Weird and Ninja’s Pre-Disneymoon [Completed!]

[TokyoDina]

Of course! I have a girlfriend that is a teacher here and she is always telling me how the system is messed up. Sadly it's true, and the first thing that gets cut is law enforcement and teachers. It's not good and I hate how hard it is to be a teacher these days. I totally understand what your saying. But then again it's the generation Y bringing up these miliniums and half of them are still kids themselves and want to stay on the kids good side. I'm gonna be a mean mama I know it. I'm already pretty strict with Drizzt!

But I truly respect what you do and that you still have to drive to get up every morning and walk into that school and go I can do this. Some days I wake up and say am I sure that I still want to stay here? Is there something else out there like cooking that I could be missing?

The peach packing place is called Lane Packaging Company http://www.lanesouthernorchards.com/ . It is about three hours west of I-95. It's right off of I-75 in Fort Valley, GA. It's really nice and even if you guys don't want to make a three hour detour you can always order stuff from them on-line if you really wanted to try it.

 

[Bridora]

I can't wait until you wake up at the Florida Welcome Center!

I have heard so many people talk about it. We have never stopped for fresh orange juice...even though we always drive!

 

[stacy347]

I can't wait to hear about the Welcome Center, too!
As silly as it seems, it is one of the things I am most looking forward to seeing for the first time. I don't know why we've never stopped in before, but I'm not missing it this time!

 

[Cinderella16]

I hate trucks too!! I also close my eyes!!

Cannot wait for the Florida Welcome Center! It has become our tradition to stop and get some orange juice there!

 

[Brave teacher]

I love those potato wedges at KFC. So yummy! We're getting even closer!

 

[irky416]

Please don't post anymore pictures of chocolate chip cookies. They look too good and make me want some!

I always think of "hair pain" when I see airplanes, too!

 

[RachelNinja]

Of course! I have a girlfriend that is a teacher here and she is always telling me how the system is messed up. Sadly it's true, and the first thing that gets cut is law enforcement and teachers. It's not good and I hate how hard it is to be a teacher these days. I totally understand what your saying. But then again it's the generation Y bringing up these miliniums and half of them are still kids themselves and want to stay on the kids good side. I'm gonna be a mean mama I know it. I'm already pretty strict with Drizzt!

But I truly respect what you do and that you still have to drive to get up every morning and walk into that school and go I can do this. Some days I wake up and say am I sure that I still want to stay here? Is there something else out there like cooking that I could be missing?

The peach packing place is called Lane Packaging Company http://www.lanesouthernorchards.com/ . It is about three hours west of I-95. It's right off of I-75 in Fort Valley, GA. It's really nice and even if you guys don't want to make a three hour detour you can always order stuff from them on-line if you really wanted to try it.

I think a big issue this day and age is also the fact that kids think that they're on the same level as authority figures or that they don't have to respect them. They're taught to question authority especially since so many teachers have shown that they can't be trusted! I don't know; there has to be a happy medium! I mean, if I'm telling you to hush while we walk in the hallways, it's not because I'm putting you in any danger, so there's no need to question my command! Haha.

This is my 3rd year teaching, so it is much easier in terms of the emotional struggles. My 1st year was horrific. I cried so often at home in the morning, on the way to school, in my classroom, in the bathroom, once I got in the car and saw my mom, back at home ... haha. All crying! Oh, with the principal, with the assistant principal ... it's just so emotionally draining feeling like you have to please students, parents, and administration. Now I know that I can teach (1st year is full of doubts and insecurities), so I try to remember that I'm doing what I'm supposed to do, and if a kid doesn't want to do his/her part, it's his/her choice. Teachers can only do so much.

I'll keep that link in mind! Mmm, I can imagine ordering something to try! Yum!

I can't wait until you wake up at the Florida Welcome Center!

I have heard so many people talk about it. We have never stopped for fresh orange juice...even though we always drive!

There's just something so yummy about Florida OJ. It doesn't give me stomach aches because of the acid, and I don't have to dilute it with water!

