Date 7

Date: July 21, 2009
Place: The boudoir.
Activity: "Read this book together"
Bonus: We've already done a lot of them before we even knew they were in the book.
Yet another Bonus: So now we get to do them again!
Double Feature Bonus: And take a picture of it.

Date 6

Date: July 17, 2009
Activity: "Play mind games with each other... like backgammon, chess, checkers, Chinese checkers or Trivial Pursuit"
Place: Jones' living room. ... um... thanks guys.
Bonus: I won.
Another Bonus: I cheated.
Real Big Bonus: So did Chase. (after I made him cheat. So I guess I cheated for him...)

Date 5

Date: July 14, 2009
Place: Keen family back yard and Koi Pond
Activity: "Blow bubbles....anytime.....anywhere."
Bonus: discovered that bubbles bounce on water. COOLEST THING EVER
Not really a Bonus: Leigh Ann choked on a mouth full of bubble making liquid. Those pipes don't work.

Date 4

Date: July 13, 2009
Place: The Dollar Tree near the Tallahassee Mall
Activity: Cheap Presents (and Cheap Pizza)
Description: We each had $5 and 10 minutes to buy 5 presents for each other.

Leigh Ann bought for Chase:
1 - Pack of 2 Giant Glowsticks (for some night-time raving)
2 - Bottle of Handsoap (since I've run out at my apartment ... quite practical)
3 - Set of 3 Pinwheels (should be great on a breezy summer day)
4 - Pack of 100 Water Balloons (which will be used in another Little Black Book date)
5 - Set of 2 Hippo Plates (to be used later for a picnic)

Chase bought for Leigh Ann:
1 - Set of Earphones (bought for her iPod ... she's been needing a new set for awhile now)
2 - Blue Microfiber Headband (to keep hair out of her face while she's washing it)
3 - Bubble-Blowing Set (to be used on another Black Book date)
4 - Pack of 100 Water Balloons (seems that we had the same idea ... is it a "date" if you're throwing things at each other? ... we shall see)
5 - Bag of Frosted Animal Crackers (for dessert after dinner ... too bad I like them more than her ... or is it?)

Bonus: We ate cheap pizza (Little Caesar's) before exchanging our cheap presents. We were in and out of Little Caesar's in about 3 minutes ... gotta be the fastest food you can get so cheap.
Extra Bonus: We both made the ten minute time limit.
Unexpected Bonus: 200 water balloons total ... it's gonna be awesome!!!

One Heck of a Summer

One and half summer classes down and one and half to go. I'm taking three classes total this summer so that I can graduate with a master's degree in December. The plan was always to graduate a semester early, even before I met Leigh Ann. My original reason was so I could get on with my life as soon as possible, especially entering the workforce. I have a better reason now however ... so that I can get married as soon as possible.

So now the plan is graduate in December, get married January 2, and start my life with Leigh Ann after that. I need to get a job lined up for the post-January-2 time period, which will also give direction to where Leigh Ann and I end up after were married. I need to start looking soon to allow time for networking, sending resumes, and scheduling interviews. Apparently there's also a recession going on right now too, which might affect how long it takes for me to get a job. I'm hoping that flexibility on where we want to live will help expand my opportunities.

In the meantime however, I've been dealing with some crazy class schedules. Just recently finished up a public relations course. Halfway done with an advanced project management course. Just started my capstone "marketing communication management" course as well. These two courses will finish up in mid-August. Although the class time only takes up about nine hours of my week, the class work takes up even more - studying, writing papers, creating presentations, etc. All of this class work is in addition to the graduate assistantship and part-time work as well.

All this work means spending less time with my favorite person in the whole world - Leigh Ann. It has however revealed to me the depth of her patience and understanding. She understands that the class work is necessary and is patient with the fact that my schedule is crazy now, but should open up in the fall semester when I'm taking elective courses only, allowing me to spend more time with her.

Even when I'm working though, it's nice to have her around. Just knowing that's she's in the next room makes me happy. When I need a study break, she's there for a kiss and encouragement. She makes class work so much more bearable. It's all about her presence, which I've learned to appreciate even more with such a full schedule.

So, I guess the point is that I love Leigh Ann and I love having her around ... even when I can't give her my direct time and attention. Just knowing she's there makes the work ... and life ... so much better.

Date 3

Date: July 7, 2009
Place: Living room at the Keen residence
Activity: Cozy, indoor picnic on a rainy day
Bonus: Mike Tyson the Dyson supervised.
Extra Bonus: We did the crossword puzzle together after lunch.
Ultra Bonus: Merlot goes great with pizza.

Date 2

Date: July 4, 2009
Place: Woodruff's back yard, on a blanket, surrounded by family and friends
Activity: "oooh and aaah at the Fourth of July fireworks....and at each other, for that matter"
Bonus: Both aims of the activity were completed satisfactorily.

Mike Tyson the Dyson got bedazzled

We got a Dyson, ya'll!!

So, Chase and I wanted a Dyson. I don't know if you've noticed, but they're not giving those away.... so we registered for one on our wedding registry. You know, in case like, ten families wanted to go in together to get us something.

Well, I mentioned to my boss one day that we'd registered for this expensive item that we weren't going to get, but here's hoping. A few days later, she drops by and says that there are two Dysons at the Goodwill on Capital Circle. They'll be half price on Wednesday. That was like, six days away.

I forget all about it till I'm at the barn, on the Wednesday and I see them! At half price! It's like, the end of the day and they're still there! Holy cow! I want one. Soooooo bad. But what kind of condition is it in? Does it even run? If I buy it, I can't bring it back. So it'd better be PRISTINE. I call Chase and tell him to get his buns over here and we'd better take a look at them. We start getting into the box and quickly realize that it has NEVER been opened much less used. We plug it in anyway and it works perfectly.

So we buy two of them.

Ha!

One for us and one for Chase's parents. Who are going to be sooooo pleased. We brought it in my parent's house tonight and took it for a test spin and it picked up soooo much stuff. I am beyond stoked. Beyond excited.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the fifth member of the Porter-Keen clan: Mike Tyson the Dyson! It's a beast of a vacuum cleaner.


I haven't been this excited about an inanimate object since I bought a pair of leopard print heals for $12. Besides food, I wonder what was the last thing was I bought at full price?