Snow days

Since Willie's family has lived in Wisconsin, they've had two days where the snow and roads were so bad that school was canceled. Today is the third. For weeks, Willie's been saying he wanted to see more snow (despite the fairly constant two or three inches on the ground). Well, apparently he got it. It's been an educational experience, and thus called for a little exert I'd like to call, "Things I learned from Wisconsin winters."

1. Dogs will eat your face in order to get your snowballs.
2. If you don't wash your car for a year, and then it snows, your car will magically be clean when you scrape that snow off.
3. Willie fails at running in snow.
4. So long as you're wearing three layers of jacket, you can go outside in your pajama pants and be okay.
5. Snow is like sand. If it's too dry, it's not good for building anything.
6. If you park on the side of the road, you're stuck there until the snow melts.
7. Salt saves lives.
8. Just because the local government tells you not to park your cars on the streets because the roads are in bad condition... doesn't mean they're actually going to DO anything about the condition of the roads.
9. Ice can rip a hole in those twenty dollar down filled gloves you loved so much.
10. "Heated side mirrors" are not useless.
11. When your car door freezes shut... you're pretty much fucked.


Truth in its purest form. Alright, enough procrastinating. Back to Graduate school applications.

Hibernation

Willie and I started this blog as a memory tool. Within the first year of our relationship, we did so many things that when we looked back we could hardly remember it all. The idea was to keep pictures and notes so we could share with friends all the spectacular things there were to see in the world. Under this premise, the blog started off strong. We were both very excited about it, and Willie took his camera everywhere as his own personal journalism project of sorts...

But things changed. Life got slow at first and then hard. Do you ever have that feeling that while you're pushing so hard to get somewhere, every road block in the world seems to jump into your way? Well, the past six months have been a little like that... We both had huge plans for how we wanted to spend this time, and most of them have fallen through. I think the only thing that really went as planned were applications for school next year. Willie and I have 12 schools we're applying too-- all of which have been thoroughly researched as good places for me to get my MFA while he finishes off his undergraduate degree.

That is good. We needed to do that, and that's what's keeping the wind in my sails right now.

So yes... the blog. I was pretty disappointed for a while with how we both seemed to sort of drizzle out on it. Then I began to realize that we hadn't documented the past six months... because we didn't really have anything to document. I feel like this time has been a sort of hibernation period-- dead air in the story of our lives. These months barely resemble the life we use to lead, and I feel like we (or at least I) barely resemble the person I use to be.

It's a problem, but it's been recognized. Now it's being dealt with. I'm writing more-- a lot more-- and he's scripting again. We've started reading to each other at night, watching "classics" and discussing things. We speak on politics and theories and aspirations. We listen to a lot of NPR. He's helping me to find my passion again. I'm not just drizzling out into a puddle of sludge. I'm getting excited and passionate about the things that drove me here, about the beliefs that make me who I am and what inspired him to love me in the first place. It's a slow process, like rehabilitation from an accident or an addiction. It's happening, though, and by January everything will fall into place once more.

I know this. I believe it. I haven't felt this inspired in... well... months. Something good is coming, and my wings are spread for this second wind.

It's been a while...

Well, I believe it's been over a month since either Willie or I updated. At first, things got very busy... and then they sort of slumped. I think we both hit a point of depression for a while there. Things aren't going as smoothly as we'd hoped post-move. Neither of us have jobs just yet, which makes it difficult to make future plans...

But anyway! None of that for now. First, it's catch up time! I graduated! Yaaaaay! To be honest, it was kind of long and boring. I'm still not sure I completely believe it. I suppose that's because I have so much left to go where my education's concerned. When I graduate with my Master's, maybe that will feel real... But real or not, it did occur, so pictures (or it didn't happen):

So! For my graduation we flew down to Alabama. We stayed for... five days? The visit started of a little rough, but it was fun over all. I cried when I left-- as usual. So here's a picture of home to start us off. Pounce in all of her princess glory. I really like this photograph in general. Good job Willie:


While we were in Alabama, we went out to eat with Thanh, Morgan, and Morgan's new girlfriend Sarah Kelly. That was a lot of fun. I remember laughing a lot, but honestly I don't remember many of the details anymore. It feels like forever ago...


Willie has this way of getting the most awkward pictures of me. What, was I sneezing or something?


Willie also got to go down and see Heath while we were there. I know he really enjoyed that. He misses Heath a LOT. They went out to eat at some sketchy place, played Age of Empires, and Heath left me a present... he turned the car on my GPS into a monster truck. Sadly, Heath, though I was amused... your gift led to inspiration rather than perminance. I've replaced the truck with a pirate ship now, though I appreciate the heads up on how to do so!


Oh yes! And of course, there was the whole graduation aspect of the trip too. I had a mini panic on what to wear, how to iron my robe, fix my hair and all of that jazz. As usual, my family came to the rescue. My mom ironed my clothes and my sister did my hair. I was exhausted... I feel bad for getting so emotional over it now. I just wanted everything to be perfect, you know? At any rate, here's the end result, men on the way to my graduation. What am I doing, you ask? Sewing my own honors cords... One of my societies ran out, and the other I hadn't intended to wear in the first place, but, well... it sort of worked out that way.


