out of my element...

So last night I went on a date to this super fancy restaurant called Ruth Chris. Here is how the night went...

First...he had the car valet parked...

Then we got to the restaurant where we gave them our name so they could look up our reservation cause you pretty much have to have a reservation I guess...(even though on the phone they told him they were busy and they would have to see if they had an open spot...the restaurant was more than halfway empty the whole time we were there)

Then the hostess sat us and asked if we'd like a black napkin so we didn't get white lint on any of our black clothes...(I know right...weird)

Then our waitress came and she asked us if we wanted anything to drink and I said water and I was promptly offered...get this...3 types of water. Some fancy name I couldn't understand...another fancy name that was a sparkling water...and then the house water. I got the house water and it was almost too watery for me...(kidding...it was fine).

Then I got to looking at the menu and I had to calculate how many hours of work it would take me to just order and appetizer or salad so I almost refused to pick anything because it was out of control.

Then he ordered us shrimp cocktail for an appetizer (which was SO DELICIOUS...it was 4 of the biggest shrimp I've ever seen and it cost more than most entrees I've ever ordered in my life)...then we both got ...oh crap...I can't remember what sort of steak it was...but let me tell you it was a PARTY IN MY MOUTH...when it came out the waitress says to hold up your napkins so the puddle of spattering butter on the plate doesn't get on your clothes.

So...it was a super good dinner...but I was a little out of my comfort zone to say the least. But I guess I better love it while it last since in a few weeks the fanciest thing I'll have is The Hawkeye if I'm feeling lucky...

17 days till we leave!!!!

is there anyone who doesn't know this already...

I was re-reading through some old blogs from last year and I used to be a really cool blogger. I suck super bad at it lately...

Here is a blog that has been a long time coming. But...I doubt it is anything new to anyone...

About a month or two ago I was on the phone with my sister and she informed me that Marty Hopp was going to retire at the end of the year. Marty owns Hilltop Floral, where I did my internship during school. She then suggested that I move home and open a flower shop...I would have a corner on the market and be able to do something I've always like doing...

To make a really long story short....I'M DOING IT! I am moving home in 4 weeks. I will be working with Marty until the end of the year...and then hopefully sometime shortly after that I will open my own shop...with the help of Marty and family and anyone who would like to be an investor in my little idea!

My friend Stacie is going to move with me! She will be there for at least the summer...and depending on how the job search goes (she is waiting to hear back about a teaching position here in Chandler) she may stay longer!

Here is the cool thing about this plan. Quite a few weeks back when me and Stacie were trying to make a final decision about whether to stay in AZ or go to Illinois...we both came up with our main reasons why we shouldn't go.

Me:

1- My one and only reason for thinking I shouldn't go was my job. I really like my job! I like the people, I like what I do, I have insurance...it just didn't make sense for me to quit.

Stacie:

1-She didn't have a job here and was worried she wouldn't be able to come up with enough money to move and have some to live off of for a while in Illinois.

2-She was really worried about actually finding a job in Nauvoo once we got there.

Since then, Stacie has substitute taught almost every day for about 3 weeks (previously she was only doing once, maybe twice a week). And...she has 3 jobs lined up for when we get home! (can you live in Nauvoo and only have 1 job? I don't think so)

And...come to find out...this big contract my boss had with the City of Phoenix...the one that got put on hold for 6 weeks this winter resulting in me 'losing my job' for 6 weeks...Dave found out early last week that the City of Phoenix is backing out of the contract they had with us...and that project is going to be over at the end of July...so...odds are...I would of lost my job then anyway...or at least been cut back to part time...

I just think it is AMAZING that our 3 really only hesitations with moving to Nauvoo have now become obsolete...in just a matter of weeks!!

So that is the plan! I am SUPER excited and SUPER SUPER nervous about this new adventure...but I feel really good about it and hopefully it will all work out well...