all.

But excitement is back! It's fall outside and we're getting married in 38 days! When I open my living room windows it FEELS like the season I planned our wedding for. I could put on my wedding dress, hang out outside and not melt. I'm having two bridal showers this weekend, picking up my dress and really just being very bridal.

Pretty soon I'm going to take my wedding band to the jeweler for a final check and then in something between 37 and 39 days Ross will put that beautiful diamond detailed ring on my finger. My best friend will stand next to me as the ring leader of five identically clad hotties and silently say "Yup! I approve!" Ross and I will walk down the aisle to some Scottish song he'll pick out because I don't know two things about bagpipes or Scottish music. We'll be introduced for the first time as Mr. & Mrs. Black. And we'll two-step through our first dance. Rick will give some toast that will have me on the verge of cringing but with any luck won't actually push me to a real cringe. Kevin will sport a top hat...after the ceremony and formal photos. Mom will rock the place in her hot mother of the bride outfit (just you wait). Dad will be debonair in his new stylish suit as we dance to the Beatles. And my sorority sisters and I will sing Journey at the top of our lungs, while dancing and sipping the beverages of our choice. And after celebrating into the wee hours of the night with our wonderful, amazing, super fantastic guests, Mr. Black and I will crash on a comfy bed in an undisclosed hotel location.

It will be the happiest day of my life and all y'all will be there.

It's really fall

I just noticed that the days are getting shorter. It's dark when I leave in the morning now.

And as if that wasn't weird enough, it's raining in Austin! It must be the apocalypse.

PS It can rain for the next 40 days but starting October 23, I'm gonna need 3 days of sunshine. Thanks.

48 days & counting

Here's to hoping that in 48 days I'll be a married homeowner. We're down to the nitty gritty on the wedding and have placed an offer on yet another house.

The wedding plans are down to dress fittings, RSVPs (ahem, if you haven't RSVPed, you totally should b/c its way fun to get RSVPs), bridal showers and vendor confirmations. However each day that it gets a little closer I get a little more anxious. I hope I'm not a basket case by the week of!

The house we've put an offer on is 3 bed 2 bath in a really nice new-ish Pflugerville neighborhood. The neighborhood is one of my favorite factors. The current owner hasn't done much in the way of decor or upgrades so its kinda plain jane now but I think it has a lot of potential. With a little paint, fun light fixtures and maybe some new floors one day, it can really be OUR home. And I'm at the end of my househunting rope so I hope it comes through.

Now 2 points of commentary on current events.

1. Colt McCoy, QB for UT, was just on the news commenting on a teammates injury. He texted the guy that he was praying for him. All about prayer and good thoughts, but how sad is it that now we can just text each other and that's perfectly acceptable? What happened to a good old fashioned phone call or God forbid, a visit? Sigh, at least he didn't Facebook the guy with his prayers.
2. What's so wrong with the President encouraging kids to finish school and reach for the stars? There are two districts in Austin not showing tomorrow's speech. Democrat or Republican he's our president and encouraging kids to get an education. Goodness, kids have so many bad influences that it amazes me we are debating a GOOD influence/message in their lives.
   

My new mission

As if having a job, puppy, hubby, wedding and buying a home weren't enough. I needed a new mission. This is my personal social media mission.

Today I read a Boston Globe article about the new "dorm" at BU, Student Village 2. Student Village, or StuV as those in the know say, opened while I was at BU and it is a pretty dang sweet residence. But BU, being the good steward of funds that they are, has gone and upped the annie with StuV2. I now am fully confident that I know where my thousands and thousands of dollars in tuition money went - to a 26 story high rise luxury college residence along the Charles River.

Ooo do you hear a tinge of jealousy in my voice? OK sure, maybe you do. But dang it, every month I make a payment toward my BU education/the fancy dorm and all I want is to stay one night in that super fancy residence hall that I helped pay for. Is that too much to ask?

So my new mission is to lobby the heck outta BU til they cave and say "fine Cheryl! Damn girl! Quit hounding us on Twitter/Facebook /Blogger! You and Ross can stay one stinking night in this dorm!"

If BU will succomb then I will be forever sold on the power of social media and might even become a BU donor one day...so that other students can have swanky residence halls and laugh at the kids like me who stayed in the BU ghetto on Ashford Street. Until the swanky residence hall kids realize that despite paying $13K for 9 months of housing, they still have to swipe an ID card to get into their own residence, can't have overnight guests and sleep on twin size beds. Then who will be laughing huh.

PS Poor Ross probably won't even be laughing then since he doesn't know the horror of the BU guest policy and actually just sees the loan payment bill every month...yeah BU, I'm gonna need that free night to appease my soon-to-be-husband. Thanks much.

I'm marrying that guy

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Originally uploaded by cheryl_lynn425.

NEXT MONTH!

Woohoo!