Sorry for the long pause. Last week was insane. But, starting off Monday morning right--with a blog post. And I got an e-mail for a partial from a digital publisher-YAY! :)
So, where was I? Oh, right. Jacob and I were just about to move in together. This means it is January, 2005. We'd gone and looked at a few trailors. Yes, in the south college kids rent trailors, as well as live in apartments. We'd decided we didn't want to deal with people making noise right beside us or above us or on the floor beneath ours, so a trailor would be best for us. Not many places were renting right then, I recall. It would have been a lot easier had it been August, just before a new semester started.
We settled with a three bedroom two bath in a park named Windover Farms. It was a bit out into the more rural area of Auburn, and it was quiet. I was so excited. I'd never really been out on my own. I'd lived in Texas for those few months, of course, but it hadn't been on my own--I'd bunked with a family. I'd also moved in with a very good friend of mine from high school when I was 19, but that lasted all of two months. We didn't mesh well as roommates, and it was right on the cusp of my rough period, though it was in no part responsible for it.
Anyway. The day we moved in several of Jacob's friends helped us with our stuff. We didn't have a ton. I remember, though, pulling away from my parents' house, and seeing my Dad standing on the porch. My Mom was at work. And I was very sad. Because I knew this wouldn't be like the first two times I moved out. I knew in my heart that Jacob was it for me, and I would never go home again. I was excited, but it was a tad bittersweet because I'd grown up in that house, and it was just me and my parents, and I knew I was leaving a gaping hole for them by leaving. But, people grown up. Kids move out and start their lives. It's the natural process.
The first night in our trailor, I think, was the national championship football game. We didn't have a big TV yet, just this tiny one I'd brought from my bedroom, and it was sitting on the floor because we had nowhere else to put it. Jacob's friends were all watching the game together, and while he never would have left me there on his own accord, I knew he wanted to go. So I told him to. He looked at me, his eyes wide and his mouth agape, and said, "you're telling me to leave you here by yourself on our first night together?"
I was. It was something he wanted to do, and I didn't want us to turn into this, just because we're in a serious relationship and live together, we never do anything apart type of couple. So I said sure, I'll be fine. It's not like you won't come home. Jacob looked at me different then. I'll never forget how tight he hugged me, and the tone of his voice when he told me he loved me. I think I'd proved to him we made the right decision. So, he went off to watch his game, and I ordered take out and sat in the floor and watched TV.
Looking around, our things sitting in boxes and my bedroom suite from home not place in "our" bedroom, I was reassured, and happy, and completely in love with my situation.
The next year and a half were happy and fun. We went grocery shopping together, always. We hung out with our friends, we got a two puppies, Ace and Dolly, who made our little family complete for the moment. Of course we fought. Everyone does. I guarantee there is no couple out there who hasn't had an argument or two. But when you love each other, no matter how mad you are, you get through it. When you love each other, you find a way. Jacob and I never have been very good at being angry, anyway. One of us usually says we're sorry pretty quickly. I think compromise is one of our strongest qualities as a couple.
Then, things went to the next leve. On May 6, 2006, Jacob proposed.
To be continued!
Ryann
Monday, July 22, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
The Story of Us--Part One
Ten years ago today, my husband and I became an "official" couple. I would say, little did I know that this man would change my life in so many ways, but that would be a lie. I did know. I knew before we were "official" that I loved him. I knew I would marry him. I even wrote in a journal I kept back then, not three weeks after we started dating, that this was the man I would marry. So, see. I have proof.
Jacob is the most amazingly wonderful person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I thank God every day that somehow, some way, this man fell in love with me and asked me to be his wife. That for some reason he loved me back, as much as I loved him, and wanted to spend his life with me. But let me start at the beginning. After all, this blog post is meant to be a tribute to this incredible man of mine. The story of us, from the beginning until now. This is going to be a two parter. Maybe even three. But everybody likes a good romance, right? :)
I met Jacob when I was 20 years old. I was very, very green when it came to love. To life, really. I was a baby. I thought I knew things--I was wrong. Hell, I think I know things now, and I'm probably still wrong. You never stop growing, stop learning. But that, my friends, is a different blog post.
Back to the story. It was the summer of 2003. I'd just come out of the roughest patch of my life. So rough that I dropped out of college, alienated my best friends, and run off to Texas for 3 months to stay with a family I'd known since childhood. I had to get out of town. I had to get away from the things that seemed to be chasing me, to be gnawing at me. I'd lost what little confidence I had, and I was teetering on the edge of disaster. I won't delve into the reasoning for this black hole in my life--it hasn't had an effect on me for a long, long time now, and if I were to re-hash it, this post is definitely not the place.
I'd stayed in Texas from January to the end of March. I came home, half because I was incredibly homesick and half because I felt like an awful bum living off of this generous family I was staying with. I started speaking to my friends again when I came back, I got a job. I was starting to crawl back from the clutches of depression and emptiness. But I was in no way "there".
Then, towards the end of June, my cousin had gotten married. I'd left the wedding early, because I'd promised one of my best friends I would go with her to break some news to her parents. She chickened out, and here I was sitting at home, steaming because I could still be having fun at the reception, and I would have felt stupid going back. So I called my friend Mulan (remember her?) to see what she was doing, and she was at Jacob's house hanging out. They worked together and were good friends.