The wait for graduation to being was loooooooong. It felt like I stood down there for HOURS, and I'm actually pretty sure I did. Hadley hated it. She said she's not going to her college graduation. We'll see about that. At any rate, Willie took a picture of my name in his booklet. He's so cute:


The procession, all seven BILLION of us sitting down, waiting to receive our diplomas. Since it was the summer, it was shorter, but it still took forever. Arts and Sciences went last, of course. The funniest part was when we went up to "receive our diploma," we got a certificate of participation inside the case. It was rather cynical... "if you pass the requirements then you may receive your diploma." I got a laugh out of it... and it made me kind of nervous:


After the ceremoney, me hugging my mom. She cried. She and my dad both gave me money to help out with the move and everything. My dad had put it inside a regulator box, which was funny since I believed him at first... and because I really don't like diving anymore, hehehe. It was a LOT of money, so I felt guilty, but was appreciative. I really needed it at the time.


And of course, after it was all said and done, we had to take pictures. Here's two of the many that were taken on our back deck. I find it funny, because I could still remember taking my high school graduation pictures there just three years earlier. Wow, has it really only been that long? I love my family... and I miss them a ton.

Come on, let's twist again...

Willie said he was going to make this post, but he's asleep... I'm bored... so I'll throw out one more entry as we work on getting up-to-date.

On Tuesday, August the 5th, (the night before he and I left for my graduation), everyone gathered at Willie's Aunt Sue's house to celebrate Jai's birthday. The entire day was pretty busy and exciting. Jai decided she wanted a robo-panda cake, so Darla spent most of the day working on that. Willie and I helped where we could, though honestly I don't entirely remember what all we did... I think we cooked? Anyway, we took great care to get the robo-panda cup-cake tower safely to Aunt Sue's.


Unfortunately, robo-panda bit the dust soon there after. Darla managed to salvage him, though, for Jai's shineing moment:


Let's see... what else? Oh! Tyrel, Wyatt, Jacob, Michelle, and Desiree were there. Tyrel and Jacob did something special to celebrate Jai's birthday....


They caught her a frog. >.< Oh yeah, but they did this too:


Very cute. So after cake, the fun began.

Darla serveing Ice Cream and Wyatt eyeing the goods.


Jai and her friends nommin' on robo-panda.

Willie and his dad taking pictures of each other. Such goobers...

Grandpa being an iphone addict.

Oh yes, and twister... We all ended up playing twister, which was actually rather fun. Willie and I just watched at first, but as the girls continued to play nice and no one was losing, we got involved. I tackled down Cody, Jai, and Willie. My muscles paid for it the next day, though...


After twister, we went outside to enjoy the cool weather and watch the fire. A relaxing evening quickly broke out into...

A marshmallow fight once the bags were brought out. Everyone ran themselves sticky and exhausted for about half an hour before we all retired inside to play Apples to Apples.

After Jai's party, we cleaned up and headed home. Willie and I packed, got about two hours of sleep, then headed off for the Chicago airport. Oh wait... that's suppose to be my post too, isn't it? Well, I guess Willie gets to nap a little while longer, then. ^^

A turtle, a dragon, a grail, and a newt.

Alright! Willie and I have been running our butts off these past two weeks, so now we're playing catch-up. Two weeks ago, on August 3rd, Shelby, Cody, Willie, and I attended Desiree's birthday party. The party was suppose to be at Palmer park at twelve, but Desiree and her family didn't arrive until around one. Luckily, the park kept us occupied for the first forty-five minutes are so. Seriously, in all of my life I've -never- seen such a cool kid's park. Willie took plenty of pictures (of course):

Camden Playground of Palmer Park

Mr. Dragon says...


"Human hair. From my back."

The entire place kept a castle theme.

Well....

Okay... most of it kept a castle theme.

Shelby on the slide that breaks butt bones of anyone over ten.

Sherwood Forest. Population: Two giants.

The Elizabethan Stage. This was my personal favorite.


The wading pool portion. The air was cold, but I heard the water was oddly warm.
(not that I'm suggesting anything...)

And then, the Birthday Princess and her Royal Court arrived. She, of course, was adorned in her evening best:

Desiree in her Cinderella dress.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for her rowdy servants:

Wyatt and Tyrel tackling Jacob.

Oh yes... and the squirrel. I can't tell you HOW long Willie spent getting a picture of this damn squirrel. The poor thing lives under the trash can and eats everyone's food. It was kind of hilarious.

So! In conclusion, Palmer Park was a lot of fun. I just wish I could borrow their stage for a production of some sort. ;)

Busy busy!

Okay, I know I'm late, I know! I have a lot of posts to make and I've been falling behind. BUT, here is something interesting to look at while you wait!

Name in Lights

Okay! So, update! Since Willie and I went job hunting, a lot and absolutely nothing has happened. I'll start with "a lot" first.

