Where did you go? My lovely...

It is that stage of the Virginia summer where most days are just h-o-t and humid.  So I have been hiding out in my internet free love trailer most days.  I just don't do hot weather very well.  Or cold weather.  I'm a fair weather kinda gal.  

Life has been hectic.  Wedding planning is in FULL swing.  I am trying, desperately, to enjoy it.  But there have been moments where I just want to say...."can we go to the courthouse?".  But I don't dare let those words come out of my mouth because Andrew would take me up on that in a heartbeat.  It will all be worth it.  And it will all fall into place as it should.  I've had some practice planning big events so this isn't my first rodeo--but nevertheless it is my rodeo this time.

What else is going on in my life?  Andrew woke me up this morning on top of a horse.  Let's back that up.  Andrew was riding this morning while I was still snoozing away and he came down to wake me up.  I had my prince on top of a horse waving through the window.  For real?  Did that happen?  Why yes it did.  *sigh*

We are about to venture off to our separate vacations this year.  It's where we both re-energize and get our juices flowing again.  Andrew will spend a week hiking on the Appalachian trail and I will spend a week down in Asheville NC at the Swannanoa Gathering---aka heaven for any musician.  We will come back shiny and new with all sorts of good energy to give to each other.  It was the best thing for us last year and I think with all this wedding mumbo jumbo it is highly needed this year!  I have heard from lots of married folks that having time for yourself as individuals is one key to a successful marriage.  AGREED!

  So I might not be back here for a bit.  But please don't leave me.  I have attachment issues.

Happy Summer! :) 

devil horns

I guess I fell a little short on producing a fourth of July post.  Or following back up on painting my kitchen & living room.  And I definitly fell short of my Ultimate Life Challenge  (Jillian got one week of my life.....I'm not giving up, just taking a break).  

So I'll post this picture of myself. (I look very serious in it though....I was trying not to cheeseball smile)    

I looked in the rear view mirror this morning on my way to work.  Little whispies of hair caught my attention and I smiled.  I remember being a little girl and always having a million fly aways or "Devil Horns" as my family so nicely put it.  If you could see the other side of my head you would see an identical devil horn poking out the other side.  As a kid I didn't pay any attention to it.  It was just me.  Just my hair.  Just crooked teeth, big freckles, and devil horns.  

Then came adolescence and the devil horns became a life or death situation.  I was a cheerleader so I had to wear my hair in a pony tail a lot.  I would dry and blow them out (this was before God gave the gift of the straightening iron to the masses) and then spray hair spray on the little boogers.  If there was a drop of moisture in the air you better believe that the devil horns popped right back up.  

Life was tramatic and there were days that my hair RUINED my life.  Oh the drama.  

So this morning when I saw my little horns going out of control I had to laugh.  I still feel the same as that little girl and to a degree that dramatic teenager.  I part of me wanted to take my hair down and freak out about my devil horns but another part of me said, ah, let 'em be.  They are me.  Always will be.  It feels good to get to the age where you go back in time and just accept what you have.  Even if what I have and will always have are devil horns. 

    hope you have a happy weekend.  :) 

waltzing with you...

I have a post in the works about the weekend but I can't stop listening to this song and weeping at my desk.  Wouldn't it be perfect for a first dance? 

I found this singer while doing my usual stalking of the Dutch and Dutchess.  She performed for them in Canada. 

*more to come!  

OH, I'm giving twitter another whirl.  Follow me and count how many times I mention my cat!  @Val_McQueen

my country tis of thee

Have a safe & happy 4th!  I love this time of year!

shut up Jillian

That's what I have been screaming at my television each morning.  Listen to this craziness.  I had a dip in life motivation for about two weeks so then I decided to have a total life makeover (I've had many of these my dears) and made this my ULTIMATE LIFE CHALLENGE

Really all that means it that I am waking up at 6 a.m. each morning and doing Jillian Michaels new 30 day Shred DVD.  It is ridiculous.  Ridic.  I can't walk.  I waddle.  My whole body hurts.  Each morning I dream of sleeping in and spooning Olivia.  But it's off to Jillian I go.  (that bitch)

My breakdown came after I found a pile of Snickers Ice Cream Bar wrappers in my car, home, and purse.  And I'm not talking about those teeny tiny ones that come in a box from the grocery store.  I'm talkin' about the KING SIZE monsters from the gas station.  I can eat those suckers like there is no tomorrow.  I had no motivation to get off of the couch watching OWN & contemplated joining a gym but didn't want to pay the $$ and then about 4 girls told me how effective this DVD is.  

So I bought some self tanner and the 30 day shred at Wal-Mart.  Let the challenge begin.  Why self tanner?  Not sure....I just wanted to be all fake tan when I got shredded.   

The workout is only 24 minutes but I swear to the good Lord that it feels like an hour.  I'm really excited to feel motivated again and hopefully this will get me into pre-wedding day shape.  And then I will dive my face into piles of Snickers Ice Cream bars for my entire honeymoon and live blissfully happy every after. 

Watch me. 

lunch date

what a lucky day. 

Andrew worked on a friend's field today that is close by my work.  Being the good American that I am, I scooped up food from both McDonalds and Wendy's and we found some shade under a big birch tree.  I tried out the new almond fruit chicken salad thing from Wendy's and it was pretty decent for a fast food salad.  It didn't look nearly as good as that stud next to me eating a quarter pounder with cheese and french fries.  

Then we (that means I) played a movie quoting game and Andrew couldn't guess the EASIEST movie quote ever.  

"if you're a bird, i'm a bird"

I've said that to him about a million times and made him recreate the scene if we are ever near ocean water.  He claims that he blacks out usually when I start to make him recreate movie scenes.  

then we had a sad goodbye and andrew jumped back on his tractor and I jumped back into my non air conditioned car and made the drive to work, sweaty back and all.

stay cool people. 

bears and mountains

I am back from the best staycation EVER.  I didn't have anything planned except for a loverly hike in the blue ridge mountains.    

 

We hiked to the top of Hawksbill Mountain, which happens to be the highest peak in the Shenandoah National Park.   It was a short but steep hike.  I kept up with my hike with Endomondo, a new little phone gadget that a friend recommended.  It records how many miles you have hiked.  It also tracks a host of workouts.  I'm getting so tech savy. :)  

OH, and just a little fashion tip for you guys:  Wearing crew hiking socks really highlights the stump look.  You know, where your legs & ankles look like they have no definition--just stumps.  hotness.  

This was my bug spray dance.  It was more exciting in person. 

Since this is my blog and you weren't on the hike with us (or were you???hrmmmmm) I can make up a story and tell you that I took this picture after a really tough hill and that's why I look so worn out.  But in reality I think this is just me sans makeup in the morning trying to force Andrew to take a picture with me.   

pretty pretty.  

So this isn't a picture I took.  Surprise.  BUT we did see a big black bear.  I was in front of Andrew going down a trail and I looked up and BOOM....black bear.  Right in front of me.  I swear it was 10 ft. away and very large.  Andrew's side of the story is that it was 50 ft. away and a teenager bear.  Whatev.  Believe who you want, this bear sighting was a little too close for comfort.  I wanted to take a picture but I was freaking out a little and just held my phone close to my chest waiting to have to use it as a weapon.  We hooted and hollar'd and the big guy ran away.  

Nevertheless I was super excited to see my first bear of the year!  It's good luck they say!  

Happy trails!