Month of January, 2008

Weekend Update

Chris and I had another lovely weekend. I'm so glad he's in my life and that we're living together. I consider myself very, very lucky to have a great partner.

Movie Night
Friday night Jennifer came over for dinner and a movie. Chris cooked thin crust pizza. He's trying to perfect a wheat thin crust. (And he's getting very close!) For dessert, I made homemade whipped cream to go with strawberries topped with chocolate shavings.

We watched Devil's Playground, which is a documentary about Amish teenagers living "in the world" before joining the church for the rest of their lives. Pretty interesting movie and I learned a bit more about the Amish.

Date Night
After a busy Saturday running errands, Chris and I went on a date. First we went to a local wine bar, Copa Habana, for a tasting. We tried Chilean wines and brought a couple bottles home. Then we shared a steak at The Keg. I loved walking in the door at 8:30pm and getting seated within 5 minutes. We need to eat later more often!

When we got home from dinner, I picked up the book I checked out of the library earlier in the day. It was Escape by Carolyn Jessop. Carolyn escaped from the FLDS cult (Fundamentalist Church of the Later Day Saints). The book was about her life in the FLDS community, her marriage to an abusive & controlling man, her eight children, and her escape. The FLDS have gotten a lot of press lately because their leader, Warren Jeffs, has been convicted of assisting rape for arranging a marriage for an underage girl.

This book was so completely riveting that I couldn't put it down. In fact, I stayed up all night reading it and finished at 7am. I have never heard of anything like the FLDS. I had no idea that these things were happening in American and in my state! I had no idea that Carolyn Jessop had a significant role in getting the FLDS attention by the government and showing other women that they can get out and get help. I'd highly recommend the book.

Lazy Sunday
After staying up all night reading, it was a slow and lazy Sunday. Plus it rained all day. (In the desert?! Unheard of!) So Chris and I took it easy. We watched movies. We played on the net. We read. Besides Chris feeling guilty for not being productive, it was great!

Quote of the Day

"It's awkward being friends with a terrorist these days."

Email Inbox

I just realized that I have email in my inbox from 2005. That means that for almost three years, I've been meaning to reply to people but still haven't done it. I suck.

Barrett-Jackson

The Barrett-Jackson is a car auction that focuses on classic cars. Every year it's held in Scottsdale. Ever since I moved to Phoenix, I've had the pleasure of making it out to the show. This year, I got to attend the show because Chris's company had a booth.

This is a picture of Chris and his boss, Chris, at their booth.

The most popular item they had in the booth was this touch panel coffee table. It's a control system for audio/video built on top of the Apple operating system.

Chris and I got to have lunch together then I headed off on my own to look at cars and watch the auction.

This year my perspective on the Barrett-Jackson was certainly different than it was in years past. Before, I was only concerned about the show for the few short hours I was attending. This year, I was obsessed with how many hours the show was keeping Chris away from me. The show started on Sunday, January 13th and ran through Sunday, January 20th. During that time, Chris spent at least 12 hours at the show. Some days closer to 15 hours.

Having Chris come home late at night, often after I had gone to bed, was much harder than I expected. I was very lonely the first couple days then I became angry. It surprised me that I would react in that way, but I was angry that he wasn't around and emotionally disconnected from him. It made me to want to push him away. When we finally got to have some time together (on Friday night when I actually went to the show), I was so angry and frustrated that I didn't want to go. Luckily, I knew that this emotional reaction wasn't healthy and that as soon as I could spend some quality time with Chris, all would be right with the relationship again. And it was. I just needed some time to warm up to him again. (Sounds silly, I know.) We had a great time Friday night at the show and then at the bar afterward.

This year the Barrett-Jackson taught me how hard it is to maintain a relationship when two people aren't spending time together. Text messaging and talking on the phone can't take place of sitting down and having dinner together every night. I'm lucky that Chris and I both have jobs that allow us to be home every night. I'm convinced that in order to maintain a healthy relationship, we should only work jobs that keep us apart minimally. That means I can't go back to the type of job I had before Integrum, where I was traveling a couple times a month. That means Chris and I can never have a long distance relationship again, like we did for the first two years we were together.

Coming to these conclusions about our relationship and how to keep it healthy was good for me. A totally unexpected lesson to learn from a car auction, but a good lesson all the same. I'm so lucky to have a healthy relationship right now. I'm 100% committed to keeping the relationship healthy over time. Chris and I are very lucky to have bosses and companies that value families and relationships. In fact, I was very, very impressed that Chris's boss admitted to struggling with all the time away from his family just as much as we were.

It was a tough week, but it's over. Sunday night when Chris came home (before dinner, even!) we went on a date and just hung out together. It was brilliant. I took a picture of Chris to commemorate the moment. Looking at it now, he sure looked tired. Poor thing. I'm sure glad that the Barrett-Jackson is over until next year.

Stewie the Dog

This is Stewie the dog and Braydon, my nephew. I think the look on Stewie's face is priceless! He is so, so cute.

