Wesley and I have moved in together and have been roomies for almost a month. I moved in on June 23rd, but then we soon left for a full week of Michigan ridiculousness. So, technically, my belongings have lived in the apartment longer than my personage has. So far, I really love living with Wesley. I love our apartment, I love getting to see him every day, I love being able to explore a new city, I love starting a new chapter with the love of my life even before the wedding. So far the only dislike I have are that there is construction going on around our apartment from 8am-6pm. The changes they're making are going to look really nice, but it sucks for sleeping. It also sucks for windows apparently since a few days ago a piece of plywood flew through our living room window. It's all boarded up now and we're waiting for a new window to be installed. Twas supposed to come yesterday but, alas! It has not arrived.
I've been cooking a lot lately. Wesley says I'm spoiling him. lol. I really enjoy cooking. I won't have a much time for it when I start my new job and take my two classes I still need for PharmD. So, I'm trying to get the most out of my free time right now.
Played my first Virginia show on Tuesday night, and I have two more this weekend (one in VA Beach and one in Newport News). The one on Tuesday was in Ashland, which is like 20 miles north of Richmond. It was a songwriter's contest thing and the winner got to compete in their finals (in like 5 months or so) for a big cash prize. I was really surprised I didn't even get in the final four. But, whatever. I met some cool new people including a 15 year old girl who won the 6th finals (we're on the 8th now, she wasn't allowed to compete in the 7th, naturally). She had a deep, warm, folky voice not unlike Natalie Merchant. When she played I felt like I was in a Dublin pub or something. She doesn't have an accent when she speaks, but when she sings she articulates her words in a somewhat Irish fashion. A couple audience members and fellow contestants came up to me and were very sweet and supportive. Some even said I was "robbed." I feel like if my "competition" and the audience members who pretty much came to see other artists are telling me that I should have won, I'm doing something right. That's what matters to me.
I was supposed to have 12 shows over the next couple months, from Richmond to Virginia Beach to Newport News, performing for this furniture chain. It was all set up and booked, and then a few days later, they said there was a problem with the venue and all august/september gigs had to be canceled/rescheduled. LAME.
But, at least my two shows this weekend are still on.
I mean, 2 paying gigs are better than no paying gigs, or no gigs at all.
I'm gonna start a job on August 12th, as a nanny for a 3 year old girl and a 5 year old boy. They live walking distance from my apartment so it's very convenient. I'm excited: #1 to be making an income, #2 to be a babysitter again. I love kids. It's gonna be a challenge since I'm more experienced with the late-elementary/early adolescent set. But, I'm up for it.
Wesley and I are thinking of doing a mostly "primal/paleo" diet for the month of August. Like breakfast and dinners, since it's hard to eat like that at work or when you're around tiny children. Since we both have inflammatory issues and autoimmune stuff, we want to see if a diet change like that will help. I hope it does. Again, more challenges.
As for wedding planning, we are gonna start sending out batches of Save The Dates starting next week! I've been stamping return addresses on tons of envelopes for the past couple days. Gathering addresses is a pain in the ass, and I've got like 95% of them. Oddly enough, the majority of the ones I'm missing are from immediate family on my dad's side. We're also gonna get a registry soon, figure out our getaway car, and pick out bridesmaids dresses. Bridesmaids dresses have become the bane of my existence. I didn't think it would be so difficult to figure out what my bridesmaids should wear. I guess I'm picky, and I have 6 wonderful bridesmaids in all shapes and sizes. I have to make sure they are comfortable and that the dress is flattering.
I'm having trouble registering for classes at the community college for this fall semester. Apparently my transcript never arrived, so it looks like I don't have the necessary pre-reqs to take the classes I want. Things just have to be difficult, don't they? So now I'm gonna have to get a new transcript. Let's just hope the classes I need aren't completely filled by the time I get my shit together.
