Alright friends-

I’m calling upon you guys for help. We’re friends, right? Friends help each other out, offer advice, are there for one another in need- right?

(like the guilt trip I’m laying on you guys?)

So- with that said I’m pretty sure we’re bound to each other in the obligatory book of friendship.

or something like that.

So, now that you guys are in- I must also do a little private side note before moving onward.

P-
I hope this post doesn’t make you mad at me! I figured that this was a GREAT idea and would be really helpful (ha ha, probably more for me- the worrying sister). Know my intentions and the fact that sometimes I’m a complete idiot, unknowingly doing something to hurt someone else although my heart is in the right place.

Okay- so now that all the initial crap is out of the way- let’s get started.

This is P’s first official week away from home and in college. She’s in a foreign country and doesn’t know a soul. She’s surrounded by a huge city, but all alone.

I think P was very brave to choose the school she did. It’s away from everyone she knows and in a whole new country. I’m really proud of her- not to mention living vicariously though her! She is going to have the most awesome college experience EVER!

”Is going to” being the key part.

Like most young freshman away from home for the first time and not knowing a soul, P is lonely and is ready to pack up and go home. It hurts my heart guys because it’s not like we can go see her, or talk on the phone for hours on end. For the first time in my life I can’t really be there for my little sister and I hate that.

I called her today and we talked for a little while, and through laughter and trading funny stories about the two moths flying around P’s room and how we could capture them, we also shared tears. I told her that I knew it’d be a lot like Kuwait- she hated it at first but ended up loving it. I’m convinced of that, but I know it’s hard to believe your older sister when you’re down in the dumps and all alone in a cold tiny dorm room.

So- that’s where you come in.

Most of us are done with school and have already been through the awkward scary freshman year. Now we’re so old and wise and know absolutely everything…

okay, maybe not… but we have lived through freshman year so let’s focus on that!

Do you guys remember how you felt when you first started school? Did you have any scary moments? Embarrassing stories? Funny memories? Any stories about walking into the wrong classroom right in the middle of a class (check), getting lost on your first day and having to ask the registrar for help (check), badmouthing your professor while- unbeknown to you-he was right behind you (check)?

Share!

Would you guys please share those with P in the “Share the Love” comments section?

I want her to know that things get better (um yeah- so if things got worse for you- please lie) and to hang in there.

I look forward to all the stories that you’ll share and really appreciate your friendship! Hopefully your experiences will provide P with some cheer and will let her know she’s not alone. You guys are the best I’m so glad we’re friends.

Tomorrow is her first official day of school, so I’ll be sending lots of thoughts and prayers her way.

P- you’re so brave and I love you tons and bunches. I hope you were able to capture the moths! You are going to be a success and I know that this week may be tough, but I’m positive it will get better. Just remember- worst case scenario you can always live with me and take care of my little adopted son while attending OU online.

Yeah- I figured you wouldn’t want to do that, but hey- I had to try.

Thanks again guys. I know for sure this will bring P cheer.

Have a great weekend.

We’re watching the game and are going out to dinner and a haunted house with our friends tonight. I hope you guys have fun too. <3

Um yeah, so I’m procrastinating.

Procrastinating bad. Real bad.

Will, his dad, my dad, and my uncle are all in the Big D today for some big NHRA race, so it would be a really good opportunity for me to clean (and clean, and clean!) and get ready for my mom and sister’s arrival.

But yeah…

I’m not.

I need to be cleaning my floors.

I have this huge issue with floors.

Can I rant about the floors?

Of course I can rant!

Ranting=procrastination

I’m incredibly obsessive about clean floors.

In fact, if I were to install one of those little digital signs with the rolling phrases I would stick it on my front porch and it would read, “Take off your shoes before entering this house or you will be fed to the two vicious dogs on the other side of the door.”

Granted, the “vicious” maltese wouldn’t do much- but still, a warning should be obeyed, right?

After being in Kuwait and having beautiful marble floors, I hate- hate- carpet.

Hate.

Loathe.

