The Ice Cream Club

Countdown till I move from Pacifica, CA to St. Petersburg, FL:8
Days Left with my Boyfriend:7

College is supposed to be a fun an exciting place where you try new things and get to know yourself better, right? Well, if that's the case, then I'm pretty sure the fact that I''m already president of a club at my college speaks LOADS. And the fact that it's a LDR, possibly LFAD club? That speaks a lot about my determination to stick with this.
Our College made a facebook page for the freshman to keep in contact and make new friends. One day a girl posted "So, who's staying with their boyfriend while in college?" and there was an outpouring of response. Mostly girls, we all bonded and giggled, making the joke that we should get together and eat ice cream and watch "The Notebook".
Then.... the ball got rolling, and soon, a group page was made, and we were a club!
Now, how I became one of the leaders, I'm not sure. Maybe it was my enthusiasm. But here I am! And wow, I am amazed at these girls.
One girl, he boyfriend just propose to her so they can stay together. Another? Her boyfriend is at West Point finishing Basic Training. Every girl has her own story, and here we are all together, supporting each other!
I thought I would never find a thing anything close to this site, but here we are!
I'm going to try and get the club affiliated with LFAD, and I've already expressed my love of this site to them, and urged them to come as well.
I'm so excited!

And I did this all with Brennen in LA... see? I can function without a boyfriend around. We can do this!

ICE CREAM CLUB CAN!

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN! (lol)

Countdown till I move from Pacifica, CA to St. Petersburg, FL: 10 Days
Days left with my Boyfriend: 7 Days

I'm all packed and ready to go to college! It's definitely becoming more and more real to me. It's weird to think my life is going to be so dramatically changing soon! Brennen just went to his freshman orientation for his college the other day, and he seemed pretty excited. But, of course, he is continuing his application to the Navel Academy in Annapolis for next year still. It's his goal to get there next year. He would have gotten in this year no problem if he actually turned in his application on time! 
And the other plus? It'll put him A LOT closer to me!!! It would close our 2,000 miles distance dramatically. 

But right now... I'm getting use to having him not around, as he's off in LA at a waterpolo championship. Which is awesome! He's a great Goalie, and his team totally deserved a place...but... I don't get to see him till Wednesday, which is getting very close to my deadline (hence why I added to my countdown this time!)

Not only that... HE CANCELLED OUR CAMPING TRIP! Boo. It was for this week... Operation Vacation from summer vacation is a failure!  Oh well... on to the good news!

I have yet another present waiting for me... and man, I could use some help figuring out his hint! He told me he bought me something that I "would have expected it at another time"
....expected at another time?

My only guess, which popped into my head right after he said it was a ring. Which confuses me, since he said he didn't believe in pre-engagement rings, which I totally understood! It's not for everyone. Did something make him change his mind?
And if it's not a ring.... what would I have expected at another time??

HELP ME!! I'm honestly not that good at guessing... and I would like to know! I feel like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde the Musical... but I would like to look nice that date....

(Great now I have that song stuck in my head.... ohmigod, ohmigod you guys!)

The Final Stretch

Countdown to when I move from Pacifica, CA to St. Petersburg, FL: 16 Days
With my Flight plans set (I leave the 9th) and my clothing currently being shipped across the country, it's finally hit both me and Brennen that the LDR part of our relationship is coming up very soon.
So, what do we do to make up for less time together? More dates!  Just yesterday we went to the Exploritorium in San Francisco. That place is STILL awesome. Honestly, if you live in the area, and you need somewhere to take you SO, go there! It's fun to fool around with the different things there and just act like a kid.
After a few hours of acting like kids, the museum closed, and we headed over to the Presidio to take a walk. (Another great place) and after that? Dinner and a movie (Friends with Benefits is Hilarious! I highly recommend it )

But the best part of the date? On the way back to Pacifica, there's a viewpoint that looks over part of it and also looks out over the ocean. We stopped there and spilled out our guts, shared our fears, our secrets.... it was a really deep conversation. One I don't think I've had ever with past dates/boyfriends. And it was great!
When I asked why Brennen instigated this conversation, he very sweetly said "Because I honestly could see myself spending the rest of my life with you, and sharing with you seems like one way to show that" 

I know we can make, I know we can survive this part of our relationship. Being on this site helped me realize it! I'm excited to see how we grow...
This is just one step in our journey, and I'm ready to run with it 

