Letter to Christian-

Well hello. I would give you a rundown of my week, but it hasn't been terribly exciting. We fed the sister missionaries. We ate chicken with stuffing for dinner. Then we had frosting on graham crackers for dessert. It was nice, we didn't have to make anything for dessert. 

We inherited 6 opened jars of frosting from Charles' brothers fridge and two from Hayley moving away. That's a lot of frosting. We should totes make a cake and frost it half chocolate, half vanilla. I love cake. I bet they don't have cake in Taiwan. Or the same kind of cake. They didn't really in Guatemala. 

I've been slowly packing up my stuff. Luckily, I don't have a lot of stuff to pack. It seems like I live in such a way that I haven't really needed to unpack. Maybe I will when I get married, because it won't matter if it gets mixed in with someone else's stuff. That will be weird. 

Also, because of the house fire, all my stuff is here, with me. That means I'm responsible for getting rid of all the stuff I don't use (often).  So I need to make fancy animals or do something artsy with all that dead weight lace trim I picked up six months ago. Get ready for some gifting amigos.

My dress is at the dry cleaners: $75. That's actually a relief, since the first place I took it to quoted me $180 and the second place said they'd do it for $120. Since some of the lace is glued on though, they could only clean the inner lining- which means it was a lot cheaper than they originally thought. Thank goodness for that. 

Luckily, that dry cleaning estimate didn't give me a heart attack. I also went to the doctor last week. When trying to donate blood two months ago, I was rejected and told I had an arrhythmia, so I went to the doctor to get it inspected. 

After an exercise test, a 24 hour monitor, and a movie taken of my heart, I was informed my heart rate is pretty slow, even after exercising for a while. The doctor also said 1/3 of my heartbeats were irregular- which is kind of a lot. Instead of giving me heart medicine to slow my heart-which would be bad for my already slow heart, she said they'd just redo the 24 hour monitor is 6 months to see how I'm doing. 

She said it's not a problem now, but could cause problems with my heart later. Very strange, since I've never heard anything about an irregular heart beat before this incident, and I've given blood before and had a couple physicals. She said my heart beat is normal when I exercise though, so I should exercise as much as possible. 

I guess the one downside is I can't give blood anymore- an easy service to give usually. Bother. Did you know the first time I tried giving blood they rejected me? It was in high school and I was too nervous. My heart rate was racing too fast. I left the donation room without even taking a cookie. I felt like such a failure. Now I know you can eat the cookies even if you don't give blood. 

I'll find other ways to contribute to society. You are a great example to me. I love you brother! Love, Merilee

P.S. I'm getting married a week from today. Pretty crazy. 

Yes way

I've never been a very good rapper. Than can be a wonderful tool one can utilize in daily living. Nor can I beat box. Pity. I can, however, talk. I can talk for hours. I can and have. 

I bought a 21 lb. watermelon last week. What was I thinking? I was thinking I'd drink a lot of watermelon juice this week. Did it happen? No, but I did incorporate it into many smoothies. I didn't like those to the same degree as the orange juice smoothies I have been drinking, but they were surprisingly nice. 

That said, I still have 33.33 percent of a watermelon leftover. I think it's going bad. I think it has gone bad. Sadly. That was a short run Cap'n Watermelon. Maybe next time you'll let me make you into watermelon jam and watermelon cookies before you go bad. Thanks. 

Yesterday was a beautiful day. It was nice outside, we ate chicken broccoli for dinner and had brownies for dessert- with fruit. I love that stuff. 

I want you all to know I'm marrying an incredible guy. He's so nice to me all the time. He does the dishes. He makes me food. He rubs my feet. According to the peanut gallery, it will end in 11 days. Can't wait. 

Still, my expectations are all sorts of high for a healthy married relationship. I guess the hope of a great relationship is what keeps me on track. If I didn't have that hope, I'd be out. I've always been a runner. Obviously Charles knows that, or he wouldn't be so good to me, and I wouldn't be 11 days from marrying his lovely, wonderful self. 

I've been watching this show on Hulu called Perfect Couples. I actually enjoy it quite a bit. It has three couples and the dichotomy of each couple just kills me. 

Chocolate post-its

I'm getting married in three weeks. The funny thing, is I feel the same. Nothing really has changed. Charles and I had a discussion about it yesterday. Nothing changes when you're engaged except the level of difficulty in not kissing too much and grabbing as many friends to accompany you as possible for chaperoning. 

Your relationship doesn't change until the night of your marriage. Then someone takes your pillow and kicks your face in the middle of the night, unintentionally of course, because you are in love. 

Honestly, I can't wait to get kicked in the face by Charles' hairy monkey foot. However, I did tell him if he talks in his sleep like my lovely former roomie Julene, I will move to the couch. That stuff freaks me out to the max. 

Besides that, I'm set to begin. Seems like Charles is a nice guy and I'm only crazy 89 % of the time. That adds up to a match made in heaven. 

Unfortunately for Charles, I don't like his favorite food- Chinese. Fortunately for Charles, he likes icecream way more than I do, so if he buys a quart, I'll probably only eat 1/7 of it. 

Now, to the real stuffing- like being an awesome couple, I think we're off to a good start. We haven't been avoiding our friends like the plague and we still talk to each other. That's good. We still plan to be in existence after we get married.

Dude, I just spent $2500 on getting my car fixed. I know what you're saying, fixing the plum was a waste. You should have bought a new car. Well, if you said that you would be right. However, I didn't do it. I just fixed it and what was I thinking? I was thinking I'm getting married in three weeks and don't want to worry about buying and selling a car right now.

