Millie May the Incredible!!!

Step right up folks, it's been a while since I last posted (thanks dad!!)  What better way to start blogging again than to start by introducing the newest member of the Schwartz/Viesselman clan.....

MILLIE!!!!

Yes, we finally have a pup of our very own!!!  She is the cutest most lovable mutt in the whole world.  She has a snaggle tooth and a gap tooth and I love her to bits and pieces!!!

February 2nd

Hey Punxsatawney Phil...I'm on to you. You think you're so special and so cute...I know who you really are. You are a fame whore. All you want is attention. Well P.P. you got it. Are you happy? Can you just shut up now and let us live our lives? Of course not...you''ll be back next year, and the year after that, and the year after that...according to your website you could be doing this forever thanks to that magical juice they feed you every summer during your picnic.

I imagine that before you came along Gobblers Knob was just an ordinary sleepy little town. But then you decided that you needed to shake things up and create a holiday out of thin air. Not only is it a ridiculous holiday, but how is anyone supposed to keep all of the rules you have made up straight? Sure, the guys who wear the top hats and guard you probably know the rules, but come on, they are wearing top hats!

I am going to break this crazy holiday down for everyone...

GROUNDHOG'S DAY

* If Phil sees his shadow, we will supposedly have 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn't the clouds will part, the sun will shine and we can all put on flip flops.

*Phil has an Inner Circle (the guys with top hats). Once Phil has made his prediction he tells it to the president of his inner circle in Groundhogese. This president is (of course) able to translate the prediction and let the whole world know what a couple of squeaks and grunts mean.

*Apparently Phil is the only Groundhog that can predict winter's fate. According to his website (www.groundhog.org) all others are imposters.

Oh look, here you are with your inner circle top hat wearing friend!

Well Phil, that about does it for me. You and your crazy made-up holiday can go back into hibernation for the next 6 weeks. Have fun at your picnic over there in Gobblers Knob. Jerk.

2009

The other day I was talking to Sarah and we started talking about all that had happened this past year. Then I thought about my blog and the fact that I haven't updated in a super long time, and I got a little overwhelmed because so much has happened!! Then, Casey and I got a Christmas card from one of his aunts with those "news letters" about what the family did all year.


Usually I think these are totally annoying, but it inspired me to update my blog with just that; an update of the past year month-by-month.  (Just in case you are keeping tabs).  Enjoy!!

January:
Can I even remember this far back??  This was the month that my license plates got stolen and I had to get new ones.  Casey and I also had to make the tough desicion to put Cocoa to sleep because she had a massive infected tumor on her tail. 

February:
Casey and I went on a trip to Florida with my parents and came back as an engaged couple!!  We also finished our Fundamentals of Judaism class and began to prepare for our wedding and Casey's conversion.

March: 
My birthday which we celebrated at Buca's with friends. Sarah and I also went to a wedding fair and learned a lot about the art of wedding planning! 

April:
I started applying for new jobs in the Human Services field.  (This will be the field I getmy degree in next May!!)  I also got a head-start on the wedding planning and bought my wedding dress with the help from my mom, Sarah and Casey's mom.

May:
Got a new job at Opportunity Services.  My official title is "Community Support Staff,"  but I am a job coach, a friend, someone to talk to, a helper, a listener, and of course, a bus driver!! 

June: 
Sarah and I found our greatest love:  the lazy river at Cascade Bay!!  We immediately bought season passes and decided that Cascade bay would be our "home away from home"  that summer.

July:
July was my favorite month and least favorite month this year.  A four-day Fourth of July weekend spent almost entirely at Cascade Bay started off the month followed by a bar-b-que with friends and more lazing at Cascade Bay. 
This was also a hard month because we got 2 sets of new neighbors who were absolutely disgusting bringing the total to 3 sets of neighbors Casey and I would have to call the police on about a thousand times. 

August:
August brought more Cascade Bay, bar-b-ques and fun. I also attended my 10-year high school reunion which made me realize that people don't change a whole lot in 10 years and also that I'm getting old!!

