4.5

MILES! I ran 4.5 miles all at one time! I am very excited by this. It is the farthest I have ever run, EVER ( so far). It took me 50 minutes- BUT that means I ran for 50 minutes at one time.
That is AWESOME. I am proud. I used to tell myself that I had to stop at 3 miles because otherwise I would throw up or get injured or both. Needless to say I did not throw up or hurt anything....I don't even feel that bad. I have one little blister.
So I am going to sign up to run the 5K in my neighborhood again this year and I actually looked up the Army ten miler because as Steve says - 'it is just like 3 - 5K's in a row'.
Thanks,Steve. Love you too.

Wedding Time & Hotel Info!

THIS JUST IN: The mass time has been changed! Our Wedding will be at 3PM on June 28th, NOT 1PM!
This makes me feel so much better. The scheduling of events for the day was getting a little out of hand.... what time for the photographer and the DJ and how long is cocktail hour and when do we eat and transportation and what do we do with family and will it all end at 7 if it starts too early-and do we have a break or not a break... DONE- the voices in my head have stopped. I am now just thinking I don't have to set an alarm and can enjoy my coffee that morning! Thanks, Steve for suggesting we check on the time change! ( I love you, baby.)

HOTEL rooms have been blocked at the University of Maryland Marriott inn and conference center:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasum-the-inn-and-conference-center-university-of-maryland-university-college/?ppc=eastern_google_wasum&vpckey=conference-center-university-of-maryland&vpccat=leisure

This is the closest hotel to our house. It is about 5 minutes away by car.

Look Who's All Grown Up!

I am doing a blog shout- out.... This is for Tracy: look who I got to see and spend time with at a conference in Texas- yes , our Neil is a doctor!
Neil is one of my best friends. We met in Philadelphia at Temple Podiatry School- and the rest is history. I hadn't seen him since 2001 and we end up attending the same diabetic wound care meeting in Ft. Worth Texas. Wow it was great to see him and catch up. With Neil, it is always a good time. This still holds true and crosses state lines. The last night of the meeting he told me get ready, we were going to hit the town Texas style. We did! He knew about this place called Billy Bob's Texas ( the largest honky tonk in the USA). It is in the old stockyards of Ft. Worth- very cool. We missed the live bull riding by minutes. ( yes they have live bull riding in the bar) I had a long neck shiner in my hand within seconds and while RANDY TRAVIS sang live, I danced the 2 step on the dance floor under a rhinestone saddle !!!!( instead of a disco ball) Thank you, Neil for a great time. And as the saying / song goes 'God Bless Texas' ( and Neil!!!)

Welcome Madeleine!

On March 3rd, 2008 weighing in at 2 lbs. 9 oz. Madeleine Eva Bushey joined our family of friends! Yes, she was early. Brent and Kirsten are parents! and doing a damn good job of it. Madeleine is definitely demanding lots of attention at a very early age, but she is beautiful and she's a fighter. She is so famous already. She has her own blog:

http://madeleinekirstenandbrent.blogspot.com/ She has rocked our world. She makes us count our blessings everyday. She has taught us how to be better friends.

THE CITY

We went to The City - NYC a couple of weeks ago to meet our photographer. He was great. I really like his style. We had a great weekend. We went to a lot of great clubs and listened to fantastic live music. We ended the night at Small's- this hole in the west village that has unbelievable jazz. They kick off the night at midnight with the first group. They had 4 acts the night we were there- it was amazing. We ate great food- Sarabeth's has the best breakfast in the city! ( and of course the slice at 2 AM is always good!) I heart NY!

Excuse me , there is a baby in your fridge!

Saturday morning we visited Steve's buddy Danny and his family in Connecticut.

Isabelle is a very beautiful, happy little girl. She has to be refrigerated though, or she might spoil!

Fruit

WOW- what an amazing weekend! Friday night was a treat . Wine at our favorite wine bar in DC with our buddy Adam. It was so great seeing him and catching up. He is so computer savvy. He was showing us stuff ( applications) on his new MAC that were pretty darn cool. I have MAC/ Apple envy big time. Apple technology just defines temptation in my mind- I wonder if that is why it is APPLE?

Leapin' Lizards

Happy Leap Year!
Should this day be a holiday? It is kind of like a snow day. We have to 'make up' time.
I do like it - it makes me think of other things that happen every 4 years, like the Olympic Games!
Tonight I am going out to dinner with Steve and his good buddy, Adam ( Jedi knight of the Blog world). He is in town from Boulder. He might actually blog about dinner tonight! It should be a good time.

Blog More , Blog More!

So my blog mentor, Adam called me out via an email today, and told me I need to blog more.
Nothing has really inspired me lately as blog worthy.
I suppose I could just put random pictures and tidbits on the blog- BUT I am new to this world. Be gentle Adam, I am a blogirgin? HA! ( no I am not related to W- making up words, and crap...)

So here is a reason/excuse for the lack of blogging.
Here is my distraction ( my desk) at this exact moment! I know, the excitement. This is where the magical research happens. AND YES I CONSUME MULTIPLE BEVERAGES ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!! ( ap, main course, desert)

New Hampshire Weekend

Steve and I just got back from visiting my matron of honor, Rachel, and her family in New Hampshire. It was cold but very fun. Despite her 2 beautiful children being a little under the weather , we had a great weekend. THANKS Rachel & Chris!!!

Steve has never been to Maine, soRachel and I took Steve to our favorite lighthouse, Nubble Lighthouse, in York, Maine. Rachel had taken me to this lighthouse for the first time 10 and a half years ago when we were at our nursing internship at Yale New Haven Hospital. Wow does time fly!
We took some very frigid pictures on the rocks and finished the afternoon eating hot bowls of chowder in Newburyport , Mass.

Rachel and I also checked off another done box on my bridal list of things to do by finding the perfect jewelry for the bridesmaids.

The trip home to MD included a stop off in New Haven, CT for lunch with an old high school buddy of Steve's . Steve asked his good friend , Andrew, to be a groomsman.

Slowly but surely we are making some progress. We have bridesmaids and groomsmen. The bridesmaids have dresses ( always good - naked bridesmaids are not 'in' yet). Today we meet with the dj. Tomorrow we talk to the photographer. Saturday we sample food from the caterer. I am having so much fun!

New Year's Eve 2007!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome 2008. Steve is a year older and we are getting married. I think all of these realizations are captured on both of our faces in the last photo.

The holidays have ended. Wedding plans are moving forward.

I am so excited!

I am marrying this guy!