The Greatest Gift of All

Countdown till I move from Pacifica, CA to St. Petersburg, FL: 18 Days

Yesterday was me and Brennen's "Two Months". We didn't really celebrate because it's not much of a landmark date (like a year of something) but we did go out to dinner. When driving back to his house, we noticed the most beautiful sunset. He turns to me and says "Hey, let's go to this beach here". It was some sort of Seal resting ground, with signs of warning spaced around the parking area. We walked down a flight of worn down wooden stairs to an outlook over the water. The patio had the most amazing view of the sky, a gradient of reds and molten golds. We stared off into the distance for a while, enjoying the beauty and each other's company. Brennen then asked me to sit up on the railing, and I obliged. He then pulled out a piece of wood. It was rounded, like a plaque, with a burnt carving of a tree. Underneath the tree it said May our love grow forever.
First thing I thought? "OMG, SO FRIGGEN CUTE!!!"
Then he shows me the back, where it says Barbara, I Love You. Brennen
DOUBLE CUTE!
Now, he's finishing it up with a coat of varnish so I can keep it forever! Also, the wood probably wouldn't do too well in the humid Floridian air. But I'm SO excited!! Sentimental gifts make me swoon...

And on top of that... the ominous text from Brennen about his parents? Pshh, nothing! Just another conversation about us getting married in the future. I guess his father was mad that Brennen didn't ask him permission to think about marrying me.
Um.... What? To THINK about it? 
We have been dating for two months? Has everyone forgotten that?? Of course, I love talking to Brennen about our future, but we're not going into the planning stage anytime soon.... I would like to have some college under my belt first!
I guess his Dad is just seeing a little too far in the future 

But that's okay... I'm too lovesick from the adorable-ness of his gift to even think about worrying silly fathers.
I don't need expensive things... a piece of wood with a sentimental note is just fine for me.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
But the greatest gift of all? Not the gift itself, but him. That he can right something like that... that we're together.
A wonderful love 

A Big Surprise waiting for me?

Countdown til I moved from San Francisco, CA to St. Petersburg, FL: 22 Days

So, I got a slightly ominous text from Brennen the other day, and it's been floating around in the abyss I call my mind for a couple of days now. Like I had said in my last Blog, I was waiting for a call from him. The main reason for this call is that he had a story to tell me about his Dad and his opinion of "Us". So, night rolled around, and I waited, waited, and waited... till about 11ish. Then, suddenly, I get a text message. We start texting for a while, then he says he needs to go to bed. WAIT, WHAT?
So I ask him "What about the Call? The Story? No response... You can imagine how nervous I was. Now, if he had just said something like "Oh! I didn't have good enough reception to call you" or "You know how crazy Family Reunions are! I have no time!" I would have totally understood. I totally have been in the same position... but nothing?

THEN! The next day he say "Oh, yeah, I decided it would be better to tell you in person"
In person?? Ok, I have no idea if I'm PARANOID or not (I probably am, wouldn't be the first time my active imagination had gotten a hold of me) But someone please agree with me that sounds ominous?? What's so bad about it that he can't tell me over the phone?

But then, he adds on "I got you something "
PRESENTS!!!! I feel like a kid on christmas day!!!  
I could never be an elected official, I would get bribed way too easily. He has found my weakness! Noooooooo!
Not only that, it's a surprise, and it "Might get bigger". The suspense is killing me! Haha, ok, maybe not. But I do miss him. I haven't told him that yet... maybe because I think it'll make being in an LDR a lot harder to handle.
He also hasn't said that he misses me...
Too hard to say, I would know!
I'm not complaining! I swear! I swore I would never complain again after my first Blog Post... I love him dearly, I just know it's going to be a hard road for both of us. It would be stupid to say it's not!

I wish he could come home now... with only 22 days left in the State... it's not helping I only get about 12ish days with him... :/

A Test Run of What's to Come

Countdown to when I move from Pacifica, CA to St. Petersburg, FL: 3 Weeks, 3 Days

For this first time ever this week, my boyfriend is actually not just 10 minutes away from me! He's been in Washington State all week at a family reunion, and won't be back until sometime late next week. So, like any good soon-to-be-LDR girlfriend would do, I'm using this week to see how we handle being apart.
The diagnosis so far? Pretty good! Our communication is somewhat strained (his family wants him to focus on what's happening there, and not me, which is understandable) but we're handling it good!
I find that I'm able to handle not being with him...which sounds mean, but what I'm really saying is that missing him doesn't stop me from going on with my life. I've been at the Relay For Life with my Mom (a Cancer survivor now! Yay!) I saw the Midnight Screening of Harry Potter (OH MY GOD IT WAS EPIC. GO SEE IT. NOW.) And I hung out with my best friend and made some very awesome pasta. (Italian Chicken Sausage cooked in Olive Oil served over Penne, yum!)

This is all good with me! I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to handle him being gone, and that it would strain our relationship when I move.

Which reminds me....
Today he going to call me because he has some very important news.... which involves his Dad? I wish I knew what the heck he was talking about!
I know that he and his Dad have discussed our relationship (in which a very interesting point about "if all goes well, I'll ask her to marry me in a year" came up *swoon*). I hope that his Dad approves of this... he had no opinion last time, and I'd hate for Brennen to be stressed out over who's more important or something crazy like that.