I can't wait to hear about the Welcome Center, too!
As silly as it seems, it is one of the things I am most looking forward to seeing for the first time. I don't know why we've never stopped in before, but I'm not missing it this time!

I especially love the fact that it's free! Haha, it's just like Club Cool. Knowing it's free makes it all taste THAT much better!

I hate trucks too!! I also close my eyes!!

Cannot wait for the Florida Welcome Center! It has become our tradition to stop and get some orange juice there!

Actually just today an express bus cut me off on a main road today! The speed limit wasn't that high, so I don't know why the driver was going to so quickly and felt the need to cut me off when there wasn't even that much space. So now I think I'm adding buses to that list along with those trucks!

I've heard that there's grapefruit juice there too? Weird really wanted to try that.

I love those potato wedges at KFC. So yummy! We're getting even closer!

I wish I didn't have to worry about getting sick with things that are too greasy or fried since my gallbladder was removed. In the past, I could munch on a ton of those and feel absolutely fine!

Please don't post anymore pictures of chocolate chip cookies. They look too good and make me want some!

I always think of "hair pain" when I see airplanes, too!

Haha, I don't think I have any more cookie pictures, so you should be safe!

 

[RachelNinja]

Sunday, April 4: Full Circle

My last entry, which was written about a century ago, left off with the anticipation of stopping at the Florida Welcome Center for orange juice! I was excited to take a sip of real orange juice without that sharp acidity that really messes with my esophagus and stomach. Weird and I closed our eyes and slept soundly since we had been awake throughout the end of South Carolina and Georgia.

When I next opened my eyes, I saw ... wait a minute ... hold up ... I must be mistaken ... I started seeing certain landmarks that indicated that we were already in FLORIDA!!! Hoping that I was just terrible with my geography and with my memory, I asked my mom where we were.

She replied, "We're already in Florida. The two of you were sleeping so soundly that we didn't want to wake you up to stop at the Welcome Center." Nooo!!! No orange juice?!? What a bittersweet moment. It was only slightly good because that meant Weird and I slept longer during the drive so we were actually closer to our destination! Oh well, I guess we'll have to stop there on the way back home! Nothing left to do but enjoy the Florida sights!

This bridge looked pretty new to us. We couldn't remember ever having seen it before. A closer look showed us that the sign read "Seminole County: Florida's Natural Choice."

I tried to distract myself from the windy roads in Florida before reaching Downtown Orlando. Those roads scare me. I'd like everyone to drive at a nice 40 mph!

Matt was sleeping during this time. I was actually holding up his baby pillow in front of his face since he was directly in the sun. That kid doesn't need any more freckles! He loves playing basketball outside when the sun's the hottest and brightest! After a while, I found a way to place it on his head so that I didn't have to hold it up.

I also took a picture of his wrist because he had one of the Silly Bandz on. I know the other teachers definitely know what this is, at least around my area! It was the latest trend for a while, and all the kids wanted these cheap rubber bracelets in different shapes. I asked Matt which one he wore, and he said he had the bulldog on. I said, "Why do you have the bulldog? You don't like dogs; you're scared of them." He said, "So are you!" Haha, but I wasn't the one wearing a bulldog on my wrist! My cousin commented that it was probably because it was orange and it matched his Gallinari t-shirt!

I took this photo for Matt since he loves watching the Orlando Magic. He's convinced that in 10 years, he'll move to Orlando.

Well, despite the fact that Matt was sound asleep, dad decided to call him to wake him up AFTER we passed the sign just to tell him that he missed the sign! Haha, sometimes I don't get fathers. Well, thankfully I had snapped the pic because I was able to show it to him and he was satisifed.

At this point, we were approaching downtown Orlando, and Weird started getting camera happy taking pictures of everything! He was admiring the architecture and all the different structures since he was an architecture major in college.

I wasn't very interested in the architecture except for one particular building. When my family went to WDW in 2008, we drove this same exact route, of course. I saw this building that looked exactly like the model of a building that Weird was designing for one of his projects in college. The roof looked like waves, and the moment I saw it, I immediately thought of Weird! I was extremely excited to show it to him in real life since I never had the chance to take a picture of it.

