Snow Dancing

Have I ever blogged about my obsession with fireworks? I do love them. A lot. Like they are in my top five favorite things of all time. Hence the reason Ryan proposed to me during them! He knew! So it is no surprise I love this Katy Perry song (I actually just saw the video for the first time yesterday and kind of also love that!).

So last night we had a nice dinner and were purusing Netflix and having a nice glass of pinot grigio. We found this show Lie to Me and even though we've only seen two episodes we're hooked! But inbetween the two Ryan looks at me and goes,

"Do you trust me?"

Well...duh.

"Ok, just go with me for the next five steps."

Ok....

"Take a big gulp of wine."

Skeptical look inserted here.

"Oh just do it."

So I did. In the mean time Ryan runs and gets my fuzzy green slippers, throws his jacket over me and then drags me outside.

Into the snow.

He then has me stand there for a moment while he plays with his phone. Suddenly "Firework" starts to play and he holds out his hand to me. And we danced. In the snow. It was kind of amazing. We were laughing and kissing and spinning around all over the sidewalk. During some of the "baby you're a fiiiiiirework" parts he picked up snow and threw it up into the air. Awesome. I didn't want to ruin the moment and run and get my camera but here is a picture from Ryan's phone of the two of us in the snow. (:






PS - I could still use some guest bloggers for two weeks from now when I have my surgery... any other takers? I have a few... but more are appreciated so I don't have to post under the influence of pain medication!!

Marine Corps Birthday Ball

EDIT: Read this entry if you want to know the dos and donts of the ball and what to wear!

We have fought in ev'ry clime and place

Oh the ball. We looked forward to it for weeks and... sad to say it the DC ball was not the best this year. We had a good time and enjoyed being there. The ceremony (from what we could see) was nice, but the party itself, eh. Lauren and I went and got out hair done together (after Ryan and I had a nice lunch with my dad, brother, and cousin!) and then I went over to the wrong hotel to get ready. Did you know Crystal City has five Marriotts? And for good measure they are building two more. We had a non refundable, nonexchangable room booked at the wrong hotel. It was maybe two blocks away but across Route One so not walkable. Ah well.

We popped a bottle of champagne and then took a cab over with another couple who were also at the wrong hotel. Apparently there was a free shuttle but they insisted they were taking a cab and were buying, so we took a free cab!

There was mingling and such when we arrived. For how expensive our tickets were this year we thought the bar would be cheaper... it wasn't. $8.50 for a glass of wine, $7 for a mixed drink or a beer. Insane. I had maybe two glasses of wine, Ryan a little more.... ahem. :P Then for the dinner our table was changed from the last time Ryan checked it and one of the couples we were supposed to be with and more of our friends were in the middle of the room, we were in the back. I was glad Lauren and her husband were at our table though, I had someone to talk to I got along with, which was great. Ryan kept saying he was at the kiddy table being the only NCO. We were in the far far back corner right next to the movie screen and kitchen door. I saw almost none of the ceremony, but I heard it. And saw the video.

Oh, the youngest Marine? Born in 1992. I remember 1992. This frightens me!

Anyway, the ceremony was nice. They were extra appreciative in recognizing spouses and Ryan put his hand on my shoulder or waist everytime they did. It made me feel extra special and proud of him! I do what I do because of him. That makes it.

Food was good.

Cake was good.

DJ was awful!!!! I remember two years ago they played a nice mix. Fast party club-esque songs, then a slow song, then party songs, then a slow one. Not one slow song this year. At all. He was trying to remix and failed miserably. We would just be getting into a song and then he would cut it to another one, or turn off the music entirely for an awkward mid jump moment of silence. Needless to say we were out of there by 11:30pm. Sort of depressing! But Ryan's Sgt and his girlfriend came up to our room with us and we shared a bottle of wine. After that they left and off to sleep we went in one of the comfiest beds ever.

I guess you want pictures huh? The cake alone won't cut it! (Haha, get it? Cake? Cut? Ahem. Sorry...)

Check out those dress whites! Only 8th and I ever makes the guys wear their whites to the ball. Usually it is their blues. Whatever. Lauren and I totally coordinated nicely... totally unplanned too!



Me and the hubby. I think this is my favorite picture from that night. We have to wait four-six weeks for our professional shots though... also had to pay up front. Lame again!


At dinner. See those double doors? That would be the kitchen! We got served fast at least!

Getting his groove on early!