....that and we've only been together for ALMOST two months (in four days!)

Anyone ever had the family like you, but not think you're "The One" for your SO? I should bring this up in forum, there must be some interesting stories out there...


That's all for now!

Sooo much stuff in one week....sooo....much!!!!

If I said this week was uneventful, I would totally be lying! It's left my head spinning.
I'm finishing up the details for our exciting camping trip! I just need to get the details approved by everyone (Phew! Hardest part done!) And with that out of the way, I've begun the packing for college and everything that is involved with that.
On top of those activities, I'm trying to study for my permit exam (Yes I know, an 18 year old without a license? Ridiculous) and TRYING to do my summer reading (sooo....boring....)

And on top of THAT, I've been on an emotional roller coaster as well!
Brennen brought up marriage for the first time... which completely caught me by surprise!  I've always been under the assumption that you never mention marriage in a relationship because it'll scare the living daylights out of your boyfriend! But he started it...so I went along for the ride. I found out he doesn't believe in Pre-engagement promises (like rings, etc), and he does believe in only one marriage (so, anti-divorce). I probed his mind more than he did mine, but I did mention that if he went into the navy seals, I plan on marrying him before he leaves on assignment so he has more incentive to come back alive and in one piece 

And on top of THAT?! I got yelled at by my gynecologist for not refilling my birth control prescription in time and hence being off of it for a few days. She kept saying "You'll be pregnant! You need to check if your pregnant". Yes, just what I need is to be pregnant before I leave for college.  I'm NOT! Of course, it's still a creepy thing to hear. Anyone else ever had that feeling? I must not be the only one!

And all of this in ONE WEEK!! Next week better be a lot more relaxing. 

Planning a Camping Trip!

So, after a small discussion, I seemed to have found a way to get his parents to let him go on a trip. (Yeap, 18 year old College students getting parental permission, ah, cest la vie!) I just have to make it a group camp trip! Which is easy, since I know two other couples who would be willing to camping... of course, I haven't asked them yet.
Nor have I decided on a location.
...or even found my hiking boots!

Geez, I am so awesome at planning trips! I have to plan that AND college stuff! Moving across the country is actually a little it of a pain! Who would have thought? 

Camping shouldn't be too hard, though, as long as I get the other couples in on it! The girlfriends are REALLY ocd about planning (I love my friends). Also, both couples are in LDRs as well! Another thing we can bond over!

Which sort of brings me to another point... his dad will let him on the trip, but he thinks it's a big sex-fest. Brennen was talking about getting two tents (one for each sex) and his dad very nonchalantly said "Oh, so you guys can switch off?"
WOAH MAN! Who said anything about a sex-tent?? This a vacation!
...this is getting a little weird? Anyone else agree with me? Or should I just pin it up to adult overestimated the power of teenage hormones?


Oh well! This trip is happening, I know 

A memory I'll never forget and Part Two of my "Evil Plan"

I think I can pretty much say that Yesterday was one of the best dates I've ever been on. Not because it was really exciting, or well plan out, or even romantic. It was one of the best dates I've been on because it was made up of a million little moments that I don't think I'll ever forget. Now, to save time from telling everyone a million little things, here are my TWO favorites:

We were driving down to Santa Cruz for a day trip, and on the way we found a nice little pie shop. I had left my wallet in the car, so I took his keys, got my wallet, and we walked out happily with a delicious pie. I went to offer him back his keys, but instead, he went running to the passenger's seat. Mind you, his car is a stick, and I had no intention of learning at that moment. Then in a stroke of genius, I kept walking towards the passenger's seat, sat in his lap, and opened up the pie.
Ok for one, his face was priceless (you could tell he wasn't expecting it) and two, something about the moment was priceless in general. Here we were, on a bright sunny day feeding each other pie and laughing. And I just kept thinking "This is perfect".
In its own little way it was romantic, I knew he was thinking the same thing I was, but neither of us needed to say it. And that itself, is a beautiful thing.

This one is a lot shorter, I PROMISE!
We came back to his house to find his mother (and here I am, showing my age, yes, we're young) watching the ending of the notebook. Near the end, the elderly couple starts dancing to an old record. Brennen smile at the TV, looked at me, and offered his hand. So, in the middle of his living room, unbeknownst to his mother, we danced.


....brilliant date, just absolutely brilliant. I could drool away and type off all the wonderful little things that happened, but that would be a waste of time for the readers, am I right? We all have those moments. 


And now, the exciting part! HE WANTS TO GO CAMPING! YES! So, part two of Operation Vacation from Summer Vacation is in effect!
...in two weeks.
Family reunions ruin all the fun, don't they? Oh well, more time to plan!! And also it's a good test for how we'll handle being away from each other when I leave in August, a sort of preview of what's to come.
That's it for now! I'm off to soak up the pre-forth summer sun