Thursday, September 4, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
It's raining gifts!
Yesterday, Eric's aunt Linda and my mom, along with Eric's cousin Jody and uncle Jerry, threw me a beautiful shower with the women in the families. The food was amazing, the decorations were so pretty, and I felt so special that they all did all that work just for me. Here are some pics of the event:
Here I am, clearly giddy about something. Perhaps it's the thrill of opening presents?
If you're interested in seeing more of the same, check the album here.
A big thank you to our families who put the shower together, and to everyone who came and made us feel so loved!
While the bulk of the shower was going on, Eric and the men of the family went golfing. Check them out:
Also, if anyone was wondering why I'm marrying Eric, I have evidence. Evidence that shows he is capable of getting things done. I present to you Exhibit A:
Move complete!
We've been very remiss in posting, but are here now for many updates. Our move across the country has more or less come to a close. We are currently living with Eric's mom and step-dad in Stillwater. In the next few weeks, we plan to move some of our stuff back into the condo, just in time to live there after the wedding.
Although there were some anxiety-inducing moments when we didn't know when the movers would come (among others), in the end, the boxes were packed and sealed, the movers took them and put them on a big moving van, and we high-tailed it out of Cambridge as quickly as absolutely possible. As in, the movers finished at 5p.m. and we locked the door to our place at 5:17, I think.
Poor Murphy wasn't prepared for the trip and had a couple of accidents before we even got on the turnpike, but some quick thinking and resourcefulness on Eric's and my part (and the loss of not one, but two Purr Pads) got us back on the road with only about a half an hour of lost time.
Our first night we spent in Syracuse, NY -- which was almost Utica... I was using our handy-dandy new GPS to find hotels in the Syracuse area, made a reservation at the Syracuse Red Roof Inn, and then accidentally selected the Utica Red Roof Inn as our new destination. When we got there 20 minutes later (instead of the hour we anticipated -- "gosh that was fast...") and I walked in, confident that this was where we were staying that night, the man at the front desk informed me he hadn't taken any reservations all night, and I couldn't possibly have one with them. ...At which point, we thought to ask if there was a Syracuse location. Of course there was. Yep. I felt pretty stupid. So 45 minutes later we finally stopped for the night. Huge props to Red Roof Inn -- they were the only hotel I could find in the entire area that would accept pets -- and they didn't even charge for them! Our kitties made themselves right at home and settled in for the night. After watching some Olympics (Michael Phelps won a medal that night!), so did we.
Bright and early the next morning we loaded up on our last taste of Dunkin Donuts and hit the road for Chicago. The weather was perfect and clear the whole way -- we couldn't have asked for better driving weather. Our kitties are total travel troopers too -- no need for bathroom breaks or walks -- as if to say, "Just keep on drivin' mama!" :) We got to Eric's aunt and uncle's house just in time for dinner -- Uncle Jerry made some super delicious chicken wings on the grill and a bunch of yummy salads. After eating road food for two days, and non-homemade food for longer than that, it was so nice to have a home-cooked meal.
The next morning Eric, Kerri, Randy (Eric's cousins), and I went to Portillo's for lunch. And it was so amazing. They not only make some of the best Chicago-style hot dogs I've had, but they also have this amazing, decadent (and totally sinful) chocolate cake shake. Whoa.
We left shortly after that, arriving at home in Stillwater before sunset -- which is good, because somewhere along the way from Massachusetts to Minnesota we realized we were sporting one headlight. Darn car and its darn repairs...
Although there were some anxiety-inducing moments when we didn't know when the movers would come (among others), in the end, the boxes were packed and sealed, the movers took them and put them on a big moving van, and we high-tailed it out of Cambridge as quickly as absolutely possible. As in, the movers finished at 5p.m. and we locked the door to our place at 5:17, I think.
Poor Murphy wasn't prepared for the trip and had a couple of accidents before we even got on the turnpike, but some quick thinking and resourcefulness on Eric's and my part (and the loss of not one, but two Purr Pads) got us back on the road with only about a half an hour of lost time.