That's my hubby. Little party animal.

The ladies with Gunny. He cracks me up! He just walked right over, had Lauren and I each step aside, and posed with us saying, "Smile pretty ladies, make me look good!"


Would be a great picture if my husband smiled!

Manly men, don't you think?

Yea I lost the shoes by the end of the night. Four inchers can only last you so long. I made it at least five songs in though!!

By the way, this is the view of the hotel we were supposed to be at from the hotel we actually were at.

Happy Birthday USMC. 235 years of something definitely worth being proud of! Here is to 235 more. (:

Kim's Visit

Friday night one of my greatest friends and former bridesmaid, Kim, came down to visit me and Ryan. I was so excited to see her! It is always good to have someone from home nearby and especially nice to have a FEMALE friend to hang with for a change! Yes I love you Ryan, but you are hopelessly male! Which is usually a good thing... but I need a dose of estrogen every now and then. Kim and I have known one another since my sophomore year of highschool, her freshman year, when we met at our theatre school, and we have been great friends ever since. Hence the whole bridesmaid factor! Now she lives and works in NYC and is still wonderful. She is still acting, doing theatre and small films (which I am totally jealous of) yet still made time to bus all the way down here for the weekend.

Ryan and I picked her up Friday in DuPont Circle and drove around a bit while we chatted to catch up. She got to see the monuments from the nice warm car and not have to walk! We went back to the apartment and changed as it got chilly and walked up to our favorite bar on King St, Murphy's. We had a few drinks and listened to the Irish guitar guy play and had a good time. Now... Kim has this irrational fear of deer. Once in highschool, when it was her birthday, I got her a stuffed Bambi from the Disney store and hid it in her locker. When she opened it she screamed and proceeded to smack the hell out of me... rightly so! I felt awful and I had a real present for her too, which helped, but I never messed with it again. Now this whole time Ryan is playing on his phone and I don't even know if he is paying attention. He then goes, "Hey Kim.... ROAR!" and holds up a picture of a deer he uploaded to his phone. Kim jumped and actually teared up! I was ready to kill him! I smacked him upside the head and he was truly apologetic but he was trying so hard not to laugh. My charming husband... oy.

Saturday we went to the HFStival in Columbia MD. It was cool, we had a nice time walking around and eating bad for you food and beer. The USMC naturally had a booth for recruiting and I went and did a 25sec flexed arm hang (I so remember that being easier!) and won a keychain! We wanted to stay and see Billy Joel and Third Eye Blind but we did not want to wait another four hours so we just left! We heard Lit, Fuel, Macy's Playground, and the Presidents of the United States of America. I recognized maybe two songs total... but yay free concert!

We drove to the barracks and watched Weeds with Josh for a bit and ordered Dominoes. PS, that show is hilarious and I love it thanks to Netflix! After Kim and I went back to the apartment and got ready to go to Nick's, the country bar I wrote about here.


Ready to party country style!

We mostly had a good time until Ryan gave Kim some unasked for love advice concerning a previous relationship (*ignoring me frantically shhing him and squeezing the hell out of his knee*) and made her cry again. Once again, SO ready to kill him. He gets a few drinks in him and he turns into Dr. Phil. It just was not his place. He apologized and they went out to talk for a long time so Josh and I danced. The line dancing was HARD but fun. Two old guys danced with me during the night so I got the basic two step down as they twirled me around and I tried to teach Josh how to do it. We ended up just randomly hopping and spinning in circles on the floor! It was fun! Ryan tried two line dances early in the night and gave up, which kind of made me upset. I wanted to dance with him, not Josh! (even though Josh was great too! He is just not my hubby) Then they all tried to drag me to the back bar for karaoke and I nearly cried. Luckily it was near closing and I didn't have to sing! Ryan promised me next time we go to Nick's he will go early and do the lessons with me before hand so he doesn't feel so stupid not knowing the steps. I told him Josh Kim and I were winging it and still had a blast, no one cared! But at least next time he is willing to try.

Sunday we had a nice brunch on King St and just hung out until I took Kim to the bus to go home. I miss her already!

We learned on Wednesdays Nick's does Swing Dance Lessons from 7-9pm, so guess what we are doing this week? I am pretty excited.

Ryan and I did laundry and watched the Manning Bowl at the barracks. I don't want to talk about it. Giants, Eli.... really????? Ugh.

Lunch time! I love being able to write at work a bit!