In fact, please excuse me for a moment.

...

Okay, I’m back. I had to go vomit, but I’m better now.

I have carpet in part of my house and am obsessive about no shoes being on it.

I seriously tense up and twitch out anytime someone tromps in my house with their shoes.

Do you know how much dander, dust, and CRAP accumulates inside your carpet every ticking hour of the day!?

Carpet is impossible to keep sterile- and then you add your shoes into the mix, and, well you might as well eat squishy, oily buttered popcorn off the floor of your town’s 1978 movie theatre!

Do you know where you shoes have been?

AHHH! I can’t even think about it. Seriously, my heart rate is increasing even now as I type.

My shoulders tighten and start to scrunch towards my neck.

I begin to feel as though I’m wearing this super tight itchy sweater in the middle of summer.

Tight.

Itchy.

Sweater.

Will’s parents wear shoes inside anytime they come and I seriously scream on the inside the whole time they’re here. On the outside it’s all smiles, but on the inside I’m like a bad episode of Roseanne with the volume full blast.

Yeah, it’s really that painful on the inside when this occurs.

So- if you ever come to my house, you know the rules. If you don’t want to piss me off, take off your shoes.

If you wear your shoes inside, well, I’ll know you’re evil.

Wow.

So now you guys know what a weirdo I am.

Why stop now!? Let’s just drive my craziness home!

Today I was looking through some old emails (ie: PROCRASTINATING) and stumbled across a couple that made me laugh big time.

I better premise this conversation with a big: P is totally going to kill me.

Okay- so when she came to visit we were goofing off one night and decided to send people silly videos because, well, we’re crazy when we get together.

So- I sent these girls a couple really, really embarrassing videos.

You don’t need to tell P and I not to quit our day jobs- trust me, we already know.

So, if we ever meet in real life and you get to know me a little better, perhaps your poor little email box will be inundated with something like this:

.
.
.
.
.

or this:
.
.
.
.
.

Like our fancy water bottle mics?

Yeah, me too. Only the best for my friends.

Why oh why do I willingly embarrass myself for the whole world to see!?

I really don’t know.

It’s seriously got to stop.

Apparently,procrastinating gets me into trouble and causes my judgement to be impaired.

Hmm, so it’s either:

A. Continue to look like an idiot on the internet

B. Watch another an awful episode of Trading Spouses

C. Scrub my floors

Wow. Things are looking up.

not.

Vote, guys! Vote now!

Wait.

I totally see a huge overwhelming vote of choice “A” if I leave it up to The People.

Um yeah I better not leave it up to you guys.

I believe it’s time to get to those floors…

Brittny’s Procrastination=Really Embarrassing Blog Posts

<3 more (less humiliating things) to come…

As promised, I’m preparing to write more than anyone will ever care to read- but hey- I promised one huge puke fest of information so that’s what I’m going to deliver!

I posted my pictures early this morning. I went to bed at 2 Friday night and 2 last night because I was saving, naming, and organizing 50,383 pictures. Just looking at them makes me so happy. Guys, it was the best trip I’ve ever taken and I so wish I were enjoying it all over again. Here’s an extremely short recap of the amazing and adventurous 20 days- oh- and like I mentioned in my last post, my pictures match accordingly in the Mediterranean Cruise Collection so follow along. Ha ha I sound like a teacher.

Day 1- Surprisingly enough I found P with no trouble at all. The Rome airport isn’t all I was building it up to be. We met at the baggage claim, got on our bus, and went to the ship! Easy enough- thank goodness.

Day 2- We were in Florence and Pisa this day. It was a 12 hour tour so we were exhausted at the end. Plus it was hot- so yeah, sweaty girls aren’t fun girls. In Florence we say several beautiful churches and made time for some authentic gelato. P and I also wandered to a quaint little tavern for some famous Italian Chianti. It was such a great day. The night on the ship- as every night- was spent in the formal dining room, watching the cheesy show, and people watching (which consisted of nicknames and making up stories about who they were and where they came from)- followed by late night tea and or ice cream and burgers.

