Happy Birthday to Will today!

He’s 28 today, which used to seem so “old,” but suddenly seems so young!

We went to a family reunion yesterday (because apparently that’s what you have to do when you live in America these days) and afterwards went out for an early birthday dinner to a semi-famous steak restaurant in the City.

I must also mention the fact that I picked up a Key Lime Pie Cheesecake (yes, it deserves capital letters) from the Cheesecake Factory Friday night. Happy Birthday To ME… oh yeah- and Will too.

I also saw that on Wednesday they’re celebrating National Cheesecake Day (because in America not only do you have to attend family reunions, but you also have to celebrate every tiny thing such as Cherry Day and Backwards Day and Drink Coffee All Day Day) by charging $1.50 for a piece of cheesecake!

Hello treadmill!

In other, much less important news, my furniture is arriving this week! I’m so excited. It should be here Wednesday and I’m really forward to having some comforts of my “other home” with me. Oh, and our TV is arriving so Will will be happy. I told Will it was sort of nice not having the TV around for a month, he fully agreed.

not.

Somehow talking isn’t nearly as thrilling as Sportscenter.

Apparently.

We have a TV in our bedroom (which by the way I loathe- TV in a bedroom? Totally Will’s doing), but no cable just yet. We’ve been watching lots of FRIENDS boxsets-

which inevitably has me anazlying which one I would be, who Will would be… who Boz and Lucy would be…

My life is so thrilling.

P is for sure Rachel. Nothing to even ponder.

P says I’m Phoebe, and I really, really hope that’s not true-

but I’m afraid the odds are against me.

I love Phoebe, she makes me laugh- but seriously, P? I can’t be her…

Alright, I’m pretty sure you guys don’t care about this conversation… moving along…

I’m getting ready to drop by one of Will’s old neighbor’s house this afternoon. She’s a great seamstress and is going to get a huge giant tapestry I bought in Kuwait ready to be hanged (hung? Hanged? I’m pretty sure it’s hanged, though it doesn’t sound as nice as hung...). I’m so excited about it. I’d really like to get it up before I leave. I’ll be sure to take a picture for you guys. It’s really beautiful.

Alright ladies- I’m off to meet the Seamstress. Afterwards I think we’re meeting our couplefriend for a birthday dinner.

couplefriend.

I still need to tell you about them, don’t I? I forgot how ready I was to have one of those. I prayed for one for so many months in Kuwait, and now it appears they might be here.

okay okay, I need to get off. Will is badgering me.

Is that what being 28 does to people?

I hope not.

Let me honor my 28 year-old birthday boy and meet this lady.

More to Come…

Do you even remember me?

I’m Brittny- Kuwaiti dweller turned American dweller and apparent MIA blogger.

We FINALLY got the internet hooked up in the house today. I can officially stop convulsing and drooling- much like Danny Torrence near the end of The Shining.

I have a million things to discuss with you guys, oh and I believe I owe like a thousand pictures of my new house! All to come very soon. Just wanted to check in and tell you Im alive and have about 450 emails to sort through this week (really- 450).

P and I (yes P! The awesome, lovely P is right here in my very own house!!!!) are off to meet up with Will and our very own couple friend. That’s right- we finally have friends. I know you’re shocked, so let’s please keep them thinking we’re great and please don’t tell them about my weirdness. Actually, I think they have a good idea, we’ve been friends for a long time and are picking up where we left off 3 years ago. See!? Told you we had lots to talk about…

More to come very soon. Sorry for my loserish absence.

Oh heavens.

I just sit down to write a big long quality post (ha) and then I get beckoned by my husband to do something highly important.

Beckoned.

Does anyone say that anymore?

I just said “oh heavens” too.

Please, please send me back to Kuwait.

It’s happening.

The rednecks are infiltrating my life. Stop the madness!

Okay, anyway…

This week I decided something very important:

I can’t trust anyone for advice except for my sister.

Yep. It’s true.

I get so tired of the stuff people tell you to do that they’d actually never do themselves, you know? “Oh you should totally talk to that major hot guy, Sue. So what that you have 57 cats crawling around your studio apartment and you haven’t showered in 3 days. Go! Go flirt with that guy!”

