So I think it's pretty hilarious that the last entry I wrote so nonchalantly stated that I was going on a mini-vacation with Jonathan and then (again) suddenly I haven't updated since then. Well, as you seem to know by now, Jonathan proposed to me that weekend and I have been Little Miss Busy ever since. I mean, I'm always Little Miss Busy...but now I'm Little Miss REALLY Busy.

Tomorrow it'll be three weeks 'til the wedding. What a trip it's been planning it in 6 months. Honestly, I'm glad we only gave ourselves that long to plan. I'm pretty sure whether I had 6 months, a year, or even longer, it would be just as stressful and time-consuming. :P I wanted to get married in September because our anniversary was already in September (and let's face it...anything I can do to make it easier for Jonathan to remember our anniversary date is a plus :D). So we're getting married on September the 13th. "The 13th?" you say, "How unlucky!" Well, to that I respond...we're getting married on our 7-year, 11-day anniversary. That sounds pretty darn lucky to me. :)

In other news (as if I have anything else on my brain 3 weeks away from the big day), there was indeed a Layoff 3.0 at work in April! Thank God I made it through that one, too. It was particularly hard this time around (worse than ever). But in the meantime, I'm back to working on actual projects again and even though it's hard work (and too much for any one person), it's work I enjoy and that's a lot more than many people have, so I'm grateful.

I'm looking forward to seeing lots of friends and family here in the very near future that I haven't seen in a while. I'm also really looking forward to being MRS. BOURNE (why yes, I will indeed have an awesome last name) and being the wife to the guy I've loved since high school. :) Then it's off to five days in Puerto Rico! I can't wait for the VACATION!

Hopefully it won't be another 5 months before I update again. ;)

Hey, all, just a quick update from me...

I realize that I fell of the planet for a while there - not really sure what happened. I think I just got busy with life (imagine that).

Work has changed a lot since Layoff 2.0. I'm beginning to be utilized for actual editorial functions again (it kind of died away there while everyone readjusted). I've been doing a lot of proofreading the past couple days. It's been fun to learn some new skills. :)

I've started to write again... No leaps and bounds here, maybe just baby steps. But I'm definitely journaling a TON again, like I used to, and I've been doing a lot of creative writing prompts to get my brain back in the swing of, well, creative writing! It's tough to re-train. But I'm getting there.

This weekend I'm going on a mini-vacation with Jonathan. We're going to Atlanta. I recently decided I wanted to go to all 30 NHL rinks (crazy travel goal, I know), and the closest one (besides Sommet in Nashville) is in Atlanta. So the Red Wings are playing the Thrashers on Friday night, and we're going. Then Saturday we're going to go to the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola. I just can't wait to get away, even for a short while.

Besides, I need some new pictures. I miss having a reason for random photography.

In other news, my weekly goals have been going well. I haven't failed one yet. This week is "I will eat healthier snacks." It's unbelievable how hard it is but I've done so well this week! :) Last week's goal was "I will pray every day" and it's carried into this week, too, as it's meant to. I'm so excited to be talking to God on a daily basis. It feels good!

Speaking of prayer, if you're the prayin' type, please keep my dad in your prayers. He has a LOT of health problems and we've recently found out that his platelet count has been dropping steadily over his past few doctor visits. He is really discouraged - it always seems to get worse for him in terms of his physical health, never better. So next month he has to see a hematologist.

We're all worried that it's leukemia. His dad died of leukemia at a very young age. I'm trying not to fret about it at least until we find out what the hematologist has to say.

Anyway, on a happier note, today is Thursday and I'll be on my way to Atlanta tomorrow morning! I have no doubt that today will go super-extra-crazy slowly. Oh, well. The trip will be worth the wait.

I suppose an update is long overdue...

Firstly, my holidays did go well after all. I did a lot of eating, sleeping, and sitting around, so it was pretty much perfect. ;) It was still tough because of Grandpa, but everyone's doing okay.

Secondly, an old shoulder injury that has plagued me since I can remember started acting up in December, so I finally decided to go to a chiropractor for the first time ever. I've always been a little scared and a little skeptical of chiropractors due to my upbringing, but I was in SO much pain...so I finally decided to go.

He uses a thing called an "activator" instead of hands-on twisting and turning of your body, which is painless and less scary for me. Long story short, it has cost me quite a bit of money, but this is the first time ever I've started to get relief, so it's totally worth it. I'm not 100% better, but after only 3 weeks of going, I'd say I'm 90% better! It's just amazing and wonderful.

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to find the solution (and I do love my comfort zone...).

In other Misty news, I've become hooked on a little TV show commonly referred to as LOST. Now, I know this may come as a shock to some of you... I'm not a TV person! I rarely watch TV (especially because I get one channel on my TV and it's kind of fuzzy and the sound goes in and out). I don't like the prospect of getting hooked on a show for various reasons... But Jonathan borrowed the DVDs of the previous seasons from his boss and now I am SO HOOKED that it's ridiculous. I LOVE it. Anybody up for a Pleonast Lost discussion? ;)

Wishing you a happy February,

mj

Well, I guess I should update now before the holidays sweep me off my feet (and off the computer).

I've been avoiding an update here for a while - some of you may have seen from updates on my Facebook that my Grandpa passed away two weeks ago today. Needless to say, getting into the Christmas spirit has been tougher than usual this year.

But as Christmas approaches (three days away already?!) I'm so looking forward to going home and spending time with my family and Jonathan's family. Presents are slim this year for everyone, but honestly, I just want to relax and see the people I love.

Among the things I learned about my Grandpa over the past couple weeks, one that's particularly pertinent is that he loved Christmas. I didn't really know that about him - he had Alzheimer's for so many years that I didn't really get to know a lot about him. But since it's Christmastime, I'm going to focus on my family in his honor and not worry about anything else. Presents and trimmings are nice, but they're not as important!

And the best part? My grandpa is in Heaven enjoying the best Christmastime he's ever had - probably strumming his guitar and tapping his foot while the angels sing around him.

I hope all of you have a great Christmas and a happy New Year, and remember what it's all about. :)

I had a very productive weekend. I got a lot of things accomplished. The two most exciting things, though... Jonathan and I bought a Christmas tree (wow, loot!) and tickets to go see the Trans-Siberian orchestra on December 21st! Whoo! We decided this year that instead of buying presents for each other, we'd go to the concert, have a nice dinner, y'know - go on a DATE. (Crazy concept, I know.)

Normally the tradition with my family has always been to decorate for Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend when everyone is together and can help out. But this year, I'm super anxious for Christmastime. Things are really tough all around me lately - everyone's feeling the burn of the current times, and it's just so gloomy! Christmas always puts me in a good mood, so I'm ready to start NOW! So, since Jonathan and I will be out of town Thanksgiving weekend with our families, I decided that it'd be a great b-day present (to myself :P) to decorate the weekend after my birthday (aka this coming weekend). See? There's logic in there, too. Now, if I can just resist decorating my cubicle for Christmas until after Thanksgiving...