I'm so in love with Stewie, in fact, that he's coming to live with Chris and I! In only a few weeks, Stewie will be joining the family. The number of dogs will outnumber the humans. Should make for a crazy but happy house!

Weekends Fly

Because Chris had to work on Sunday, it felt like a short weekend. His company has a booth at the Barrett Jackson car auction and he was there all day Sunday. I took the opportunity to sleep late and lay around the house in my pajama's. I talked to the family on the phone and had a leisurely lunch at home. Later in the day, I did some fabric shopping and got some great deals at a Joann's that is closing. Now I have entirely too many projects to work on! I might have to put a cloth-buying ban on myself until I get a few more things sewn.

Friday night we went out to happy hour with friends. There was a nice group that joined us at Casey Moore's in Tempe - Jennifer, April, Keesha, David, Matt, Aeree, and Matt. It's funny how easily happy hour turns into dinner and then directly to bed. I guess that means I'm old. The way it used to be, happy hour was just getting the engine started. Then it was off to the races and staying out until the bars closed. Now I want to be in bed before midnight.

Saturday we cleaned up the house and played some video games. I did some sewing and it was suddenly dinner time. Oh how fast time goes when you're deeply engaged in something you enjoy. We had tuna steaks & a light rice dish for dinner followed by a movie, Pan's Labyrinth.

Help a Graduate Student Earn Her Degree!

My friend is collecting data for her dissertation about drug advertising. She's looking for people to interview. Do you meet the criteria? Do you want to be talk with her for an hour? It can be done over the phone It would be a big help!

You only have to meet ONE of these criteria:

Do you read any of these magazines?

• Time
• News Week
• Reader's Digest
• People
• GQ
• Esquire
• Men's Health
• Cosmopolitan
• Red Book
• Ladies Home Journal

Do you currently use a prescription antidepressant medication?
(such as Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Effexor, etc.)

Have you used an antidepressant medication in the past?

If any or all of the above describe you and you'd like to participate in this study send an email: dtca.research@gmail.com

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Dr. Alan Siegel is the Best Dentist in Phoenix

I have the best dentist in Phoenix! He was recommended to me by a friend when I first moved here. For the past couple years, I've had routine cleanings and his staff has been wonderful. At my last cleaning, Dr. Siegel found some decay that needed to be removed. He recommended a laser treatment rather than the traditional drill.

When the quote came back from the insurance company, I learned that the laser was not covered. So I requested the drill. During my appointment, Dr. Siegel determined that the laser was the better tool to use and he used it. He chose not to charge me for it. THAT is impressive! Dr. Siegel clearly cares about his patients and offering great care.

I'd completely recommend Dr. Siegel!

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Sarah Hepola - Crying in Restaurants

I've enjoyed Sarah Hepola's articles for quite some time, but her latest piece in her series called "Crying in Restaurants" was the best. It's about a tragedy she experienced and how she fell in love through it. A wonderful story and wonderfully written.

Crying in Restaurants, Part 6

Refresh Phoenix

Tonight's meeting for Refresh Phoenix was great. Joshua Strebel led a great conversation about startups. I was very impressed with all the interaction from the group. And I counted 50 people in attendance! It was a great night. I love this group.

2008 Arizona Indian Festival

Looking for something to do on the weekend in Phoenix? I just ran across this and thought I'd share since it sounds interesting.

The 2008 Arizona Indian Festival
January 18-20, 2008
Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix, Arizona (map)

Cost: $8 adults, $5 senior/students

Events:

• Walk through authentic Traditional Villages
• Speak and interact with Tribal Elders
• Hear story-telling of ancient legends
• Observe colorful social dances
• Taste authentic Native American foods
• Native American Artisans of all genres
• Interact, learn and understand business innovation in Indian Country
• Hear and dance to traditional and contemporary Native American musicians

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Sewing by Erica

I mentioned before Christmas that I was doing a bit of sewing. Chris and I decided to make all our presents this year so we were plenty busy before the holiday. Naturally, I didn't want to ruin the surprise so I've kept it to myself. But now that everyone has received their gifts, I want to show what I made!

QUILTS!
I've loved quilts ever since college. Even though I was an art student, I never had the opportunity to make one. So my first quilt was very exciting! I found a book at the library with simple baby quilts that you could make in a couple hours. Naturally, it took me quite a bit longer than a couple hours, but every moment was enjoyable.

Braydon's Quilt

I made my nephew's quilt out of cloth I bought in Guatemala in 2000. Gosh, it's amazing I had it that long. I used a black backing and trim to make it more masculine. I was quite happy with how it turned out. One of the things I learned about myself is that I'm simply not a perfectionist. I'm content with the little imperfections and feel that these things make it more obviously handmade.

Emily and Audrey's Quilt

For Chris's nieces, I made the same quilt. I had a blast picking out the fabric for these! The fabric is fleece and deliciously soft. I first found the fabric with the jellybean pattern on it and found all the others to match. I must have spent hours in the store looking for the right complimentary fabrics, but it was worth the work. I think these turned out so cute.

