Still here!

I’m sick with a cold and pretty bored, so I figured I may as well do a little updating.  I haven’t written in so long, I’m not sure where to start!  I’m about a month away from finishing up my graduate program, and am currently looking for a job as a school counselor.  It’s insanely stressful, but I’m trying to keep a positive attitude about it.  Very few jobs have been posted in the counties that I have applied in, which makes me really nervous.  I keep hearing that it’s a little early and more jobs will be posted in April, and I hope that’s really the case.  My resume is good and my program is one of the best in the state, so I am sure I will find a job before next school year.  (At least that’s what I keep telling myself!).  There’s a great job in a school in my community that I would love to get….I’ve applied but haven’t heard anything yet.  I hope they’ll at least give me an interview!  The big problem is that so much of getting into a school is who you know, and when you’re just starting out, it’s hard to know anyone!

Ryan and I are doing great!  We are in the midst of planning our wedding for next December, while I am still awaiting his official proposal. =)  What can I say?  We’re a non-traditional sort of couple.  I’m not supposed to know it, but the ring is being made, so I am hopeful that we will be "officially" engaged soon.  Meanwhile, we set our date last summer, and have been slowly making plans since then.  I’ve been too busy to think much about it lately, but as soon as school is done I have a feeling I will have to spend more time working on things.  We have the church and the reception venue booked, but still have to figure out catering, dj, photographers, etc.  I’ve been waiting until after the proposal to look at wedding dresses (it’s the silly girl in me), but I’m really just going to get some ideas and have the experience with my mom.  My best friend is a seamstress who will be making my dress.  We have to get a move on though, because she is currently 4 months pregnant!  I know once the baby comes it will be much harder for her to make my dress, so I know we need to get started soon.

Ryan pretty much quit drinking and smoking in December and it’s been awesome.  I’ve always worried about his smoking, because I really want him to be around for a long time.  He was amazing…he’s been smoking for 14 years (pretty heavily) but he just quit, no problem.  He wasn’t ever cranky or anything.  He has amazing will-power.  Now he only smokes when he drinks, which is only on special occasions (like if we have a party at our house or something).  This is typically less than once a month.  Besides, even then, the amount he drinks and the number of cigarettes he smokes is significantly less.

Around the time he quit drinking, he also started working out.  We’ve "borrowed" my dad’s treadmill indefinitely and he has kept a steady program of jogging, working out on his punching bag, and lifting weights.  He is looking good!  He has always been small and thin, but now he has eliminated his tiny love handles and is very muscle-y.  The great thing is that we are both trying to eat a lot healthier and exercise more, so it has really benefited both of us.  Although I am not as disciplined as he is, I’ve been pretty good about eating better and working out and I’ve lost 8-10 lbs. myself!  I’m feeling a lot better about myself these days.  I’m really happy about it, but I’m hoping to lose another 5 lbs. or so before summer gets here.  I’m in the healthy range for my height, but I wouldn’t mind being in the lower-middle part of the range!  I think I can do it if we keep this up…since it’s gotten warmer we’ve bought a season pass to the local state park and have been going there to hike and ride bikes when we can.  We also bought baseball gloves on Sunday so we can play catch.  Now that Ryan isn’t hungover on his days off, we are doing a lot more fun stuff.  It’s totally rad! =)