Wow, time is going semi-quickly. Concert band camp is upon us, and you know what that means... time to tolerate the one and only Fraggle (code name for one of the faculty). Oy vey!
Things have been going pretty well with family stuff, for the most part. I guess they have started cleaning out Grandpa's house, which is sad. But the entire family is really coming together. We've had some kind of get together every night. Thursday, people met for dinner on the way home, Friday was Jane's, yesterday was Judy's, and tonight is uncle Mike's. Tomorrow is the wake, and Tuesday is the funeral and graveside service. It'll suck major balls, but you know. I think that this is a time for us all to really lean on each other and grow closer as a unit.
On a happier note, my bridal shower is coming up this next Sunday! I am so excited! It's kitchen themed, which is AWESOME because that's seriously what we need the most. I'm a little bummed that no one has gotten the utensil crock from Brickyard Pottery yet... I've been checking the registry religiously to see. But I am so thrilled with everything else that is being purchased. I feel so weird, because I've never really been one to be like, "Oh good, get me that! Yes, I am getting presents!" I always hate getting gifts, but for some reason, my wedding has completely changed that. I am beside myself with glee at the idea of getting a bunch of new kitchen things. I think most of my registry is kitchen stuff, actually. It's tough to decide what to register for when you're moving into a fully furnished house. We did not pick any flatware yet, which we really probably should, but there's already stuff at the house that is just fine. Why fix what isn't broken? The pots, pans, and dishes need some serious updating, which everything that we registered for will fix. My college pots and pans that Mom got me are actually in pristine condition, since I rarely used them because I didn't want to wreck them. They are an amazingly nice Kitchenaid set. Navy blue, which will match our dishes, believe it or not. Who knew I would end up with blue-ish dishes? I used to really not like blue on stuff that I use all the time, but I like this pattern. http://www.brickyardpottery.com/giftregistry/bitneybryan.htm
Ah, wedding. This is going to be a blast. Max and I did SO WELL on our FOCCUS test! Father was very impressed, I guess. Pretty much totally sweet. I'm excited. Look out world, here we come!
13 July 2008
11 July 2008
With every death, a new life begins.
Yesterday kind of sucked. But in a way, I feel like we all feel that much more relieved. Grandpa passed away yesterday around 6:00pm, while we were all holding his hands and being there for him.
I got a phone call in the morning from my dad telling me that Grandpa wasn't doing well, and that I should probably go see him soon. I wanted to cancel my bachelorette party right away so that I could go on Saturday, but he told me to wait until he knew more from the nurses and doctors. A little while later, I got another call from dad, tellng me that Tara and I should probably leave work immediately and come to the Cities, as the hospital staff didn't think Grandpa had more than 24 hours to live. Of course, I bailed right away, catching a ride with my uncle Mike and aunt Nancy. We got to the hospital by 5:20, and hauled our butts up to the room where Grandpa was staying. As soon as we got there, and uncle Mike went up to Grandpa to hold his hand, all of Grandpa's vital signs shot up; he knew that Mike was there. Jackie had been telling Grandpa to hold on, that Mike was on his way (the last sibling to be able to make it to the hospital).
As we sat there holding his hands, Kate told us that Grandpa had been telling her that Grandma Irene visited him every night at 6:00. He understood that should wasn't alive, but somehow, still she came to see him and talk to him. As the clock drew nearer to the 6:00 hour, we all found ourselves looking up to watch the hands slowly close in on the time that Grandma would come to visit. As soon as 6:00 hit, we looked at Grandpa, looked at the clock, and the room got very quiet. The minutes and seconds went by SO slowly! But after a little bit, the nurse came in, and told us that it was basically his pacemaker that was keeping his heart beating; he had stopped breathing and hadn't been for quite a few minutes. After a while, she came back in and told us that there was no heartbeat. Just like that, he was gone.
Even though we were all devastated, it was like we knew he was with Grandma. She'd come to talk to him, and together, they decided it was time. I can't imagine how happy they must be to finally be together. It's been so long. Jackie made the comment that she wondered how Grandma and Gladyce were getting along; I don't know! That'd be interesting to see. But now he's up there with both of them, checking on my sister Nicki, and baking kickass apple pies, cookies, and baked beans for anyone who wants them. Halibut, too, I'm sure. I'm guessing that in Heaven, there's an unending supply. Who knows?