So off I went to Auburn. I'll admit, I don't remember the exact details of this night. There was a lot of alcohol involved, and I know I was underage, yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh well. It's in the past. I do remember Jacob getting very flirty with me, and running around tickling me. Again, we were so young. He was only 22. It was cutesy at the time. It wasn't the first time I'd met him. I'd even been to his place with Mulan and Rapunzel before, but we'd never really hung out. On this night, when we did, everything just fell into place. It's hard to explain and easy to explain at the same time. Here was this man, this sweet, caring, handsome, funny man. He made me feel so special and adored. He restored my confidence, which was key to getting me to a comfortable place in my life. He saved me.
We fell hard, and we fell fast. It was only a few weeks later that we decided that we were seriously dating. I remember laying on this massive couch he and his roommate (now my brother-in-law) had. It was yellow, and they called it Big Bird. Both of us fit on it comfortably, and we were lying there watching a movie, when the classic "what are we" question came up. Neither of us beat around the bush very long. We knew we were an us. From that moment forward, we have been.
For the next year and a half I spent most of my time at Jacob's house. He got along spectacularly with my friends, because of course, they'd been friends before we even started dating. Which made things easy and fun for me. There is nothing worse than your friends and your significant other being at odds. We crossed that bridge much further along in our relationship, but anyway. A month into us dating he took me to Gulf Shores to meet the family I had yet to meet (his older sister, like I said, was dating his roommate, and we all spent a lot of time together). He tried to make our first Valentine's Day so romantic, but we ended up waiting almost 3 hours at Provino's. It was still special and very much appreciated. I'd never had a man, boy, whatever, try and do special things for me. I was always the girl with the beautiful, popular friends, who was more of a "friend" than a girlfriend to the guys I went to school with. But with Jacob, he was lavishing all of this attention on me. He wanted me. He loved me. I felt like a princess then, and he still makes me feel that way now.He had made me whole again. It's just the sort of man he is.
We spent an incredible weekend in Atlanta in the summer of 2004 for our 1 year anniversary. I'd never dated anyone for more than a few months, an though he'd had a two year relationship in high school, it had been years earlier. We stayed in the most gorgeous hotel, the Georgian Terrace, and were upgraded to a two bedroom suite upon our arrival. We were thrilled and we felt like two of the luckiest people in the world. That was one of the best weekends of my life. We went out to nice dinners, we visited the Atlanta zoo and the Margaret Mitchell house. I love Gone with the Wind, and Jacob couldn't care less about it, but he did it for me. We swam in the rooftop pool at our hotel, with the skyline of Atlanta spread out before us, and we felt like we had the world at our fingertips. Jacob even treated us to third row seats at a Braves game, and had our own attendant! We were two young kids in love and having the time of our lives. I love our life now, but those memories are so special.
By the end of 2004, Jacob's sister and his roommate were engaged, and would be marrying and moving in together soon. So, we decided to move in together, too. I was 22 by then, and he was 24, and we felt we were mature enough and secure enough in our relationship to handle such a thing. I'm proud to say, we were right.
I suppose this post is long enough. I'll try my best to continue tomorrow with part II. Good night!
Ryann
Jacob is the most amazingly wonderful person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I thank God every day that somehow, some way, this man fell in love with me and asked me to be his wife. That for some reason he loved me back, as much as I loved him, and wanted to spend his life with me. But let me start at the beginning. After all, this blog post is meant to be a tribute to this incredible man of mine. The story of us, from the beginning until now. This is going to be a two parter. Maybe even three. But everybody likes a good romance, right? :)
I met Jacob when I was 20 years old. I was very, very green when it came to love. To life, really. I was a baby. I thought I knew things--I was wrong. Hell, I think I know things now, and I'm probably still wrong. You never stop growing, stop learning. But that, my friends, is a different blog post.
Back to the story. It was the summer of 2003. I'd just come out of the roughest patch of my life. So rough that I dropped out of college, alienated my best friends, and run off to Texas for 3 months to stay with a family I'd known since childhood. I had to get out of town. I had to get away from the things that seemed to be chasing me, to be gnawing at me. I'd lost what little confidence I had, and I was teetering on the edge of disaster. I won't delve into the reasoning for this black hole in my life--it hasn't had an effect on me for a long, long time now, and if I were to re-hash it, this post is definitely not the place.
I'd stayed in Texas from January to the end of March. I came home, half because I was incredibly homesick and half because I felt like an awful bum living off of this generous family I was staying with. I started speaking to my friends again when I came back, I got a job. I was starting to crawl back from the clutches of depression and emptiness. But I was in no way "there".
Then, towards the end of June, my cousin had gotten married. I'd left the wedding early, because I'd promised one of my best friends I would go with her to break some news to her parents. She chickened out, and here I was sitting at home, steaming because I could still be having fun at the reception, and I would have felt stupid going back. So I called my friend Mulan (remember her?) to see what she was doing, and she was at Jacob's house hanging out. They worked together and were good friends.
So off I went to Auburn. I'll admit, I don't remember the exact details of this night. There was a lot of alcohol involved, and I know I was underage, yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh well. It's in the past. I do remember Jacob getting very flirty with me, and running around tickling me. Again, we were so young. He was only 22. It was cutesy at the time. It wasn't the first time I'd met him. I'd even been to his place with Mulan and Rapunzel before, but we'd never really hung out. On this night, when we did, everything just fell into place. It's hard to explain and easy to explain at the same time. Here was this man, this sweet, caring, handsome, funny man. He made me feel so special and adored. He restored my confidence, which was key to getting me to a comfortable place in my life. He saved me.
