:)

O-H-I-O...............Go Bucks!!!!!! I bet the game was fun...wish I could have been there.

My grandma is doing OK. I really never thought she was much of a boo hooer, she has always been the tough old lady you know and she actually cried quite a bit at the funeral and when she got up to pass the casket for the last time. But now she is back to her self for the most part. My grandma and her other brother are stuck to pay for some of the funeral costs because the insurance policy that my grandma had out on her brother, she thought would grow value and she was told years ago by the agent that it would and guess what it didnt and according to the insurance company that kind of policy doesnt grow value its just worth the face value. So she was pretty upset about that. We got the call on last Saturday that he wasnt doing well and we went to the hospital and he was breathing really hard and they told us he had pneumonia and the nurse basically said he was neglected at the Kenton Nursing Home because his mouth was apparently really dirty and dry and she said she didnt know how he had been taking the medicine that the nursing charts showed since his mouth was so dry. The nursing notes said that he was having trouble breathing for about the past week and they never once called my grandma to tell her that. The home said they tried to call on saturday but they didnt have the right phone number or some BS and we know that is a lie because 1. they had called before to tell my grandma that they cost more than Carey Home (he was a flood victim sent to Kenton home) and 2. I filled all the paperwork out with contact numbers and stuff and sent it to them. So something was going on and my grandma and her brother are turning them in to the state and thinking about calling a lawyer.

On a lighter note......I bought a Gazelle and I am starting my workout program on Monday. So wish me luck.

Liz let me know when you want to hang out.

April

Hope you had fun at the game, Jenna, especially since OSU won big! Anyhow, hope the funeral went okay for your uncle, April. How's your grandma doing??

Liz

Hmmm

Well, yeah I know that it might be difficult this year to do some things. I think whatever I plan on doing will have some sentimental value that I can create and send online or something. Not sure yet. I haven't really thought too much about Christmas, but it would have come up eventually.

So I'm in Minnesota and in a few hours Eric and I will be going to the OSU game. We're excited-watching GameDay on ESPN and hopefully will be pumped up when we get to the dome!!! I'll post pictures when we take some!

We do love ya Jenna!

So sorry, Jenna! I've been on vacation for a week & I meant to set it up to send you an e-card on your b-day...but I forgot! I hope you guys had a fun day anyhow :) (and there is something in the mail for ya!)

We had a nice time in D.C., although it was very hot! (upper 80's/90 all pretty much the whole time) I think I could visit there every year, even though I've seen pretty much everything. :D My favorite thing is the smithsonian national museum of air & space (which I'm sure you all don't care about seeing a million pictures of, so here are a few other photos).

Some cool buildings in Federal Triangle

Also Federal Triangle

Hope you know this one :)

The Hope Diamond

Okay...so I know it's early (but you know me & it is the beginning of October basically); I've been thinking about Christmas. April & I were talking about it last week & we were discussing what our plans for this year would be. We were kind of wondering what everyone's thoughts on buying for each other were. We've got people saving for a wedding :), other people with 2 kids :), & I think last year there was mention of how to handle buying gifts for each other/whether or not to do that. I love shopping for people, but I also know you guys are maybe on a little more of a budget than April & I (since we have no lives...LOL!). So, just kind of wanted to know some thoughts from people.

Hope everyone's doing well!
Liz

birthday blues!

Happy Belated Birthday Jenna!!!!!!!! I did put a post on myspace for you but I forgot to do the ecard I was planning...I was working the weekend so it pretty much sucked and my grandma's brother died so we have been dealing with that mess with the insurance company and all that. The funeral is tomorrow (Friday).

Glad you had a nice time with your sister and dinner...also that you had a relaxing day.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Love,
April

Oh I dont know what Katie is up too but I know Liz is in Washington DC on vacation with her mom and she left last Friday....other than that I dont know what people are up to.

Kind of disappointing.....

