That's Our Kind of Love

Ryan and I have had a very unique relationship for the past year - but that is what has made us love each other even more. I know for a fact that we can make it through anything! Long distance, Army, short visits....BRING IT ON! :)

You know it's our kind of love when....

• you meet over an Army leave
• you are glued to the phone/computer - Thank you 6+ hour time difference!
• you find yourself frequently speaking in acronyms - darn Army vocabulary.
• you become closest friends with people you have never met before.
• you have the odd feeling to hug any person in uniform (OK, that's more of me, not Ryan. :))
• your first holidays together are apart
• you learn to trust that the army will either be your best friend or your worst enemy.
• you have faith in the smallest words, e-mails, messages, gifts, and moments.
• you don't get ready to go out for a dinner and movie - instead you look all nice for Skype dates.
• you find the weirdest things to laugh at - skype dance parties and karaoke! lol.
• you have the ability to comfort each other even though you are 2836458947563 miles away.
• you have countdowns for everything - our wedding right now, 56 days!!!

It may be an Army/ long distance love right now...but it's our kind of love!!!

We Eat Like It's Our Job

Today I came home in somewhat of a bad mood. I wasn't stressed, but I was overwhelmed. I really looked forward to coming home and skyping with Ryan - knowing that he would make my day better. He quickly made me smile and laugh, and then he said the magic words that every woman wants to hear - "Honey, you have had a bad day. I want you to go out and get some Chinese food. My treat!" I love that man!!! :)
As I was getting my Chinese take out (which totally helped turn my day around - btw!), I started to think about how much Ryan and I enjoy food. We LOVE to get Chinese take out and just stay in for the night. In fact, that will probably be one of the first things we do when we get to Louisiana - find our Chinese spot! It is necessary to have!
However, we don't just love take out. We love eating out too. We have been known to go to restaurants and eat like it's our job! Outback and Olive Garden are just a few of our favorites. :) The only bad thing is that we don't know where to stop. We have been known to be completely miserable after eating out because we eat WAY too much! The food is just so good.
Food really brings us together. We are totally that couple who tries each other's food and trades bites. Cheesy, I know. I just love how we have gotten to the point where we swap out items automatically, depending on what each other likes or dislikes. It makes me smile how well we know each other! At this point all I can do is pray that we have enough money to eat out a lot OR someone needs to get me some cookbooks for a wedding gift - cooking is not my thing right now. It is a goal to work on! :) Until then, bring on the Chinese, Outbacks, IHOPs, and Olive Gardens!

PS- The closest 'favorites' to Ft. Polk, LA are atleast 45 minutes away. We have already planned/mapped out how we can spend a day in Alexandria and fit in all of our favorite restaurants! LOL! We have our priorities set!

Long Distance Valentine

February of 2010 was when Ryan and I first started talking - on facebook :). Ryan was in Afghanistan and I was smitten! We had just started messaging each other, so I didn't know if he was single or if he was interested in someone else. Well, it was almost Valentine's Day and I decided to make a move and figure out this whole mystery. I had the bright idea to ask him if he would be my really long distance valentine! He responded the next day and laughed - and said that he didn't know of any other girls asking him, so yes, he would be my really long distance valentine! I took that as a good sign - I would take it! I guess you could say that is where we moved from just talking to being interested in each other. It has been one of our favorite stories to joke about! :)
This has been our second year as really long distance valentines - thank you, Army. I got a wonderful skype date and some beautiful roses. I made Ryan a video with a pretty song and some of our favorite pictures. Luckily this year I have the comfort of a ring on my finger - instead of trying to win him over and check out his relationship status! :) It's amazing how much can change in one year!
The past year of getting to know Ryan has been an amazing adventure. We have overcome distances, deployments, ups, downs, hellos, and goodbyes. Over the time we have gotten to know each other inside and out. We have become each other's best friend and we have started planning our forever love. Valentine's Day is a wonderful time to remember all these amazing times together - and daydream about all the ones yet to come!

Yin and Yang

There is often the phrase, 'Opposites attract.' Now, I don't think that Ryan and I are opposites by any means, but instead we are each other's compliment. As cheesy as it does sound - we complete each other. As we have dated there have been several times in which this has been brought to my attention. Every time it happens I am grateful, because it is just comforts me more to know that I have found my soulmate.
Recently I have been suffering from the flu - that's me putting it nicely. I really feel like death! When I am sick I react by just laying there and sleeping. I tend not to take very good care of myself. I usually don't eat right because I don't have the energy to move. I don't keep up with my fluids because I prefer sleeping instead. And I don't take medicine very well because....well because I don't like medicine.
Ryan has also been feeling crummy lately. However, he goes to the store and gets snacks because he knows his body needs the food. He pours in the fluids because he wants to flush his system. And he takes his medicine cause he knows it will do its job.
As you can see - we are yin and yang. I just really wish he were here with me to take care of me because I know he would do a fantastic job at keeping me healthy! He will take care of us both in the sick category! Sigh.... I guess we will have to wait 10 more weeks (for Ryan to leave Italy) before we can totally complete each other.

