I think there is a certain expectation in this world that people follow a specific pattern when it comes to relationships. In “traditional” families, a woman would likely not have sex before marriage much less share accommodations. Well anyone who knows me, knows my family is far from traditional and even though I am not a wild and crazy rebel, I do have a nose piercing, a tattoo and I flew to Brazil for surgery not knowing much more about my surgeon than the (hopefully) good word of a bunch of Americans I had never met.
So at the end of August, Neil moved into my house. We moved him out of his apartment and I am thrilled to say that I have never been happier. For those of you who are unsure of how you feel about us “shackin’ up”, wait till I tell you that on Monday, September 14th, we celebrate our 6th monthiversary of our first date.
I have been given my fair share of opinions and disapprovals about my relationship and the speed to which it is advancing but before you comment on this blog and tell me you agree with the naysayers, let me cut you off by telling you that I don’t care ;) Quite frankly, the only people it has to feel right for is Neil and me and for those of you who do not have the privilege of living inside of my head, you need to be made aware that I am absolutely, completely saturated with happiness.
I feel like I have known Neil my whole life. I feel like somehow I knew his soul and was just waiting for the moment we were allowed to meet. I am thankful, I am blessed, I am lucky and I am In Love :)
So enough mushy stuff.. long story short… Neil moved in, we’re renovating the basement (spent last weekend drywalling – woo!) and continue to get settled in our life together. I look forward to the settling in part but something tells me that our relationship will never be dull.
So… Thinking about my amazingly sweet “live-in” boyfriend reminds me of a little medical appointment I had this week… a couple years ago (in the post Marchesini era), I asked for a referral to a plastic surgeon. I knew that the wait for a consultation would be long so before I had even come close to losing the amount I have lost now, I took a long shot and booked in for a consult. So this week I met Dr. Humphreys. He was so nice and although I expected to leave his office feeling like crap, I left with my head held high and honestly relieved that my instincts are so dead on.
Before I even met Dr. Humphreys, I had already come to the conclusion that I would not be having any plastic surgery for a very long time (if at all). I want to have children which means that any abdominal surgery would have to wait. The only surgery I am actually able to have today, is my arms… and since Alberta Health Care doesn’t cover the cost, I would have to pay over $5000 out of pocket. To be honest, I would rather take flabby arms than spend $5k on a very long scar… So, for any of you expecting for me to be appearing in Sports Illustrated next Summer, I am so sorry to disappoint ;) Neil has been very clear that he loves me just as I am and I definitely believe him :) On to more interesting topics…
I used to think that the farmer’s market was this super awesome date type activity.. I am not so sure anymore lol. I think though, that spending a couple hours at the Farmer’s Market with my sister is definitely more fitting. A couple of weeks ago Neil confessed that the Farmer’s Market was not his favourite activity. I am SO GLAD he told me because I can always use more sister time and why put him through something he doesn’t enjoy?
The first time I took Neil to the Currie Barracks Farmer’s Market, a merchant actually referred to me as Neil’s wife. We had a good giggle about that at the time :)
So the last time I went to the market I made a discovery. I really don’t think the market is all that great :( As much as I love the concept, I have major issues with it I find it so sad that the price of produce is often way higher than at Sobeys and I have a hard time finding LOCAL produce. Most major grocery chains are bragging about their local suppliers.
I do very much enjoy purchasing meat at the market though. When Neil and I last went, we bought an amazingly huge pork roast with the rind on at a fantastic price. It was so big we cut it into 3 roasts!!! When Lauren and I last went, I bought chicken backs and necks for stock and got a nice slab of side pork. I have also started to deal with a lovely organic beef farmer that is from Claresholm. He comes to the McKenzie Towne Farmer’s Market and provides me with the most incredible ox tails and beef soup bones.
So I suppose I am somewhat jaded in Farmer’s Marketdom. I am all for the meat but the veg is causing me grief.
I am very happy to report though that we are enjoying a very nice bounty right from my own home garden! We are regularly harvesting tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, raspberries, carrots, beets and a wide variety of herbs! My goal right now is to use the canned goods we have in the house as much as possible (I have managed to accumulate a lot of canned stuff) and I also aim to use the fruits of my labour from the garden as much as possible!
The most popular dish so far from the garden was the cherry tomato salad. Green onions, tomatoes and herbs from the garden mixed with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, a little honey and salt & pepper. YUM!
Anyway… I am so happy to be able to share all of these things with you. My life is (for the most part) moving along at a very content rate. I am so excited about what is to come… although the number of green tomatoes in my garden frightens me a bit (as I envision the requirement to speed up the ripening process before the first frost).
I am excited about life with Neil and I am so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life. And… because you have made it to the end of this post, that means you too!