We were so healthy.

Day 3- We were in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It’s so beautiful there. We saw the palace and the church where the famous Princess Grace lies. We also saw the Monaco race track and the extra famous Monte Carlo Casino. It was really hot that day so P and I ended up sitting on a bench near the casino and chilling out. My parents called while we were lounging, so that was a nice surprise. It was a really nice day.

Day 4- At sea. It was full of lots of laziness, relaxing, and eating. Repeat.

Day 5- Barcelona baby! It was such a great day. Barcelona is full of amazing architecture so that was a treat. We started our trip going to 3 different restaurants trying tapas. Yum! Afterwards, we saw the famous Gaudi church. It makes me sad that it’s taken literally over a hundred years for this masterpiece to be built- and it’s still not even finished! I think that could be a good Sunday school lesson- how God uses our lifetime on Earth to build his masterpiece. P and I visited a Starbucks because we decided that’s something you must do in Barcelona.

Day 6- Mallorca! Mallorca is beautiful. The town of Valldemossa is stunning. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones have a house out there and I can fully understand why. It’s such a quiet little area. I enjoyed our time there. We also spent some time at a beautiful vineyard in the mountains there where we sampled 3 different wines. It was such a nice little afternoon.

Day 7- Remember what we did on day 4? Yeah, it was more of that. But at this point we figured out how to maximize our cheese platter ordering, ice cream trips, and late night pizza.

Day 8- Today we were in Tunisia- and it was HOT (hence why there are no pictures of us in that set). We saw Carthage, which was okay. We agree that part of it looked like they just threw some rocks on the ground and said, “Hey! Let’s call this place Carthage!” but then we saw some more areas that were more legitimate. Afterwards we went to Si Bou Said, which is a souk of sorts. P and I bought these really pretty Eye and Hand of Fatima charms which we’ll put on a necklace. Sort of a modern day BFF necklace if you will. It’s something so ingrained in the culture where we live(d) so it was special to buy them.

Day 9- Palermo, Sicily. Guys- this was the greatest excursion ever! We made our way into the mountains to see the Baroness di Salvo’s house, a very old dwelling that has been passed down. Soon after we arrived the Baroness herself put on a cooking class for us! She didn’t speak any English, so our guide translated as she made really delicious, classic Sicilian dishes. YUM! And then? Then carnage began. We figured we’d sample some small tastes of the things she made, but oh no. Not quite. Instead, they took us to this other room where we proceeded to eat,

and eat,

and eat.

Guys- we LITERALLY ate for THREE HOURS. 17 courses.

17 COURSES.

Um, hello immense sickness and fatness!

P and I finished around 3 that afternoon and didn’t eat again until a late breakfast the following morning.

Now that’s a Puke Fest.

Wait- I said I would never say that again, didn’t I? Sorry.

Oh- want to hear a funny side story? Although- I’m not sure if it will be funny since you weren’t there- but I’ll try guys! Okay- as we were feasting we were sharing a table with 2 older women. We were making small talk with them. We were talking about their families, and I had asked one of them how old her children were. The lady started rattling off the following, “Well- there’s 60, 65, 66, and 68.”

I slapped my hand on the table and called out a big hearty, “You look AMAZING!”

She looked at me like I was an idiot (and P did the same) and said, “Those are years, not ages.”

Right. Roger That.

Day 10-
Pompeii. I woke up feeling ill that morning and wasn’t thrilled about Pompeii (um- again why there’s no pictures of us that day!) Despite the yuckiness I had a great time. Those Romans were smarties. I enjoyed getting to see a few different places they inhabited while on the cruise. The Ruins of Pompeii was very interesting.

Day 11-
Rome (again). While we were on a 20 days cruise, some were on a 10 day. Today was the day we dropped those people off and got a whole new bunch of 10 dayers for the Eastern Mediterranean Tour. P and I opted to stay on the ship and have a lazy docked day at sea. It was very nice, and if I remember right, we ate too much.

Day 12-
Another day at sea like all the others!