Facebook Me

On my LONG (8 hour) flight back to the US, I got to watch The Social Network - the movie about the creation of Facebook. It was actually really interesting, not for the plot, but for seeing how the Facebook obsession came about. It was neat to see how quickly it caught people's attention and why. It is the ultimate social experiment. We want to see other people's lives and we want to share our own life. It proves how truly nosey we naturally are. Our society has become driven by that! There was a comment in the movie relating to people not going out anymore - you just socialize online. How convenient!
Now, I am not going to get into the healthy/not healthy aspects of this cultural obsession. Instead, I am going to show my gratitude. No matter what the reason for its creation, I give it credit for finding the love of my life. Without Facebook, I would have never 'accidentally' friend requested Ryan. Although I believe that we are soulmates, I am not sure we would have found each other at the right time if it weren't for this social network. Timing is everything, and Facebook was a large part of our fate. So, thank you Mark Zuckerberg! What started off as a Harvard social network has led to many wonderful friendships and my ultimate happiness with the man of my dreams. Who would've thought! :)

Penalita!...Ryan and Sarah take Italy.

Friday was a long day of work for Ryan and a long day of waiting for me. Our adventure finally got started Friday evening (a little later than we originally thought). We were very anxious to get on the train and hurry to Venice. After our train ticket was purchased we found a seat and relaxed for the first time of the day - thinking that we were all on track (no pun intended!). Well, one of the train conductor guys came around to check our ticket. In 'broken English' (really Italian), he informed us that we had forgotten to validate our ticket. Oops?! Ryan and I said sorry and thought we would just have to remember next time. Sounded fair, right? Nope!!! That man took his job very seriously. He pulled out a ticket pad and wrote us a ticket for 30 euro! Seriously....that happened. We were fined and paid the extra money. No mercy for the poor Americans! It was ridiculous. Luckily we laughed about our luck and moved on. Needless to say we did NOT forget to validate from then on. :)

Venice was GORGEOUS!!! Ryan and I loved walking around aimlessly and taking in all the views. We of course stayed in San Marco and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. I got to see my gondolas!!!! :) The bridges were my favorite part - and all the canals and water. It amazed me how the city was built around the water. On the other side - I HATED the pidgeons! I can't stand birds! I swear these birds saw a red target over my head because they kept swooping down towards me. Ryan got a kick out of watching me duck and hide.

Our adventure was not over when we got back from Venice. We also had the ball that night! It was so fun to get all dressed up. Ryan looked so handsome and I felt like a princess! It was for sure a night to remember. The food was amazing and the company was even better. Spending the evening with all of those Able guys made me love them even more!

Today, Ryan and I took Q (Esquilin) to Verona. Personally, I was SO excited about this trip because we were going to see Juliet's house. Since I have taught Romeo and Juliet for the past 2 years, I was super excited about seeing this place. Walking into the tunnel with all the lovers writing was magical. You can honestly just feel the love! Ok, maybe not Ryan and Q.... BUT I was a giddy little girl! I made Ryan go up to the balcony with me and take in the moment. I think he was just happy to see me so happy. I mean, this was where Juliet was thought to have fallen in love with Romeo. So romantic! Hello?!?! We also rubbed Juliet's boob (the statue..duh). It is considered good luck - we aren't weird! :)

Overall, Italy is wonderful. It shows its age but also has an undescribable beauty about it. Love it! I am sad to say that my time here is almost up, but I have made memories that will last forever. This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity for Ryan and I!

Hello...Guten Tag...and Ciao!

Well, aside from all my disbelief and doubt, my dress and I made it to Italy!!! :) As promised, Ryan (and Lenny!) were at the aiport to pick me up at the scheduled time. I am not broke, I did not starve, and I was not kidnapped. Thank goodness!!!!

My flights were OK - the typical cramped space, slow moving people, and stress of travel times. However, no complaints here! I left on time, arrived on time, and even got a window seat for the long flight! My only regret is that I didn't stay awake for dinner on my international flight. Ryan said they usually serve pretty good food - plus, I woke up hungry. I guess sleep was just more important to me at the time.

In college I took German (for some unknown and still mysterious reason - guess I wanted to be different). Of course, I failed miserably and had to beg the professor to pass me even though I didn't know any of the language. Little did I ever think that would come back to haunt me. While rushing into the Frankfurt, Germany airport (trying to find my connecting gate) I quickly realized how helpful my college edu-ma-cation would have been. Although I knew a few words - for the most part I was just lost. Luckily I followed the crowd and found my way! Once in Italy, we came back to the base and got all signed in. Ryan showed me around a little and introduced me to all of the guys that I have gotten to know over the past almost year. Love them!

One of the favorite parts of my day occured while Ryan and I were walking across base. We were kind of stuck in our own little world, as usual, when all of a sudden we hear, "Sssaaarrrrraaaahhh!!!!" Yes, just like that! Ryan and I both instantly looked around thinking, "Who could possibly know me?!" To our surprise, Brittney was driving by and saw us! I was there for less than an hour and she found me! :) We even got to meet up and eat Taco Bell with our boys. I know, I know, my first meal in Italy was Taco Bell. Don't hate - the real Italian food will come soon...

Even though I have not had the time to travel Italy yet, I love it nevertheless. I love how I am here spending time with Ryan. I love that we get to travel a little as a couple. I love how I am in a foreign country, so far away from home, and yet I am surrounded by people that I love and who make me smile!
Tonight we are having dinner with our friends Casey and Dane (and Marissa!). Then tomorrow, after Ryan gets off work, he and I go to Venice!! <3>

Ps- 1) Warming towel rack in bathroom - I need one of those at my house! 2) I have an extra (funny looking) toilet in my bathroom - I need to figure out what in the heck that thing is/does!