Okay- we all know how the above story is going to end, so why give poor Sue such awful advice!? So she can go hide in her cat menagerie for the next 3 years!?

Alright, so you get my point. I like people that give real, raw advice.

Such as, “Sue. You can’t go talk to that guy. You must first shower and board 53 of your cats because your studio apartment smells like cat piss.”

here’s the story…

So I’m still new at work. Not only that, but I don’t really know anyone in the area where we live. So- yeah, I’m pretty much a bonafide new kid loser that sits in the corner of the office eating paste.

Well, not really- but you know the type- and apparently I’m becoming the type.

Anyway, so I brought leftovers for lunch a couple of days ago. No big deal, right?

Oh guys, I almost had a freaking panic attack! I literally had a crisis at my desk. It was sort of like this-

Do I go heat up my lunch and eat in the break room ALL ALONE like a paste eating loner loser

OR

do I heat up my lunch in the break room and bring it back to my cube and stink up the joint because I’m too afraid to eat ALL ALONE where I should?

Crisis, guys! Crisis!

So- I turn to my only reliable source of sound advice: P.

See, P fully understands my odd ways. Most people would be all positive and cutesy and “You can do it! Go eat in the break room! It’s not loserish. It’s cool! In fact- maybe you’ll make a friend!”

P? yeah, she’s not like that. She’s practical and useful. We sent several texts back and forth. They’re displayed for you below:

Me: Okay so I feel like an idiot. I brought my lunch but I have to heat it up. I don’t want to sit alone in the break room like a loser but I also don’t want to sit at my desk and smell up the office! I so wish you were here. Can you believe I might skip lunch because I’m a moron? What should I do!?

P: As must as I would love you to fill up your tummy, I think it might be awkward if you eat by yourself alone in there. Maybe just a granola bar today? ha ha. In a week once you’re moved in you can avoid these situations by quickly driving home and eating with me and Willy!

Me: Yeah I know. I was thinking the same thing. I love when you give advice. It’s not that positive crap everyone else gives. It’s actually helpful. Off to get my granola!

P: I know. We can never trust real people for advice. Maybe this is the time to start smoking so you can leave the office.

ha ha, totally kidding.

Aw sisters, they’re so great. Solving my problems with lung cancer. Gotta love her.

PS: I totally ate a granola bar by the way. Which is loserish in it’s own right but not as bad as the two options above. Yesterday I went out with my boss and coworker and that was nice. Not loserish at all.

Want to meet for lunch next week so you can rescue me from my cubicle awkwardness?

My sister is coming to visit me in a few weeks.

I can not express in words how my heart feels this very moment.

I’ve been like an annoying kid on the last day of school. I feel anxious, excited, gassy (ha ha, just kidding about that one. Just wanted to make sure you were still paying attention).

Poor Will. In addition to all the woes of moving into a new house, he’s also going to have to put up with giggling girls for 2 weeks.

heh heh.

I have so very much I want to talk about regarding this oh so exciting news, but it’s time for bed.

P’s coming to America.

<3

I seriously wish I could fly to a dozen different states, scoop you all up, and take you to my neighborhood (wherever it shall be…)! You guys would be the best neighbors ever! Just think Lucy and Ethel without the crazy antics- although if you’re living next to me I can’t make any promises that there won’t be any of those.

I want to say thank you to all of you that sent me lots of encouraging words the last two days. I felt incredibly loved and thought of. Thought of… okay you English teachers, get over yourselves. Anyway, thank you so much for your friendship. I truly count you all as my personal friends. My 3 years here did not bring me very many “real life” friends, and so many times I came to you all and you were there- even when it was across an ocean. Now- now we’ll be in the same country! Like- “Hey, why don’t we meet and it will only be a 5 hour drive!” same country!

Don’t tell Will, but you’re all invited to a gigantic house warming party when we move. I may hand you a paint brush and put you to work, but hey- everything is more fun with friends (and perhaps wine). Plus half of you have either bought a place or redecorated your houses since I’ve known you- so you’re FULL of ideas! This is the best idea ever! Painting Party Weekend 08!

