Sweets for my sweetheart

In addition to meals I prepared sweets for Randy.
I focused on things I expected he would enjoy.
Including CHOCOLATE, peanut butter, cherries and coconut.

I made the following cookies/bars:
Chocolate Shadows (chocolate and peanut butter)
Macaroonies (coconut and chocolate chips)
Orange Oatmeal Chews (healthy-ish)
Magic Cookie Bars (coconut and chocolate chips)

We would eat some the day I baked them.
Then I would freeze the rest for his trip home.

I like bread so made two types:
Cranberry Fruit bread (brought to reunion)
Banana bread (small loaf also sent home with him)

Couple other desserts:
Chocolate Bread Pudding topped with Cool Whip
- need to make different consistency next time,
Frozen Cherry Dessert
- very sweet and included cherry pie filling,
crushed pineapples, coconut and Cool Whip

Anybody really wonder why he gained about 10 pounds on vacation?

Dinner meals

When Randy was visiting I made sure he had home cooking.
Some of the meals gave us leftovers which I like.
But as a single man Randy was not use to leftovers.

Heaviest meals:
Lasagne - Randy's favorite
Tangy Meatloaf - made with wheat chex
Sicilian Meat Roll - my mom made for my birthday

Mid range meals:
Oven baked fried chicken - coated with corn chex
Ham steak, tater tots, peas, buttermilk biscuits
Regular steak, mashed potatoes and corn

Quick and simple meals:
Angel hair spaghetti
Hamburger casserole (chicken noodle soup and crushed chips)
Chicken casserole (cream of chicken, macaroni, green beans)

The two casseroles were favorites growing up.
My mother loaned me her Casserole Cookbook.

Vacation Day 15

12 midnight - Randy is in Ohio - 700 miles away from me
will rest a bit - took aspirin for headache
will call when he makes it home - maybe 4 or 5 ish

2:30 AM I was awake so called
left message - Randy had shut off phone to save charge

4 AM left another message "I love you"

5:15 AM left message - little concern because have not heard

5:30 AM Randy called having not heard messages
He is 125 miles north of Columbus
pulled off to rest and because there was heavy rain.
Still raining and dark - will restart a little later.

9:10 AM Randy just waking up

[I called my brother to tell him of engagement]

11 AM called Randy to ask him to pull over so we could talk
I had an appointment in the morning and wanted input.
Said he was one county up from Columbus.
Should be able to call within 15 minutes.

11:15 Randy called pulled over in Columbus
We had a short chat before I headed out.
I felt comfortable enough since Randy was almost home.

11:30 I headed to local church school where my dad volunteers.
Workers were preparing facilites for new school year.
I had been wanting to go down there to meet up with old friend.
Her dad is one of the cofounders of the church camp and school.

I got there just in time for lunch at noon.
Mom had sent a casserole for them.
I asked Frank if he would consider officiating at our wedding.
He said he would and said to call when it was closer.

Vacation Day 14

7:30 Randy heads home. Boo Hoo!!!

9:30 AM Randy checked in from Mass - in stop and go traffic

10:40 AM into 4th cookie baggie

[I called a few people to tell them of engagement -
got ahold of my Columbus mom and Columbus college friend]

1:15 PM Randy called from Lee - 10 miles from New York

2:50 PM past Albany - 1/3 away from me

4:50 PM 1/2 way home - Syracuse
will take couple hour nap ,110 miles to Buffalo
sprinkling there, will call for weather update

[finally got ahold of Sherry to tell her of engagement,
asked her to be my matron of honor]

7 PM Randy called to say he was headed to Buffalo
plan to stay there overnight.

9:20 PM Just outside Buffalo

[9:30 watched CBS' new sitcom, Rules of Engagement]

Vacation Day 13

Randy was planning to head home after church.
Randy could not bring himself to leave.
In the afternoon we watched Serenity.

Then we decided to look for an engagement ring.
I let Randy know what I like...
silver is fine with me, I also like filigree.

Having selected one Randy asked...
"Do you want to make it a lifetime?"
To which I said "YES".

We went over to mom and dad's to tell them.
But they were out at a cookout.
We asked them to call us.

On the way back to my apartment...
We stopped so Randy could pick up Sunday paper.
He picked up flowers to commemorate the day.

When they called we got on different phones.
And we told them we were engaged.
They were happy for us.

Vacation Day 12

We had to get up and move early.
Family reunion an hour away.
Wanted to get there for brunch at 10 AM.

We got there in time.
It was held at church campground I had attended growing up.
I had been both a waitress and a counselor there.

Randy seemed to enjoy himself.
Joined the other menfolk played horseshoes.
He and his partner won their game.
Randy got the bulk of the points.

On the way home we stopped for lobster roll.
It was where my mother had them growing up.
Neither Randy nor I cared for it.

I had been cooking and baking so much...
So decided to order pizza for supper.
Mom and dad stopped by for a bit.

Vacation Day 11

Had mom and dad over for lunch.
It was mom's birthday.
I made ham steak, peas, tater tots, buttermilk biscuits.
And macaroonies for dessert.
Randy sang mom his song Same Time.

