Busy Bees

We have been so busy recently! I have been working a lot of overtime, plus taking care of our home and staying busy with my Pampered Chef shows, so much that I barely have time to remember my own name! But it's good though, much better than being bored!

June has gone by so quickly, I can hardly believe that Mike has been home from England for a month now! Since then it feels like we've started over, and in that newlywed phase again... in a good way though! We take advantage of more time together, but still enjoy a little separation every now and then.

Two weeks ago, Mike and I went over to Eagle Creek on Father's Day to celebrate with his family! I've never been much of an outdoorsy girl until I moved to Indy and started hanging out with Mike and his family... but I love it! The weather in the summer is hardly ever too blazing hot to go out and do something fun. Very different from growing up in TX. Mike's family is mostly men, and they all love to go fishing, something that I have always thought was gross and a bit barbaric....

... but after some coaxing from Glenda, Margaret, Kerry, and of course Mike, I gave it a try. Kerry had his pole and let me reel in a fish. It was the coolest feeling. So then I had him bait my hook and caught another one. And another one. And another one.

There you have it! I'm hooked on fishing! Then again I'll always have to get Mike or someone else to bait my hook and take the fish off, but I love it! Here are some pictures from our Father's Day get together:

Couts men fishing (Kerry, Kevin, Dad, Mike)... and all those buckets are of course... ours

This is the fish that I reeled in. A Blue Gill.

This is the first fish that I caught all by myself. Look at the expression of sheer excitement! And everyone cheered for me too!

Waiting for a bite...

I got one!



So did Mike!

My cute fisherman. :)

Then last weekend Mike and I went up to Lafayette to visit his former church, Faith Baptist. He went there for about 10 years after college and made many friends. Lots of them came to our wedding, and it's been fun keeping up with them on facebook, even though Mike's not on there... yet. It's also fun to visit because some people knew that he got married, but have never met me, and they would say, "Is this her?" Fun. He likes introducing me as his wife.

When we arrived, we were informed that it was Lake Day, and everyone was going over to Melissa Eikenberry's parents' lake house on Lake Freeman in Monticello, IN to ride jet skis, lay out, and play at the lake. Originally, Mike and I had planned on going rollerblading on the Purdue campus after church, so we actually already had a change of clothes. But we headed to Wal-Mart to get towels and Mike got some swim trunks. My favorite was when MIke said, "Yeah, we'll go to Wal-Mart, and I'll pick up some trunks and you can pick up a swimsuit!" Yeah right. Like I can walk in a store, point to one I like and take it home.

Oh, dear, you have so much to learn.

Anyway, here's us at the lake. Mike was in heaven. Just a few pics:

I didn't want to get completely wet since I didn't have a suit, so Mike found this tube for me, and Jeannie tethered me to the dock. This is me chatting it up with Elizabeth and Renae, new friends. :)

That sums up what's been going on with us lately! Actually there's a lot more, but it is not remotely interesting, so I'll spare you! Happy 4th!

Mike and I saw 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' last night. I was going to write a movie review of my own to describe the whole mess, but I found one on msnbc.com today that captures everything that I want to say, but better! This was a movie made for men: hot girls and explosions. For no reason. Read on....


Alonso Duralde Film critic writes:
Artist and filmmaker Peter Greenaway once famously noted, “Cinema is far too rich and capable a medium to be merely left to the storytellers.” Still, when he suggested a move away from narrative, I can’t imagine that he was advocating a movie like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” a cinematic avalanche in which Michael Bay eschews anything resembling plot or characters and instead screams at the audience’s eyes for two and a half hours.
And before any of you launch into the usual riposte of “This isn’t supposed to be an Oscar-winning drama, it’s just FUN!!!!” let me point out that there are good giant-robots-walloping-the-tar-out-of-each-other movies and there are bad ones, and this second “Transformers” movie falls squarely into the latter category.

Trying to take in this movie is akin to shaking up a snowglobe and paying attention to glitter shard No. 432,581: When two similarly-colored CG robots are simultaneously morphing and punching each other in the head, it’s impossible to figure out where one ends and the other begins, resulting in a visual cacophony that goes hand-in-hand with the bowels-rattling bassline and the shrieking, incoherent dialogue.

