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Brittany's Blog
Date of Entry: 09/8/08 Tim and I continue to talk about our future together and plans for our house. It is very exciting to think about, our future. I just can't wait to make it a reality! I am lucky to have found in Tim someone I can talk to, someone I undeniably trust and someone whom I don't want to change. That is rare and I feel truly blessed and lucky to have found him. What is also enjoyable is our love of experimenting in the kitchen. This weekend we chose barbequed chicken with broccoli, salad and scalloped potatoes as one dinner and the other dinner was Grilled Pizza! I made the dough from scratch (it has been a LONG time since I've made a yeast dough) and we built our own pizza after Tim expertly grilled the dough on both sides. It had such a wonderful flavor. We had a base of sun-dried tomato pesto, fresh mozz, fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, and sausage, pepperoni, onions and red peppers. You wouldn't think you could fit all that on a personal pizza, but we managed. And to top it all off... Balsamic Glaze. Boy, that stuff is good! You don't need much, just a drizzle, but it adds so much to the overall flavor. Next weekend we are going on a double date with two friends from Grad school! Hopefully soon we will also get to see Darryl and Julie again. Date of Entry: 08/26/08 Once the semester was over, I only took one day off (to recover from an allergy attack) and began studying for the Financial Accounting exemption exam. Luckily I passed as I heard all last semester how much homework was assigned, anywhere from 8 hours to 12 (even 24, depending on whom you asked) per week! So one week of vacation and an hour exam seemed well worth it. I find out sometime when the exemption exam is for Principals of Finance. I'm also going to ask the professor about exempting Economics as these classes were my undergraduate major and all taken at the Graduate level in the Johnson Graduate School at Cornell University. I hope I'll be able to, it just means I'm studying as though I am currently taking those classes at an accelerated pace to be ready. After the exemption exam I was so ready for a week of rest. I made some jewelry and assembled some scrapbook pages. It was awesome as those pursuits are very indulgent and I am unable to devote the time during the semester. I was also able to cook meals for Tim and myself. I made meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy from scratch as well as a side of dill carrots. This was a meal Tim has been requesting and we were finally able to put in the time. No wonder microwaves came along! Those types of dinners are very time consuming! But tasty. Then we made Flank Steak with roasted corn salsa. That was so good! That corn salsa I could eat all on it's own. Finishing up the meal was my Peach Blackberry pie which is rapidly becoming my signature dessert. It's a slight modification from a recipe we found in the Cooking with Wine book. Thursday of last week we headed out to North East to visit Tim's side of the family. Unfortunately there were multiple family health issues that kept Angie and Gary away much of the time visiting the hospital to care for their loved ones. Cindy, Angie and I also did some preparation for the Wedding. We went to Potratz for a flower consultation as well as to David's Bridal to try on dresses. I'm glad there are witnesses to attest, I only tried on one dress because once I had it on I knew it was the best one. It is one I had been looking at and always drawn to and luckily it fit and looks as good as I imagined. I am so excited and very glad I had my ladies with me. I only wish my mom could have been there too! Friday we went to Bella Spa to get pre-wedding hair and makeup. I wanted to try them out to experiment. See the pictures on the photo page for the entire weekend. Since we were all gorgeous, the boys grilled us dinner. Sweet and spicy Italian Sausage and Hamburgers with grilled peppers and onions and corn. We also brought salad fixins, of green leaf, cherry tomatoes, candied walnuts and gorgonzola cheese. Have that with balsamic dressing, yum! I made the Peach Blackberry pie on Thursday, however the peaches we bought from the grocers freezer were nothing like the peaches I used earlier in the week that I bought fresh and froze myself. You wouldn't think, but it made a huge difference. We also got to see Patty and Floyd, Angie's parents and had a wonderful time chatting with them. We got to watch some Olympics and put together more scrapbook pages and see the family so it was a wonderful weekend and I look forward to Labor Day weekend when we return to Racoon Creek park. Date of Entry: 07/20/08 In New York, I was able to get my driver's license, register to vote and register my car all in the same location. Pennsylvania believes in a more decentralized approach. Once you take a number from the red deli counter style machine, wait for three hours in a place that only has 6 chairs to be served by only two workers, to find the network between New York and Pennsylvania is down, you start to consider how they could be better organized. But maybe they have it laid out like this on purpose, because people give up and leave before they have to do any work! But