Camp is over (although I'm still waiting for my paycheck, grrr...). The final day was Friday, and although I enjoyed the experience I'm glad to be back to my normal (non)schedule. It was really stressing me out that I didn't have time to study at all for my exams. I estimate that they're approximately seven weeks away (I haven't been given an official time frame yet) and it's getting harder and harder not to freak out about them. I also really need to get formal IRB approval for my dissertation research, and I need to find out if a potential research trip is actually going to happen this semester (it's very exciting but I have avoided talking about it here so far because nothing is set in stone yet and the wait to find out if I'm actually going to get to go on said trip is driving me CRAZY because I can't plan anything), and, oh, it might be wise to actually register at some point since even though I'm done with coursework I still have to register for independent study so the university recognizes me as a full-time student so I can continue getting my stipend and health insurance. It will all get done, it always does, but there are a lot of little tasks on my plate right now and I'm annoyed with myself because most of it is stuff I could have (and should have) done a month ago. I have done a lot of work this summer, just not enough. Still, I'm feeling back on track now and I plan to work really hard for the next two weeks until travels throw my schedule off again.
Speaking of health insurance, I went to the doctor for a physical last week. Anyone else feeling a bit uneasy about all this healthcare reform talk? Who knows what will actually happen (maybe nothing), and if it does happen it probably won't happen for a long time, and if it does change it might not affect me or change in my favor...Still, all the talk about it has inspired me to go to the doctor and dentist now while I know exactly where I stand in terms of my health insurance. My plan is good, my co-pay is cheap, might as well go now. Plus I hadn't had a physical since I was a kid and needed shots for school and I've never had a full physical with bloodwork, etc. so it seemed like a good idea. It was more intense than I thought it would be. I was expecting the bloodwork and weighing and blood pressure. I was even anticipating the urine sample. But when the nurse hooked me up to an EKG machine I thought, really?! I'm young and I have no history of shortage of breath or chest pain, but whatever. Way to be thorough, doc. Anyway, I seem to be healthy (although my temperature was really low so I suppose it's possible I'm turning into a reptile, but the nurse didn't seem concerned). I showed the doctor the mole that has been worrying me and he said, "The good news is, it's small. The bad news is it is two different colors, it is asymmetrical, and you said it is raised and it didn't used to be, which means it's growing." That's more bad news than good, so I now have an appointment with the dermatologist on Monday morning. I'm guessing he'll probably want to remove it, although I'm still hoping I have genetics working on my side since my grandparents, mother, and aunts all have a lot of moles but so far no problems. We'll see.
My friend Jen and her boyfriend were visiting us for five days last week. She's one of my good friends from college, the one we went to New York with back in February. Anyway, it was her boyfriend's 30th birthday and she surprised him with this trip because he had never been here. It was so much fun. We did a ton of tourist things in City A, some of which I'd done before but most of which I hadn't (Jen was adamant that we mostly do things I hadn't already done). We went to the botanical gardens and the history museum, both of which were good (although the museum was packed so I'll have to go back when tourist season is over to see the stuff I skipped because of lines). We went here and I was finally able to cross it off my list of 27 Things to Do Before I'm 27. I didn't even know the place existed until I moved here two years ago, but it's one of the most spectacular places I've been in the city so I think I'll be taking visitors there from now on. We went to a major league soccer game, and that was fun. We also tried out a really, really delicious Cuban restaurant and did "Cheap Date Night" in my suburb's town square. On Monday nights all the restaurants in the square have specials. The special we got was great: each couple got a three course dinner plus a bottle of wine for $35! I love cheap, good food.
The most exciting part of Jen's visit happened on our hike in a nearby state park. Jen's boyfriend completely trumped her surprise 30th birthday present by surprising her with an engagement ring! It was just me, Jen, and her boyfriend (and the Meatball) that day because Penn had to work, so we drove to the park and set out on a couple mile hike along the falls and river. It was a beautiful hike, and I was really impressed with my dog's stamina. I had no idea he was such a little mountain goat! At the end of the trail we reached a pretty river overlook so we decided to stop and have lunch. Jen asked her boyfriend for hand sanitizer, and he said, "I don't have it." And I said, "It's in my backpack," and then Jen, who had her hand on her boyfriend's pocket to reach for the sanitizer, said, "Then what is this in your pocket?" Her boyfriend said, "Why don't you pull it out and see?" And Jen said, "No way..." and that's when I got my camera ready. Sure enough, she pulled out a ring-shaped box. At that point I think I was freaking out as much as she was, mostly because I couldn't believe he was about to propose to her when I was sitting right there. She looked at him and said, "If this is some stupid pendant you wrapped up like this I'm going to kill you!",which made us all laugh. But she opened the box and it was a diamond ring. Actually, it was two diamond rings. One was the engagement ring and one was the wedding band, which the jeweler had wrapped in the same box. Of course, since the wedding band was not actually stuck into the box, just resting inside it, it flew out of the box when she opened it and was scarily close to falling off the cliff and into the river forty feet below. We all screamed, she caught the escaping ring and then immediately put on the other one before her boyfriend could actually say anything. Then she was like, "Oh, wait, I wasn't supposed to put it on yet!" and he said, "So, will you?" and she said yes and they kissed and I took pictures and oohed and awwed over the ring and then it really hit her and she got all choked up and started crying happy tears. It was a perfect proposal for them. They're both outdoorsy, they're both spontaneous people who like surprises, they're both no-nonsense people. A big, sappy, pre-planned champagne and roses thing would just not have been authentic for them (or for me, for that matter, not that this is about me. I just think it's always best when people propose somewhere special but without a whole bunch of nonsense). Afterward Jen looked at me and said, "Did you know!?" and the truth is I really didn't. In fact, I'm amazed at how calm and composed her boyfriend had been the whole trip. I would think I'd be freaking out if I was about to ask someone to marry me, but I guess it's just a testament to the strength of their relationship that he showed no qualms or worries at all. He bought the ring two weeks ago as soon as she told him about his upcoming birthday trip and he brought it here knowing that he was going to propose to her at some point on the trip but not knowing exactly when. I think he picked the perfect spot for them.
Anyway, I'm really happy that they're engaged and I'm glad I was there to witness the whole thing (and to take pictures of the moment!) It's the first time I've ever seen a proposal in real life. Also, they're planning a Montana wedding for next summer, which means if I can afford it I get to go to Montana next year! I've always really wanted to visit Montana (of course, I'd go to their wedding no matter where it was, Montana is just a fun added perk).
P.S.-Penn and I realized that this is the second time a couple has spontaneously had a life-changing moment in our presence. First Cas and her husband conceived a baby while we were staying with them last year (not that we knew that until several months later, of course...that would be creepy if we'd known at the time), and now Jen and her boyfriend got engaged while staying with us. Maybe we're lucky! If you need a baby and/or a spouse, feel free to come visit with your significant other. We have a spare room with a futon!
No comments:
Post a Comment