Soooooooo did we all die or something? That would at least give me a reason to wonder why I didn't get any phone calls a while back or at the very least an e-card? I guess I'm not nearly as important as I thought I was :( I did get one from Katie-which I thought was HILARIOUS by the way-that at least made me smile, but the message you wrote was a little confusing. Were you on something when you wrote it? :) So yeah, I'm another year older and apparently none the wiser.......
I had a good day with my sister and the people who love me. Alicia and I had cake & ice cream and Emma played with her cake. Eric took us to Applebees and we had lunch on Sunday. I basically took the day to relax, but overall it wasn't anything special. I hope you all enjoyed your weekends......I'm looking forward to this next one too! Go Buckeyes!

Awesome!

The ring is very pretty...Scott did a nice job! :) 'Bout time you posted a photo!

So, nothing really new to share for me. The usual work (which has been major busy lately...). But, I'm looking forward to vacation next week. Going to the Amish today...can't wait for some good food & some good bakeries!




Update on the mouth hardware...had to go red since it's football season!

Also, a nice picture of my new spring...or medieval torture device as I like to call it (he's making room for the adult tooth to be brought down after they pull the baby).

Bye!
Liz

The ring

Here's a picture... since I hear you've been waiting patiently! Time for work, I'll have to actually post later.

You frickin' crack me up, Aaron! (oh wait...Jenna already said that...)

KT...my mom & I went to Steve's Dakota Grill tonight for dinner & Amber was our server. She says Hi.

Liz

HAHAHAHHAA

Aaron,

You friggen crack me up. I laughed so hard when I read that...I peed a little... HAHAHAHA!

I hope all goes well for you, too. Enjoy doing what you enjoy doing!

Do Da! Do Da!

Drum Roll please................

I talked to KT a few days ago and she mentioned the blog and I had nearly forgotten about it. Thought I would make an appearance to tell you all what I have been up to if any of you were curious. For starters I moved to Washington D.C. (for about a month). I lived in Alexandria, VA with a friend from U.C. She got fired, moved back to Cincy, and stuck me with the rent! I couldn't afford, so I had to move back after not finding suitable living arrangements.

So here i be, back here in Cincy. Im not living on the air or anything, but just enjoying my 23rd year alive (HINT:a WKRP reference in there if you are paying attention.) I am single again, trying to stay out of trouble. I work in purchasing (of ALL things) for Queen City Reprographics (a printing company). A gay mans dream, I get to sit at a desk and buy shit all day while getting PAID! HEHE

Congrats on the Boy Jenna....hopefully all is well.

KT is getting married.....it seems just like yesterday when i was sneaking out of my house to cross the graveyard to lay on the blanket underneath KT's tree behind her house, pretending to be straight. Ahhh 1999, those were the days :). Or the time we sat in my 1982 Grey Oldsmobile Firenza holding hands, wanting to kiss but knowing that kissing girls was icky. Or all the feelings of jealousy when I tossed you aside and you took with with Jeremy. Ah yes, she certainly had a way of turning you gentlemen gay at the turn of the millenium. But alas, I love her and certainly wish her well with the self proclaimed "QT" as long as he knows that aside from Kurcan and Theis (which don't really count anyway), I was the original QT.

:)

Well that is all for now.

Aaron

Wow... you guys aren't kidding!

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Flooding.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/NEWS07/70823025/1009/NEWS07

This is nuts!

This flooding stuff is just crazy. They said on the radio that the Blanchard is at over 17 feet...flood level is 11 feet! In Bluffton, I-75 was covered with at least 3 feet of water & had to be closed down. In Carey, 23 had water up to mid-car door height. Bettsville evacuated everybody from their homes. My mom's director of nursing was forcibly evacuated in the middle of the night from her house (why she even went home is beyond me, esp. since her boyfriend lives in fotroit...). The social worker's house is flooded...all of her baby stuff, washer & dryer, etc. are submerged in the basement. Her accounts payable manager's husband burnt up 2 sump pumps & Lowe's doesn't even have any more. The activities director is on vacation, but she took pictures to share...her house is basically an island in the middle of a lake. I was talking to one of the other techs I work with...she said her husband's grandma woke up yesterday with her house surrounded (lives in Arlington). The fire department had to come rescue her...IN A BOAT! Crazy stuff for NW Ohio!