We fell hard, and we fell fast. It was only a few weeks later that we decided that we were seriously dating. I remember laying on this massive couch he and his roommate (now my brother-in-law) had. It was yellow, and they called it Big Bird. Both of us fit on it comfortably, and we were lying there watching a movie, when the classic "what are we" question came up. Neither of us beat around the bush very long. We knew we were an us. From that moment forward, we have been.
For the next year and a half I spent most of my time at Jacob's house. He got along spectacularly with my friends, because of course, they'd been friends before we even started dating. Which made things easy and fun for me. There is nothing worse than your friends and your significant other being at odds. We crossed that bridge much further along in our relationship, but anyway. A month into us dating he took me to Gulf Shores to meet the family I had yet to meet (his older sister, like I said, was dating his roommate, and we all spent a lot of time together). He tried to make our first Valentine's Day so romantic, but we ended up waiting almost 3 hours at Provino's. It was still special and very much appreciated. I'd never had a man, boy, whatever, try and do special things for me. I was always the girl with the beautiful, popular friends, who was more of a "friend" than a girlfriend to the guys I went to school with. But with Jacob, he was lavishing all of this attention on me. He wanted me. He loved me. I felt like a princess then, and he still makes me feel that way now.He had made me whole again. It's just the sort of man he is.
We spent an incredible weekend in Atlanta in the summer of 2004 for our 1 year anniversary. I'd never dated anyone for more than a few months, an though he'd had a two year relationship in high school, it had been years earlier. We stayed in the most gorgeous hotel, the Georgian Terrace, and were upgraded to a two bedroom suite upon our arrival. We were thrilled and we felt like two of the luckiest people in the world. That was one of the best weekends of my life. We went out to nice dinners, we visited the Atlanta zoo and the Margaret Mitchell house. I love Gone with the Wind, and Jacob couldn't care less about it, but he did it for me. We swam in the rooftop pool at our hotel, with the skyline of Atlanta spread out before us, and we felt like we had the world at our fingertips. Jacob even treated us to third row seats at a Braves game, and had our own attendant! We were two young kids in love and having the time of our lives. I love our life now, but those memories are so special.
By the end of 2004, Jacob's sister and his roommate were engaged, and would be marrying and moving in together soon. So, we decided to move in together, too. I was 22 by then, and he was 24, and we felt we were mature enough and secure enough in our relationship to handle such a thing. I'm proud to say, we were right.
I suppose this post is long enough. I'll try my best to continue tomorrow with part II. Good night!
Ryann
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Rainy Day Blues
Rainy days, people. We've had about a hundred of them here lately. Okay, not really, but that sure is what it feels like. I think we've seriously doubled or maybe even almost tripled our normal average rainfall for the month in my area, and it's only the middle of the month!
So this has got me thinking--when you're stuck inside on a rainy day, what do you do? For our family, we watch a lot of TV/movies. I'm addicted to the tube, I'm not afraid to admit it. During the year, I have a show I watch nearly every night of the week, often more than one. I've always been sort of a homebody, or a hermit I guess you can say. And I love to veg out in front of the TV and let my mind rest after a long day. Especially after my kids go to sleep. I just need to decompress!
So anyway, since it's summer during this monsoon we've been having in Alabama, I don't really have a DVR stocked full of goodies like I normally would, and I've been turning to my DVD collection. It's pretty depleted right now, because probably 75% of our movies are packed up at my parents' house. Yeah, don't ask.
And that, my friends, brings me to the purpose of this rambling blog post. I thought I'd share some of my favorites, TV shows and movies. I suppose the top 5 would do. Because probably nobody cares, but I wanted to blog and I'd like the audience I do have to know more about me. I'd love to know more about anybody else that cares to share, too :)
And awayyyyy we go!
Top 5 TV shows:
1) Charmed. Definitely. I have a serious love for Holly Marie Combs, and I'm a big fan of Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty as well. I wasn't too happy when Rose McGowan joined the show in season 4, and I actually stopped watching for a while, but I warmed up to her. There is just something about this show that intrigues me. I love their sisterly relationship, I love their romantic relationships, and the element of fantasy and magic completely draws me in.
2) I Love Lucy. Who doesn't love Lucy? All four characters on this show are simply amazing, but of course, Lucy and Ricky are my favorites. Even my kids like to watch it! I keep this show on my DVR constantly. I have 4 episodes on it right now. Because if I'm ever in a bad mood, or sad, or just need a tiny pick me up, I can turn on Lucy and all is right in the world. She is the miracle cure for a lousy day.
3) Dawson's Creek. This show defined my teenage years. Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jen were in my house every week, teaching me about growing up, friendship, and love. Sure, they led pretty different lives in Capeside, Mass, than I did in the heart of the south, but it still translated well and I was obsessed. My friends and I would meet up Wednesday nights and watch the show together. It was tradition. They graduated high school on TV the night before I graduated high school. It was a show that I will always look upon with love.
4) F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I am so Monica. OCD and grumpy when I don't get my way. I have/had friends who were pretty classic Rachel and Pheobe personalities, too. And I had the biggest crushes on Ross, Joey, and Chandler at different points in my life. I don't know anybody who doesn't laugh when they watch this show. Again, it taught me so many lessons, and it's classic in the way that it feels like I'm watching something new everytime I catch a re-run.