Okay- I guess I better run that by Will before I have 60 ladies from all over the US show up at my door. That goes a little beyond a girl’s weekend. That’s more like college sorority house gone mid twenties with husbands and babies. Yeah- Will would LOVE grown women giggling and acting like high schoolers- all with paint, wine, and sharp tools within reach. Not…

I started looking for houses yesterday. Ladies, it’s a dangerous, dangerous thing to allow a woman to look for houses. I had us living in 3,500 sq. foot homes with heated floors and in ground pools. Yeah, looking was lots of fun, but I seriously need to buckle down and lock into reality- which is far from heated floors! But it’s so darn fun…

To answer some of your questions- Will is hanging around and helping us get ready for the big move. We’ll fly out together (with the doggies) in a couple weeks. From there we’ll begin the house hunt- which I’m officially dreading. I hate the idea of trying to find “the perfect house” in a matter of days, but thus far God has worked everything else out so I expect this situation to be no different. Will has called family that live near where we’ll be, so we have a few ideas of places to start looking. To answer your question about where we’ll be living- we’ll be close enough to drive to OU games each weekend- which is all you really need in life right (ha)?

Oh guys- now all I need is for us to have a Big Huge Decorating Party Weekend! Oh- and a house and a car and some other (very) important things… but you get the point. 

I just wanted to write to say thank you so much for helping me through these 3 years. I’m not sure you’ll ever know how much I appreciate you guys, and to have you share in my joy and be excited for me makes me so happy. I’m glad we can celebrate things with each other.

Continuing to keep you posted… <3

Big Huge Decorating Party Weekend 08- be there or be square.

Oh, and I’ll keep you posted on any houses for sale next door to ours- (so you can run away in fear and tell any prospective buyers to do the same!)!

My sister is beyond an amazing trooper.

I think she’s a super hero in disguise.

In case you’re wondering, P was AMAZING at our “quick stop” outing this past weekend.

In fact, the party ended up focusing on her! Go figure. She was a perfect grown-up- which once again reminded me that my little sister is in fact an adult and no longer the bratty kid constantly banished from my room because of her daily destruction of my meticulously established Barbie Town.

She was a perfect lady- I’m sure due to my mother’s constant warnings of needing to be on her best behavior. Oh, but don’t worry, we had plenty of nonverbal communication going on- and lots of nudging each other from under the table. There were a few times where I really thought if I didn’t walk away I might erupt into hysterical laughter for absolutely “no reason.”

Fun times.

We actually ended up staying until the very end, we were the last to leave. My boss’s (is that right? Boss’s? It wouldn’t be boss’ since I mean it as s singular noun, right? Hmm, I’m an idiot. I have no idea) wife is such a hoot. My sister and I actually had a lot of fun talking to her.

However, the most fun was after we left and were in the car where my sister was able to unload on me all the mental observations she had made throughout the night.

Sigh… I wish I could bring that girl to work with me. She would be a blast…

After the party excitement we were up for a night on the town… not really.

We were going to go to the Chocolate Bar but as soon as we arrived we knew it was going to be a madhouse, and not only that but parking was insane. So- we opted to pick up food at this amazing new place called Health Stop.

Guys- it was so great! It’s a place with all healthy food (hmm, what gave it away?). All the nutrition facts are on the menu and when you get your receipt a total of all the calories you ordered is attached. How cool is that? Well, cool and slightly depressing…

In other news we planned our excursions!!! Guys I’m SO elated about this whole thing!

Except for one small problem-

My sister and I are really stupid.

There was one excursion we really, really wanted to go on but it was pretty pricey. So- we opted to cut back on a few of the others in order to cushion the blow of the price of the other.

Turns out when cutting the others, we accidentally cut the one we wanted as well!

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Sigh.

IF WE CAN’T EVEN BOOK EXCURSIONS RIGHT, HOW IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE BEING THE RESPONSIBLE ADULT IN LIKE 15 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES!?!?!

…

Anyway, I’m hoping getting it fixed will be easy. We haven’t been charged yet so hopefully it will be an easy fix. What an annoyance.

At least it’s done though. Very exciting!

Now comes the waiting part…

Hope you guys are having a good weekend.

Random Thoughts Today.

Hmm, might we classify this as a Series of Short Posts kind of thing only condensed into one big post?

Perhaps.

