today's a bit of a catch-up day.  I'll start with an Amber story.  I'm sharing in part because she rarely updates her own blog, and part because it's just interesting.  I think she agrees that I speak enough for the both of us anyways.  Shortly before moving, Amber was having some new (and exciting?) experiences.  As is typical in a church setting (not my church so much from what I've seen), there was some setting-up going on.  This guy was interested in her and whenever she talked with women, they would try to throw something in the conversation relating to him.  This was a new thing for her (disregarding times when guys hit on her or asked her out and she really didn't want it to happen).  I can't exactly say how it was different- you'd have to ask her, but I for one was pretty excited about it all.  People getting together and married and all that is so cool.  And also, it was atypical.  Since Amber's never dated (won't date, will only marry), it's usually me with the guy stories, so I gave her a hard time about it all.  She even got tricked into an almost-date.  I say it that way, because he was acting nervous and asked if she wanted to hang-out, so she said sure before piecing it all together to see that he meant it as something special.  At that point, she felt stuck, so tried to make it as unlike a date as possible- no dinner, etc.  They ended up kicking a soccer ball around for 2 hours.  (please correct me if I'm wrong, Amber)  She kept her distance as much as possible, and truthfully answered his questions.  They don't even have each others' phone numbers or anything, but he's convinced that she'll be back here soon.  He's a pretty confident one, it seems.  Another reason why that's interesting to me is the kind of joke/deal Amber and I have going on regarding marriage- but mostly, I like to see things work out well, and to see people happy.  This guy wasn't 'her type,' etc.

Moving forward, let's talk about my mini-vacation.  I'll try not to do a play-by-play.  But that's how I'll start.  The drive to Wisconsin started at 4ish a.m.  Amber unfortunately had not slept well.  I had.  The sunrise was beautiful a few hours from then.  The traffic was fine.  Amber ate a fruit salad, and me- a pasta salad for basically all day until subs at night in Wisconsin.  I thought caravanning was fun.  Amber led for the most part.  I thought we'd take turns, but I didn't try to take over unless something was going on in traffic, like we weren't going fast enough in the fast lane (making bottleneck traffic), so I'd move over.  Amber couldn't see through both our cars to see that happening.  Or other similar situations.  since I was so relaxed and calm (not typically Erin characteristics), I didn't realize that when I was in front of her, I slowed down.  She noticed.  Also, I guess for the first three hours, I did a good job of following her, but after that, I was either too close or far away, in her opinion.  I lost my touch.  Time flew by.  Whenever I pace myself with another driver, that tends to happen, and when that driver was going the distance with me, even better!  I swear the first 9 hours were a breeze.  It wasn't 'til the Chicago area that it dragged and began taking its toll.  It was especially hard when we drove past my family's exit on the highway, going north for another 3 hours.  I just wanted to pull off, but my car was full of Amber's stuff, and it would be my last time with her for awhile.  Her family was really excited and happy to see her and unloaded the stuff and two-seconds flat, it seemed.  Her parents have two cute little puppies- don't remember what kind- but they climbed all over each other and loved Amber's reaction to them, trying to stop them from 'kissing' her...  We swam in their pool and talked, and she gave me some departing wisdom, or at least what she thinks I should do in one area.  Then we crashed and I woke up at 5 (the trend) but convinced myself to get more sleep- then went to my grandpa's.  He misses my grandma, who's in Europe for a couple weeks.  It was good catching up.  He's intelligent and witty, among other things.  He likes giving my grandma a hard time.  I like that a 'hard time' to my family means teasing, but not to the extent of feelings being hurt too badly.  I know a hard time can mean such a plethoa of things, so I thought I'd clarify.  So blah blah blah- had a good time.  My parents worked (except my dad Saturday), so I just saw them around dinnertime.  One thing about my family?  We're pretty much individuals and/or introverts, so it's typical after dinner for each of us to be in different corners of the house.  It's cool when we're together, though, even if we don't talk all that much.  My dad and I contest for the most 'extroverted' of the bunch.  It all depends on who we're around.  I can be the life (or director) of the party!  haha.  I got a chance to see my best friend growing up, Jamie.  It was hard to get a hold of each other, but we had a good time when it happened.  I wonder why some people find all the sucky guys, though.  She is way better than that.  I ruined things for one guy she dated, but I can't say I should have or that I went about it in the right way. :(  I just don't get why I find good guys and she just isn't attracted to them.  I'm glad we all have different tastes, but if I can find them, why can't others?  Why put up with junk from anyone?  grrr....  I think it's possible to have it all, don't others?  Now, I recognize that life won't always go smoothly, I won't always be understood or understand, and that it will be difficult and frustrating and all that, but does that mean it's better to stick with someone who clearly isn't all that into you or worse rather than risk being lonely?

The mini-vacation rounded off with Saturday night-into-Sunday.  I ended up leaving some of my things with my parents still- having to redistribute a box I couldn't fit, all while be irritated because I didn't think it'd take that long to pack the car... but I actually slept and left at 5:30, and made good time and was so excited!  That is, until Maryland, but I already wrote about that.  It took 14 hours altogether, and I saw a rainbow, and wished I had more time to just goof off and enjoy the sights along the way.  until next time...