engaged, bought a house, job sucks, breast cancer

 A lot of big things have happened this fall. 

First and foremost, P and I are engaged and getting married in Chicago on August 3, 2012. We had the most spectacular 10-day trip all over Italy right after my 30th birthday. It was seriously the trip of a lifetime that I will always remember. The trip really should have its own entry. Highlights include:

• Seeing all the sites in Rome, Florence, and Siena
• Super fun and interesting wine tours all over Tuscany
• Riding on the back of a scooter through Tuscany in the fall

• A perfect and private proposal in easily one of the most beautiful places on Earth
• Massive four day birthday celebration for P’s ex-employer, a designer, in the mountains of Abruzzo
• More food and wine than I could imagine but losing weight from all the walking
• Private concerts at the base of the mountains in Prezza including a performance from Dirty Vegas

Here’s some pictures I took of where we got engaged. We were in the village of Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre.

P apparently had the ring with him all day as we hiked around and took in the beautiful old villages. He was hoping to do it on some rocks that jut out into the ocean he remembered being at about 10 years ago, but the wind and waves made that impossible. He ended up doing it on our private balcony overlooking the Mediterranean just before sunset. The ring is beyond gorgeous. I knew he would get me something nice, but it far surpassed any expectations I had.

Here’s a picture we set the timer to take right after he proposed:

I couldn’t be happier and truly don’t have any reservations about marrying P. Funny how that happened. I think part of it has to do with how long we’ve been together. I feel like I know exactly what I’m getting into and I know that it will take work at times, but I’m willing to do that work with him. I really couldn’t feel more fortunate to have found such a wonderful and well suited man to have as a partner. I look forward to all that our future holds and want to be a good wife.

The marriage part I’m looking forward to; the wedding, meh. P and I are both introverted people and neither one of us are crazy about the idea of people staring at us and all the focus being on us. You know that girl that just loves to be the center of attention? I’m the opposite of her. I’m very confident, I just enjoy myself more when I’m observing or listening. Anyway, we’re still having a wedding, just a smaller one. I think we both feel like our families deserve it and I guess I also just want it to feel totally legitimate and final, if that makes sense. We’ve chosen a really beautiful location that should produce some great pictures and I’m looking forward to wearing an exquisite dress.  

We have also signed the contract for a house that is being built, a row house to be exact. If the building goes as scheduled, we’re hoping to close at the end of February. I think we’re both really, really excited about it and just hope everything turns out well. The process of picking fixtures, flooring, paint, granite, etc. is fun but stressful.

Speaking of stressful, my job has gone off the deep end. I think I wrote about moving groups and how it’s all men and very negative. The hours are horrendous and my boss is an absolute bitch fuck. Seriously, he has the most severe Jekyll and Hyde complex I’ve ever seen, professionally or personally. I’m on the receiving end of his wrath less than many others, but it’s still basically intolerable. I have the most severe anxiety around him and honestly lose sleep as a result of my fear/hatred of him. I’m good at my job and I’m absolutely an asset, but he is extremely good and is just one of those people with what seems to be a photographic memory and ability to understand anything quickly, basically he’s really smart. He speaks to people as though and conducts himself in a manner that suggests that he thinks everyone there is an idiot but him, and because he’s so good he gets away with it. I really can’t keep it up much longer and definitely can’t be working hours like these next year when we will hopefully be having a child. I’ve finally got my resume all polished up and ready to go. Onward and upward, it’s time to make things happen.</spa

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My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer on September 1st. Thankfully, it was really early stage and very treatable. She had a lumpectomy and just finished radiation. There is much to be thankful for this Christmas.