Abby's Purse

For Chris's oldest niece, I made a little purse. There's a pocket on the front, a pocket inside, and it has a zipper closure. I really enjoyed getting to decorate this one with the flower on front and the ribbons on the sides.

Violet's Quilt
I also made a quilt for Summer and Greg's daughter who was born on December 1st. Unfortunately, I never took a picture of it!

Comments

Christmas 2007

Chris and I drove from Phoenix, Arizona to Dallas, Texas for Christmas. We left the house at 6am Saturday morning and arrived at Chris's parents' house at 12:30am Saturday night. Approximately 17 hours. Driving was preferable to the cost of two plane tickets, especially since we didn't buy early, and we got to take the dogs with us.

While in Texas, we stayed at Chris's parents' house but split our time pretty equally with the families. It made for a busy vacation and we were definitely worn out by the time we got back home. Getting to spend so much time with my nephew, Braydon, was a highlight of Christmas for me. I hadn't seen him since May when he was 3 months old. Now he's 10 months and walking around like a champ! He's even talking a little bit. Both my mother and I heard him say "Done" crystal clear when I asked him if he wanted any more bottle or if he was done. Awesome.

Getting to spend so much time with both my sisters was a highlight too! With all of us living apart, it isn't often we see each other. I enjoyed getting to hang out together. Hopefully with Karen and Jason moving back to the States, we'll have the opportunity to get together more often.

We also got to visit my 96 year old grandmother. While she didn't make it out of her nursing home for the holiday, we had a lovely visit at her home. I thought her spirits were good and she looked better than the last visit. Her memory loss is getting worse, which always makes me feel sad. This time she talked about not knowing what year it was.

Christmas day was split between families which made it a day where we were just showered with gifts and love. I'm so, so lucky that Chris's family accepts me and that my family accepts Chris. As my mother reminded me, marriage is also about bringing two families together and we're lucky that it's already going so smoothly.

One of my favorite moments from Christmas morning was seeing Braydon with the Jack in the Box. He loved that it played pretty music but wasn't at all happy with the little doll unexpectedly popping out of the box. The look on his face was priceless! So naturally, we did it over and over.

At Chris's parents' house, I really enjoyed watching his niece, Emily, get showered with gifts.

Emily wasn't the only one showered in gifts, we were too! Everyone was so generous this year! Especially both sets of parents who pampered us and fed us awesome meals while we were visiting. Being with two families at the holidays means twice the holiday meals!

After Christmas, we spent some time catching up with friends, celebrating my brother-in-law's birthday, going to the Kimbell and Arlington Art Museums, and talking about wedding plans with the family. Wedding planning was by far the most stressful part of the trip, but I suspect this entire journey will have its ups and downs. At the end of the week, we hopped back in the car with the dogs and a ton of presents and drove back to Phoenix. We spent a very quiet new years eve alone at our house drinking champagne and eating crab legs. We didn't stay awake until midnight, but I still got my new year's kiss...and get more every day.

View the entire set of Christmas photos.

Quote of the Day

"In conclusion, when in doubt, shove your purse up your skirt."
- MightyGirl

Comments

Looking Back on 2007

A new year, while it's only a mark on a calendar (or a whole new calendar), often makes us think about the past. Lots of my blogger friends are summarizing 2007. It's gotten me thinking about the last twelve months too.

For me, 2007 was a great year full of wonderful things. Most importantly, I totally and completely fell in love with Chris. I've loved Chris for a few years now, but it was living together that showed me how deep it goes. I'm so blessed in this relationship. I look forward to making it legal in 2008!

Also in 2007, I made a significant job change. I left a good employer and a stressful position for a perfect employer and a perfect position! This change was exactly what I needed in my life. Through the transition, I've come to have a more accurate view on life and careers in general. Realizing and embracing that my career is not my identity has been a real leap in my mental/emotional health.

In 2007, Kristen and Chris added a new member to the family - my nephew, Braydon! Getting to spend so much time with him at Christmas was so awesome. I'm so thankful for him and his two loving parents.

The first three months of 2007 felt like a ton of travel and craziness. The old job had me visiting customers. I was constantly obsessing about a new job. Chris and I were seeing each other every two weeks. Then SXSW, which was awesome and fun but definitely messed up the flow for a few weeks. The middle part of 2007 was adjusting to a new job and preparing for Chris's move. I was pretty worried about the major change we were both making in our lives but trusted everything would work out. Chris and I got engaged. And the second half of 2007 was really focused on him...well, us. I've been a bit of a recluse because I love spending time with him, my best friend. I decided to just enjoy every minute of this part of our relationship. There's plenty of time in life for other things.

Looking ahead to 2008 is exciting! Especially because Chris and I are planning a wedding, reception, and honeymoon. Plus the entire family is looking forward to having Karen and Jason back in the States after their 3 1/2 years in Germany.