And then there’s what passes for story, which has all the lucidity of a toddler-on-Red-Bull’s fever dream. It goes something like this: The good-guy Autobots are still on Earth but are being kept a secret from the general public. They’re working with the U.S. Army to wipe out occasional appearances from the nasty Decepticons, and intel suggests that something big and nasty is around the corner.

That would The Fallen (yes, it’s a character), a rogue Autobot who had once attempted, millennia earlier, to snuff out the sun. He plans to use a shard of the All Spark, which brings these robots to life to… wait, actually, I can’t even remember what the shard, which happens to be in the possession of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), has to do with his evil plan, but eventually the bad guys figure out that Sam has some mystical knowledge embedded in his brain that will help them to locate the Matrix of Leadership (as opposed to the Axis of Evil, perhaps) that will restart the sun-destroying machine.

The storyline, such as it is, exists mainly as an excuse to reassemble much of the cast of the first film, including Sam’s sexpot mechanic girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox), conspiracy theorist Agent Simmons (John Turturro, who also voices cranky old Autobot Jetfire), and Sam’s goofy parents (Kevin Dunn and Julie White). Many of the robots from the last movie return, including the “twin” cars whose speech and behavior patterns are appalling stereotypes of young African-American men; the movie should just name the duo Step and Fetchit or Shuck and Jive to drive home the point.

There’s no wiggle room here for anyone to do any actual acting — and yet, Tyrese (as a soldier) still manages to be stiffer than anyone else on screen — and those who want to look for it can find a pro-George W. Bush subtext. (Diplomacy is for wimps! The French eat gross stuff!)

But with so much to despise about “Revenge of the Fallen,” there’s no need to get caught up in matters of performance or ideology. This movie is an assault: It doesn’t look good, it doesn’t make sense and it pummels the viewer into submission when it could just as easily have been entertaining and exhilarating.

“Transformers” is ostensibly about saving mankind from exterior forces, but humanity itself is sorely lacking from the finished product.

Summer is Funner

Yay! It's finally summer! Then again, we have to wear jackets in the evenings, and had highs in the 50s some days last week... but here in Indiana, you gotta take what you get!

We have been super-busy since Mike returned, trying to catch up on 5 months being apart... poor Mike, he just wants to sit home some nights and relax, but I've been dragging him to all sorts of fun things!

Last Friday night we went to an Indians game with my company, who paid for the tickets and a yummy hot-doggy meal. Our seats were kind of cool, very close to the field in foul-ball territory. But hey- it's Victory Field... I'll sit anywhere! We had a good time socializing and watching "the tribe" play a decent game. Oh and Mike got an iPhone last week so he spent a lot of the time playing with his new toy. I would have rather he look out for foul balls to protect me, but whatever. He did protect me one time though. :)

This is us at the Indians game

Alex and Megan with the ball that he caught!

My Megan and Me


Then on Saturday night we went over to Kerry & Glenda's house to celebrate the triple May birthdays! Mike, Uncle Kerry, and Grandpa all have birthdays around the same time, so they always celebrate together. I love going out to their house because it gives me a little taste of the country. We ate some good food, opened presents, ate ice cream cake, started a fire (in the firepit, it's OK) and I got to shoot a gun. Don't ask me what kind, I don't know. I was pretty good!

TARGETS

Checking out Glenda's garden... I want one someday

Mmmm ice cream cake

Happy Birthday!

In other news, my sister Melissa is ENGAGED!! She will become Mrs. Jacob Yellig in September and I could not be more excited. It just kills me that I won't meet this kid until the weekend of the wedding, but that's one of the things you deal with when you don't live near family. But I totally trust Melissa and her instincts and from what she tells me, he is a doll. Mike and I were talking about it the other day, discussing how this year so much is happening, and he made the comment that next year at Christmas, there will be 2 married couples (not including Mom & Dad) at the house! I guess the newlyweds will get Melissa's room and Mike and I will be on the pull-out couch. Haha! Honestly it doesn't matter to me, I'm just so excited that our family is growing and that my dad has some more male companionship!