After parents left...
Randy sang more of his songs to me.
We also had some quality cuddle time.

Then Randy held my face in his hands.
He told me he loved me.
Then he said we were unofficially engaged.
Wanted to have a ring before making it official.

Vacation Day 10

I shared my photo albums with Randy.
We found out a few interesting things...
We had missed each other in San Antonio by a year.
We had both lived in Columbus at the same time years ago.
He arrived in Columbus 6 months before I graduated from DeVry.

We went out to Big Lots to get a new card table.

We watched The Holiday.

Vacation Day 9

We watched Shopgirl.
I thought it would be funny having Steve Martin in it.

We drove to Portland Headlight to have a picnic.
Portland Headlight is a muchly photographed lighthouse.
We got a little lost but eventually got there.

We had a candlelight dinner.
It included steak, mashed potatoes and corn.
A first for both of us.

Later we watched Dream Girls.

Then we cuddled listening to some romantic tunes.

Vacation Day 8

Randy stayed at my parents a little longer than usual in the morning.
He had an appointment to play horseshoe with dad.
Randy's wish was to not get skunked and he did NOT.
Randy won 2 of 6!!! And my dad plays regularly.

In the meantime I watched by myself...
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

After Randy returned to my apartment we had a visitor.
Sherry came over. She is my friend and my cousin's wife.

After she left Randy and I played scrabble. I won.

We watched Bridge of Terabithia.

Later in the evening we watched on the Sci Fi channel Eureka.

Vacation Day 7

We watched The Notebook - we cuddled for the first time.
We set of the car alarm - keys were in Randy's pocket.

Later we watched The Last Mimzy.

For supper I served lasagne and frozen cherry dessert.
Lasagne is Randy's favorite. And he also likes cherries.

Vacation Day 6

Went to church together at Cornerstone Baptist Church.

Then took a road trip up to Augusta ...
so I could show him my old stomping grounds.
Showed him places I worked, lived, and attended church.

Stopped by Big Al's in Wiscasset, an odd lots type store.
Swung by mom and dad's and visited for a little bit.

We watched Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Continued to go thru book mentioned in previous post.

Vacation Day 5

We watched Shrek and Shrek 2.
I was pleasantly surprised that I liked them.

We started going thru the book
101 Questions to Ask Before Getting Engaged.

Vacation Day 4

Called Randy at 1 PM since I had not heard from him.
Found out he had not gotten to sleep till 6 AM.

We watched Nanny McPhee. I really enjoyed it.

Went to Fat Boy carhop on way to Orr's and Bailey's Islands
Took him down to Land's End to see the Atlantic Ocean

Went to the Dollar Store on the way home.
Our first shopping trip together.

We watched Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman.

Vacation Day 3

Today is my birthday which was reason Randy visited now.

While waiting for Randy in the morning I watched Tuck Everlasting.
Also I worked to cleanup my old laptop and save favorites.

Randy and I both like Sandra Bullock and her movies...
First we watched Premonition and in the evening Lake House.

Mom and dad came over for my birthday meal.
Mom made sicilian loaf and mixed up ceasar salad.

Randy gave me a great birthday card with heartfelt personal words.
Included was choruses of love song writing about us.
Before leaving for night asked if he could give me a birthday kiss.

Best birthday ever, due to special delivery from Columbus!!!

Vacation Day 2

1:20 AM - Randy called - 90% here

3 AM - called but could only leave message

3:10 AM - HERE in Maine with me

Definately looked exhausted.
Got hug - talked a bit.

4 AM - rolled out sleeping bag to get some rest.

11 AM - took him to my parent's house
That is where he will be staying.
Also to meet my folks.
Mom made us crepes for breakfast.

Came back to apt but took couple of trips to store...
... went to Best Buy for DVD adapter
... went back to buy DVD player (since mine was broken)

Randy set up both my DVD player and VHS player.
We watched Akeelah and the Bee and Talladega Nights.

Randy headed to mom and dad's just before midnight.
Called to check in that he made it there...
and wish me a Happy Birthday.

Vacation Day 1

Randy's two week vacation was to travel from Ohio to Maine
and visit with moi, then girlfriend and now fiance!!!

4 AM - I called once but got voicemail
second time I got a hold of him - he'd been in shower

4:35 AM - I called again to remind him off phone charger
He was loading vehicle to head out momentarily

6:15 AM Randy called from rest area
9% here - had seen West Salem sign

8:20 AM Just outside Ohio (in PA) thru Cleveland
22% here - 245 miles

10:15 AM 9 miles from Buffalo - 34 miles from Niagara Falls
34% here - 310 miles

11:10 AM - Randy called - 30 miles outside Buffalo
will take cat nap - asked me to call in 20 minutes

11:30 AM woke Randy so he could hit road

1:40 PM called Randy to check in
was pulled off trying to nap
48% - 435 miles
will call back at 2:00 to make sure he's awake

4 PM - 60 miles outside Albany - 60% here

5 PM - "RUSH HOUR" will rest until 7 - 593 miles

7 PM - we talked - mentioned sun would be down at 8 PM
knew he was tired - said he would stay overnight!!!

11 PM - Randy called - 100 miles closer in Ludlow
77% here