September:
This month was very busy and stressful for Casey and I.  Synagogue choir started and we had the two major Jewish Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipper).  In-between these holidays Casey's car broke down.  This happened on the same day that he got offered a new job.  We soon found out that his car would be very expensive to fix and it would be better if he just got a new car, so he did.  The next day he started his new job working for Apple in  tech support.  He absolutely loves it.

October:
Fall was finally here!  It got cold, so Casey and I excaped to Arizona with my parents for a weekend to attend my cousin's wedding.  The wedding was beautiful and we had a blast seeing family we hadn't seen in a while. 
We also decided that we were moving and looked at different options.  We found a wonderful rental townhouse in Eagan that is perfect for us and are excited to move in January.

November:
November was a hard month.  about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving we aqcuired a new baby ferret named Nikolas. Although Niko seemed healthy and happy, he was a carrier of a disease that only ferrets can get called ECE.  Sammy and Winston contracted it and got very ill.  After an astronomical vet bill and a week of force-feeding, i.v. fluids and lotsof meds, Winston died.  The next day Sammy, who was making great improvements showed us that he couldn't be without his brother and passed as well.  Nikolas is still with us and managing to hide every cat toy and rampage throughout the apartment.

December:
This brings us to December.  In the beginning of the month Casey and I heard terrible news.  Casey's grandpa had died suddenly.  He and Cole drove to Aitkin to attend the funeral. 
As the month progressed we attended some holiday parties and started seriously packing the apartment.  I also got a snow day from work and learned how to drive a 12-passenger van in snow and sleet! 

This year has come and gone so quickly I can't even believe it.  I'm sure I've left many things out, so this is just an overview. 

Until next year...

Update

I haven't updated in a while so I thought that I'd better update!! Casey got a new job that he loves. He is working for Apple, doing tech support. The day that he found out that he got the new job he also found out that his car needed a new engine. The cost would be about $5,000. We decided that it was time to go car shopping. After a stressful weekend, we had him in a new car and starting a new job...whew!!

This past weekend Casey and I celebrated our soon-to-be Anniversary. We had brunch and just spent time together watching movies. I still can't believe that the wedding is a year away!!! We are at about the halfway mark with planning. The only major things we need to book are a florist and a DJ. I'm letting my mom pick the florist because if it was up to me there would be no flowers except for my bouquet. We have a DJ in mind, but are going to the Bridal Fair in a few weeks to make sure!

I'm working a lot, trying to get enough sleep and battling a cold. This is my update, have to go to bed!

More later!!

Mother, may I sleep with a gun so I can shoot myself?

About 6 months ago...
My mom: Your cousin is engaged! We get to go to his wedding in Phoenix!!
Me: What? When is it?
Mom: Nov. 1st, we can go for the whole weekend, it will be great!
Me: Not gonna happen, that's Halloween weekend and I'm broke.
Mom: We'll talk about this later.

About 3 months ago...
Mom: So we have to plan our trip to Arizona. You and Casey have to look into getting your airline tickets soon!
Me: We don't have any money and we are not going.
Mom: Ugh. I'll buy your plane ticket and pay for the hotel. You just bring spending money.
Me: We can't take time off work, and I have to sing at synagogue! I just started my job, I don't have any vacation time...we are not going!!
My dad: You don't have to go, it's ok.
Mom: You're going!!

Today...
Mom: I bought you and Casey you're plane tickets! You need to take Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday off. Can you get that off? Did you already take that off? Did Casey take that off??!!
Me: We can take it off I guess, but I told you we aren't going.
Mom: Is it approved? Did you talk to your bosses??
Me: We won't know if it's approved for like another week.
Mom: WHAT??!! I bought the tickets!! I only have 24 hours to cancel them!!! Can't you find out now??
Me: You are crazy and I hate you. (hangs up)

5 minutes later...(phone ringing)
Mom: hello?
Me: We'll go, but there better either be a free bar or a liquor store near by. (hangs up)

My Catholic friends always complain about guilt. I think they have it easy. There is no comparison to my crazy Jewish mother. She definatley won this one. Mom: 1 Jenni: 0

To be continued...