Well that's just about all that's going on around here. Other than that, I'm staying super-busy working overtime in my normal job and having a ton of fun with Pampered Chef.

Rachel<><

Bumper Stickers

The other night at Wal-Mart we walked past a car with quite a few bumper stickers on it. My opinion is that people who have more than 5 bumper stickers on their car are usually obnoxious and often liberal. Anyway, here are 2 of the bumper stickers that made me go hmmmm....

"Choice: It's a beautiful right."

AND

"Say NO to animal cruelty."

Thoughts?

I got my baby back, baby back, baby back

Mike is finally home, y'all! We could not be happier. The word came in on Sunday morning, and it was a very nice treat on my hardest day of the week.

He got home last night, and after dinner with his parents and grandpa, we went home and he started looking verrrrry sleeeeepy... and I just wanted to be with him... so together, we went to bed about 8:30! Of course this was very early for me, but it was his 1:30am! We both woke up this morning, completely rested and in a good mood. I guess that's what 11 hours of sleep will do to you! His driver's license expired on Saturday (his birthday) so I had to take him to work this morning.

These past 4 1/2 months have been very difficult for both of us, and there were many people who came to our aid to make life a little bit easier and more joyful for us!

Phil- Thank you so much for buying me dinner when I came to visit Mike. You have been so gracious in answering your phone when a sometimes-frantic, worried wife is on the other end. Thanks for promptly sending messages to Mike's room when he was out traveling.

Holiday Inn Solihull- (even though no one from the HI reads this blog) You gave my hubby such a nice home for 16 weeks, and always greeted him at the door with kindness.

Kelli- Thank you for being such a dear friend to me when Mike was gone. You were faithful to pray for us, and always asked if there was something that you could do. Thank you for always making me feel included.

Erin- Our walks together and time spent watching movies and eating ice cream were so precious to me. Your sweet spirit was always so refreshing on days when I needed a word of kindness. And you, also, thank you for always making me feel included in group activities, even though I'm the old married one. :)

Heather- you are the closest thing to a sister I have in Indy. Thank you for your sweet text messages, and calls, just to see how I'm doing. It was fun to hang out when we were both missing our men, and I cherish our conversations about love and life.

Mom & Dad Couts- Thank you for checking up on me literally every day, just to make sure I'm doing OK. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to get together as much, but these girls who I just mentioned kept me pretty busy!

Ryan & Laurel- Thank you for all the meals at your home, and thanks for always making me feel part of a family. It means so much to both of us.

Mom- I find it comforting to talk to you because, well, your my mom.... and also, you've been a wife of a man who travels a lot. But you had kids to drive you nuts at the time... thanks so much for our sweet conversations and thank you for never seeming to get bored of my rambling. I called you numerous times, in tears, and you kept your cool every time. If you had started crying, I would have felt like I burdened you. Thanks for teaching me how to be a good wife.

Dad- You brought a different perspective, and showed me how to be a supportive wife of a man who travels a lot. Thanks for your humorous email forwards that always come at a time when I need them. I love you!

Melissa and Holly- You girls always seem to call just when I need it too. Melissa, your engagement story got me through last Sunday, and Holly, news of your awesome internship gets me through each day. I am so proud of and excited for both of you.

My girlfriends at church (married and single)- Thank you for including me in your various activities. I was afraid that after I got married, I would all of a sudden lose you, but that didn't happen! I love to be around you girls and encourage you in your lives, just as you do for me.

My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!! You have been the one who has carried us through each excruciating day apart from one another. You filled us with gladness and hope when we didn't have each other to turn to. You gave Mike comfort as he was all alone in a strange country (haha) and you gave me peace when I felt all alone in my home country. Thank you for keeping both of us safe and for bringing us back together again.


We have a list a mile long of things that need to be done now that Mike's back in town.... I just need to realize that it may not happen in one week. We have missed each other so much, and I know it will be a huge adjustment, but we're up for it!

So on the count of three....
1
2
3
WELCOME HOME, MIKE!

Update on us

2 posts in one day? Do I have a fever?