Our first night we spent in Syracuse, NY -- which was almost Utica... I was using our handy-dandy new GPS to find hotels in the Syracuse area, made a reservation at the Syracuse Red Roof Inn, and then accidentally selected the Utica Red Roof Inn as our new destination. When we got there 20 minutes later (instead of the hour we anticipated -- "gosh that was fast...") and I walked in, confident that this was where we were staying that night, the man at the front desk informed me he hadn't taken any reservations all night, and I couldn't possibly have one with them. ...At which point, we thought to ask if there was a Syracuse location. Of course there was. Yep. I felt pretty stupid. So 45 minutes later we finally stopped for the night. Huge props to Red Roof Inn -- they were the only hotel I could find in the entire area that would accept pets -- and they didn't even charge for them! Our kitties made themselves right at home and settled in for the night. After watching some Olympics (Michael Phelps won a medal that night!), so did we.
Bright and early the next morning we loaded up on our last taste of Dunkin Donuts and hit the road for Chicago. The weather was perfect and clear the whole way -- we couldn't have asked for better driving weather. Our kitties are total travel troopers too -- no need for bathroom breaks or walks -- as if to say, "Just keep on drivin' mama!" :) We got to Eric's aunt and uncle's house just in time for dinner -- Uncle Jerry made some super delicious chicken wings on the grill and a bunch of yummy salads. After eating road food for two days, and non-homemade food for longer than that, it was so nice to have a home-cooked meal.
The next morning Eric, Kerri, Randy (Eric's cousins), and I went to Portillo's for lunch. And it was so amazing. They not only make some of the best Chicago-style hot dogs I've had, but they also have this amazing, decadent (and totally sinful) chocolate cake shake. Whoa.
We left shortly after that, arriving at home in Stillwater before sunset -- which is good, because somewhere along the way from Massachusetts to Minnesota we realized we were sporting one headlight. Darn car and its darn repairs...
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Patiently waiting for the movers
Yeah, we're a little slow on updating our blog, I suppose. Cut us some slack -- we were home for a week, then back here the last two weeks packing. A lot of fun stuff has happened since the last post oh so long ago, and if you wait patiently, tales will be told and pictures will be shared -- promise.
Until then, be comforted knowing that, assuming these asshats of movers finally arrive and get us packed up and moved out, we will be on the road tonight (Saturday, August 16th) and back in good ol' Minnesota sometime on Monday, 8/18!
We can't wait to see you all! Call much in the next two days to entertain us while we drive I-90... the boring-est, least interesting stretch of highway in the nation.
XOXO,
The Future Mr. and Mrs. Eric Rice
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Cosby Sweaters strike again
We've found a new way to occupy our otherwise mundane Monday nights: Stump Trivia. You can play all over town any night of the week, but Monday nights, Redline in Harvard Square hosts one. With only a handful of teams, we appreciate the decidedly low level of competition it offers -- probably because with a team of three (Anne, Eric, and me) we can still take second place. Team Cosby Sweaters rakes in the winnings (a $25 gift certificate), then returns the next week to eat and drink said winnings while working to replace them. It's a pretty fantastic system we have going.
But Cosby Sweaters is our second-place team name. We've realized that if we're going to take first place, we need a first place team name. We are hereby accepting suggestions for our new team name! Current ideas include: Unraveled and Likes to Steal.
But Cosby Sweaters is our second-place team name. We've realized that if we're going to take first place, we need a first place team name. We are hereby accepting suggestions for our new team name! Current ideas include: Unraveled and Likes to Steal.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
No, we don't know anyone here. We just needed to use the bathroom.
"No, we're not there yet. It's definitely past that bridge. ...And the one after that. We're probably halfway."
"Why'd you tell me that?!"
It continued in that vein for the 3+ mile trek to see Boston's famed fireworks set to the Boston Pops on the 4th of July.
Our friends declared their independence from studying for the bar; I just declared independence from work. Drinking bourbon+OJ while watching TV is not really as dramatic as throwing tea in the harbor, but we'll take it. :)
Of course the fireworks were amazing. They went on for what must have been a full half hour -- definitely spectacular. And I do love a good Sousa march, particularly on the 4th of July. And there may or may not have been a round (or three) of "God Bless America (Proud to be an American)."