5) Dancing with the Stars. The only reality show that I'm putting on the list. I love the glitz, the glamour, the beautiful people, the music. I love everything. It takes you to a place where the world is just a fun, cheesy dancing show, and it gives me two hours on Monday nights when I don't have to think about anything. I can just watch people dance and smile.
That was hard! There are so many shows that I love as well, but those take the cake with me. Onto Movies!
1) 13 Going on 30. Jennifer Garner. An amazing, wonderful actress who I respect and would watch in pretty much anything. This movie makes me happy. I love her character and Mark Ruffalo is sort of dreamy. It's fantastical in that it shows you how you can grow so quickly, and I love how it depicts friendships from childhood to adult. I still have friends from my childhood, whom I couldn't imagine my life without.
2) Pearl Harbor. Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett. Need I say more? No, really though. I love history--I think I've mentioned that before. I think this movie was so well done and I love how they made it into a love story, too. I love seeing depictions of how people from different eras lived and interacted. It might not be that true to the relationships of the 40s, but I still love it.
3) Gone with the Wind. The only reason this is number 3 and not number 1 or 2 is the length. Scarlett O' Hara and Rhett Butler are two of the most incredible characters of all time, and I could watch it over and over and over. Again, this movie takes me to a different era. One that I would never truly want to live in, but I love being transported places. It's why I love reading and writing so much.
4) Steel Magnolias. Julia, Sally, Darryl, oh my. Love love and love. This movie is a classic, with strong women who stick together no matter what.
5) Sweet Home Alabama. Do you really need to ask? And I love Reese Witherspoon. Anything she's in is pretty much going to be watched many times.
Okay, another hard list! It will probably change through the years. But right now, this is me!
So this has got me thinking--when you're stuck inside on a rainy day, what do you do? For our family, we watch a lot of TV/movies. I'm addicted to the tube, I'm not afraid to admit it. During the year, I have a show I watch nearly every night of the week, often more than one. I've always been sort of a homebody, or a hermit I guess you can say. And I love to veg out in front of the TV and let my mind rest after a long day. Especially after my kids go to sleep. I just need to decompress!
So anyway, since it's summer during this monsoon we've been having in Alabama, I don't really have a DVR stocked full of goodies like I normally would, and I've been turning to my DVD collection. It's pretty depleted right now, because probably 75% of our movies are packed up at my parents' house. Yeah, don't ask.
And that, my friends, brings me to the purpose of this rambling blog post. I thought I'd share some of my favorites, TV shows and movies. I suppose the top 5 would do. Because probably nobody cares, but I wanted to blog and I'd like the audience I do have to know more about me. I'd love to know more about anybody else that cares to share, too :)
And awayyyyy we go!
Top 5 TV shows:
1) Charmed. Definitely. I have a serious love for Holly Marie Combs, and I'm a big fan of Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty as well. I wasn't too happy when Rose McGowan joined the show in season 4, and I actually stopped watching for a while, but I warmed up to her. There is just something about this show that intrigues me. I love their sisterly relationship, I love their romantic relationships, and the element of fantasy and magic completely draws me in.
2) I Love Lucy. Who doesn't love Lucy? All four characters on this show are simply amazing, but of course, Lucy and Ricky are my favorites. Even my kids like to watch it! I keep this show on my DVR constantly. I have 4 episodes on it right now. Because if I'm ever in a bad mood, or sad, or just need a tiny pick me up, I can turn on Lucy and all is right in the world. She is the miracle cure for a lousy day.
3) Dawson's Creek. This show defined my teenage years. Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jen were in my house every week, teaching me about growing up, friendship, and love. Sure, they led pretty different lives in Capeside, Mass, than I did in the heart of the south, but it still translated well and I was obsessed. My friends and I would meet up Wednesday nights and watch the show together. It was tradition. They graduated high school on TV the night before I graduated high school. It was a show that I will always look upon with love.
4) F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I am so Monica. OCD and grumpy when I don't get my way. I have/had friends who were pretty classic Rachel and Pheobe personalities, too. And I had the biggest crushes on Ross, Joey, and Chandler at different points in my life. I don't know anybody who doesn't laugh when they watch this show. Again, it taught me so many lessons, and it's classic in the way that it feels like I'm watching something new everytime I catch a re-run.
5) Dancing with the Stars. The only reality show that I'm putting on the list. I love the glitz, the glamour, the beautiful people, the music. I love everything. It takes you to a place where the world is just a fun, cheesy dancing show, and it gives me two hours on Monday nights when I don't have to think about anything. I can just watch people dance and smile.
That was hard! There are so many shows that I love as well, but those take the cake with me. Onto Movies!
1) 13 Going on 30. Jennifer Garner. An amazing, wonderful actress who I respect and would watch in pretty much anything. This movie makes me happy. I love her character and Mark Ruffalo is sort of dreamy. It's fantastical in that it shows you how you can grow so quickly, and I love how it depicts friendships from childhood to adult. I still have friends from my childhood, whom I couldn't imagine my life without.
2) Pearl Harbor. Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett. Need I say more? No, really though. I love history--I think I've mentioned that before. I think this movie was so well done and I love how they made it into a love story, too. I love seeing depictions of how people from different eras lived and interacted. It might not be that true to the relationships of the 40s, but I still love it.