Well, here's that building! I believe it's the Lynx Central Station (thanks Google!).

Weird agreed with me and thought it did look like his project!

I just was so warmed by the idea that we had come full circle. When I saw that building 2 two and a half years ago, we weren't back together yet. It wasn't even a thought in our minds to get back together. To be able to show him the building in person, to point and look at it through a shared car window ... wow, it just amazed me. Who would have thought we'd be back together? Who would've thought that we'd be going to Florida together? It really gave me those warm, fuzzy feelings inside!

What a great way to enjoy our first few moments (or hours ... haha) in the Sunshine State!

BTW, this update is dedicated to Michelle/SoonerGirl just because she JUST started her TR (link here) and is already in Florida!!! Haha, despite the fact that her trip was a month after mine! Well, now I've gotta catch up and being in the right state is just one step closer to Disney!

 

[SoonerGirl]

BTW, this update is dedicated to Michelle/SoonerGirl just because she JUST started her TR (link here) and is already in Florida!!! Haha, despite the fact that her trip was a month after mine! Well, now I've gotta catch up and being in the right state is just one step closer to Disney!

Ha! So funny that I guilted you into getting us into Florida Well, we did fly, which got us there much quicker than your multi state road trip

I'm so sorry that you missed the Welcome Center, what a bummer!

That building with the roof lines that look like waves is really cool, even more so since it has a story behind it!

 

[klacey1]

Great update-- that building is amazing!
You never know how life will work out or who you'll end up with!

 

[wdwgirl03]

YEAH, you're in Florida!!

Off to Michelle's report too.

 

[irky416]

Yay! You're in Florida!

I would be so obsessed with the Silly Bandz if I was in 7th grade! My kids love them, too. One of them gave me a blue turtle and I left it in my car on the gear shift.

 

[Cat0727]

Yayy you're in Florida! So sweet you were able to take a picture for Matt haha, I don't know why fathers like to bust chops sometimes, either! I think it will never get old for them. Looking forward to seeing all the signs for WDW when you enter Orlando

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

When I read your title I thought "Oh No! She really did turn the car around"

Yay for being in FL!

 

[RachelNinja]

Cloudy with a Chance of Proposal

This is an off-topic installment and I'll get to the comments another time, but I think that many of you won't mind reading it since it's about DBF and me! As in, DBF and me getting one step closer to our engagement!

Yesterday was a day we were looking forward to because we didn't get a chance to hang out the Saturday before due to Weird's overtime schedule. See, we typically only see each other on Saturdays since it's not really easy or costly to spend time with each other during the week, especially with Weird's commute and my lesson plans. We used to also see each on Sundays, but I've been attending a local church over the past few months. Anyway, we had two things that we wanted to do: sushi + engagement ring shopping!

Weird came over after a long morning (Matt was sick, but thankfully he's better today). He brought 2 California roll dinners with him since I was craving it for a few weeks. We're very into the raw fish aspect of sushi, but sometimes we just really want good Cali rolls from this one particular place near his place because they add a lot of yummy avocado in it! I was excited to see him and to just relax with him with some good food!

We took a breather and just talked at my house for a while about work and life and things like Pet Society and Country Story on Facebook, haha. Then we decided it was about time to head out! Our first stop was Barnes & Nobles because I needed to return a copy of the Kingdom Keepers 3 since I bought one on my own through Amazon and then a few days later, a student also bought one for me. I got the gift card for a little less than $18 and went around looking for a basketball magazine for Matt. I wanted to cheer him up since there was nothing I could do for him.

I found the Sports Illustrated Basketball Book for $10 in the bargain books section, so I was happy with that find. I still had some money left and was going to save it, but I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get a wedding magazine! I've always wanted to get one and to actually be closer to a wedding and actually having a reason to get one was definitely enough encouragement for me! I chose one (after a long time deciding; Weird was so patient!) for $5 and then though, "Hmm, I'm still going to have almost $3 left on the card, I might as well get the other one I want too!" So that's how I ended up with 2 wedding magazines: Get Married and The Knot (New York edition).

