Update

Yes! I am still alive! But obviously very busy!

Or perhaps lazy. One or the other.

So as I am wont to do, I will now update you in stages.

Meagan on Wedding Planning...

You might have guessed this has figured quite heavily into the schedule lately. We've set a date of February 14, 2009 and in the two and a half months since we got engaged, have managed to nail down all of our major vendors. My sister and my mom and my dad and my grandparents... and... well, pretty much everyone but me thinks this is just HI-larious since clearly I have been dying to plan my wedding since I was 5.

I argue I am merely proactive.

In reality, my travel schedule with work is out of control August through November, so I'm trying to minimize my stress during that time frame by getting the big stuff out of the way now. Plus. They are all wrong. I have been wanting to plan my wedding since I was in the womb. WOMB, people! Get it straight!

Meagan on New Year's Resolutions...

In preparation for our big day, Ryan and I have started a weight loss and exercise plan. We have been eating healthy and running at least four times a week since January 1st.

He has lost 23 pounds. As for me?

I have lost 7.

This? Is not fair.

I know, I know. Women lose weight differently and it's smart to lose it slowly and I don't have that much to lose and all that jazz. But despite the whole unfairness of Ryan losing so much more damn weight than I am even though - hello! - we are doing the same exact flippin' thing (!!!)... we feel so much healthier and are really pleased with the changes we're seeing.

Let me further explain. A little over a year ago, I had lost 21 pounds and was in the best shape of my life. Then Bulgaria happened. I suppose I'm not being totally fair as I can't really blame it on an entire country. It could have had something to do with the fact that one of our favorite activities during our time in Stara Zagora was to meet up with friends and indulge in massive quantities of very cheap beer, pasta with cream sauce and cheese, french fries with cheese and - oh yeah - bread-like substances filled with yet more cheese. Friends, just a PSA for ya' here. Wretched things happen when carbohydrates (and cheese!) prevail and you don't have to worry about drinking and driving due to a distinct lack of a motor vehicle. Drinking two or three or eight pints of beer and walking (staggering) is perfectly okay! And so it goes until one day you wake up and you're like, um... where did the skinny Meagan go and who stuck these 20 extra pounds back on her ass?!

The CureTour, of course, didn't help. I don't know if you have noticed there are McDonalds in just about every square inch of America, but we sure did. When you're short on time and the french fries calleth, it's darn tough to ignore.

But now we're all about the chicken and fish and whole wheat pasta and fruits and broccoli and maybe you won't believe me, but we honestly love this way of eating. So the pounds can take their time coming off, I guess, since I really feel this is a lifestyle change more than a diet. Even though I confess the competitive side of me wants to add several tablespoons of butter to Ryan's meal whenever I cook so I can catch up a little already! Haaaaa! I kid.

Meagan on Pet-Ownership...

Do you remember when we had a dog? And lo he was named Tyson. And it was good.

And then it rapidly became not so good.

Tyson, it turns out, did not like the whole living-in-an-apartment, having-to-deal-with-other-living-creatures, only-getting-to-run-about-four-miles-a-day, not-getting-to-pee-and-poop-on-the-carpet-or-tear-up-things thing.

We came to the conclusion that as a border collie - and... um... an antisocial a shy one at that, he simply needed more space and exercise than we could provide him. So we moved him home to live with Ryan's parents. This was a very tough decision, particularly since we knew he'd have to travel on a plane by himself and this involved the whole "other living creatures" part of the equation.

We were right to be concerned because when he arrived in Illinois, Mark (Ryan's stepdad) was encouraged to come and soothe his dog whereupon he found a sign on the side of his crate that solemnly read: "Tyson is very upset."

We did not put it there, so I can only imagine what he was doing to inspire the airport staff in this manner. (Will you think us bad parents if I tell you we think it's sort of funny, actually?)

All's well that ends well, though. Tyson is much happier living in Illinois and is experiencing the joys of snow for the first time in his young life. Also possums. Evidently one recently decided to visit him and well... um... play possum. Tyson felt this was a very special gift just for him and the possum is now no longer with us. His spirit, anyway. His body is most definitely still with us since Tyson refuses to release his new toy to his dad, preferring to shake it and growl every time Mark gets close.

At least he's not bored.

As for Ryan and I, we have decided that cats suit our current lifestyle very well and so have adopted two adorable felines we have dubbed George Michael and Maeby. As Arrested Development fans, we feel they have been aptly named. George Michael is our sweet cuddlebug... and adores napping on our laps and looking out the window. Maeby is a feisty little thing who was most likely a dog in a previous life.

Maeby has become very attached to me and rather enjoys waking me up at 6 AM to lay on my chest, purr and chew contentedly on my hair. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I like this. Ryan is getting into the whole thing too and actually made a donation at the grocery store in all of our names the other day.

So! It appears we are now crazy cat people!

Meagan on blogging...

Thus endeth the updates for now... but I am going to try to write more often now that we're all settled and stuff...

I know... promises, promises... but I really mean it this time!

That is, if I can fit it in in between all the wedding planning...