3) Gone with the Wind. The only reason this is number 3 and not number 1 or 2 is the length. Scarlett O' Hara and Rhett Butler are two of the most incredible characters of all time, and I could watch it over and over and over. Again, this movie takes me to a different era. One that I would never truly want to live in, but I love being transported places. It's why I love reading and writing so much.
4) Steel Magnolias. Julia, Sally, Darryl, oh my. Love love and love. This movie is a classic, with strong women who stick together no matter what.
5) Sweet Home Alabama. Do you really need to ask? And I love Reese Witherspoon. Anything she's in is pretty much going to be watched many times.
Okay, another hard list! It will probably change through the years. But right now, this is me!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Bucket Lists
Does anyone out there have a bucket list? I know most people probably have the whole, I have to do these things before I leave this world kind of idea, but I mean a real, true list that you have somewhere and you check things off as you go along. You dream up things that would fulfill you in some way, and you are bound and determined to go through with them sooner or later, no matter what. The sooner the better, too, probably, am I right? Because let's face it. This life is a gift--our time here can be over in the blink of an eye, and who wants to leave without actually living? Which, admittedly, can have a different definition for different people. Different strokes and all that good stuff. Which is why I'm discovering that actually having a bucket list is pretty important. Only you knows what would make you happy.
My family makes me happy. I'm fulfilled in every way when it comes to that. But, there are things that are important to me that might not be terribly meaningful to them, which is what makes this little project so personal. Everyone should have one. I hope to encourage my husband to make one, and for us to go through both of our lists together. Because it would mean more to have him by my side. I hope for one day to inspire my daughters to have one, and if they want me with them, I'll be there every step of the way. There are some things on my list that will obviously be family adventures, also, so they're kind of stuck whether they like it or not. Because a good bit of mine consists of traveling.
So, I encourage everyone to really think about what they would like to accomplish or do before they leave some day. Make a list, stick by it, and make yourself sublimely happy. You deserve it.
My Bucket List:
Stay for a week at Animal Kingdom Lodge in Disney World. A Savannah view room. It would be beyond breathtaking, I think, to wake up and have coffee while watching a zebra graze just below my balcony.
Publish at least 5 books, either traditionally or as an Indie author. This one is proving to take longer than I'd thought, but I'm working on it.
Be able to give both of my daughters the wedding of their dreams one day.
Visit London. I'm a huge history buff, and I love, love, love the history of the English monarchy. I would be thrilled to visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London. Sigh. One day.
See Miranda Lambert in concert. She kicks ass.
There are so many places within the U.S. I want to see, it would take forever to list them all. But I think the number one place would have to be Los Angeles. I've always had stars in my eyes. Plus it would make the next two items on my list much easier.
Be on a game show. I think I would rock that so hard. Except, don't put me on Jeopardy. I wouldn't be as good at that one. Haha.
Attend a taping of Dancing with the Stars. I'd better get a move on regarding this one. Who knows how long my favorite cheesy ballroom show will be on the air.
See the Northern Lights.
Have a white Christmas. Because I live in the south, I've never had one of these. We may have had some flurries before, but I want so much snow on the ground that I sink to my ankles when I walk outside. I want to look out the window from my place in front of the Christmas tree, and see a blanket of white, and more falling. My husband and I are planning to do this one once our children are older and don't believe in Santa anymore. We'll go to Colorado probably. Because that would knock out my last item--to ski. Note I did not say learn to ski-because that would take too long and I would probably suck at it. I don't have the best coordination. But I'd like to try it. Oh, and while we're at it, I'll add surfing to the list. I would like to try that too. Though, I'm deathly afraid of the ocean and all of the sharp toothed things that lurk in it's waters, so my surfing experience will probably happen at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. When I'm staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, of course.
I know I have readers--my stats tell me that. I don't know how you guys are still hanging with me, since I'm such a slacker. I'm trying to do better though--see, I blogged two days in a row! Anyway, I don't normally have comments. If anybody would like to comment with their own bucket list, I'd love to read them!
Bye for now,
Ryann
My family makes me happy. I'm fulfilled in every way when it comes to that. But, there are things that are important to me that might not be terribly meaningful to them, which is what makes this little project so personal. Everyone should have one. I hope to encourage my husband to make one, and for us to go through both of our lists together. Because it would mean more to have him by my side. I hope for one day to inspire my daughters to have one, and if they want me with them, I'll be there every step of the way. There are some things on my list that will obviously be family adventures, also, so they're kind of stuck whether they like it or not. Because a good bit of mine consists of traveling.
So, I encourage everyone to really think about what they would like to accomplish or do before they leave some day. Make a list, stick by it, and make yourself sublimely happy. You deserve it.
My Bucket List:
Stay for a week at Animal Kingdom Lodge in Disney World. A Savannah view room. It would be beyond breathtaking, I think, to wake up and have coffee while watching a zebra graze just below my balcony.
Publish at least 5 books, either traditionally or as an Indie author. This one is proving to take longer than I'd thought, but I'm working on it.
Be able to give both of my daughters the wedding of their dreams one day.
Visit London. I'm a huge history buff, and I love, love, love the history of the English monarchy. I would be thrilled to visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London. Sigh. One day.
See Miranda Lambert in concert. She kicks ass.
