Gabe and Emily's Blog

Well, I finally have sat down to blog. I have not had much time lately with so many things going on…anyways, the Holidays are coming soon and that means traveling everywhere! Emily and I are first going to my parents in Northern Virginia on Christmas Eve to see my Mom, Mark, Mindy, Morgan and Kyle (aka Kdawg)  and then flying over to KC to see Emily’s parents Tom and Tonie and hopefully Tim for New Years and then back to good ole Fort Fun.  We are pretty stoked to go see everyone…cant wait!  Christmas in Fort Myers never actually seems like Christmas obviously but most of my neighbors have lights up and yard ornaments so it somewhat feels like it!

Emily’s birthday is Monday so we are going to celebrate this weekend. We are going to Blu Sushi for dinner tonight and then heading to Leapin Lizards for the KC Chiefs game on Sunday. Should be a pretty fun time! It has been raining here for about 3 days straight so hopefully it is all over with by tonight…Its never fun to go to dinner in the rain!

Once we are back in Fort Myers in January we will be quite busy with work and things.  I have to take my second test for my Masters program sometime in March so I will be in class every Tuesday night for 10 weeks starting on January 12 till March. Somewhere inbetween all that I am going to be studying my flight material to start completing my flights…so alot to look forward to when we get back!

Happy Holidays to everyone and be safe if you are traveling!

GJM

Sorry it has been so long since you have heard from Gabe and I!! You all know how busy life gets ; )  So last weekend was amazing!  Gabe and I went to Aviation Day at Paige Field last Saturday, Gabe has always really been into planes and flying. We decided to get there early and right as we walked in we saw a sign for plane rides $20.  Of course we were the first ones in line and the first ones that got a ride!  So the original ride was suppposed to be a quick 10 minute flight, but as we were turning the plane around to head back to Paige Field they came over our headsets and said there was an accident and we would not be able to come back and land!  We were all worried about the accident that had happened at Aviation Day, but because of the accident our flight ended up being a nice joy ride over Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, and up to Punta Gorda!  We flew over the Boston Red Sox stadium and down the coastline.  It was sooo awesome seeing all of that in a tiny 4 seater cessna plane!  After that Gabe and I signed up to win a discovery flight with a flight school to see if you would be interested in flight school, it usually costs $99.  Gabe got the call last Sunday saying he won the free discovery flight!  I think last weekend was definetly a sign that its time for Gabe to pursue flight school : )

I haven’t got the details of the Discovery flight yet, as it was just this morning that he went, but I’m sure he will be on to blog about his new venture soon!  As for the accident at Aviation Day–luckily no one was too badly injured, but here is the news story about it.  http://www.nbc-2.com/global/story.asp?s=11504975

Here are some pictures from our adventure : )

Ok so Halloween weekend was awesome! Not only because of the candy and costumes, but because Gabe’s family came to visit! Gabe and I went out all dressed up for Halloween with Gabe’s sister Mindy and her friend Ty. Of course Gabe refused to find a costume until about an hour before we went out…Which meant his entire costume cost about $7 at the thrift store : ) For those of you who don’t have facebook, or don’t check it, I will post some pics!

The day after Halloween we had a huuge bbq at Gabe’s house. It was sooo good, we pretty much ate all day and watched football. Thanks to Gabe’s family we were well fed this past weekend!! I hope everyone else had a happy Halloween like we did : ): )

Ok so its been a since I have posted anything….been very busy!!  But there is much to talk about soo here goes!  Now that I am 3 weeks into my new job, I am finally settled in and seeing what it’s all about!  I’m doing  a lot of customer service at the house of wu–which I have realized takes a lot of patience!  I am also working on a few projects simultaneously, so the days go by quick since I’m busy!  The only bad part about the job is I have zero days off….That means I have hardly any time to go home or to Gabe’s family’s for the holidays.   Since I now have 3 jobs down here, yesterday would be the second full day I have had off in 3 weeks!