Anyhow, so...I think it's official...you should go with green for the sashes/ribbons, Katie....LOL! Green on the braces would look kinda cute, April :) Good luck with your GRE studying!

July Drought brings August Floods!

First we have a drought and now we are getting so much rain blah! Everything is flooded......my grandma's brother who is in a nursing home in Carey had to be evacuated to another nursing home in Kenton because the whole town of Carey is flooded.

As far as dress colors I really like the idea of mocha with the granny smith green and the fall colors worked in with flowers and other decor because Im not sure how well the darker fall colors would look on top of brown. If you are going to have a dark dress the ribbon really needs to be of a color that will pop out from the brown....something with more contrast like that of the green. I think that would look good on everyone and it would make for really nice decor and color palette.

Im not really sure that people really consider Columbus Day a holiday except those at Harvard so I dont think we will have a problem with that. Look at it this way that will be one less vacation day you will have to take Katie since you already have it off.

Liz the green would look cute for your braces or how about a different fall color for each tooth LOL! maybe not so much. Glad the mouth is feeling better. Email me about plans for Friday.

Jenna...how was the first days of school treating you? Kids behaving and all that, I hope. The dog will be good for Emma....Im sure she is loving it.

Nothing too new for me except I have started studying for the GRE so that I can retake it. I bought a book that will hopefully help me get a better score than last time. I took a practice test (from the CD that was included with the book) and I got 40 percent of the math questions right and 60 percent of the verbal questions right without studying anything. I kinda wanted to see how I stood with the material so I guess there is only going up from here......I hope.

later,
April

Rain Rain Go Away!

It's been pouring for about 2 days straight now....and looks like it's gonna keep on.... I was almost late to work tonight because the one underpass was closed & I had to go around, getting caught by a train in the process. Countyline was flooded by Nye's/Paul Cole this morning on my way home...had to go about 5 mph so I didn't drown out my car!

Anyhow, the braces are gettin' better...no more canker sores right now. However, my mouth/lips are so damn dry all the time because I can't really close my mouth all the way...going through some major chapstick/lip gloss :) That's funny you mentioned coordinating the color for the bridesmaid dresses, KT....I was just thinking about that today. I don't think I'll want to do brown (LOL), but maybe the granny smith. :D

So...I really like the idea of mocha dresses. I think it's a good color that would be flattering on pretty much anyone. I also really like the idea of everyone doing the light green sashes with the other colors in the flowers/decor. However, if you don't pick just green, here's my favorites of the ones you liked (since you asked for help):

bittersweet
burnt orange
goldenrod
granny smith apple
cornflower

Whatever you pick will be cool, though...fall colors are my favorites :) As far as Columbus day weekend...no it's no a 'real' holiday, so I'm thinking no problems there.

Hope everything else is cool with everybody...I'm out.
Liz

Holy cow, I'm gettin married!

With all the excitement and work of moving, I don't think it's actually sunk in yet that I'm engaged, I just wiggle my finger a lot and watch the sparkles :)

The new place is great, I'm really liking it! We just have a few more things to put away and stuff to hang on the walls. I don't like unpacking during the week, so that has really been a weekend thing! We got a new rug at Kohls yesterday, I'm totally lovin it! http://www.kohls.com/products/product_page_multiple0.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=429075211&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=354525545&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=71240501&bmUID=1187659930520

This interesting "contemporary" rug is our attempt to make our couches look less gay together, I think it helps :) It actually looks quite a bit better on the floor than it does in a picture, whew!

Congrats Liz on the new addition to your mouth, I hope the blisters and such go away soon. You'll have to coordinate your braces with the color of the bridesmaid dress, LOL! Currently, I'm still thinking poop brown for the dresses (aka "mocha")... but I'm sure I'll change my mind 5 times, then do the other fall colors in the flowers and decor, and maybe in sashes.

Help me pick! http://www.crayola.com/colorcensus/history/current_120_colors.cfm

Colors I like for the full 5 color rainbow of sashes:

Scarlet, Burnt orange, red orange, bittersweet
Neon Carrot, burnt orange,
Sun glow(actually in the orange family), Dandelion, Goldenrod, or maybe a much more subtle yellow
Granny Smith Apple, Screamin green :P
Cerulean or Cornflower... it's a tough call!