Day 13-
Dubrovnik, Croatia! Dubrovnik is beautiful. We went and saw the city walls where we spent a few hours wandering around, seeing a church, and just enjoying the sights. It was so beautiful. P and I found a place to sit inside and hung around there for about an hour watching the day go by- as well as lots and lots of people. I’ve never seen water more sparkly than in Dubrovnik.

Day 14-
Corfu, Greece.

Day 15-
Today we were in Olympia!! Not only that- but in Olympia during the 2008 Olympics! Pretty cool. P and I actually got to walk the original Olympic track which was 600 Herculean feet (whatever that equivocates to!). P has a video of us walking the entire track that I posted below! We’re not very animated, totally sweaty, have no makeup on, and are walking the whole time with not much to talk about, but hey- you gotta walk the track when you’re at the Olympics! We’re such Gold Medalists. Ha.

Day 16
Santorini, Greece. Simply beautiful. You can see from the pictures. We spent some time in one of the small villages and then made our way to the black sand beach- which was gorgeous. P and I found a little outdoor restaurant and had some delicious authentic Greek food. Yum.

Day 17
Today we were in Ephesus. It was simply brilliant. I really enjoyed our visit there, not to mention we had a really great guide full of lots of information. We saw the Virgin Mary’s house, where she spent the last years of her life. Afterwards it was on to the ancient city of Ephesus. Apparently there is still so very much still covered that needs to be excavated. It was so neat to see, especially with all the Biblical references.

Day 18
At sea.

Day 19
Today we went to Valletta, Malta. It was really humid and miserable so we didn’t spend much time out and about. It was still nice to get out and walk around a little.

Day 20
Messina, Sicily. Today we did a short little excursion and saw some of the highlights- including this crazy huge clock that has this 15 minute “show” everyday at noon. It was very Disneyish.

And then the trip was over, and my heart was really sad.

Really really sad.

In fact- I feel sad now just typing about it knowing it’s over!

Did I mention I have an amazing boss that allowed me to borrow against the vacation I haven’t yet accrued rather than being unpaid? While it’s a huge blessing, it means I won’t have any vacation for literally the next year. How sad, right!?

Anyway, the trip was over and I bid my sister farewell- but there’s more to come on that.

********

So moving along to the dogs- they’re a lot of work. I won’t say much since I told you about Rocky. I’ll try to post a few pictures in the coming days. It’s nonstop with 4 dogs. It’s been a test of patience- a test I seem to be failing

********

So as you know- college football season is underway and Will is the happiest guy in the world. The first OU game proved to be not only a blow out- but wet. We got poured on! They ended up having over an hour delay and instead of driving home due to the rain and gigantic lead, my obsessed husband wanted to stay! Sigh. I guess it’s something we’ll remember…

Will is very excited to finally be able to utilize our tickets, and I am too.

********

It seems like ever since we moved back it’s been nonstop on the go craziness. We lived with Will’s parents for a month, then P came to visit, then I went on vacation for 20 days, and then-

my dad is coming in 2 weeks! I’m so excited. He’s coming to Texas for some big racing thing and Will is going to meet him down there. After the racing weekend, he’s going to come up and stay a couple days with us, which is very exciting. I’ve been missing my family so much and it’s been hard, so it will be nice to have him here.

Not only that, but it gets better!

The following week my mom and sister are coming to stay a few days!! I can’t tell you how excited I am about the next few weeks. It will be really special for me. I’m not sure when I’ll see my family next, so I’m really happy about their visit.

I’m sure there’ll be lots more talk about all that in the coming days.

As for things now, it’s been a busy weekend full of cleaning. Will, his dad, and brother are in Indianapolis this weekend for the first Colt’s game in the new stadium. It was something they had planned before we moved back, so it’s been something Will has been looking forward to for a long time. It also allowed me a weekend of peace to clean, and man did I! Will didn’t do much while I was gone so I had lots of work to do. Plus, I can get a little fanatical so it takes me longer than most when I get in a cleaning mood. I started Saturday morning and finished at 3 today. I stopped in the evenings to get my pictures all sorted and play with the dogs. It’s been a very productive weekend!