I tried turning my lights on this morning and I couldn't do it. So either I'm an idiot and haven't been turning car headlights on for 13 years or they're just not working. So I have to take my purple terror back to the car place. BOOOOOOOOO.

I love brownies. You can always use one more. Brownie. Soft. Lustrous. Delicious. 

Money on the flo

When I was younger, I was a huge proponent for picking up loose change from the floor. I'd scan the hallways of my high school and was mowed down on a semi-weekly basis during a penny scoop. It was highly embarrassing to my friends. 

Now that I live in San Francisco, I don't pick up change from the ground. My reasons:

1. Nasty: San Francisco, CA vs. Blue Springs, MO is nasty. Especially on the ground. There are just more people. San Fran, I'm not judging you, I'm just stating the facts. 

2. I've gotten lazier and I don't think squatting for every pittance would be as easy to recover from..physically.

3. I'm rich now. I don't work at McD's anymore and therefore consider myself lucky and rich. I also stopped coming home reeking of grease havok. Now havoc is wreaked in bulk and continues rocksteady throughout the year. You are welcome. 

Note: Quarters and paper money: totes different story. 

Hulu reviews-

Deep in my Heart (2002)- This was a great movie about an adopted girl in the 60's who then tries to find her mother. It has an interesting format and lots of heart. I give it an A. 

Voyager- I knew it. I knew it would end like that. It was good, but I had a feeling about the end of that movie. Started off pretty slow, but very entertaining. I give it an A-. 

The Hulu Review-

Hulu Review-

One Night with the King- This was a great movie to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. There was nothing inappropriate or explicit. It was about Queen Esther in the Bible, but was interesting and had good acting.

Miracle Run- It was a great, based on a true story, movie about a mother of autistic twins. The main lady is on Fried Green Tomatoes. I liked her in both. Zach Efron is also in it. 

I had hummus and euros for lunch. It was, they were, delicious. 

Sheer genius-

Challenges are a treasure map to new talents. I truly believe that. My brother wrote that in an email to us this week. He's a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He flew to Taiwan Wednesday. I'm so proud of him. 

Wishing: I wish for more wishes. That said, as a person, it is often difficult for me to decide what to get others in holiday/present situations. I think about making helpful lists like this 2 weeks before Christmas and the day after my birthday. In order to know what other people, I will start the ball rolling and list what I want. Then I will know what to tell people when they ask. Or they can check my blog post I made that one time. 

1. Body baldness: I wish to be hairless except for the top of my head. So, nose hair clippers, nice shaving cream, and razors. I buy those myself, but sometimes it's nice to not have to buy that stuff.

2. Lotion and perfume: Sometimes I feel like a raisin and smelling good is important to me. Good lotion and perfume are nice to have. That does not mean I want to smell like that old shelf at your grandmother's house. 

I've smelled some perfume that has made me want to throw up. I don't want to smell like dead roses or rotton cottage cheese. However, if you think you would want to smell me after I sprayed that on myself, you could maybe get it for me. 

3. Probiotics and vitamins: Those are important things to have and they, like all things, must be bought. Unfortunately, to live healthy can be expensive. Now that I'm getting married, I realize living as an old woman now could make me feel more vibrant into my 30's. 

4. Exercise gear: I know I should exercise more. It would keep my back and knees from hurting. Therefore, maybe I just need some cool running gear to get me out. Quality gear can be expensive. Or good socks. You laugh. I'm not talking your garden variety sock for jocks.  

No, I'm talking quality running socks. I know they exist. I've seen them around. Yet somehow I can't make myself buy them. 

5. Food storage: you and I both know the end of the world is going to happen, and I'll need food. If you can't think of anything to give me, how about helping me eat when the stores have all closed. Buy me some giant tubs of water or canned food. 

I'll appreciate it when I'm starving to death. I'll even give you permission to buy me raisins. If they're dry packed. I hate raisins, but if I'm hungry, I'll eat anything. Please, no dried cockroaches. I would rather die hungry.

6. Shoes: I'm a size 8.5 or 9. I love shoes, but almost never buy them. I need some quality shoes. I need some fun shoes. Shoes. Then I can throw away my old shoes that old Mother Hubbard gave me. 

7. Multi-media: I love me some movies. I love me some music. If you have a favorite movie of all time, I might not have seen it. It's been a while since I've bought movies. Movie passes- even better. I love going to the movies, but it can be expensive. I'm totes down for that kind of stuff.

8. Buttons: I love fancy buttons. I just do. Don't judge me. There are so many kinds all over the place and nobody appreciates buttons anymore. I would like to start getting crafty with some button action. In order to do that, I will need fancy buttons. I have some. I will always need more.

9. A stuffed crocodile: I'm not talking about cloth, I'm talking the real deal. The desiccated remains of an amphibian. For my house. How will I decorate if I don't have a choice piece such as this to display in my front room.

10. Gas cards: Until all the cars die, like on Revolution, I'm going to need me some gas for my little purple PT. 

Ten sounds like a good list. I'll stop there for now. I don't want to sound like a greedy pants. Anyway, I'll be specific, this is mostly for Charles, since he's probably the only person who will be giving me gifts. Two a year babycakes- birthday and Christmas plus flowers. I love flowers. 

My boyfriend's Girlfriend-

Hulu movie review- this is for all you people who are looking for a good movie on netflix or hulu, but have no idea how to find them.

So every once in a while I'll put little mini reviews on here.

My boyfriend's girlfriend: It was interesting, well acted, and a good chick flick overall. I'm always looking for good chick flicks. And I feel like it was a true to life story, as opposed to some chick flicks you see.

I give it an A. Check it out. If you want.