I got a phone call in the morning from my dad telling me that Grandpa wasn't doing well, and that I should probably go see him soon. I wanted to cancel my bachelorette party right away so that I could go on Saturday, but he told me to wait until he knew more from the nurses and doctors. A little while later, I got another call from dad, tellng me that Tara and I should probably leave work immediately and come to the Cities, as the hospital staff didn't think Grandpa had more than 24 hours to live. Of course, I bailed right away, catching a ride with my uncle Mike and aunt Nancy. We got to the hospital by 5:20, and hauled our butts up to the room where Grandpa was staying. As soon as we got there, and uncle Mike went up to Grandpa to hold his hand, all of Grandpa's vital signs shot up; he knew that Mike was there. Jackie had been telling Grandpa to hold on, that Mike was on his way (the last sibling to be able to make it to the hospital).
As we sat there holding his hands, Kate told us that Grandpa had been telling her that Grandma Irene visited him every night at 6:00. He understood that should wasn't alive, but somehow, still she came to see him and talk to him. As the clock drew nearer to the 6:00 hour, we all found ourselves looking up to watch the hands slowly close in on the time that Grandma would come to visit. As soon as 6:00 hit, we looked at Grandpa, looked at the clock, and the room got very quiet. The minutes and seconds went by SO slowly! But after a little bit, the nurse came in, and told us that it was basically his pacemaker that was keeping his heart beating; he had stopped breathing and hadn't been for quite a few minutes. After a while, she came back in and told us that there was no heartbeat. Just like that, he was gone.
Even though we were all devastated, it was like we knew he was with Grandma. She'd come to talk to him, and together, they decided it was time. I can't imagine how happy they must be to finally be together. It's been so long. Jackie made the comment that she wondered how Grandma and Gladyce were getting along; I don't know! That'd be interesting to see. But now he's up there with both of them, checking on my sister Nicki, and baking kickass apple pies, cookies, and baked beans for anyone who wants them. Halibut, too, I'm sure. I'm guessing that in Heaven, there's an unending supply. Who knows?
06 July 2008
The way you look tonight-- Andy Williams version
Well, we picked our song to have our first dance to. :) We'll be dancing to "The Way You Look Tonight," as performed by Andy Williams in 1966. The neat thing about it is that my little sister Kelsey will be singing it for us!
On an even more personal note, I felt like it was really appropriate, particularly because of the situation we're facing with Max being deployed to Iraq. The song talks about how, no matter how bad it ever gets, whenever the guy is sad or lonely, he'll look back with a smile and feel better just thinking about the way she looked tonight. We both can kind of relate to the song, because we'll always have this dance and this day to remember forever, no matter how far apart we may be. I feel so blessed to be able to spend the rest of my life with Max. I love him so much.
04 July 2008
I'm Feeling Lucky button
Here's what I think. Every once in a while, I'm going to type in a word or two of what's on my mind, hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button in Google, and blog about whatever pops up for the result.
In this particular episode, I have punched in "marriage." What came up? Wikipedia, of course! Now, I could comment on marriage itself, but how about Wikipedia?
I used to wonder why Wikipedia was such a crappy source to use in a professional research paper. Little did I know that, if I so desired, I could EDIT THE PAGE and make myself a subject in Wikipedia. Look up Shell Lake, WI, and it could say "home of the big two tailed fish and the ever so lovely Anne Bitney." As a result, I could have people writing in depth research about me and I wouldn't even know it! My friend Andrew did that (not write a paper on me but put his name on Wikipedia), and it was up for about a week or two before the creators took it down. Awesome.
Ok, this is what Wikipedia has to say about marriage: "People marry for many reasons, but usually one or more of the following: legal, social, and economic stability; the formation of a family unit; procreation and the education and nurturing of children; legitimizing sexual relations; public declaration of love; or to obtain citizenship."
So what we're looking at here is that A, people marry for stability, so that they have some kind of solid surface to be on. This stability issue isn't one that I would necessarily deem as a good reason for getting married. Just because you're unstable means you should get married? What?
B, people marry to form a family. That's not a bad reason. However, if that's the only reason you're getting married, I'm not so sure. You can have a family without being married, can't you? Overall though, I don't think this is a terrible reason.
C, people marry to procreate. Not even gonna go there.
D, people marry to legitimize sexual relations. We can learn from the actions of one Brittany Spears. She married some guy for 24 hours to legitimize their sexual relations and then went on to divorce right away. If people did this every time they wanted to legitimize their sexual relations... wow. That'd be a mess.