Want to hear a funny story?

Yesterday afternoon a locust somehow got into the house and I was freaking out all day but would’t get near it because I was so scared! It ended up on the couch and I sprayed so much lysol on it that it set off my carbon monoxide detector. ha ha.

Then it ended up on the floor and I put a glass bowl over it with my purse on top- where it will stay until Will comes home to get the locust out of its little biodome! ha ha. I’m a nerd.

*******

I think that’s about all for now. It’s taken me a long time to write this and I’m starting to get antsy. Hope you had a nice weekend!

Today I bid Rome farewell.

I say goodbye to some of the most beautiful countries in the world and walk away with nothing more than amazing pictures and 20 days of wonderful memories.

I also bid my sister farewell.

I say goodbye to the most beautiful girl in the world and walk away with nothing more than amazing pictures and 18 years of wonderful memories.

I hate saying goodbye, and I hate change. It reminds me of the life-altering change I made just months ago- my move back to America.

Part of me wants to jump on my plane (after getting lost and losing my boarding pass 3 times, of course) and get back to my normal everyday life in the good old US of A, but the other part of me wants Will and I to pack a suitcase and just go.

Go.

To where? I have no idea, but I guess that’s what makes it so ridiculous and silly.

but also perfect.

Almost exactly a year ago my boss told me- You’re either an expat or you’re not (you should click on the link and read that post. I feel like I’ve been struggling with this topic a lot lately now that I’m home). When I read that post, I think to myself, “here you are a whole year later, Britt, and you still have no idea how you feel!” I don’t know what that means, other than the fact that I still have the itch to just get up and go.

Ha- yet 3 paragraphs above I tell you I hate change. I’m such a contradiction.

See what I mean? A year later and I still feel all knoted up about where I’m supposed to be.

Wait.

I know where I’m supposed to be.

I’m supposed to be here, no doubt in my mind. I know 100% God has moved us back here, there have been so many confirmations of his work. However, if I share my heart with you guys, the truth is that I know where I’m supposed to be, but I’m not sure if I’m where I want to be.

Does that make sense?

Don’t think I’m terrible for sharing that with you. I know it’s not your expected Sunday School Answer, but it’s really how I’ve been feeling lately. I want to be in God’s will, I really do, but lately I’ve had a hard time really desiring it. I say I want it, but then I think about all the “better” things Will and I could be doing and it’s such a distraction. I haven’t been setting my mind on things above as I need to, but instead have gotten caught up with the temporal and it’s so foolish of me.

Yes, I had to go to Rome to figure all this out.

Figure what out!?

I haven’t figured anything out!

Okay- well I had to go to Rome to realize I’m still a basketcase.

How’s that?

A little more accurate.

Okay, so enough of the sad whiney conflicted crap.

Who wants to hear all that- AGAIN, right?

Sheesh, the story of my freaking life!?

Alright- let’s move on.

So I bid Rome farewell.  Perhaps I will no longer associate Rome with stress now that I’ve made it to the airport and am on the plane?

I hope so.

I’m sure as we drove the long drive to the airport I held back the tears, and as they unloaded our luggage, the lump in my throat arrived.

I’m sure I tried to be the big sister and not snot all over myself as I told P goodbye,

but let’s face it, I was never meant to be good with such things.

In fact, I’m a week out from the cruise and crying as a type!

What a loser.

Anyway, I’m sure I squeezed her tight and got one last smell of her perfume.

I’m sure my heart was throbbing just like the night when I was in college and broke up with my first love. I’m sure as she went left, and I went right, I tried my best to keep it together,

but as I made a mad dash to the bathroom, I lost it-

as well as my carry-on, I can almost be sure.

I hate goodbyes terribly, but this one would seem so final in so many ways.

