"Why do blessings wear disguises? If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked."

I was whining to my mother about my life this morning. I need to mention here this probably has more to do with PMS than any actual problems I have. :)

My new home is starting to take shape and look like an actual house. My dining room is finished except for a giant mirror that has to be mounted on the wall. My guest bathroom is finished except for this funky piece of metal wall art that goes there that I have not located yet. The man room is almost finished except for the electronic stuff that is all Bey's. I won't even pretend I know how to do that. The living room is finished except for a couch that is coming Friday. The boxes are not unpacking themselves...sigh. I took the boat out Sunday night for a tiny spin. It just felt good to drive it and have the wind in my hair. I also did a quick swim in the lake and it was so warm. I had bought chicken for dinner and I sat on the lake in the boat eating with the dog and watching how beautiful the sun sets in the desert.

My husband is pretty romantic. He writes careful loving cards and letters to me all the time. And during this period of being apart we have both been mailing each other packages and cards to say that we care. I need to mention here that his cards always put mine to shame. Mine are always along the lines of I miss you. I love you. Whereas his are always pontifications on our perfect future in our wonderful new home with SD. Really I should take a class. The other day however I came up with a fantastic idea. I called one of my best friends in Starkville. I gave her the ingredients and my specific cooking instructions and she made Bey his favorite meal from me. Cooked exactly like he likes it. A long distance hug of comfort food.

“The best way to be boring is to leave nothing out” Voltaire

I am going to catch everyone up on the most boring stuff first.

OK FIRST...

School dissertation work will recommence on October 1, 2009. Blah. I haven't got much left to do, but I have been putting it off for a few reasons. First of all I can keep health insurance through Mississippi State as long as I am a student. I was concerned for a bit that I might have to insure both Bey and I (spouses count t00). However it doesn't look like that is the case. Bey will be staying put until he finds his perfect job. So there is no need to lolly gag.

Work

So much work I could scream. Life is too full. Too much going on. I have so many classes and they are all starting like NOW. :) October is always like that! ;) Anyway, most of my course development wraps up at the end of next week. SIGH. Relief.

Furniture

I ordered an entire house full of new furniture and it is all being delivered on Friday. The furniture is contemporary and some of it is custom so the only place to find it is in IPG's home. For example I have a six foot long wall in my foyer that needed something and so IPG's sweet Daddy agreed to build her a fascinating plant and indoor water feature to her exact specifications. Once the house is finished it should look like a show place. Will definitely post pics.

Family

My dad retired in May and has been furnishing his own retirement casa. He and my mom are planning a much anticipated trip to IPGzona. They should be staying between 3 and 4 weeks and we plan to see much of the state as well as just spend some great quality time together.

Sad Stuff

The family dog (not my dog Shug)...my mom's dog Licorice has been diagnosed with cancer. This has delayed my parent's trip. They do not know how much longer they will have with their sweet dog. So they obviously need to spend time with him.

Bey has turned down a few job offers that just were not a good fit for our lifestyle and this family. So the job hunt continues. I am happy I got to spend time with him, and although I know that this separation is difficult it has also made me appreciate some things.

1. Some women are not loved their entire lives as much as my husband loves me. I am not bragging or trying to be mean. I just know that I am the very center of my husband's world. The two of us together create a universe. Not having him here has made me appreciate that in brand new ways. Knowing that our bond is that strong means it is ok that we are not together right this second. We will be, and when we are it will be great.

2. Having a man around the house is handy. I am all for a little girl power, but my goodness when it comes to lifting 150 lb boxes of patio furniture from Home Depot. It is nice to have some muscle around (and it doesn't hurt that it is DELISH) lol


Car

The time has come to get rid of this piece of crap in my driveway I call a truck. :) We are considering some vehicles. I haven't had a chance to go check them all out. So here they are in no particular order....

1. H3
2. Mercedes GLK
3. Jeep Liberty
4. Dodge Ram
5. Chevrolet Silverado
6. Saturn Vue

I have gone and seen a few of them, but haven't had a chance to work through the entire list. I am pretty systematic and will have to just work at my own pace. Notice there is not a BMW z4 on there.