E, people marry to have a public declaration of love. I'm not so sure I've got an explanation for this one. But, if this means that it's a civil union between two people to show their love for each other and have a public unity, then that's really a pretty good reason.
F, people marry to gain legal citizenship. My mom had a guy in her office who was going to marry this woman from Peru or wherever, but she got into the country, married him, and divorced. Good reason for marriage? I think not. But it did work on Will & Grace when Karen's maid Rosie needed legal citizenship. So, 1 out of 2 times, it worked. And if it's on Will & Grace, then it must be so.
In this particular episode, I have punched in "marriage." What came up? Wikipedia, of course! Now, I could comment on marriage itself, but how about Wikipedia?
I used to wonder why Wikipedia was such a crappy source to use in a professional research paper. Little did I know that, if I so desired, I could EDIT THE PAGE and make myself a subject in Wikipedia. Look up Shell Lake, WI, and it could say "home of the big two tailed fish and the ever so lovely Anne Bitney." As a result, I could have people writing in depth research about me and I wouldn't even know it! My friend Andrew did that (not write a paper on me but put his name on Wikipedia), and it was up for about a week or two before the creators took it down. Awesome.
Ok, this is what Wikipedia has to say about marriage: "People marry for many reasons, but usually one or more of the following: legal, social, and economic stability; the formation of a family unit; procreation and the education and nurturing of children; legitimizing sexual relations; public declaration of love; or to obtain citizenship."
So what we're looking at here is that A, people marry for stability, so that they have some kind of solid surface to be on. This stability issue isn't one that I would necessarily deem as a good reason for getting married. Just because you're unstable means you should get married? What?
B, people marry to form a family. That's not a bad reason. However, if that's the only reason you're getting married, I'm not so sure. You can have a family without being married, can't you? Overall though, I don't think this is a terrible reason.
C, people marry to procreate. Not even gonna go there.
D, people marry to legitimize sexual relations. We can learn from the actions of one Brittany Spears. She married some guy for 24 hours to legitimize their sexual relations and then went on to divorce right away. If people did this every time they wanted to legitimize their sexual relations... wow. That'd be a mess.
E, people marry to have a public declaration of love. I'm not so sure I've got an explanation for this one. But, if this means that it's a civil union between two people to show their love for each other and have a public unity, then that's really a pretty good reason.
F, people marry to gain legal citizenship. My mom had a guy in her office who was going to marry this woman from Peru or wherever, but she got into the country, married him, and divorced. Good reason for marriage? I think not. But it did work on Will & Grace when Karen's maid Rosie needed legal citizenship. So, 1 out of 2 times, it worked. And if it's on Will & Grace, then it must be so.
03 July 2008
Then they do..
I was reading my cousin Jill (ok, well, my cousin Tim's wife, but same difference!)'s blog, and how Gage is growing up so fast, and it made me think of this Trace Adkins song that we played at my senior slide show:
----------------------------------------
In the early rush of morning,
Trying to get the kids to school:
One's hanging on my shirt-tail,
Another's locked up in her room.
And I'm yelling up the stairs:
"Stop worrying 'bout your hair, you look fine."
Then they're fightin' in the backseat,
And I'm playing referee.
Now someone's gotta go,
The moment that we leave.
And everybody's late,
I swear that I can't wait till they grow up.
Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.
Now the youngest is starting college,
She'll be leavin' in the Fall.
And Brianna's latest boyfriend,
Called to ask if we could talk.
And I got the impression,
That he's about to pop the question any day.
I look over at their pictures,
Sittin' in their frames.
I see them as babies:
I guess that'll never change.
You pray all their lives,
That someday they will find happiness.
Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.
No more Monday PTA's,
No carpools, or soccer games.
Your work is done.
Now you've got time that's all your own.
You've been waitin' for so long,
For those days to come.
Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.
Ah, then they do.
-----------------------------------------------
Whenever I read those lyrics I get pretty nostalgic. My parents must be feeling that right now, with me getting married. I always kind of wonder how they feel about it, not like if they're ok with it or not, but like... how it is. 22 years ago, they weren't sure that I'd live this long. But now I almost have a 4 year degree and I'm getting married. They spend all of those years raising all of us and making sure we're ok and giving us their whole world, and then just like that, it's over. Not like I won't always be their little girl, but it's still kind of a strange feeling.
----------------------------------------
In the early rush of morning,
Trying to get the kids to school:
One's hanging on my shirt-tail,
Another's locked up in her room.
