Yesterday I turned 26. I'm officially in my early-late twenties, folks. Yes indeed.

This was my first birthday as a married woman, and an exciting and memorable one. The Husband took the day off, as did I, and we spent time doing the things we love best. Sleeping in, making breakfast together, wandering off to the local coffee shop to wake up over a froofy birthday appropriate confection of ice, coffee, and untold amounts of sugar. It was glorious.

We also spent a fair amount of time playing house at my dad's. You see, were are the designated house sitters, cat watchers, and Plant water-ers until the return of the Miller clan who are currently in an RV traveling across the south west united states. Much time was spent enjoying their plush couches and impressive cable television. (we lack such things in our home.. well, that's not completely true. We have couches. They're just a little bit more... loved)

Justin gave me a fabulous gift. 18 rolls of film to continue my photography hobby. That's right, I shoot with film. About 10 years ago, my dad gave me a Minolta Maxxum 400si, a niceish (for an amateur) camera in its day. He had a 500si. We were matchy matchy. I took a photography class, I went through the highschool phase of wanting to be a photographer. But really? I wasn't any good, and I didn't really absorb the information.

So imagine my wonder last year when I decided to buy a Holga 135bc, and the pictures.. weren't half bad. I have some examples a few posts back, not to toot my own horn, of course. but, with lomography you can kind of hide behind the fact that the intrigue of these pictures come from their imperfections and the spontaneity of the picture taking process. Point shoot, repeat and hope for the best. Sometimes good things come of it. black corners, over exposure, just add to the charm.

but now, here i am, having just inhereted my dads SLR. He's graduated to better things, fancy DSLR with bells, wistles and filters galore, along with an amazing knowledge of both photography itself and photoshop. I have neither of these things. and think, i can't hide behind those black corners, over exposure, extreme contrast anymore.  i need to focus on composition, f-stops etc,

But what I do have, is a desire to learn, 2 film cameras, (my beloved Holga, and my upgraded Minolta.. Minolta Jr. is going to be gifted to the little brother here in a few short months) 3 good lenses, and some film. So here I go, as an experiment. To see if I really can be any good, or I just get lucky sometimes.I really know very, very little. I hope that I can make this happen. Who knows, in a few years, I may be able to graduate to one of those fancy DSLRs yet. I hope to post pictures from my photography growth in the time to come.

Back to the birthday.

History lesson: My family is awesome. Awesome in the fact that they really celebrate birthdays. Its not about the presents, but about getting together as a family. I love it. This year, things were a bit different. Mom didn't want to get together until another week or so, and dad went out of town. So I was mopey. Yep, just like a 10 year old.

Yesterday Justin (the husband) puts me into the car at 6:30, with a blindfold, carrying a birthday cake. He drive me around to disorient me, then we arrive at Ban Thai, one of my favorite restaraunts, where several of our friends are waiting as a surprise.

My husband gave me a surprise party. and it was wonderful. I am thank for him, and always will be. Not sure how I got so lucky to have such an amazing man in my life.

This is my attempt at making this a real journal. bear with me here. My journal writing previously has always been flighty at best, so who's to say this will be a successful venture.

However, the birthday is right around the corner. I will be 26. i don't really mind turning older, but I also wouldn't mind attempting to keep track of my life. livejournal seems to fit the bill.

to dannibanni (not too sure if that's your user name, too lazy to go back and check.. ) at the moment you're my sole livejournal pal.  :) I decided not to farm out my journal to the people in my life, as its more of just a personal thing rather than me sharing my life with everyone via the inter tubes.

edit: to others who have added me overtime to their f-list and I somehow missed that, Hello! I'm occasionally  active in lomography, and lurk at a bunch of different communities.  *waives vigorously* 

I don't think we've actually met, i think I added you when i was living in the twin cities, and was in a community for people that were new in town. That's been a few years now, as i've been living back in Iowa for 2 years.

anywho, in the best non creepy way to say this, i do see your posts on my f-list and i hope all is well with you.

--
temp hijack over. Let see, on the verge of 26, I want to think about some of the things that 25 brought me. Hopefully a renewed sense of self. but a huge thing was, marrying Justin. It was truly an amazing day, and I hope that i am, and will continue to be a good partner to him. So, i've seen these before, maybe i'll just start at the months and see what I can remember..

July 2008. I turned 25, and had a faboosh party with the husband to be. Rockwall climbing, rainbow cupcakes, and friends were all present at said party. it was awesome.