Well there isn't much to report on "us," because the manly side of "us" is still out of the country in England on business, and this trip has been 6 weeks. Aaaand we don't know when he's getting back.... we were expecting to see him this weekend or even as late as June 1, but even that's up in the air now due to complications over there with his work. I need my hubby back! I actually have a bit of a hard time imagining what it will be like when he comes home and is here... in the apartment... for real... not just an image on a computer screen via skype. But I'm sure as soon as he and his mess return from England, it will all be back to normal! But I happen to LOVE normal! I hear of all these people going on dates with their husband, and I can hardly remember the last time we did that. Yesterday was the 100th day we have been apart total (not consecutive).

I've had an incredibly stressful week because I'm anxiously awaiting the return of my honey... but on top of that, the internet on my desktop work computer suddenly stopped working on Tuesday, so I've been working in the main office instead of the home office. This is frustrating b/c I don't have all the stuff that I have at home, but it's good to come in and see people I haven't seen in a few months. As it turns out, it may not be the computer's problem, but our modem, so that will involve the cable company, which is never a short process.

On that topic, Saturday marked my 4th anniversary with my company. It's a little hard to believe that I moved here 4 years ago for this same job, and I'm still doing it. 4 years out of college and still at entry level. Yup. I have switched positions in the company several times, but I enjoyed my first role the best. BUT the pay is good, we stay busy, and I'm really really good at it.

Have I ever mentioned that I have the best friends in the world? That post will come soon after Mike returns, whenever that is. They are so wonderful at distracting me and keeping me busy with fun activities to encourage me and help me pass the time.

More info when it becomes available....

Jon & Kate Plus 8 Divided by Two Equals Train Wreck

In the past few years, one of my favorite TV shows has been Jon & Kate Plus 8. Watching those little cuties grow up, learn new phrases, and function as a crazy family unit is pure entertainment. But recent events have turned me into one of those people who will probably never again tune into this show.

Mike and I have watched it together many times, and even before we were married, I told him, "I will NEVER speak to you like that in private or in public," regarding the way that Kate treats Jon like a child and is always very hard on him. Mike has often teased me that I'm like Kate in some ways, and he's like Jon. I'm a little weird about germs and I like to make everything from scratch and use as many organic items as possible... and Mike is very low-key about stuff sometimes. But that's where the similarities end.

Did anyone have a chance to see Monday night's season premiere of the show? It was extremely uncomfortable to see the obviously distant Jon and Kate at their childrens' birthday party, pretending to have a good time. It was painful to watch... they had papparazzi hiding in the bushes, following them to Target, and catching all the awkward moments. The husband and wife didn't even acknowledge eachother's presence, except when Kate needed Jon to do something for her.

It bothers me when tabloids annoy people like this, but these are not people who originally intended to be celebrities, but have turned into them. It's a slippery slope, and they have been sliding down it for some time now. Last month I bought and read Kate's book, Multiple Bles8ings, and thoroughly enjoyed it. She came across in the book as being very real, and after reading it, I feel like I know her. The book helped me to better relate to the Manleys, a family in our church who had quints over a year ago... helped me to learn about the emotions that their mother may have gone through, and may be going thru at this time. The Gosselins claim to be a Christian family, but hey- infidelity, deceit, etc can happen to anyone if they are not strong enough in their faith to fight it off.

I was in denial about all of this because the tabloids were the ones reporting everything, but once Kate's brother Kevin and sister-in-law Jodi came out to the media about what was going on, I knew everything was truly going downhill. I still don't want to believe it all, but this stuff happens.

Despite all of this, they continue to film the show. TLC (The Learning Channel) is famous for providing a great deal of variety in their reality shows, and they are not usually trashy like others... after I watch a TLC show, I often don't have the "my brain is going to melt from inactivity" feeling that I get from watching shows on Bravo or MTV. TLC needs to halt all the filming and leave them alone to deal with their issues. Nobody in their right mind wants to see a family crumble, especially when 8 kids are in the middle of it. I really hope that they get some Godly counsel and can work things out... but after seeing the interviews on Monday night's season premiere, they couldn't even look at each other. Sad.

I don't know exactly where I'm going with this post, these are just my feelings. Any thoughts?