Lots of Things

Ok, so i've neglected the blog long enough. Lots of stuff has happened since the last time I blogged but I will try to hit all the highlights and post some pics.

First of all, and most importantly I guess, I went to Hawaii and got married. I don't know if I really have the words to adequately describe how great the trip was. Hawaii is a really cool place and I'm glad we did what we did. I definitely did not want to do the whole big wedding thing, and it was awesome to get married on the beach. It was weird because the whole wedding only took like 10 minutes, when we started our vows was when it really hit me that yeah, this is actually happening. But it was exactly the way Johanna and I wanted it to be and the whole trip was better than I could have imagined.

^Waialae Beach Park was a really pretty beach. We didn't really care what beach we got married on, we just asked Matt (the pastor who married us) to pick one he thought was good. That lei I was wearing was really itchy by the way. But still way more comfortable than a tux, and I didn't have to wear shoes. Johanna didn't like that the wind was blowing her hair all over the place but I really like it when she just leaves it down and it is all wavy and natural looking.

As for my thoughts on being married after one month, our lives are not all that different and I'm really used to wearing my ring now. I'm really not used to calling her "my wife" though. It's just weird. I'm guessing at some point you get used to saying it.

^Surfing at Waikiki was just one of those things I had to do. It's the birthplace of surfing and probably the easiest place to surf there is. Of course that means that the place is always super crowded but I managed to get out there with 200 other people, dodge outrigger canoes and beginners on huge longboards and catch a few waves. It was really fun. I loved the fact that almost everything "to do" in Hawaii involved the ocean. Surfing, snorkeling at Shark's Cove, and hanging out on the North Shore were my favorite things about Hawaii. Other than getting married and other wedding related "activities" of course.

^This is me and my Goddaughter Sydney. She's super cute, I definitely need to get to Columbia soon to see her again. I suppose I would like to hang out with her parents too.

^This is me and my new friend Donovan. We hung out alot when Johanna and I went to Chicago for her friend Chrissy's wedding.

Oh yeah, our new apartment is cool too. You can see some pictures over on Johanna's Blog but I'll post some once we finally have everything unpacked, and once we get our couch. New Town is an interesting place, but all in all I like it. I really like being able to ride my bike to the pool, or being able to walk to the market or coffee shop. It is really quiet though and sometimes I miss the hubbub of the Iwaszkowiec house. Speaking of which; Brazil 3, Argentina 0. "Yes! In the face!" I can't believe that my dad and I both weren't home to watch that today.

The "F Word"

So my nerd girlfriend made this blog for me. I'm hoping my friends and brother will contribute to it as well. I'm looking at you Matt. Anyway, you will notice that I said girlfriend and not fiancee, even though I am in fact engaged. Why? Because I hate the F word. I just can't bring myself to say it, even writing it hurts. So I don't say it. And Johanna and I have been referring to each other as our "f words". Which is pretty funny on multiple levels.

This has made me think of other words and phrases that I hate. These include:

"set the date" - Also wedding related, this bugs me because you don't set the date for any other event, yet the second you get engaged every person you come into contact with asks you if you've set the date. It makes my skin crawl.

"pamper(ing)" - With Valentine's Day approaching I'm hearing this one alot more than I usually would. I think I don't like it because it makes me think of diapers. And I think it's disturbing to hear commercials on sports radio where the hosts keep using this word.

" The Countrywide Home Loans Guy" - While not a word or phrase, this guy is on TV 24/7 and I hate him. Every time one of these commercials comes on I scream and turn the channel as quickly as possible.

That's all I can think of on that topic for now. I'll try not to be so negative on my next post.