We don’t want to get too wild though. Maybe we’ll just classify it as “a lot of stupid things on my mind that probably ought to be posted one at a time but because the blogger is lazy (and feeling slightly chubby today) it’s lumped into one big bowl of mush.”

Don’t they call that “The kitchen floor dish” at restaurants? You know- putting everything into one bowl or on one pizza, etc?

Yuck. No kitchen floor for me, please!

Okay, let’s see. Here are some random things I’ve been thinking about today. Subject changes are identified in bold.

The cruise.

I’ve wanted to post about this topic for a while, but I’m such a goody too shoes that I’ve been afraid to. See, growing up my whole life I was told that drinking of any kind was a total sin and you would be judged and might even turn into a shriveled grape! However, as I’ve gotten older my mind has slightly changed. No, I’m no wine-o at all, don’t worry about that. It’s something I ought to pray more on before I make a final decision, but anyway that’s another post for another day.

Crap… I’m getting really sidetracked.

Anyway, I didn’t want to post about it because I know there are lot of my fellow sisters in Christ that probably have their own view on the subject- some of which know me in “real life” and would go back and report to my pastor that I’ve fallen away and that the deacons need to come lay hands and pray over me.

Jacqueline, Lyna, Megan? Yeah- that would be you guys. Do you guys think I’m a heathen now?

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. I didn’t want to post about it all because it’s such a controversial topic. Plus, as an ordained minister’s wife it’s even touchier. I didn’t feel like having to defend my views or having to worry if I were “causing a sister to stumble” so I haven’t posted on it. However, what the hey- let’s truck on. Don’t judge me.

There is this excursion that sounds amazing! It’s at one of our Italy stops. You can cook dinner with a chef from the area and then visit the vineyards, which also includes a complimentary wine tasting. Do you see where I’m going with this? Anyway, I’m trying to see if P will be able to go since she’ll be 18 and legal in Italy. I’ve sent two emails and have heard nothing. I want us to book a few excursions in the coming weeks just to take care of them, but not knowing if she’ll be legal is cumbersome to the process.

Sheesh. You see that paragraph above? Yeah that was the whole point of what I wanted to say. Unfortunately it took me about 2,000 words of tiptoeing to get there. My goodness. I’m a nerd sometimes. I really am.

Anyway, do any of you guys have a cruise experience with someone under 21? Apparently the cruise line is too busy sewing show dresses out of my down payment to answer.

Alright, now that you guys think I’m an alcoholic let’s move on.

Mika.

I have the Big Girl You Are Beautiful song stuck in my head. Which is making me feel even chubbier today. Hmm, perhaps that is why I’m feeling that way. It’s also making me hungry. Explain how THAT makes sense- feeling chubby but hungry at the same time?

We need to find another song to hum this afternoon. Let’s think on that.

Today I got to have lunch with my mom and a lady she works with, so that was nice. This lady is so beautiful. Even in the middle of summer not a hair is out of place and she never sweats (maybe she’s got magical powers! I could have used her yesterday).

Anyway, I brought my lunch from home and I was going to go with them to get something. we went to a coffee place to sit and I was like, “Aren’t you going to get something?” and she was like, “Coffee IS lunch.” Ha ha, then she drank a coffee and smoked a cigarette and was done with it. I guess she’s on the smoking diet because she’s super small. I don’t know why I told you that, but I thought it was funny. She was so matter of fact about how “duh, Brittny! Coffee IS a meal!” silly me. Perhaps that’s what I need to be doing to lose weight. Eating healthy is so not in anymore. ha ha

Ooh! Speaking of eating healthy, you ladies (and gents… if any of you are our there) need to join me and my other beautiful blogging friends! We’re in a Blogging Sparkpeople Group! What a fun idea, right? I did mention that I was feeling lazy (and chubby) today, right? Yeah. About right _________ there is where I would have given you the link. Only, yeah, not today. If you want some information let me know and I’ll send the link.

I figured this cruise to be the perfect motivation to lose those last few pounds I’ve wanted to get rid of.

Fun fact!

I haven’t been in a swimsuit since 2005.

Yes.

You read right.

2005.

Wait!

Retraction.