If you were wondering what my other 2 jobs are I work at Guess in Tanger outlets on the weekends as well as Perfect Game Baseball when they are in town.  Guess is retail, and I am mostly staying on because I like the girls I work with, and for the discount of course .  As for Perfect Game they are a company who puts on baseball tournaments all over the country and a lot of them are in Ft Myers.  When I work for them I pretty much just sit at the gate of one of the fields and sell tickets.  Its super easy, pretty fun, and they take care of me on every paycheck!

As for what else takes up all my time is Gabe’s new house!  Its been so much fun trying to help him put it all together, decorate, clean etc.  It looks like a completely different house and Gabe and Bo have put a lot of work into it! Of course there is always something that could be changed or better so we are constantly doing something!

In other news–I am so happy for all of my friends who are getting engaged!  It is a very exciting time, and it looks like I will be attending and participating in a few weddings next year! Congratulations  Ang and Kyle, Lindsay and Sean, Nick and Sjanna, Dashaun and Jillian!

More to come later

Em

OK, So we have not been able to blog in quite sometime, obviously due to time constraints that we both have had. So, I have taken some pictures throughout the process which I want to show some “before and after pictures.” I took the pictures with my blackberry, and also Emily’s digital camera…so there will be some pictures that are not so good in quality.

Since moving in, thanks to Emily, Emily and Bo and many of our friends, we have painted the entire inside of the house. I think we used around 10 gallons of paint and about 6 different colors. The living room was the most challenging part of the painting because of the vaulted ceilings. For anyone who does not know, I am possibly the worst painter on the face of the earth, and I cannot do the trim part. Thank god the entire house is tile or I would have had to replace all carpet. Anyways, I am going to post some pictures to show the progress. I am having someone look at the yard soon to re-landscape. I am also wanting to paint the outside of the house in January or so…since it will be cooler then. Obviously, I am VERY glad to be out of the condo finally. It was a long time coming. It is very nice to have a house and the room now.

For anyone wanting to visit anytime soon, the guest bedroom will be ready this weekend!

Take a look at the pics – keep in mind that the pics are a “work in progress.”  The left column is the “before pictures” and the right column are the “after pictures” – towards the end are just pictures of what it looked like when we were actually working…once everything is up on the walls, and things are in place, I will then post final pictures when it is completed.

Have a great week everyone!

Thank you everyone for the support and following our blog!

GJM

Hey there everyone! I wanted to leave a quick post to let you know that I have often thought about blogging, but lately, I have been quite strapped for time. I wanted to thank everyone who helped make the move! We greatly appreciate it and are greatful for great friends! Tomorrow is Emily’s first day of her career! I believe she is quite happy and excited to start! I am proud of her!  I will be creating a new blog tonight or tomorrow to show some updates and some pics of the house now that I have moved! Have a great day everyone!

GJM

Two BIG things happened in the past few days!!!! Warning–this may be long!! So here goes:::

I got a phone call Thursday (as I was laying out by the pool, what unemployed people do mind you) from The House of Wu.  They offered me a full time position!! I applied when I was back in Kansas City, interviewed the day after I got to Fort Myers, second interview this past Wednesday and then the call!  Here are a few details: House of Wu is a bridal/designer dress company that puts on many events including trunk shows, trade shows, runway shows, photo shoots, market events twice a year in Atlanta, Chicago, and Vegas etc.  I will be working in customer service as well as helping out with a few new projects they have going and helping the event organizer with all the events and things they have going on!  Its only about 3 miles from where I live (everything happens for a reason ; ) I happen to love my new roommates and the location of my apt!) I think that with this new position it will get me involved in events, the wedding industry, and be a good place for a start right out of college!! I am very excited, and I think Gabe is relieved!

Second HUGE news:: GABE GOT THE HOUSE!!!! It has been a crazy horrible string of misfortunes and bs pretty much trying to get this house to close!! But I know it will all be worth it in the end : ) He signed yesterday at 5 (Of course 5pm Friday, scarily close to the weekend, which would mean holding off for the weekend, but it actually went through!) He is up early today–meeting the locksmith, picking up his new stainless steel appliances he got a great deal on, and possibly buying paint.  He is unbelievably relieved and excited.  I think if he could he would have moved in last night!!!  I cant believe it actually happened!