And now looking back on it, it's funny that I thought that THAT was going to be the best part of the day!

Our next stop was Dunkin' Donuts because I was dying of thirst and needed a pick-me-up. Considering I seem to never run out of DD gift cards, HF and I were able to split a large peach iced tea at no cost. Fully hydrated, we drove on to the mall to do some ring shopping! Our legs walked us on over to the Disney Store though because in some ways, isn't that more important? Well, that's what we thought then too! We wanted to purchase a few of the cute plates (Weird loved the Cars ones, of course!), cups (I liked the tall drinkware that had all different characters on the square design), and mugs (I liked the tall Minnie blowing bubbles) they had on sale, but we were hoping it'd drop even more in price considering they still had a good amount left.

Where to next? Helzberg Diamonds! Our first stop in looking for an engagement ring! We were greeted right away by this really warm and friendly consultant. She showed us the Radiant Star line, which we knew was too much out of the budget, so she then showed us the Smart Value E-rings. Yep, this is what we're talking about! When talking about rings, I always told Weird that all I wanted was one that sparkled. He had already done a ton of research about the 4C's, so he was really focused on getting a good diamond. We found one that I liked that was 3/4 carat, which was bigger than I thought we'd actually get due to cost. Weird's budget was 3-4K, but I was very against that. I didn't want that much money spent on one piece of jewelry.

We knew it was important to shop around, so the woman asked if we wanted to take her card. She wrote down the number of the ring on the back and then went to get the booklet that explained why Helzberg is different than other jewelers. While she went to do that, I looked at her card and saw her name. When she returned, I had to ask, "Are you B's mom?" B was one of my closest friends in junior high and then in high school! I realized that for a moment, she did look familiar when she first came up to us, but I just pushed the familiarity aside! She remembered who I was and brought up some high school memories as we hugged. It really was such a small world! I mean, the other woman could've come up to us first and we never would have known!

Even though I really liked the ring and price that was at Helzberg, we continued on our quest to a few other jewelers. We stopped at Littman Jewelers and felt kind of odd being there. A lady did approach us to help, but when we sat down to look at the e-ring case, she didn't really seem to know the merchandise. She was nice and all, but if people are coming in to drop a load of cash on an expensive item, I think it best if the salesperson knows how to direct the customer. None of the prices and styles were good anyway. The diamonds just seemed so high up and raised from the actual band that it seemed kind of awkward.

Zales was the next stop. We walked in and told the girl (who probably wasn't that much older than I am) working there that we were looking for e-rings. She directed us to the proper case and I told her that I liked the white gold, 4 prong, round cut solitaires. She took one out and told us that it was 1ct, I think, and that it was like, $6000! Without even trying it on, I gave it back to her and told her it was out of our price range. She asked what we were looking for and Weird answered 3-4K. The way she said, "Oh~" was just so condescending! Can you imagine what she would have said or done had I told her that I wanted something less than that?!? We stayed for just a short while afterwards as I tried to find a way to just leave. She made us feel so uncomfortable that I wish we could've been like, "You know what? Never mind, we're going elsewhere."

The last jeweler we went to was Kay. We walked in when no other customers were there. It's right across from Helzberg, so earlier we did see that it was busy. The cluster of people there didn't approach us at ALL. They stayed in their little spot and just continued talking. And once we found the e-ring case, we were squatting down to get a better look; I wanted to see if they were raised like the Littman Jeweler ones. They were, so we decided to just leave. I can't believe they didn't ask us if we needed help! I mean, I know we look young and maybe they didn't think we were serious, but hey, looks can be deceiving.

I just couldn't believe the service or lack of service we got at those places. I mean, it's one thing to want us to buy an expensive item, but if we're telling you that this is our budget and you HAVE rings that would fit the budget, wouldn't you still want to sell those? Isn't that the point of being the salesperson? Just make the sale! Oh well, their loss!