But after walking for an hour to wait an hour and a half for fireworks that went on for another half hour, we needed the little cowgirls' room pronto. The four bajillion other spectators weren't inspiring a lot of faith that the gas station up the road would have a stall available... but we were passing the MIT frats who had their doors open and were clearly hosting a party.
We thought we'd be slick and just find the main floor bathroom and be in and out -- it was all one big common area, so we figured there'd be a bathroom around. Unfortunately, the sign on the door of the main floor bathroom wasn't kidding about not using it -- they not only put a crate on top of the seat, but they had it wrapped and sealed in some kind of paper "do not enter" tape.
Plan B: up the stairs. So Lena, Nicole, and I put on our "we do this all the time" faces and headed to the second floor. We tried to look like we were guests of the party and inconspicuously make our way into the bathroom -- my eyes and nose didn't register disgust, and since it was either this or wet my pants, I think you know which option I went with. While Lena was waiting for us, one of the girls at the party asked us who we knew at the party. "...Um, no one. We... we're just using the bathroom." Yikes! We've been found out! {{scurry scurry scurry down the stairs and back outside}}
Definitely the most adventurous thing I've done in a long time. Super glad we got to see a Boston 4th of July. It is the cradle of liberty, you know ;)
We wrapped up the night by eating a (very) late dinner at Pinocchio's Pizza. Definitely awesome that it's open at 12:30 a.m.
"...and I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, do-doo doot, do-doot, do-dooot doo-doo..."
"Why'd you tell me that?!"
It continued in that vein for the 3+ mile trek to see Boston's famed fireworks set to the Boston Pops on the 4th of July.
Our friends declared their independence from studying for the bar; I just declared independence from work. Drinking bourbon+OJ while watching TV is not really as dramatic as throwing tea in the harbor, but we'll take it. :)
Of course the fireworks were amazing. They went on for what must have been a full half hour -- definitely spectacular. And I do love a good Sousa march, particularly on the 4th of July. And there may or may not have been a round (or three) of "God Bless America (Proud to be an American)."
But after walking for an hour to wait an hour and a half for fireworks that went on for another half hour, we needed the little cowgirls' room pronto. The four bajillion other spectators weren't inspiring a lot of faith that the gas station up the road would have a stall available... but we were passing the MIT frats who had their doors open and were clearly hosting a party.
We thought we'd be slick and just find the main floor bathroom and be in and out -- it was all one big common area, so we figured there'd be a bathroom around. Unfortunately, the sign on the door of the main floor bathroom wasn't kidding about not using it -- they not only put a crate on top of the seat, but they had it wrapped and sealed in some kind of paper "do not enter" tape.
Plan B: up the stairs. So Lena, Nicole, and I put on our "we do this all the time" faces and headed to the second floor. We tried to look like we were guests of the party and inconspicuously make our way into the bathroom -- my eyes and nose didn't register disgust, and since it was either this or wet my pants, I think you know which option I went with. While Lena was waiting for us, one of the girls at the party asked us who we knew at the party. "...Um, no one. We... we're just using the bathroom." Yikes! We've been found out! {{scurry scurry scurry down the stairs and back outside}}
Definitely the most adventurous thing I've done in a long time. Super glad we got to see a Boston 4th of July. It is the cradle of liberty, you know ;)
We wrapped up the night by eating a (very) late dinner at Pinocchio's Pizza. Definitely awesome that it's open at 12:30 a.m.
"...and I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, do-doo doot, do-doot, do-dooot doo-doo..."
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
They're always after me Lucky Charms!
This is a shout-out to my pal Shelly down at the local cereal factory also known as "General Mills" who has one wicked awesome job doing things like putting famous children's books on boxes of Cheerios so kids not only are eating healthily, but they also have the opportunity to have books available, which is so important to childhood literacy.Well, in less inpirational, but possibly more fun news (Hey! I love my children's books! They're fun too!), I just found out that Lucky Charms just added a new permanent marshmallow! Now I have to go out and buy a box. Take that Mom! Now that I'm a big girl, living on my own, getting married, I can eat cereal with as many kinds of marshmallows as I please :)
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