God Bless You My Love!

He's on a strict diet - oranges, orange juice, more fruit, veggies and hot tea. And he sneezes a lot and I say "God bless you my love!" a lot. (Though he coughs more than sneezes honestly.)
My honey is going to get better if its the last thing I do! Sadly Senor Ross has not been feeling well. But I think between the Vicks, the throat spray and all the oranges he is consuming, he will feel well again soon.

I think most, if not all, couples have their show that they watch. Ross and I LOVE trashy TV. LOVE IT I tell you. This spring our show was "Here Come the Newlyweds." Hilarious I tell you! Couples competing against each other for money. Great competitions. Blindfolded hubby driving a minivan in an empty parking lot via wife's directions. Wife getting a make over so hubby can guess what changed (changes even included butt pads!). Folks, it was one laugh after another. And of course running commentary by us about how we would handle it throughout. (Blindfold car - we'd hit every shopping cart, he'd totally notice and celebrate some butt pads.) It makes us laugh but it was also pretty educational. We chatted about things I don't think we would have randomly brought up otherwise. Like how much is too much to spend on a car EVER (him: $30,000 me $50,000 - so much for my dream Lexus SUV). I wish I could remember some of the others but great things I am telling you. My point? Eh I only sorta have one. We enjoy trashy TV, especially tonight's finale, and while I'm a little hesitant to say it - trashy TV helped us learn a few things about each other.

My name is Cheryl and trashy TV is my preferred couple's therapy.

Project Co-Habitate: Week 2

We've been doing this live together thing for two weeks so far. I know all you married folks are reading this and chuckling "oh how cute! Two weeks!" Well chuckle away my friends. You and yours once had a two week marker and I bet you were pretty excited about it.

Really nothing has changed yet. We found a place for most of our clothes - accomplishment of the week. Ross's computer moved its way onto my desk today. He's quite happy; said computer now works (something it hasn't done in nearly 7 months). And really I think thats about it. Now much huh? For living with a boyfriend for the first time, I almost feel like I should have more to report back. I stand by that the major changes will come when we unpack the bulk of his stuff and his macho things meet my girlie things.

Work's going well too. We're having some position shuffling but I think a lot of that is working out very well. The Comm Dept is a little swamped from now til June, add that to my swamped personal life and it is going to be July before I know it!

This month alone I have two major fundraisers to attend (both next week, Women of Distinction, I encourage you to attend), a camping trip, Ross's birthday, Possibilities - a Girl Scout book - to edit, Girl Scout newsletter to write, Val's visit and my birthday. Next month is our move, a day in Waco for work, more Possibilities, Kevin's birthday and my parents 25th wedding anniversary. And somehow between those things I need to coordinate my responsibilities for Relay for Life (again, I encourage you to attend). I'm tired just thinking about it! And that my friends, is why I am throwing in the towel tonight.

Woohoo!

New Bed!
Originally uploaded by cheryl_lynn425.

We have a new bed! And for all of you who were dying to see it in its Crate-n-Barrel duvet cover glory, here you have it. We're not quite high class enough to have a head board but its a slow process, friend, a slow process.

Goats Not Included

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Originally uploaded by cheryl_lynn425.

That picture right there is of my new roommate - except this boyfriend does not come with his own pair of goats (darn? yay?).

In 48 hours we got Ross's apartment cleaned out, most his stuff moved into storage at his mom's and him moved into my place. We're still working on a few things, like 2 laundry baskets full of clothes that neither of us have the will power to carry out of my car.

It was a whirlwind of a move, one that had us both zonked out and in bed by 9 p.m. yesterday but it's done! It doesn't feel like much of a change and I really don't think it will til we are in our new place and all my pretty girly stuff meets his macho boy stuff. The combining of the things. Holy cow. John Wayne cut-out, meet pink Coach purse. Too big a collection of weights, meet too big a collection of high heels.

These meetings are still another 6 weeks or so off. I better start prepping my bags and shoes.

Welcome Springtime and Newlyweds!

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Originally uploaded by cheryl_lynn425.

What a weekend! Whew!

A lot of Girl Scouting, a wedding and a subleased apartment later and it is bedtime folks!

Nikki became Mrs. Stephen Stowe last night in her beautiful outside Georgetown ranch wedding. The blushing bride was as pretty as pretty can be. The ceremony was formal and traditional, just as I am sure she always imagined it.

I would tell you more, but y'all I am pooped. Ross is already in bed and as soon as I can move the laundry to the dryer, I will be too. But in a nutshell the weekend went as such. Spring time arrived in full force with a 92 degree Friday and not a cloud in the sky all Friday and Saturday. Thousands of Girl Scout cookies were sent to US troops and several news stations covered it. Nikki and Stephen got hitched. I found a subletter for Ross's apartment and we now have just over 48 hours to get him all moved out.

Must sleep as tomorrow the great move commences.

Show Me the Money

When you are a kid the economy has no real meaning. At least it didn't to me. I was lucky to never worry about the roof over my head or food on the dinner table. Fortunately I still don't have to worry about those things.

But I have to say, the economy has more meaning to me now than it ever has before. It's tough to fund-raise when people are making just enough to get by. I know I certainly don't have an incredible expendable income to donate. It's just not in the cards. Working for a nonprofit, sometimes you really feel the pinch of every day folks who can't spare too much money to support your organization. I know Ross and his co-workers feel it too. Mattresses are one of those things that yes you need but you think "I can put it off 6 more months" or "We can get a cheaper one." And they are a big expense so it makes sense that people are hesitant to spend that much on just one item - even if we do spend 8 hours + of our day on them.

It is for these reasons, Mr. Bush and presidential hopefuls, that I say, Show Me the Money. I know me, Ross and the city of Austin are doing well compared to other people and areas but we are itching to bring home the big bucks. We are itching to spend the big bucks once we bring them home. Economists are estimating that our $600 tax refunds are only going to cover the increase in gas prices this year thus helping us but not really allowing additional money to flow into the market.

We need more help. We need to spend less money on this war and more money creating jobs domestically. FDR Style. Let's build roads or fix the ones we have. I can personally atest to the need for better roads in at least Pennsylvania and Louisiana. I bet both of those states would welcome the income and infrastructure. Let's create more teaching jobs. Every teacher in America would be happy to have a class with 2 or 3 less students. If our government needs help figuring out what new jobs to create, trust me, I have a couple ideas. I'm proud to say that Texas has dedicated $10 billion to cancer research which will not only combat this terrible disease but will bring white collar jobs and an increasingly educated population to Texas. What could be better than making your state a leader in cancer research, helping all of humanity and creating jobs all at once? Good job Texas :)

Get on board Mr. (or Mrs. as it may soon be) President! Show me the Money!