I thought we were going to head out; I didn't want to get my hopes up that Weird would buy one. But we did end up going back to Helzberg because he wanted to look at it under the microscope in the gem room. We walked in and said, "We're back!" and we still got such a warm greeting! It really did feel different, and it wasn't just because it was my HS friend's mom because like I said earlier, she was so sweet before we knew.

Weird examined it under the microscope, and he saw a white inclusion near one of the prongs. I actually didn't notice it at all until he had pointed it out. It is visible with the eye if you closely examine it when it's about 2 inches away from your eye and you know where to look, but it's really not something that affects the sparkle!!! It was just a tiny cloud. Even so, we went back out to look at other ones just in case.

A different woman was helping us at that point because she knew how to use the microscope better. She showed us all these different rings, but I kept going back to the original. I put them on, she put them on (it looks different when you see someone wearing it), we compared, and I kept going back to the original! She even brought out a ring that was 1/2 carat that did have a sharp sparkle, but it was smaller and twice the cost! I just don't see the point in that. I really wanted that size, that sparkle, and that plain, classic style. No frills. Nothing fancy. My ring has to match my Old Navy tanks and Disney t-shirts!

Well, after much discussion and constantly going back to the original one (they explained that it's kind of like the wedding dress that sometimes you just go back to that first one that you tried on!), Weird actually decided right then and there to purchase it! Yes, you read correctly! Weird purchased my engagement ring yesterday!!!

I was thrilled with the ring and the fact that it wasn't going to cost an arm and a leg, and Weird was happy that I loved the ring! He told me that he was thinking about getting one this past week, but he knew that he should wait to make sure that I tried on different styles and really liked what I said I liked (ex. online I think princess cut rings look nice, but on me, they just look so wrong).

They have to send it to get resized, but we're going to pick it up this Saturday. But no, it doesn't mean that we're engaged yet, and I still don't know when Weird will propose. But wow, we're one step closer to being Mr. and Mrs. Weird!

Haha, for the rest of the night, I could barely stand. My legs felt like jello, and I just walked around in a daze because it felt so unreal! We went to dinner and I could barely taste my food because I was just so excited! Haha, we have a few pictures from our quick dinner at Panera, but they're on my camera and can't get them now. I'll post them if I can some other time.

Well, this is going to be one interesting week! I think I'm anticipating this Saturday (when I can try it on in the right size and all that and know it's in Weird's possession) more than I looked forward to Disney!!! Haha, is it possible? Yes, because WDW is one week. Marrying Weird is for our lifetime.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Great story Rae! Thanks for sharing

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

EEK! How exciting!

I totally remember buying my first bride magazine! It's so fun!

We noticed something similar while ring shopping as well. Some of the stores just didn't seem to care and were really condescending to us - because of our small budget. The place we bought from was totally different, and just felt right.

I had to wait about a week for mine as well, and I thought I would die of anticipation... Hope the week goes super speedy for you

 

[dellasgirl]

a

 

[klacey1]

What exciting news!! Wonder when you'll get the big question??

 

[therussells08]

Hello from another English teacher!

I am so ridiculously late to this TR. I am terribly sorry. My 11th graders have been keeping me very busy. I have spent the entire morning catching up and laughing my butt off. You are an excellent writer and your commentary cracks me up!

I just wanted to add a few comments to what I've read so far. Here goes:

I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay in NC! I've lived here my whole life and I can't imagine living anywhere else. My husband is in the Army and he is stationed in Fayetteville, which is very close to Lumberton.

I'm also glad that you have enjoyed the magic that is biscuits and gravy. I eat them regularly and I am seriously addicted. I was flying through Chicago once and I tried to order them at the McDonalds in the airport and the server looked at me like I was crazy. How can Northerners live without the deliciousness that is gravy smothered biscuits?!

I can't wait to read more. Thank you so much for making this long! I need something to help me get through the next 7 loooong months until I get to go back!!