There are so many places within the U.S. I want to see, it would take forever to list them all. But I think the number one place would have to be Los Angeles. I've always had stars in my eyes. Plus it would make the next two items on my list much easier.
Be on a game show. I think I would rock that so hard. Except, don't put me on Jeopardy. I wouldn't be as good at that one. Haha.
Attend a taping of Dancing with the Stars. I'd better get a move on regarding this one. Who knows how long my favorite cheesy ballroom show will be on the air.
See the Northern Lights.
Have a white Christmas. Because I live in the south, I've never had one of these. We may have had some flurries before, but I want so much snow on the ground that I sink to my ankles when I walk outside. I want to look out the window from my place in front of the Christmas tree, and see a blanket of white, and more falling. My husband and I are planning to do this one once our children are older and don't believe in Santa anymore. We'll go to Colorado probably. Because that would knock out my last item--to ski. Note I did not say learn to ski-because that would take too long and I would probably suck at it. I don't have the best coordination. But I'd like to try it. Oh, and while we're at it, I'll add surfing to the list. I would like to try that too. Though, I'm deathly afraid of the ocean and all of the sharp toothed things that lurk in it's waters, so my surfing experience will probably happen at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. When I'm staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, of course.
I know I have readers--my stats tell me that. I don't know how you guys are still hanging with me, since I'm such a slacker. I'm trying to do better though--see, I blogged two days in a row! Anyway, I don't normally have comments. If anybody would like to comment with their own bucket list, I'd love to read them!
Bye for now,
Ryann
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Plotting on Pinterest
I've recently discovered this handy little plot device, Plotting on Pinterest. It is so much fun! I seriously can't even descripe the inspiration I get when I'm perusing through pictures of people, fashion, home decor, etc, and see things that would fit perfectly into a book I've already written. Better yet, when I see something that makes me want to write about it, to have a better picture in my head of the cast of my book, the places they go, what they would wear.
It's like a whole movie playing out in my head. I know that might sound sort of ridiculous to some people. But I get excited thinking their story is my creation, I can throw them into any situation I want and give them heartbreaks, happiness, or anything else I can dream up. And with Plotting on Pinterest, I'm well on my way to having book number 5 in the can.
Hopeful for some more writing news soon!
Ryann
It's like a whole movie playing out in my head. I know that might sound sort of ridiculous to some people. But I get excited thinking their story is my creation, I can throw them into any situation I want and give them heartbreaks, happiness, or anything else I can dream up. And with Plotting on Pinterest, I'm well on my way to having book number 5 in the can.
Hopeful for some more writing news soon!
Ryann
Monday, June 24, 2013
Too Much. Too much too much too much
Well, here I am again. Blogging once per month. I'm sorry. I really want to maintain this blog really well, because I enjoy doing it, and because one day, hopefully lol, my book(s) will be published and I want to be able to speak to whatever audience I might have.
These days though, everything seems so hard. My 4 year old is going through a very trying phase. She's stubborn, and she's pushing my limits every chance she gets. I've tried everything I know to make it stop, and I'm at a complete loss at what to do next. I know kids will be kids, and I know it's likely to be over soon, but I want it to stop now!
I feel like I have no time to breathe. I'm going to be completely honest, there are days when I want to sit down and cry. I've had zero time to write, which is such a huge creative outlet for me, so not being able to do that leaves me feeling very stifled. I'm under a time crunch to finish a blanket I'm crocheting for my new little neice, and I have to have it finished by this weekend. So not enough time. Work has been super busy--I've been given many new responsibilities over the past couple months and I'm constantly running. The main thing though, is that it seems like my husband is NEVER home anymore during the week. He leaves the house at around 7 and doesn't get home at night until 8 or 9 a lot of the time. I take the girls to daycare. I pick them up. I take them to dance class when they go, which right now is two nights a week. I give them their bath, feed them, read to them, put them in bed at night. There are so many nights lately that I'm doing this by myself. I'm so tired of calling him and asking, "should I go ahead and feed the kids, or will you be home" or telling them when they go to sleep, "Daddy will come in and kiss you when he gets here, I'm sorry you didn't get to see him tonight." It's not fun.
But I take a deep breath. And then I remember. I remember that there are so, so many single parents out there who do it every day all day alone. When my husband is here, he is beyond wonderful. And the reason he's not here is because, pardon my language, he's working his ass off to give the girls and I everything we need, and most of what we want. He's not out at a bar drinking, he's not running off to have guys night. He's not home because he's working, and he's securing our future.
Everytime I get frustrated because I feel so weighed down by all of my responsibilities, I try to remember all of the blessings I have. We have a home, a nice car, we both have good jobs, and our children are well taken care of every day by people we trust beyond measure.
My girls are healthy, and happy, and even though they have their moments when they push the boundries, especially my youngest right now, they're still good kids.
And my husband. We've been married 6 years now, together for 10. And I know it sounds cliche, and cheesy, and whatever else, but we're still just as much in love as the summer we met. I knew right away with him. I'd been through a lot of ups and downs throughout my romantic history. I never felt pretty enough, or special enough when it came to guys. But with Jacob, it was never, ever like that. From the moment he hugged me, and kissed me, I was his. He truly had me at hello.