Oh my, or maybe just the mocha and a light green (granny smith)? Then the other colors could be worked into the flowers and decor. Ooh, I kinda like that!

Plans so far-- October 10th seems to be open, so hopefully we'll be locking in on 10-10-2008. That's a Friday, so it will be an evening gig, probably ceremony starting between 4 and 5, reception around 7 pm. That's Columbus day weekend, the gayest holiday ever according to Liz! Holiday weekends are usually a no no, but I don't think that counts as a "real" holiday.

OK- cutting this post short for bed, more to come soon!

New Year!

Well, school officially started up again for me. Can't say I am that thrilled about it, considering....but I will tackle another year. All I have to think about is the fact that I will be gone for some of it!

Otherwise, not much has happened for me since then. I go in for a glucose test after school tomorrow to test my blood sugar & see if I have gestational diabetes, but I don't think I do.

Emma is back at daycare and seems to really be enjoying seeing the kids again. It's good for all of us! I do have to say that I miss having her with me during the day. I knew it was going to happen, but nothing replaces that time you can have together!

We wound up getting a new puppy - black lab whose name is Mick. This is Eric's new hunting companion. It wasn't my first choice in new additions, but he seems alright so far. We'll see what happens I guess. Emma really likes him, she watches his every move and laughs when he licks her hand and tries to run away. Quite adorable, really.

OH YEAH! I forgot to mention that I think we will be having the baptism over Easter. That might work best for everyone. I don't know if anyone gets Easter off (I think it's March 15 or maybe the weekend after) but I think I want to do the baptism then. Hopefully everyone can manage that?

Well, that's about it for me for now. I'll let you all know of any new developments.

TTYL
JCO

CrazySexyCool

Hey there all!

First of all I would like to say a big CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! to Katie on her engagement! and also to Jenna on the upcoming birth of her new baby boy Riley :)

Liz the braces look good and I hope they are not hurting too bad.

Update for me....I really like my new job. I have now been there for 1 month and it is so much better than shitty Independence House. I really like working with the residents and pretty much playing all day long. I am kinda heading up the effort to get the raffle prizes for the annual carnival so its my first big project yay! So I am having alot of fun and getting to do some things that I really like to do.

Hope everyone is having a great start to their weekends as I plan to do some clothes shopping this weekend myself. Like I need anymore but its always fun :) Its an addiction that I dont plan on breaking anytime soon LOL! Lane Bryant here I come.

Live to Love, Love to Live

April

Metal Mouth!

So...I went to the orthodontist last Thursday for what I thought was going to be some more preliminary stuff (since that has been dragging on forever) & surprise...I got braced! My teeth have been pretty sore since then...a lot of pressure on them & some big mouth sores/irritations. Basically, I've lived on macaroni, mashed potatoes, pudding, ice cream, & noodle soup for the last 5 days (anything you can swallow whole or mash up with your tongue...LOL!). I was supposed to get my wisdom teeth/baby tooth pulled on Sept. 11, but my ortho cancelled that. For now I don't know when I'm getting it done (wish it was just over with...) because my ortho said he's got to make room for that adult tooth to come in or something. Also, no other surgery for right now...he's hoping to fix it all without that...yeah! Here's a little picture (don't mind all the blobs of wax...trying to stop the canker sores)...it's a little blurry because I was trying to take it myself. Anyhow, I didn't go very bold on color...boring blue. I'm thinking OSU colors next time since my appointment's at the beginning/middle of September :)





Other than that, I know nothing as usual (that's all I seem to ever know...teeth & work...LOL). What's everyone else up to??

Ultrasounds

Here's Riley's Ultrasound pictures again. I had a few more than I sent in the email, I just didn't know how many the email would hold! You can definitely tell it's a boy, huh? :-) The second one is his foot, as soon as we put the thingy on my tummy, he stuck his foot up there! The others are his heart beat and the 3-D pictures of him. He kind of has Eric's looks, or so it seemed when we were there. What do you think?????