Congratulations Ryan!

Ahhh Home Sweet Home.

After the excitement of the weekend, it's nice to be back in Canfield for a few days.

My parents and Baba arrived into town on Friday, and after I turned in my tablet at work I was official unemployed and ready for the festivities of the weekend.  We celebrated their arrival with dinner at Carfagna's.  Baba even got us a jar of their Original Pasta Sauce to take home (its our favorite).

Friday night my mom and I headed to La Fogata in the Short North for salsa dancing.  I havent been there in at least 2 years, and it was really fun to take a lesson and dance salsa there again.  La Fogata is where I stated dancing in the first place back in 2008 or 9.  A few Salsa's, merengue's and bachata's later, we headed to the hotel for the night.  I slept over and had breakfast at the hotel with them the next morning.

Ryan picked me up and we went to the apartment to get some things done before a family lunch at Aladdin's in Grandview.  Our main duty was taking the coffee table to consignment.  That thing is so heavy.  It was our first real purchase as a couple for our home, and it really is a neat table.  But, we felt it was time to let the slab of granite with nickel legs go, and eventually get a table that matches our style a little more (and weighs less than an H2).

Dropping the table off

Lunch at Aladdin's was really good, Ryan's parents, nephew, and grandparents had arrived a little earlier and we all drove down together, meeting my mom, Greg, and Baba.

After lunch we got a few more odds and ends done, and before we knew it it was time for a pre-graduation dinner at Oscar's in Dublin.  The food was delicious and it had a great atmosphere, our party grew even more since Ryan's aunt, uncle, and cousin arrived that afternoon.

Mom and Greg at Oscar's

On Sunday morning I found out that my friend had a 9am Zumba class right down the road.  It worked out perfect for me to go and work out, come back, shower, and head down to the school for the ceremony.

We were joined by Ryan's sister Nicole, her husband Scott, My Grandparents, The Loomis', Aunt Noreen, and Jen for Ryan's ceremony. 

Our friend and Class President Joe gave a really nice speech before the graduates received their hoods from faculty.  I was able to run down and take a picture with Ryan after he walked across the stage, Nicole took it, I'll try to remember to post it when she emails it to me.

With Baba

With Mom and Greg

We all went outside for more family pictures before dinner at Bravo.  Ryan was able to get a picture with Gordon Gee!

Dr. Williams and Dr. Gee

Dinner at Bravo was in a private room and nicely decorated by Ryan's mom, and complete with favors (truffles and a toothbrush!)  Ryan's Dad gave a fun speech with some gag gifts to go along with it.  We all had a great meal together in celebration of Ryan's achievements.

Big glasses and dental wear!

Congratulations Ryan!  Stay tuned for posts from our South America trip - we leave Friday for Santiago, Chile!

Gracias, Humberto! Ahora, hablo de mi ropa.

Yipee!  Our passports complete with Bolivian visas have been returned!  16 days before our flight!

That might sound like plenty of time, but considering we will be kissing Columbus good-bye in a week and a half, we were starting to sweat.  Ryan was all but convinced that we would be driving to Washington, D.C. to beg for our passports from the Bolivian Consulate.  

Nos pasaportes!

Through e-mails with a consulate employee named Humberto, we were able to mail in the necessary documents that were not listed on the visa website.  So thank you, Humberto for helping us to help you to help us!

Nearly all of our stuff is in boxes.  We've sold one bike, our TV stand, Ryan's desk, we are working on selling the coffee table and love seat.  Countless items and clothes have been donated to Goodwill and Salvation Army, yet we still feel like we have accumulated too much. 

This brings me to a personal dilemma.  This may come as an utter and total shock to you, so I suggest you sit down, and make sure you have swallowed your coffee before reading on...  I am not a fashionista.  Yes, friends.  It's true.

Ok, but in all seriousness, I've long since accepted the fact that I have never been "stylish".  Sure, I can buy an outfit that is in style, and every now and then I can match an accessory I have with an outfit it didn't come with.  The point is, I've really reduced the amount of clothing I purchase.  I've never been a shop-a-holic, but I'd say I only buy a new clothing item maybe 2 or 3 times a year.  

That said, dressing in the age of Facebook is weighing heavy on me.  I like to tell myself that I don't care what others think.  The truth is, I am having some anxiety about what I am going to wear to a few occasions coming up.

Next Thursday, Ryan and I are attending a banquet with his graduating class, 2 days later is his hooding ceremony with dinner to follow.  I considered wearing my Ohio Star Ball off-the-rack (and off the shoulder!) blue dress to the banquet.  Turns out it is way too short and better suited for DWTS than DDSS (DDS Students!).

Next I considered wearing the dress I wore to my step-sisters wedding in March.  (Another blue one-shouldered number, but more appropriate length).  The only problem is that I wore that dress less than 2 weeks ago at my cousin Rebecka's wedding in Youngstown.  Why is this a problem?  I'll tell you.  

The dress makes its debut in Carlsbad, CA March 10.

These days, taking photos is so easy because everyone carries a phone with a camera, and the photos inevitably end up on Facebook, often per my own posting.  

The offending dress - this time instagrammed April 6.

Have I really reached the point in which I have to retire a dress after I wear it twice?  How sad - what would make me feel this way?  Ryan says it's "society."  I have to agree.  I don't want to be photographed in the same dress more than twice because...because...I can't even articulate an answer!

Posted on FB by yours truly

I am left with an honest aversion to wearing it to 2 more events this month.  I haven't come up with just what I will do (and 2 visits to Burlington haven't helped).  But - maybe admitting my issue to the blogosphere will help me come to terms with something that probably shouldn't be an issue in the first place.

Testing 1, 2, 3

I am testing out my phone to make sure I can blog from it on the trip (even though we are bringing the netbook).  Seems like its working, but its kind of a pain to type on this little thing. I don't think I can add pictures from this...

Ok I downloaded the blogger app so we will see if the pic of Ryan flossing shows up!

Lucky Numbers

When I was little I chose 7 to be my lucky number.  I thought 7 looked majestic compared to other numbers, regal even.  In hindsight I'm sure I saw a cartoon slot machine or heard something on a Disney sing-a-long that presented 7 as a lucky number to me, but I digress.

Ryan and I have a new lucky number.  It's 428.  And here's why:

April 28, 2007: Boy meets girl.

Ok so we didn't meet that day, but April 28, 2007 was the day our true feelings came out.  And at the risk of sounding trite - we confessed our love to one another!  First date, in essence.  First kiss too!

April 28, 2009: Boy asks girl

On this day we were in Zion National Park with our families.  We hiked to the top of Observation Point, and there in the middle of the breathtaking scenery Ryan asked me to marry him.  What a great day!

April 28, 2013: Boy graduates

Ryan will be hooded as a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 26 days!  Can't wait to celebrate with our families!  Go Ryan!  (this will also mark 6 years as a couple!)