B.W.F. (best work friend)

I only work with two other full time people, and I absolutely love, love, love, them both!! But the one I have worked with my entire time at http://mckeevervetderm.com/ since 2006, is "the other Amy". (Insert: I pretty much built and maintain this website thank Q!)

Cab ride home from downtown Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, many years ago!! 

UGH! What a rocky first year together. It used to be just us running that place during the week, alone a lot, around eachother 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Two alpha females, you can imagine.

But seriously, since 2006 that relationship is one that I need, I treasure, and I hold to a very high standard. That relationship has been through a lot. And I say a lot because she knows EVERYTHING about my life, and about EVERYONE in it (so beware hahaha).

At a co-worker's birthday party 2007

My birthday, summer of 2007

I think a lot of the time people don't think too much of "co-workers" as close friends. But when you sit back and think about it...these people see us and spend more time with us then anyone. ANYONE. (well, except a spouse)
Does anyone else think about this?
So anyway, as the years went by, and the fights became less and less ;) I feel like we became like close sisters. Really. Like a love/hate. Like italian sisters. What I mean is, we can fight big, but we love big: Quoted from the reality show The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
When you're around someone SO MUCH like this, you get to know eachother so precisely, that you know exactly what will set them off, and what will rub them the wrong way. But on the flip side, we think and then say out loud the exact same thing sometimes, it's scary. Bizarre really. Is she my soulmate..? Haha!

Cell phone pic: Out at Friday's happy hour! 2011 

Another cell phone pic: At a bacherette party 2011

We do hang out outside of work to, but not too often. I mean, we see enough of eachother right?! I even call her Grandma my grandma (both of our Grandmas are named Carole/Carol.) I also call her aunts my aunts....they are the FUNNIEST aunts ever!! I wish I WAS truely related! haha!

Amy knows me at my worst, and at my best. She knows the true person that I am, because she's seen my many Gemini sides :)

At my Engagement Party, 2011

We are so close that if I'm hurting, she hurts. If I tear up, she tears up. She's fun, immature, and crazy loud like I can be!  Sometimes we scare people that we've just met.

She makes me laugh so hard I can't breathe, and she makes me so angry sometimes that I'm shaking. She would give me $200 bucks if I needed it today, and she calls me out if I'm wrong about something. That's the way close friends, your best friends, should be. We are POLAR opposites...but we are exactly the same. Funny, but it's true.

brother

It took this whole week, but I finally came to find some inner peace...
In knowing that I can't change your mind.
And so I'm giving up and letting go, you're just not the listening kind.

No friendly advances or softness will coaxe you,
Nothing can get through your thick barriers to break you.
I understand you can't force someone to care for or love you,
But I am feeling this loss, this emptiness... which is you.

I read these words you write, and they burn into me like fire.
Please believe I'm not this person that you think I am,
I'm not selfish, out of my mind, or a liar.

It's so easy for you to say things without even thinking,
Of this dark and bottomless hole in which I am sinking...
You're not here to see the hurt inflicted by your words,
And my memories won't erase what I've now read and heard.

How can you thrive and gain strength from all my fallen tears?
I wonder if I loose luster and slowly die over the worsening years...

I really don't live "the perfect little life" that you think that I do.
How can I prove how much I really need you...?
But I can't change what is, and I can't change what was,
I can only choose my own way, not what anyone else does.

I guess time is not only my enemy, it also is my friend...
Because I choose how I deal with it's passing,
A heart continuing to break / or a heart on the mend.

I'll have a Bahama Mama please!!!

Well, all of our invites went out. Invites were just for the "unofficial" wedding party (closest friends) and immediate family. The destination of our wedding ceremony is in Nassau, Bahamas!! There will be a reception back home in MN in January of 2013, so don't worry, we didn't forget about anyone!
We are super excited!! I cannot wait to see who actually books in and will be joining us in the dead of this coming winter for a vacation getaway! Haha! I call it a vacation, so more people will consider going.

Anyway, this post does contain some important info:

I have gotten some feedback from people checking the Sandals website to get an idea of pricing for booking their stay. This is a HUGE NO NO NO. These prices are not what you will pay! It's no wonder some people are getting sticker shock, it seems really expensive. But it's really not! You have to book through our agent that we've provided. You tell her how many nights you'd like to stay, and she quotes you a price for 2 people (all inclusive) airfare/hotel, everything...and she will also apply a discount code for booking into our group. You only have to put down a deposit to book in, and then you can make payments (how much you want and when you want) over the course of 2012.
*The biggest reason the invites went out a year ahead of time, so there's realistic/adequate time to save.*

Feel free to check out the website for pictures of the resort, and activities of course...don't forget ATLANTIS is like 5 mins away, AMAZING!! A MUST DO!!
*But again, DO NOT refer to the Sandals website for any kind of pricing for booking your trip!

http://www.sandals.com/main/bahamian/ba-home.cfm         ^Sandals Website

http://www.atlantis.com/kids/kidactivities/dolphincay.aspx   ^Atlantis Website

"Happy" New Year!

I look behind me, and reminiscing, I wave goodbye to 2011.

New life came into my world, some lives were also taken,

Bless their souls now shining from heaven…

Many days I felt as though I walked the beach, one set of footprints in the sand.

But I learned those were the times that I was carried,

When the trials and tribulations would not let me stand.

Even though I haven’t seen this friend, I still hear her voice ring true,

Reassuring, when she once told me… “the only way out is through.”

I gaze at photographs that I’ve printed into black and white,

These captured moments get me through, when you’re out of sight.

The burden of my broken family, or the loss of our good friend.

A new sunrise now promises a chance to start again…

I vow to lose the anger, the fear, the disappointment and the pain.

2012 is the year I become a godmother, and the year I change my name.

So my resolution for January 1st, and every day to follow…

Is to accept the things I cannot change, and not be overcome by sorrow.

Three hundred & sixty five days behind us, many new days pending ahead.

Never forget that every new beginning, comes from some other beginning’s end.