Love Actually, is, all around

I am so excited because on Friday morning, my guy finally gets to London! Like, he's getting on a flight and coming 3,600 miles to see me! Isn't that the most romantic thing ever? I'm insanely giddy about the whole thing. Insanely giddy to drag him around London, to play tourist in Paris and show him Barcelona. It will be the most amazing two weeks of my life.

The first time either one of us had a "real" New Year's Eve date

He is, an amazing guy. And I can't believe he's mine.

Our day in DC is one of my favorite days from 2013 and probably ever 

I can't believe he took a chance on us, when we'd only been dating three weeks and decided to try this whole ultra long distance thing. Looking back, it was completely crazy. I can't believe either one of us, honestly. But, here we are. And there's no one I've loved more, no on who's made me laugh more, who's supported me, or believed in me like him. I am truly grateful that we found each other.

And this was my least favorite day from 2013 and probably ever. The day I left Dallas

We've somehow been able to cultivate a gorgeous relationship from 3,600 miles apart, which, I think is the most telling. We're in this together ya know. Sure, we've missed out on a lot of those regular couple things--calling after work and seeing if the other wants to get dinner; deciding whose house to stay at over the weekend; having dates with friends; work events; just sitting on the couch watching a movie--we've missed out on all of that, but, what we do have is so great that I wouldn't trade it for anything. And, the best part is, when I'm done here, I get to fly back to him and stay with him for a little bit since I can't move back into my house until September.

From my going away party--where he wanted to meet all my friends and stayed with a group of girls until the very end f the night. 

Anyways. I'm just really lucky. If you've been here for awhile you know my love life has been somewhat of a disaster the last few years, from major heartaches, to break ups and lonely nights, it hasn't been easy. But, apparently, all that hardship was leading somewhere really, really good.

And, most importantly, on Friday, I get to pick up the love of my life from the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport, just like Hugh Grant always said. Love Actually, is, all around.

Two beach bums who met in Dallas, having a snowy date in Baltimore

The happenings

Y'all. I am so sorry I've been MIA. I have no excuse. Well, I do--I came back from Baltimore and got sidelined with the cold from hell. There was a solid week where I couldn't talk, which makes my job SUPER fun, and then the blasted thing settled in my ear, as per usual for me, but, the Brits aren't keen on antibiotics, so, I've been to two doctors who had advised me to go to sleep at night with olive oil in my ear. I still can't hear, and now I wake up at 5am craving foccacia. So. There's that.

Oh, and yesterday the door of apartment building slammed on my hand and broke one of my fingers. Turns out, finger breaks hurt a hell of a lot more than say ankle or elbow, because I legit passed out from the pain. Massive props to the lovely Camden city employee who saw me slumped over and helped me into a cab. Faith in humanity, y'all! And let me tell you, typing with a broken finger is no joke. Ouch.

And I won't lie, things here haven't been great. I've been very overwhelmed, some things at school have changed--my dissertation is due a month earlier than we were told (FML), my Penny pup had been really sick as well, and I've just felt very isolated and alone. And trust me, no one wants to hear me blog about that!

But, there have been good things too! My Oklahoma babe took me to a fun dinner last week when all I wanted to do was wallow. I've now found a new favorite restaurant--The Shed--and it reminds me of Wooderry Kitchen in Baltimore, so, WIN!

 My amazing best friend from home had her friend come by and bring me flowers and candy;

 the Italian sent me cold medicine and the most beautiful album from our day in DC over Christmas;

Hashtag: diefludie

Y'all, this man. I can't even. 

And most importantly, in exactly two weeks from this very moment, his flight will land at Heathrow and I will get to grab the love of my life at the arrivals gate of Heathrow airport--and everything will be ok.

TWO WEEKS!!

That time Mother Nature was drunk

We had half term a few weeks ago and as I was off from school, I decided to use that time to hop my little self back to Baltimore to see my babe, sleep in and celebrate Valentine's Day with my love. But, Mother Nature was drunk as hell and decided a nice little snowstorm was in order.

Didn't stop me.

Mother Nature can throw all she wants at us, we aren't staying apart!

My original flight to Baltimore was cancelled and after many tears to the lovely folks at British Airways they rebooked me on a flight later that same day (!) to Washington Dulles airport. Of course this meant he'd have to somehow get to Dulles to pick me up, which is a) a much longer drive than the five minutes from his house to BWI and b) um, Maryland was under a state of emergency and the roads were closed. As were the lightrail and MARC stations, so, getting to me wasn't going to happen. I cried.

We agreed I'd get a hotel room in Dulles, spend the night, and he would either come get me in the morning, or I would take the train. Being that my flight was 9 hours long, I had no idea if the airport was even open while we were in the air and when we landed--safely-- at Dulles, I was prepared to check into my hotel and cry myself to sleep--because I am nothing if not dramatic. Until he called and told me he was waiting for me there. There had been a break in the storm and he'd driven to Dulles and waited for two hours in his car, in an empty parking lot until my flight landed. That guy--y'all, I love him. Walking out of the airport and seeing ALL the snow, and knowing his stupid ass drove in that to get to me, was the sweetest thing ever. I'll forever be thankful he was safe on that drive.

Y'all. This guy. 

We drove to Baltimore on Friday morning and I spent the day at work with him, then we checked into our standard little B&B, exchanged gifts and got ready for my first proper Valentine's Day date!

Saturday was spent sleeping in, brunching at Woodberry Kitchen and driving around Baltimore finding snow banks to play in. Moreso me than him. Because he is boring.

 I demanded we drive up to see this school building and play in the snow. It was freezing, he wasn't amused. But it was so pretty!!!

Ok, ok, I'm freezing too, but, at least we're having fun!

We had a takeout sushi dinner and watched Skyfall. Sunday was more of the same--late breakfasts, and then he agreed to play tourist in the harbor and we did a tour of on old Civil War ship and I nerded out big time.

Sushi dates have been our "thing" since date numero tres and I don't see that changing anytime soon!

I've asked on every Baltimore trip if we can go play tourist on the ships in the harbor--it's never worked out until now--ya know, in the middle of a polar vortex, sure, let's go play in an old Civil War ship. Sounds about right. 

ALL THE CANNONS!

Monday we went to the movies and Target (saw Monuments Men--loved it!), and had a cozy antipasti dinner by candlelight while watching Les Mis (y'all, he watched it willingly!) with Gushers, because he wasn't allowed to have them as a child and my goal is to introduce him to all the best childhood lunchbox snacks. The poor soul hadn't ever had Honeycomb before either. It's just depressing. Next up, Fruit By The Foot! (I eat like a child, just in case y'all weren't aware of that fact)

Keepin' it classy 

It wasn't a very exciting weekend away--while all my classmates jetted off to Rome and Paris, I was happily snuggled up in boring ol Baltimore, and there isn't any place else I'd rather have been. Even if Mother Nature was off her damn rocker and it snowed literally the entire time. Here's hoping my next visit (in June) is sunny!

Our last few moments before he took me to the airport. I really should win an Oscar for that amazing acting--not two seconds later I burst into tears. 

And in three weeks, he comes to me (finally!) for two weeks of European fun! I cannot wait!