I admit to being bitter. Luckily they did have a location that was open on Saturdays. Tim was wonderful and came with me for the communal suffering. This location was far more organized and provided seating for close to 40. The number machine actually provided a time estimate of 35 minutes. So an hour and a half later my number was called and I was sent to get my picture taken. Here I was also able to register to vote, thankfully, and received a temporary yet fully functional license. And my picture isn't that bad! Then I go to register my vehicle at another location. Unfortunately my proof of insurance still had my New York address. So I contacted my insurance agency and asked for it to be faxed. Three hours later, my car is registered in Pennsylvania. YeHaw! And I only have to rinse and repeat this process when I change my name in just over a year. Date of Entry: 07/08/08 We took walks, built massive fires, chopped wood. I posted the photos on our photo page and Tim annotated the images. So forgive us in advance. ;). I had an excellent time camping and can't wait to do it again come Labor Day weekend! Date of Entry: 06/30/08 This weekend is July 4th weekend. I will be camping with Tim and his parents and am very much looking forward to it!.. This past weekend Tim and I bought a home building software package. We have strong ideas about what our home should look like and thought it would be a fun treat to virtually build it together. It has been very entertaining, both in getting to know the application and in getting to create on screen what we both see in our imagination. Date of Entry: 06/12/08 So far so good, knocks on wood. Even in my feared Java, I have an A. It takes dedication and lack of alcohol, but that is a sacrifice I am willing to make. ;) Actually, Grad School is very different than Undergrad. Here we are a much more diverse group. There are folks that were in the work force for less than a year along with folks that have held professional positions for more than 10. There are also those that are back in school only part time. It makes for a very active mix. The work is intense but so far manageable, again knocks on wood. Although I am very focused staying up until 1 or 2 am most nights, waking between 8 and 9 am most days. I do my best to get the homework done before the night before it's due. Work continues to roll on in. I find it difficult to justify my netflix membership as I don't have time to watch a movie. But I continue to reflect on how perfect this program is for me. It is exactly what I was looking for. Date of Entry: 05/26/08 The weekend began with Angie, Cindy and I meeting with florists to attempt to get ideas for flowers and possibly select a vendor. I was amazed at how the decor of the florist and their demeanor effected me. It really drew my attention and steered my desire to work with certain people and to steer clear of others. I have whittled the pool to 2 vendors. One of which could not meet with us this weekend, they were doing 3 weddings that day! Saturday evening, Tim and I took Dan and Angie to the Peak 'n Peek for a double date dinner. We got all dressed up, Angie even wore heels with a bad ankle. Both ladies were unveiling new dresses and looking forward to this chance to hang out just the four of us. Tim had the filet, I had swordfish, Angie had the scallops and Dan the Chilean sea bass. Tim asked Dan to be his best man and I asked Angie to be my Maiden of Honor. And the wine was good too. Over dessert we talked about plans for the wedding while reminiscing about the wedding Dan and Angie shared 7 years ago. Sunday was the family picnic, we had a full crowd of 18 members of the extended family. Grandma and Grandpa Altimus, Gary and Cindy Altimus, Dan & Angie, Luke and Shane Altimus, Dan & Holly, Elizabeth, Abby & Hannah Piazza, Patty & Floyd Piazza, Lois Mundaniohl, and Tim and I. The food was awesome, Salmon, burgers and hot dogs for the main dishes, Potato salad, Slow cooked bean dish, crudettes, angel eggs, fruit salad, spinach salad and more! Monday we head back to Pittsburgh where I jump back into the grad school mind set. It has been a good first week and I am looking forward to not falling behind. ;) Date of Entry: 05/17/08 Date of Entry:
04/27/08 Date of Entry: 2/23/08 Date of Entry: 2/17/08
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Timothy's Blog
One thing though, really stands out to me. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were absolutely wonderful. Britt & I had such a great time exploring the island together. Once Britt had left for home though, the island felt more like a prison to me that it did a tropical paradise. It's amazing how the beaches of paradise become nothing more than a place to kill time until you can be with the one you love again. It just isn't exciting to drive around the island on your own, or to snorkel without anyone to share the moment with. I had originally planned on staying the following weekend as well, but by Wednesday, I couldn't wait to get back to Pittsburgh. And so now, here I am, sitting in her living room writing this, while she organizes the photos from the trip. I'd rather be here with her than alone on Coki Beach watching the sun set. Till next time... |
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