And to this day, every day, he makes me love him even more. There are so many little things that people overlook, but I try and pay close attention because those are the things that make you feel special. Like the other night after the girls were asleep, when he wanted to play a video game, and the Wii was hooked up in our bedroom. Instead of just going in and playing his game, leaving me to watch TV in the living room or whatever, he asked what I was going to do for the rest of the night. When I said I didn't know, he said he thought maybe I could come in our room and read while he played Call of Duty (I know, I know, he's a man-boy, but I love him for it). The point is, it was just so we could be in the same room. He only would have been down the hall, but he wanted me to come in so we could be together, even though we weren't even talking.
Or like yesterday, when my shoulders were so sore, and I'd barely done more than mention it in passing, but he noticed and rubbed my shoulders for me. It's the times he brings me home a little snack, like BBQ flavored sunflower seeds, which I LOVE, just because he saw them and thought of me.
I'm so incredibly lucky to have a husband who loves me so much. I realize this every day, and even though there are times, like tonight, when I feel alone and frustrated, that knowledge keeps me going. Because one day things won't be so hard. But I'll still have Jacob. And we'll still have a strong marriage. And everything will be okay.
Short book news, because I'm trying not to get too excited about this part. I'd sent out some queries back in January. Not many, just a handful. I'd gotten one no, and I thought the other two were a "no response means no." Well, imagine my surprise last week when an e-mail came from one of the agents asking to see the first few chapters. So, I have a partial floating around out there in agent land. Until I hear an answer about that, I owe it to myself and to the agent to hold off on self-pubbing. But I promise, one day Hearts Don't Break Quietly will be availble for purchase! One way or the other!
Ryann
These days though, everything seems so hard. My 4 year old is going through a very trying phase. She's stubborn, and she's pushing my limits every chance she gets. I've tried everything I know to make it stop, and I'm at a complete loss at what to do next. I know kids will be kids, and I know it's likely to be over soon, but I want it to stop now!
I feel like I have no time to breathe. I'm going to be completely honest, there are days when I want to sit down and cry. I've had zero time to write, which is such a huge creative outlet for me, so not being able to do that leaves me feeling very stifled. I'm under a time crunch to finish a blanket I'm crocheting for my new little neice, and I have to have it finished by this weekend. So not enough time. Work has been super busy--I've been given many new responsibilities over the past couple months and I'm constantly running. The main thing though, is that it seems like my husband is NEVER home anymore during the week. He leaves the house at around 7 and doesn't get home at night until 8 or 9 a lot of the time. I take the girls to daycare. I pick them up. I take them to dance class when they go, which right now is two nights a week. I give them their bath, feed them, read to them, put them in bed at night. There are so many nights lately that I'm doing this by myself. I'm so tired of calling him and asking, "should I go ahead and feed the kids, or will you be home" or telling them when they go to sleep, "Daddy will come in and kiss you when he gets here, I'm sorry you didn't get to see him tonight." It's not fun.
But I take a deep breath. And then I remember. I remember that there are so, so many single parents out there who do it every day all day alone. When my husband is here, he is beyond wonderful. And the reason he's not here is because, pardon my language, he's working his ass off to give the girls and I everything we need, and most of what we want. He's not out at a bar drinking, he's not running off to have guys night. He's not home because he's working, and he's securing our future.
Everytime I get frustrated because I feel so weighed down by all of my responsibilities, I try to remember all of the blessings I have. We have a home, a nice car, we both have good jobs, and our children are well taken care of every day by people we trust beyond measure.
My girls are healthy, and happy, and even though they have their moments when they push the boundries, especially my youngest right now, they're still good kids.
And my husband. We've been married 6 years now, together for 10. And I know it sounds cliche, and cheesy, and whatever else, but we're still just as much in love as the summer we met. I knew right away with him. I'd been through a lot of ups and downs throughout my romantic history. I never felt pretty enough, or special enough when it came to guys. But with Jacob, it was never, ever like that. From the moment he hugged me, and kissed me, I was his. He truly had me at hello.
And to this day, every day, he makes me love him even more. There are so many little things that people overlook, but I try and pay close attention because those are the things that make you feel special. Like the other night after the girls were asleep, when he wanted to play a video game, and the Wii was hooked up in our bedroom. Instead of just going in and playing his game, leaving me to watch TV in the living room or whatever, he asked what I was going to do for the rest of the night. When I said I didn't know, he said he thought maybe I could come in our room and read while he played Call of Duty (I know, I know, he's a man-boy, but I love him for it). The point is, it was just so we could be in the same room. He only would have been down the hall, but he wanted me to come in so we could be together, even though we weren't even talking.
Or like yesterday, when my shoulders were so sore, and I'd barely done more than mention it in passing, but he noticed and rubbed my shoulders for me. It's the times he brings me home a little snack, like BBQ flavored sunflower seeds, which I LOVE, just because he saw them and thought of me.
I'm so incredibly lucky to have a husband who loves me so much. I realize this every day, and even though there are times, like tonight, when I feel alone and frustrated, that knowledge keeps me going. Because one day things won't be so hard. But I'll still have Jacob. And we'll still have a strong marriage. And everything will be okay.
Short book news, because I'm trying not to get too excited about this part. I'd sent out some queries back in January. Not many, just a handful. I'd gotten one no, and I thought the other two were a "no response means no." Well, imagine my surprise last week when an e-mail came from one of the agents asking to see the first few chapters. So, I have a partial floating around out there in agent land. Until I hear an answer about that, I owe it to myself and to the agent to hold off on self-pubbing. But I promise, one day Hearts Don't Break Quietly will be availble for purchase! One way or the other!