And I'm yelling up the stairs:
"Stop worrying 'bout your hair, you look fine."
Then they're fightin' in the backseat,
And I'm playing referee.
Now someone's gotta go,
The moment that we leave.
And everybody's late,
I swear that I can't wait till they grow up.
Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.
Now the youngest is starting college,
She'll be leavin' in the Fall.
And Brianna's latest boyfriend,
Called to ask if we could talk.
And I got the impression,
That he's about to pop the question any day.
I look over at their pictures,
Sittin' in their frames.
I see them as babies:
I guess that'll never change.
You pray all their lives,
That someday they will find happiness.
Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.
No more Monday PTA's,
No carpools, or soccer games.
Your work is done.
Now you've got time that's all your own.
You've been waitin' for so long,
For those days to come.
Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.
Ah, then they do.
-----------------------------------------------
Whenever I read those lyrics I get pretty nostalgic. My parents must be feeling that right now, with me getting married. I always kind of wonder how they feel about it, not like if they're ok with it or not, but like... how it is. 22 years ago, they weren't sure that I'd live this long. But now I almost have a 4 year degree and I'm getting married. They spend all of those years raising all of us and making sure we're ok and giving us their whole world, and then just like that, it's over. Not like I won't always be their little girl, but it's still kind of a strange feeling.
01 July 2008
Wedding stuff is coming along nicely. It's about a month and 8 days away, which is pretty much awesome. We're kind of starting to morph into married couple-ness. I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's like... well, the first thing that hit me was when Max came up to me and said "Want to do Sam's meds?" And it wasn't that he was asking ME to do it. He was saying that, hey, let's both go take care of this together. I don't know why it hit me so hard, maybe I'm weird, but it made me smile. :) We also worked together to clean out the entire freakin basement, which took a little bit of doing but we got it done. He claims that I helped a lot, but it was really mostly Max. The house looks so good! I feel so much better about moving into it on August 9. I also feel a little better about bringing my own things over, although I will tell you right now that my set of KitchenAid pots and pans are NOT going over until I can ensure that they are going to be well maintained. That set was too dang expensive to not be guarded.
I think I am going to paint the bathroom this week. Preferably tonight or tomorrow. That'd be nice. The color is a really nice green, not like bright or super dark, but a sage-ish color. I really like it a lot. We picked out a really nice looking shower curtain that is kind of a square pattern. The background is a tannish-cream, and then it has squares outlined with shades of green and blue, the green which will match the color on the walls. For the floor, I think I'm going to get a light/medium blue bathmat, which'll match the blue in the curtain as well. :D It's going to be a very nice looking bathroom! Very light and relaxing... can a bathroom be that? I think it'll be awesome.
My little kitty Sam is doing well. He was neutered a week ago, and it turns out that he has the beginning of an ear infection, so he's on meds for that. I thought that giving him the medicine would be crappy, but Sam is taking it like a champ. He obviously doesn't like it, but he is a very good sport. I have also restarted the vitamin regimen that Max had the kitties on, and they seem to be healthier because of that. I'm sure it's all in my head, but hey. They look good.
I better go. Dinner calls.
I think I am going to paint the bathroom this week. Preferably tonight or tomorrow. That'd be nice. The color is a really nice green, not like bright or super dark, but a sage-ish color. I really like it a lot. We picked out a really nice looking shower curtain that is kind of a square pattern. The background is a tannish-cream, and then it has squares outlined with shades of green and blue, the green which will match the color on the walls. For the floor, I think I'm going to get a light/medium blue bathmat, which'll match the blue in the curtain as well. :D It's going to be a very nice looking bathroom! Very light and relaxing... can a bathroom be that? I think it'll be awesome.
My little kitty Sam is doing well. He was neutered a week ago, and it turns out that he has the beginning of an ear infection, so he's on meds for that. I thought that giving him the medicine would be crappy, but Sam is taking it like a champ. He obviously doesn't like it, but he is a very good sport. I have also restarted the vitamin regimen that Max had the kitties on, and they seem to be healthier because of that. I'm sure it's all in my head, but hey. They look good.
I better go. Dinner calls.
:)
Welcome to the world, Kalili! :D:D:D My little goddaughter was born this past evening. 4 lbs, 9 oz, 17 inches long. Tiny little bopper, but I bet she's perfect. I hope that Carrie's doing better... I read Jill's blog, and I guess that Carrie's blood pressure wasn't doing so well after Lilly was taken out. Hopefully I'll get an update from Don or Judy soon!!
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