Rants, Recipes, and Running

So we left off Thursday night at about 3am when I finally fell asleep from extreme exhaustion. I woke naturally about at 6:30am the following morning, of course. The morning person in me never leaves!! I woke to the most beautiful sound....rain. I donned my spandex long sleeve, shorts, Mizuno running shoes, and of course "Marc Antony"--my GPS. (Yes, I have it named. Prior to Ryan, my GPS was named Dmitri. When I met Ryan and took him on our 1st run, I introduced him to Dmitri and said "I don't have time to date men. So since I have the dream of loving an cute Italian boy--I have named my GPS after one". The next day Ryan set out to buy a new GPS and told me "You can use this from now on. We will come up with a better name..a warrior-like name." And hence, Marc Antony is the name) I was at such peace during that run....feeling about 1000 feels at once. Nerves about all the wedding stress, excitement about all the family I get to see, and true joy that I...

So I left off with Tuesday's anticipation of the big events for the weekend! Wednesday morning Ryan and I went for a run, had a great workout in the the backyard of my parents house.....and this was probably the last normal moment we had alone and together for the rest of the weekend! I am so glad we did this. We got some quality time together to talk, laugh, and encourage each other....got a little taste of our normal routine before the excitement all came. I made him breakfast, and he was back to the lakes. I packed up my bags to head to Wahpeton with Mom to get my nails done. Wednesday was a great day to get some good bonding time with my Mom. It's funny how when I was a young teenager--I had such attitude towards my parents and would strive so hard to be the complete opposite of them. Now I can proudly say that I strive so hard to become a woman like my Mother. I arrived at the glorious lakes (which is probably my favorite place in the world)...and headed to my bridesmaid ...

So as stated early, and as all of you have probably read...My sister Lisa wrote a beautiful recap of our Wedding weekend in a 5-blog-collaboration. After some discussion and thinking, I have decided to write a little blog about the wedding day from our side. We started to watch the wedding video-compilation last night. Only got through the ceremony and our first dance. It was so surreal to re-live. It brought me back down memory lane...to 3 weeks ago. Which feels like yesterday and feels like 3 years ago--all at the same time. This may take a few blogs worth. I tend to get overly wordy, so it's best I break this up into pieces. I am going to begin with Tuesday. Ryan was at the lakes with his family at the cabin they rented for the week. I had been in Wyndmere with my mom and dad enjoying the much-needed time spent. (I miss my parents, a lot) It was so exciting to see Ryan for the first time that week. He showed up at my house that morning. I had just returned from an 8 mile, head-c...

Okay, so my previous post told of the amazing beautiful sites we saw. The relaxation we enjoyed. And the elegant romance we experienced. Now, this may come across negative--but please trust me, this is not negativity. I thrive off of this stuff......Watching people. A couple's only resort in a different country is like a MUSEUM for a people watcher who loves to analyze.... So let's start with our first morning out on the pool/beach.... Now, for background information--Abby is sheltered girl when it comes to culture. I was born in North Dakota, raised in North Dakota...and my heart continues to live within the good, Catholic family Values. We arrive to the pool, We are getting set up at our chairs..and I look left and there "it" is. I don't know what to do when I see "it". Do I scream? Vomit? Cry? Run away? Let "it" know? You are probably wondering what this "it" is...Well "it" was a picture of something I hope to never beco...

So my lovely sister, Lisa has posted 5 excellent blogs recapping the events of the amazing wedding weekend. Now, normally I would link this. However, I do not know how to link another blog (I am completely computer-unsavy). However, the only peoploe that read this blog, read Lisa's blog as well. I am going to skip the recap of our wedding, in that case....and skip to our honeymoon! We left for Cancun, Mexico on last Wednesday. We got home from the wedding the Monday after, I was sick with a horrible flu that turned into Bronchitus for a 1.5 weeks, and I had finals week for school. A real whirlwind, and finding real time to enjoy our married life was tough. So Wednesday morning I took my final test, and had Ryan pick me up from school and we headed straight to the airport! We arrived at 9:30 pm to our "Couples-Only-All Inclusive" resort the "Playa Mujeres" http://www.excellence-resorts.com/all-inclusive-resorts/playa-mujeres-mexico/playa-overview.htm It was absol...

My sister Lisa posted this on her blog, and I love doing these things. Especially when I am extradinary distracted from studying! :) 1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? Giant lacerated scars on both knees. A few summers ago, I was staying with my sister Lisa and decided to go for a job around Bloomington, MN. Coming downhill (quite fast), I completely tripped foot-over-foot and went straight into the ground face first. I still have a slight scar on the side of my eye (when I get really tan), and giant keloid scars on my knees. So lovely... 2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM? Nothing as of it, and it was very sad and echoy! However, we have some frames and shelves we would like to put up soon! 3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP? Do I ever talk in my sleep!Poor Ryan has a rough future of "pleasant sleeping" cut out for him. I talk, laugh hysterically, and laugh some more in my sleep. Realllly creepy. 4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO? I love v...

The wedding in approaching us so quickly, and finding focus on anything else that is not wedding related has been a real challenge! This week is a big one. In fact, there are about 300 things I should be doing right now other than writing a blog. I have an Operating Room clinical Tuesday, Exam on Wednesday, a 4 hour lab simulation Thursday, 3 hour lecture, and then I leave at 6:30 am Friday to go home for the big day!!! However, I cannot help but reflect on the past year, and all the astonishing, new, blunt, and peculiar, and sometime wise nuptial advice Ryan and I have received. Maybe some of you will find these good pieces of advice? Some may laugh. Some may cry. I often walked away feeling very confused. For in my experience, when someone has told me that they are engaged to be married--my response has always been a positive one saying something like "Wow! Congratulations for you guys! When is the big day? What wonderful news you have!!!" Instead...here is some of the ...