Ryann
Friday, May 24, 2013
I said I was trying to do it all...I didn't say I had time to!
So I guess I disappeared for a while, huh? Sorry about that! There has been so much going on in my life! We had our big Disney trip, which was FANTASTIC and I will blog about that soon. Then the week after we got home I had to have emergency gallbladder surgery. Let me just tell you how fun THAT was. Okay, so not very. But, I've recovring nicely and am just about 100% again.
With everything that has been going on, I haven't had a whole lot of extra time for writing or prepping Hearts for publishing on KDP. Hearts is pretty much ready to go--it's edited and as shiny as I think I'm going to get it. I don't have a cover yet--there may be an image rights issue with the cover model I'd planned on using, which I can't expand on right now, but we're waiting to find out on that. Hopefully if it doesn't work out, it will still be okay, because I do have another beautiful model in mind! As soon as all of the kinks in that are ironed out and the picture gets taken, we'll be in business! These things take time though--nothing in publishing happens overnight, and I guess self-publishing is the same way! I want my book and the online packaging for my book to be the best that it can be, because this is my big splash, my first impression with readers. And we all know first impressions mean A LOT. So maybe I jumped the gun a little when I announced my big writing venture. I thought since the book was finished I was going to get right onto KDP and do my thing. Not so, I'm learning. But soon. I promise!
As far as new writing goes, I haven't done much in the past month or so. Nothing actually. I do have a full time job that helps pay my bills (where writing does not, and may not even after I publish 10 books), and a family and home to take care of. So sometimes, my love of writing gets pushed to the side, and I can deal with it. It's my husband and children and our well being that matter the most. Our oldest daughter is gearing up to start kindergarten in the fall, so we're trying our best to prepare ourselves for that. She had her assessment test this morning and she scored 101! We're so proud of her. I know she will continue to make us proud, no matter what she does.
Aside from the real world stuff, I'm struggling a little bit with what to write. I have two manuscripts started--I'm exactly one chapter into each of them. The hardest part, for me, is the beginning. Those first three or four chapters, when I'm getting used to my MC (main character) and their journey, and plotting out in my mind where they're going to go. The manuscripts are completely different from one another. One is a young adult romance, and I'm not sure if it could even be classified as historical or not. It's set in the mid 90's (ancient history, right? haha) and centered around a girl just dying to get out of her one horse town...until her father hires a young rancher to help him out on their property. The other manuscript is a new adult, featuring an MC who's 21 and has just lost her very best friend in the world in an awful car accident, and she's trying to learn and grow from the experience, but can't find an outlet for her grief.
See. Night and day, right? So I don't know which one I want to pursue right now. But, once I get Hearts pub'd and I can sit down and solely concentrate on one of my ms's, I know that one will break through and speak to me. I'm excited to find out which one.
So I guess that's all for now. I promise not to take so long of a blogging break next time!
Ryann
With everything that has been going on, I haven't had a whole lot of extra time for writing or prepping Hearts for publishing on KDP. Hearts is pretty much ready to go--it's edited and as shiny as I think I'm going to get it. I don't have a cover yet--there may be an image rights issue with the cover model I'd planned on using, which I can't expand on right now, but we're waiting to find out on that. Hopefully if it doesn't work out, it will still be okay, because I do have another beautiful model in mind! As soon as all of the kinks in that are ironed out and the picture gets taken, we'll be in business! These things take time though--nothing in publishing happens overnight, and I guess self-publishing is the same way! I want my book and the online packaging for my book to be the best that it can be, because this is my big splash, my first impression with readers. And we all know first impressions mean A LOT. So maybe I jumped the gun a little when I announced my big writing venture. I thought since the book was finished I was going to get right onto KDP and do my thing. Not so, I'm learning. But soon. I promise!
As far as new writing goes, I haven't done much in the past month or so. Nothing actually. I do have a full time job that helps pay my bills (where writing does not, and may not even after I publish 10 books), and a family and home to take care of. So sometimes, my love of writing gets pushed to the side, and I can deal with it. It's my husband and children and our well being that matter the most. Our oldest daughter is gearing up to start kindergarten in the fall, so we're trying our best to prepare ourselves for that. She had her assessment test this morning and she scored 101! We're so proud of her. I know she will continue to make us proud, no matter what she does.
Aside from the real world stuff, I'm struggling a little bit with what to write. I have two manuscripts started--I'm exactly one chapter into each of them. The hardest part, for me, is the beginning. Those first three or four chapters, when I'm getting used to my MC (main character) and their journey, and plotting out in my mind where they're going to go. The manuscripts are completely different from one another. One is a young adult romance, and I'm not sure if it could even be classified as historical or not. It's set in the mid 90's (ancient history, right? haha) and centered around a girl just dying to get out of her one horse town...until her father hires a young rancher to help him out on their property. The other manuscript is a new adult, featuring an MC who's 21 and has just lost her very best friend in the world in an awful car accident, and she's trying to learn and grow from the experience, but can't find an outlet for her grief.
See. Night and day, right? So I don't know which one I want to pursue right now. But, once I get Hearts pub'd and I can sit down and solely concentrate on one of my ms's, I know that one will break through and speak to me. I'm excited to find out which one.
So I guess that's all for now. I promise not to take so long of a blogging break next time!
Ryann
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