So as this cruise has docked, so has another chapter in my life. One that has P in an exciting foreign country attending college, and one that has me washing clothes down by the river in some tiny remote American town. (ha ha)

I finally give up fighting the tears and figure I might as well just let it all out-

and once again I wish Will was here to make me feel better, but sadly I’m all alone (and probably lost) in the Rome airport trying to understand what the hell 743 is in Italian.

As I get on the plane, knowing P is about to board hers, I wish her well in my heart, knowing that kindred spirits are never very far apart.

I think about Boz and Lucy, and the 2 new little puppies that await me when I get home. I think about Will and falling asleep in his arms,

and I realize it’s okay to say goodbye to Rome today.

Perhaps I’ll visit again..

The 3 days in Greece were great, I’m sure.

Yesterday was spent in Turkey, another place I’ve been wanting to visit.

Today?

Today is another day at sea. As my trip comes to a close, I’m sure my heart is starting to get heavy.

For one, I miss Will like crazy and have realized what a moron I was for taking such a long trip without him.

Also, I’m reminded that these are my last few days with P.

And it makes my heart ache.

When she left back in July I cried a little, but it didn’t hurt that bad because I knew I was going to see her in a matter of weeks.

However, as this trip begins to wane I realize that it will by many months, and possibly even years before I see my best friend again.

and just thinking about it and typing that sentence brings me to tears.

P is so different than anyone I know. She’s my little nomad that has no plans on ever coming back to America, even visiting.

Granted, I know (well, I hope) someday she’ll come back to visit, but I honestly can tell you guys I don’t know when I’ll see my sister next.

I’m sure as I went to sleep last night, thinking about another day at sea- the final day at sea- my mind was filled with thoughts of Will and P and how sad I felt.

breathe…

I hope today at sea is a lovely day, hopefully with some sort of a breeze to keep me in good spirits.

<3

We’re visiting the runis of Pompeii today and I’ve looking forward to this trip. I’ve seen way too many educational videos on the place while in school, so I figure I ought to actually see the place. I’m not sure P is as excited, but hopefully I’ll make it fun.

The trip is halfway over. 

It’s here guys! It’s finally here!

Today is the stop P and I have been so excited about! It’s the excursion we spent the most money on and have been looking forward to the most!

Today is Cooking in Sicily!

Today we’ll meet up with a Sicilian chef, go shopping in the local markets, and make a dish!

I know you guys are probably all- “That!? You’re excited for THAT? You spent the most money on THAT?”

Yes. THAT.

I’m thrilled.

I wish I could write this post in real time to tell you how great it was- oh- and let you try my Sicilian masterpiece. ha ha

Wish you were here. Yay for the best excursion! It’s finally arrived. 

For the next 2 days we’re enjoying the sights of Spain!

Because we’re fatties and obsessed with food, both of these excursions revolve around eating.

I’m siked!

Our first stop is Barcelona where we’ll be going on a Tapas Tour. I figure you can’t go wrong with that.

Our 2nd day is in Mallorca, which will consist of a tour of the Costa Nord concluding with a wine tasting.

gasp- that’s right. Wine tasting.

Hello!

Moving along.

We’re going on a wine tasting tour in Spain, which will conclude our time there. I’m so excited. I know we’re going to have a great time on these tours.

Oh and PS- I miss Will. <3

We’re in Monte Carlo today! I’m thrilled to be here. When I was 18 1/2 younger I always wanted to be a princess and live in Monaco.

I don’t think that’s in my future today. We’re taking a short tour of the city, which has me very excited. Perhaps P will get to marry a prince and I’ll live vicariously through her?

That’s where we’re off to today friends!

I’m so excited. We’ll spend all day out and about visiting the Tuscan Landmarks of Florence & Pisa.

I’m sure you can expect incredibly annoying pictures of me and P leaning with the tower, or holding it up with 1 hand. I think you’re obligated to take cheesy shots like that when you’re there, right?

Oh- did I tell you guys the average age for people on our cruiseline is 58?

5-freaking-8! That means there’s a host of people way older than that for that to be the median!

Sheesh.

We’re having fun. I’m sure.