Upcoming events

My social life in Phoenix has expanded. I have met people through Auburn clubs, and Saints clubs, and sorority events. It has been fun getting to know different people. Bey and I have even gotten to be such good friends with a couple here that we have planned a trip to Vegas with them in February. It is a surprise for the guy's birthday. We have all told him we are going on a couple's retreat to Napa Valley. It should be pretty funny when he finds out we are actually planning a trip to somewhere way more fun than Napa. :)


Big 5

So Bey and I started planning our 5th Anniversary trip. We were thinking about going back to Belize where we got married, but have sort of decided to do something different. I will give you a hint it starts with a capital A and is continent!

Regarding Dropping off the face of the earth

So IPG has been a little busy. Lots going on. Lots to talk about.

First I am home safely from Russia. I hardly even caused any international incidents. Those are always entertaining. Per my usual I did sit by some insane people on the air plane. Which suits me fine because how else can I have entertaining stories about insane people?

Bey has been in town, and it has been wonderful. I won't give you all the details but it was a much needed time for us to spend together. He left this past Wednesday, and it has perked my spirits up significantly.

We closed on our IPG dream home, and she is all ours. All of our belongings are out of the rental and have been suitably moved into the new address. ;)

We are considering purchasing a new vehicle and have been diligently shopping and test driving cars. Or IPG has been shopping and test driving and Handsome Bey has been sending her links of completely inappropriate cars. For example, I may have mentioned in passing that I wanted a BMW Z4. I took one for a little test drive...just for fun. :) Bey got all excited sending none stop links. However this car is not practical we should probably purchase a vehicle that we all 3 can ride in it at once. Not to mention if I bought one the very nanosecond I purchased it I would accidentally get pregnant by pollination or some such, and would have to get rid of the car.

The car search continues. I really should trade my truck in and just buy a full size truck, but it is my turn to get a new car, and I kind of do not want to waste my choice on a truck. (Even though I like trucks...I am more of an SUV kinda girl). :)

“The duality of St Petersburg and Leningrad remains. They are not even on speaking terms.” Joseph Wechsberg

We have finished up Moscow and moved on to St. Petersburg. It is AMAZING. I really like it here a lot better than Moscow. Things are so strange. I have also picked up quite a few words in Russian. I will be able to annoy others with it when I return home.


The first is a picture of the cathedral in St. Pete, the second of a church built to atheism, the third is St. Basil's in Moscow, and the fourth is Lennin's Tomb.

Have good night (it is 3:46 AM here!)

From Russia with Love

Hola from Moscow. It is hard to believe that I am fixing to go to bed, and everyone I love is just getting started this Sunday. :)

It is amazing here. SO amazingly beautiful I wonder why it has taken me so long to get here.

Ordering lunch was a challenge. We stopped somewhere that did not speak English and had no English menus. Luckily I ended up with a steak and some vegetables. Jet lag is getting to me although I got some excellent sleep on the plane.

For tomorrow Red Square...

xoxox

"My wings are a thousand books." — Gill Robb Wilson

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am blogging via the airplane. I got a coupon for free Wifi on board. And of course I so used it!!! Whoot! Fun stuff! I am blogging and flying.

I am en route to Atlanta. SUPPOSEDLY our flight is oversold by 13 seats if everyone shows. We are going to give up our seats and get 750 bucks and an upgrade to first class tomorrow if that is true. The best part though is that Bey is in Atlanta and I could stay at my parents. YEAH!!!!

I really hope we get bumped because I want the 750 bucks and I want to see Bey and the 'rents.

“Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Winston Churchill

I have been busy. I am leaving to for Russia tomorrow so I have been getting all the ducks in a row because I close on my house September 15th and I roll back into town on September 12. So I have been a busy girl. :)

But the best news!!!!!!!!!!!! The best news....is Bey is going to be here September 12 - 20th!!!! I am so excited. We will have SD that week with us. So I am very excited. I am going to do cartwheels.

Thank you to Eyes Wide Open for providing my blog with an award!

I will be blogging next week from Moscow and St. Petersburg! :) Stay tuned!!!!