And the Learning Continues..onto 2011.

Next week, The Viking and I will pass the two month mark of living together. I'm happy to say it's finally feeling like he's not just visiting and a routine is starting to form between us. Yet, until he finds a permanent job, things are going to just be a tad touchy around the house -  but that's another story.

So, we made it through a Christmas day (gorging ourselves til we both got sick - true story!) and we're about to embark on our second New Year's Eve together. I'm pretty excited for this one, only b/c last year we encountered a minor mishap when he literally head-butted my dog (by accident) and we to make an emergency vet visit. We were in bed by 10:30 p.m. last year and it was a prelude to a shitty 2010.

But I digress. I've learned a few more things about The Viking in addition to what I've already learned, which you can read HERE.

• The Viking likes to sit in the dark and watch TV.
• The Viking is addicted to Sudoku - and although explained to me, I still don't get the appeal.
• The Viking likes to drink everything (particularly applejuice and lemonade) from his Bubba Keg as seen below: He also likes to leave it on the floor. 

• The Viking's way of getting the laundry bin to the bottom of the steps is to throw it.
• The Viking spoils my dog (which I love) 
• The Viking likes to trick me in thinking the CDs in my car are of Madonna or Muse when they're really of Iron Maiden and Hatebreed.

I have a feeling I'll continue to add to this list in the coming months so stay tuned. 

And although it may seem like I'm supplying you with all the not so favorable things he does, I must admit that I've learned how to exhale again now that we're living together. You can't imagine the stress and strain of a long-distance relationship and I'm so happy we don't have to deal with anymore. I'm looking forward to decorating the house the way "we" want, to get back into my gym routine and taking trips together this spring. I LOVE NOT counting down the days until we see one another - the days flow so much better now. :)

What's odd is that I'm almost forgetting what it's like to live alone - and I like it. :)

So here's to a better 2011 then 2010. Here's to looking ahead everyday and not to just the next 12 days or 20 days or 2 days. 

Happy New Year from me and the Viking. He hates this photo b/c he thinks he has five chins in it but hey, I look good. :) 

Maybe Next Time We Plan Better

It's been a while since I blogged. I'm getting over a cold and trying to not think about the awful weekend The Viking and I spent together traveling to Florida for a wedding a few weekends ago.

Who wouldn't like a wedding in sunny Florida? Free booze, food, dancing....It was gorgeous, but we should have realized it was going to be something out of National Lampoon's Vacation when we had to move our flight out from Friday to Saturday b/c all the flights were booked. And when you fly standby that means you ain't flying.

So instead of enjoying a peaceful afternoon in Florida by the pool on Friday, we had to wake up at 4 a.m. on Saturday to make a 6:40 flight. I checked a bag (which in hindsight was a HUGE mistake) and although the flight itself was good, I couldn't sleep, which turned out to be the cause of my awful mood half way though the wedding - well that and the fact that they played the Macarena.

I'm not even going to go into the hassles of finding and securing the rental car. $140 later and I'm fuming. "We should have planned better," The Viking said the first time of many that weekend.

Because I just HAD to take a bath, the only room open at the hotel, a Marriott, with a tub AND a King bed, was handicapped accessible. Whatever, I thought. The shower was small, so when The Viking showered he had to duck or take the head off the wall and "hose" himself down. And my bath would have been perfect if the drain stop actually worked. The lever was busted so I had to make-shift a stopper with a plastic cup. I was actually proud of myself for that idea. In hindsight, agreeing to taking the room was a dumb idea.

One good thing was my hair did what I wanted it do and I felt pretty good in my dress. No photos to share though, I was not in the photo-taking mood that night.

The ceremony was gorgeous, the decor was lovely the food was okay and the music was, well let's just say my feet would not allow me to get on the dancefloor. I know I'm a music snob, so what I think may have been not so good, could have been someone else's perfect.

Anyway by 11 p.m. I was beyond exhausted, sober and just ready to go to sleep. I was grumpy as usual and needless to say, not making The Viking happy, who was not sober and not tired.

Cut to the next morning and bagels and tea at Starbucks and Einstein Bagels. Ready to get home. The Ravens were playing the Steelers at home that night and The Viking was going to the game with my Dad. I was ready to be home. Home however didn't happen until 3 p.m. the following day!!!!

Our 12:30 p.m. flight from FLL to BWI was booked. The Vik was able to find a flight from FLL to Raleigh-Durham that went on ahead to Baltimore and arrived at the same time as our original flight. Perfect. We're on it. I'm happy, he's happy. We land and the ticket lady in Florida failed to put us on the transfer list when it was time to deplane. Um WHAT!??

So in the airport we sat and sat and sat and waited and waited and waited. Plane after plane was full and by 6:30 p.m. we had to give up on getting home. John had to forget the game and I had to realize that I'd be sleeping in my clothes in a crummy hotel. Bonus to lots of waiting? I got A TON of reading done.

We booked a cheap room in the Mircotel (more money and stuff we didn't plan for) and although the guys at the desk were cool enough, I'm convinced I got my cold from staying there. It was pretty much a dump but all I was willing to spend ($60) for one night. We went to a nearby Hooters, ate their terrible food and tried to root for the Ravens next to an ignorant Steelers fan. We were both miserable.

Next morning: a free and lousy breakfast at the hotel. I start to feel a scratch in my throat. We get to the airport, try for the 9:30 a.m. flight and told again we'll have to wait. Finally around 10 a.m. we get booked on an actual flight. I get my ticket and I'm so happy to finally leave NC I twitpic the photo:

Am I finally going home? Could this be true? I know it doesn't sound like that bad of a time but as The Viking said when we laid on what was probably two mattress springs with a few slithers of cotton for a bedsheet: "This is as close to camping as we're going to get honey."

When we finally arrive in Baltimore that afternoon by 2 p.m. I'm miserable. I'm convinced I have the flu. My body aches. I'm shivering, cold and I have a throat that is super sore. I'm barking at The Viking b/c his friend is 20 minutes late and I'm convinced he's going to pack his bags and move back to Florida.

Thank God he didn't. We both agreed to never travel again on a weekend, during the holidays or without proper planning.

Another lesson learned living together. And a memory I'd rather forget.  Anyone else sympathize with our travel disaster?