I did once this past August when Will was home and I stayed with my family. They used to be members at a resort and I wore one for about 45 minutes. It just that public beaches don’t really like women prancing around in swimsuits. There are plenty of private beaches, but Will isn’t a beach person at all, so we never go. It’s not that I hate being in a suit (okay, yeah, it’s probably a little of that too.), it’s just that Will doesn’t we don’t do water.

So, I figured I’d be spending some time in a suit on the cruise. I also figured that since my sister is freaking hot (am I allowed to say that? I used to date a guy that joked about himself saying, “My sister is hot… and I look just like her.” Ha ha. I always thought that was totally vain, and I would never say that because, quite honestly, I don’t think my sister and I look anything alike!”) I ought to at least try to look acceptable when I stand next to her! Ha ha. My pasty whiteness isn’t going to do me any favors either. So, I’m going to really buckle so come this summer I feel more confident in a swimsuit.

Although, aside from about 6 women worldwide, does anyone really get excited about parading around in a bikini? Oh- and living in Kuwait has TOTALLY screwed me up.

That’s the real root of the whole problem.

I mean, I see a woman in shorts and a halter and I seriously think to myself, “Uh- trampy!” ha ha, which in actuality that is totally acceptable clothing in the states. I haven’t worn shorts in public in years either! I’m telling you- this place has made me weird. The thought of wearing a swimsuit makes me feel totally sleazy. Ha ha! I’m telling you Kuwait is jacking me up!

My sister got back from New York yesterday. I think we’re going out for sushi tomorrow to celebrate her birthday. Will (and the rest of my family) was THRILLED with her restaurant choice. Lucky for them, the also offer food off their grill, so my family will not starve. My mom is getting some fancy cake she requested too, so that will be nice. I can’t wait to hear about her trip.

Tomorrow Bozzy Wozzy goes under the knife. Let’s just hope this time its the real deal. I expect him to come out barking in soprano, dang it!

I’m not sure if you guys remember or not, but when I first got here I was really lonely. I desperately wanted a good friend. Well, that never happened! I used to pray for it all the time, but I never got that friend I wanted so badly. For some reason I stopped praying for that over the years, however, as I continue to do my PDL I realize that it would be nice to have a good Christian friend here. Finding that here is certainly something only God could do. I decided to start praying for a friend here. I’ll keep you posted.

What else?…

Wow, has it really happened? I’ve finally run out of things to yammer about today? Apparently so. I really should have kept each topic in my pockets so I would have had a week’s worth of information to post about.... bummer. Oh well, we’ve come this far. Might as well make it some giant post.

Because nothing is greater than being incredibly bored and reading 34 paragraphs about someone else’s boring life too, right? ha ha

If you’ve reached the end, you’re a warrior. Go do something incredibly barbaric and uh, warriorish and visit tomorrow.

<3

P-Dub~

I simply can’t believe you’re 18. I feel so full of adult (albeit parental) feelings right now, and once again I’m reminded that you’re grown up and are about to venture out on your own to begin a whole new part of your life.

The last 18 years of my life have been full of so many fun memories, and so much of that is because of you! I love you so very much and hope you’re having a great time in NYC. I can’t wait to hear all about it.

As you can imagine, this is one of those posts where I could drone on and on, but I figure I ought to save that emotional crap for when you leave for school. Probably a good idea, right?

So here’s a short list I compiled about all the FUN and EXCITING things you can do now that you’re the big 1-8:

*Drink in virtually every country other than Kuwait and America.

*Rent rooms from sketchy back alley motels. 

*Be tried as an adult- and then get sent to seriously terrifying maximum security women’s prisons where you have to bunk with a 7 foot tall hairy-legged woman with Russian ancestors. Oh- and you’d have to wear those scary orange jumpsuits too- except for every 6th Tuesday- that’s Pajama Day.

*Run for public office. You could totally instate Cute Belt Day!

*Vote. For yourself. Do I smell a write-in?

*Get into posh clubs- where you can handout pamphlets about your campaign.

I’m sure there’s more… but it’s been a few years since I was 18 (ha ha, I sound so old!)

I love you bunches. I hope today is full of happy surprises- and a little bit of warm weather! Come home soon- I want sushi!