WILLIE GOT INTO COLLEGE!!! YAAAAAAAY! Not that that was ever really an issue... but because he applied late, we were worried he wasn't going to be able to take classes this fall. -That- issue has been resolved, however. He is now a proud student at Carroll university and goes in for his advising next Tuesday. Here's lookin' at you, kid. ;)


In other news, Willie has also become an entrepreneur in the sign language world. He has combined the signs for "thank you," "ass hole" and "poop" to engineer the sentence, "Thanks a lot, ass hole... my ass just fell off."

------------------------------------------>
"Thank you, ass hole..."

"My ass just fell off."

Okay, -I- thought it was funny, but maybe you had to be there....

So anyway, not a whole lot more going on than that. Tidus keeps posing for his LoL cat pictures. Wants to see his name in lights, it seems:



*Le sigh* Such is my lot in life... living with two men who are absolutely -adorable- and know it:

I suppose there could be worse things. ^^ More to come later when... you know... something actually happens.

Memoirs of a Muse

Willie wrote that he didn't know where to start, so he'd just begin where he was. I, however, suffer the unfortunate belief that ever story needs a beginning. So here we go: The Complete Lives of Andrew and Kelsey-- abridged.

I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Not exactly the most exciting place in the world, but I certainly could have done worse. Willie, on the other hand, grew up in the heart of Miami. Now tell me that isn't a contrast.

About... two years ago now, we met under pretty interesting circumstances: as would define the theme for the rest of our developing relationship. A few months there after, we grew from acquaintances to good friends. He became my therapist and I became his confidant.

Looking back, I find it funny that we had so much we could relate on. Here he was, "upstanding citizen," 21 in body but 35 in heart. He was majoring in computer programming so he could settle down and support a family with his girlfriend-- what any good boy should do, right?

I, on the other hand, was a bit less inclined to follow traditional roads. I was an English major with a writer's heart. After several disastrous relationships, I'd sworn off men for the time being. I believed in finding myself and forging my own way before worrying about making a family.

These varied views led to long, long conversations of the worst kind. Conversations where feelings are kindled, views are changed, and old baggage is finally laid to rest. Friendship quickly developed into something more... which put a rather awkward hole in Willie's plans.

What do you do when you've spent years trying to say, "This isn't what I want" and no one will listen? What about when someone comes along who finally does? How do you handle a situation where you feel like you have no choice because everyone expects it of you?

I'm not sure. Our way didn't go so well. But I will tell you it often involves a lot of hiding, running, yelling, and tears. In the end, you simply have to man up and take the blows, it seems. There's no easy way out, and it certainly gets harder before it gets better.

That was a little over a year ago, and so much has happened since then. When we look back, we can hardly believe who we were and where we've come from. I look at the goober of a boy next to me and laugh, wondering if he could ever really be that reserved, restrained pup I once met.

Somewhere between the Ceilis, and sushi, and haircuts, and moves, and laughs, and fights, and beaches, and snow... we both discovered what had been tugging us together all along. Something bigger than ourselves and greater than we'd ever imagined.

So here we are now. One year, one month, and eight days later: a young, engaged couple living in Wisconsin. Later this week, we fly back to Alabama for my college graduation. In August, he restarts college to pursue what he truly loves-- philosophy.

Where we go from here, we can't really know. Once upon a time we both had plans and truly believed in them. Now we realize in the greater scheme of things, plans are rather trivial. We have theories but, well, we'll see how those pan out...

So there you have it. The "story"-- in 100 words or less. I couldn't recount the full version to you even if I wanted to. That's where this blog comes in. It would simply be "a negligence of aesthetics" to let all our memories go to waste.

"I see you as a very intelligent, beautiful person... and to not be attracted to that would be a negligence of aesthetics." - Kelsey, 5/15/07

Just so I remember later...

Words from the Kelsey, this morning:

"Life is hard, life with you is harder, life without you is hardest."

I don't think I could have said it better myself.

Edit: I promise that sappy posts won't be the norm, folks, I promise!

The Saga Begins!

Rather than account for all the things I've ever done in the first post, I've decided that this is going to be the beginning of my account.

Yesterday, Kelsey and I headed down to Janesville and gathered upwards of 20 applications each and did a bit of exploring around Downtown Janesville. First we stopped at Noodles & Company for a much earned Pesto Cavatappi!

Mmmmm... Kelsey stuffing her face with nomnoms

You talkin' to me?

So after that, we went on to Downtown to take a few pictures of the absolutely beautiful church that looms over it all.

Is that a yin-yang symbol in the stained glass there?

Then we visited the Courthouse and the neat Greek Theater in front of it, which would be perfect for a ceili, Kelsey noted.

And we topped off the adventure by visiting the AMAZING Carousel Consignment shop. Best thrift store EVER, I promise. Two floors of musical instruments, glassware, butter churns and sooooo much more that I could waste my nonexistent money on.

So, once we got home we settled in, made a neat Curry-style Vegetable Stir Fry (don't ask me what the recipe is, it involves a mixture of spices and vegetables that happen to smell good and were all dumped into a large pot and stirred). Aaaand following dinner, we slept for a bit and headed out on the loooong drive to Chicago O'hare to drop off Dad and Darla. How's that for a first post?