August 2008: my grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. I snuck a peek at my grandpa's card to grandma it read "i wish we could go back and do it all over again". That's love.

September 2008: both my fam's b-days fell in this month.. not really recalling much else of interest. must have been a boring month? 

October 2008: our 4 year anniversary. Thai food was had, much wedding planning ensued.

November 2008: It was cold. My brother turned 15, Justin's nephew turned 1. Step mom announced she was pregnant.

December 2008: Christmas. Step dad lost his job and his x-mas bonus. Mom was depressed. Justin & I have yet to spend a single christmas together, thanks to our family being in different states.

January 2009: The new year! step mom is decidedly more pregnant.

February 2009: Valentine's day. at 4:30 am, justin wakes me up and gives me a gold box. Inside are green earrings. beautiful.  baby sister turns 11.

March 2009: sweet buckets, I'm getting close to getting married. I spend all together way too much time on the internet doing wedding crap. Morph into a creature I'm not sure I recognize. My sister turns 27.

April 2009:  I have both a wedding shower, and a bachelorette party. Fun is had by all. bachelorette party is spent bowling and singing kareoke. Best party ever.

May 2009: I get hitched. and its perfect.



baby sister is born. She's beautiful, and also perfect.

June 2009: We come back from our honeymoon down route 66, and somehow get back into regular life

July 2009: I find out that I'm a 'star performer at work' and get free underground parking for a month. I wish to myself that i had been a better performer in the winter months, where underground parking would be much more awesome of a perk. I also turn 26. and I eat 2 month old wedding cake.

a fair synopsis, eh?

So in wedding planning news, we may borrow/rent/ steal my cousin's Chevy Biscayne for the wedding. This car used to belong to my great grandpa, and I remember riding in it when I was little. It has a lot of memories attached, and I think would also make for some lovely photos. The great thing about it? Its borrowed, old and blue. ;)

Justin and I had a long discussion this weekend about the wedding. I, in classic form of course started to cry. I tend to do that when I'm stressed, and yesterday was no different. I just want this wedding to be over, and for us to be married already. I think that's an awful thing to say, but that's how I feel. I don't want to plan/organize anymore . I am so over it.

It doesn't help that at every step along the way I feel like I'm dissapointing people. Its very frustrating to say the least. I know that I can't satisfy everyone, but as a people pleaser, is just drives me batty. I'm going a bit nutso.

I think we're going to do real flowers in the church instead of fake. Just for the sake of simplicity, and cost. Fake flowers are going to cost about the same, and then I'm stuck with them afterwords...

Things I need to do this week:

Print Save the dates, finalize guest list, contact the hotel about getting a room block/ honeymoon suite, contact Des Moines rental about stopping by

Next week:
Get hours/ times finalized with art center and church/ start figuring out how we want invitations printed, send save the dates. Contact the florist about getting the flowers added to, and a plan for delivery. Contact the B&B by the art center about rooms, etc
Call salon, make appointment for hair trial
Call dress shop, make appointment for alterations ( 3) 

In the next month:
Pay photog, and set up a time to discuss details, and the plan. Need to do this once things are finalized with church and reception
start looking at tuxes (have justin pick his groomsmen) 

In the next couple months
Wedding bands
order candles/ candle holders
vases
finish paper roses
figure out place settings
Get music in order for Ed
send out invites
 

Holy crap there's a lot of stuff in wedding planning. Only 5 1/2 months to go.

So, the peace corp 

Advantages

2 years overseas with the man I love, making a difference in the world
vacation time 2 days a month to travel and see more of the world!
6,000 each/ 12,000 total at the end of our service to do with what we please (house?)
great opportunity, which may lead to great career rewards.
once in a life time opportunity

Disadvantages
2 years away from friends and family
I still have to pay private student loans 200 month/ 24 months = 4,800. A lot of money to save in the mean time
Storage: gotta keep our crap somewhere, eh? 100/month for 24 months? $2,400
2 years of not contributing to retirement / 401k.

Other things to think about:
If someone in my family is incredibly sick or dies, the Peace corp will send me home for 2 weeks. 
full dental/health benefits
small stipend. 
married couples are guaranteed places together if they both qualify. 
Credit cards need to be paid off prior to leaving.. $950 for me, 2,500 for him. Plus savings for student loans, etc = 10,000 we need to pull together to 1. have no debt 2. be able to pay bills at home while we are away. This of course is in anticipation of a very small stipend.


what do I think? I think it sounds awesome. We're going to have to save lots of money.