Just a few pictures over the last year:

(last year’s b-day)

Oh and PS- you look totally gorgeous in this last picture. 

Love,

Britter

Today has been a long day.

Isn’t it funny how you can moan

and cry

and pray

and hope for a slow day full of absolutely nothing but solitaire and blog reading, but when two days hit like that in a row you’re moaning,

and crying,

and praying,

and hoping for the day to get busy so it goes faster?

I don’t think I’m at that point just yet. I’ve needed a few slow days, but I must admit- I’m not nearly as good at being bored as I once was. I used to be able to fill an entire day with fun things to occupy my time, but now- now that the day has finally arrived and it’s actually here- I’m blowing it, guys. Big time.

In fact, I’m sucking at this slow day stuff so much that I’ve resorted to going through my ancient posts from the old blog and am assigning them categories in addition to “the old blog” category that two whole years of my posts have been filed under.

Yep, I’m pretty much a loser at this slow day thing. I must say, though, it’s been slightly entertaining to look waaay back (ha ha, yes- waaay back) to 2005 and see what I was doing.

Newly married, enjoying OU games, watching my mom and sister join my dad Kuwait- and then following them!

Then there was Scotty, our vacations, and who could forget the Emperor? I’ve chronicled quite a bit of my adult life on this thing, it’s been fun looking back.

But- it hasn’t been that fun. I’m pretty sure this category thing is one project I’ll never get around to completing.

Guuys- I feel like I need to be running amok! You know- like the little kid that is getting to stay home alone for the very first time! I should be jumping on the bed, eating nothing but junk, and watching crappy TV.

I think this whole blogger’s block thing isn’t helping me either.

What?

You say you didn’t notice my blogger’s block?

Oh- how kind of you, but trust me- it’s there.

Isn’t it funny how committed we can be to such a thing as a blog?

I mean, it’s almost as if we truly expect each other to update on a daily basis. It’s become such an engrained part of our day- like eating, or putting on deodorant (which is totally a daily thing for everyone- including me- except for the few times a month I seem to forget. What a weirdo…). I reflect on these ideas a lot when I go back and look through old posts. It’s as if this is another “job” that we don’t get paid for. I don’t say that in a bad way, but it’s pretty amazing how we show up for duty about 5 times a week to write about God knows what to God knows who “just because.”

God knows who-

That’s another thing.

When I was looking back to 2005 I was thinking about how crazy it is that I’ve known some of you guys for 3 years!

Granted, that’s not an eternity, but-and this sounds incredibly loserish- some of you guys are now closer to me than real life friends I had back home. Moving over here definitely didn’t do wonders for life in the friendship department, so I truly did find my support group of friends through the nest, and it’s so neat to see how much we’ve all been through together.

I’ve seen the majority of you get pregnant,

have babies,

some get pregnant again (!),

some have moved… and the list goes on and on-

and through it all we are (amazingly enough!) in constant contact. Granted, it’s not exactly the same as a telephone call each day, but in a way, it’s just as good!

Oooh! Speaking of friends- I had a Bestest Friend Ever sighting a couple weekends ago! Guys- our best friends were cheating on us! Yes- you heard me- cheating! I was sad, I was angry, I was devastated. How could they?

As P and I were driving around the parking lot the night we went out for sushi, I spotted them get into a cab with their dates- another cute couple. I was half tempted to lay on the horn and be all, ‘Heyyyyy! You’re OUR friends! I know we haven’t technically met yet, but I have big plans for you guys!” Thankfully, for all involved, I refrained.

Why do we keep missing each other? I’ve thought about how God is just going to have to take control, dang it, because once we move we won’t be in the same area of town and chances are we’ll never see this couple. So- I just have to trust that if we’re to meet, we shall meet.

(and I really hope we do!)

Okay, guys, so this post took me a few hours to complete because I totally jinxed myself. I started writing about how slow things were and guess what? Things remarkably picked up this afternoon. Bummer. Just when I thought I could get good at being bored.

Things always seem to happen that way, though.

I was really getting ready to let loose and write what might have been the most entertaining post of the year.

I guess we’ll never get to see it. What a shame.

The world will never know…

<3

Happy birthday to my beloved Jenny! You can send her birthday wishes here!