Just wanted to give a little thanks–none of this good stuff would have happened without Gabe and I’s parents, friends, family– and everyone close to us for putting up with our stressed out minds, keeping us in your prayers, and helping us get through all of this! I also have to thank Gabe for working so hard on helping me with the job search as well, I couldn’t have found such a great position and so quickly without his help!

Ok so Gabe and I went to the Dolphins game last night as previously mentioned…. It was sooooo much fun!! We thought we had to dress to fit the part (as Dolphins fans) but we ended up on a bus with more Colts fans than anything! And we were surprisingly satisfied when the Dolphins lost haha oh well.. So anyway we were at the stadium looking around and we watched a helicopter land in the parking lot, Gabe even made a comment on how rich whoever was in the helicopter must be…Probably 5-10 minutes later we see on the big screen JLo and Marc Anthony walking into the stadium…Hmmm coincidence??? And then we spent most of the 2nd quarter taking pictures of Tiger Woods on the sideline, pretty much straight down from us!

The game was a good start to hopefully a good week!! My best friend Jess is flying in from San Diego this Friday and HOPEFULLY cross your fingers—-Gabe gets word on when he will get the house…….(Better yet he actually gets it this week, but with the people he’s dealing with who knows!) Oh and I have a second interview tomorrow and should be hearing back from a place I interviewed at a few weeks ago this week!

Here are a few pics from the game : )

Well, I have yet to close on the house. We are now about 2.5 weeks behind the normal date of close and I just keep receiving excuses…which is typical of real estate agents and/or brokers. They always want to blame others for their lack of knowledge. Anyways..so that is still up in the air. Hopefully I can have the keys by the end of this week. (I’m not counting on it though) – one thing I have learned from this entire situation is this – no matter how organized, attentive, how quickly you schedule appraisal, inspection, survey – it really does not matter because you are still at the mercy of the incompetent broker who has no idea how to handle their clients. Just realize no matter how organized and “on top of it” you are, it does not matter in situations like these. Nonetheless, I am thankful to have my Mom, Brenda! She is an expert in the title business and is a HUGE help. She has definitely kept me calm and controlled and is helping me out.  I would probably have walked away from this if it was not for her! Thanks Mom!

Quick story (or long story, however you look at it)..So, last yesterday I decided I was going to wash my car. Emily was working all day and I was kind of bored so I ended up going to the store to buy a couple things. It was a nice day, so I decided to roll down my windows and have a nice ride over to the store.  I got back from the store about 10 minutes later, and was just about to wash my car so, naturally, I decided to roll up my windows.. At that point in time, I realize my passenger side window is not rolling up as it should. I proceed to click the button multiple times. This was not helping whatsoever. So, I decided then, that I was not able to wash my car. I went back inside, and just said “screw it” and decided to watch football. Notre Dame played Michigan State and so I wanted to watch the entire game (which ND ended up winning). Around the beginning of the 4th quarter, I look out my lani windows, and I realize there is an enormous storm moving from the east to west. So, I then decided that I really probably should try to fix this window. I went outside, and ran to the store again to get some duct tape. Right when I get back, it starts to completely pour and the wind was horrible. I decided to get one of my moving tubs and put in my front seat to catch a majority part of the water that was flying through the window. I had put a trash bag over the door but could not get it to stay. After about 2 minutes, I was completely soaked from head to toe. (for anyone who does not know – summer rain showers in Florida are pretty intense) I said “screw it” one more time. I went inside, and was able to watch about 2 minutes left in the game (in soaking wet clothes and freezing) Emily was working during all of this so she was unable to join in the festivities of the day. From what I have gathered, she was disappointed she could not be there during all of it Emily came over around 830PM to eat and watch some more football and she said she was worried people were going to rob or damage my car. When she got here, we decided to go out to the car after her Dad, Tom, had given her a word of advice on a possible fix. I jumped in the driver seat, and she jumped in the passenger seat. I turn on the car, and she said “ok well..this is how he told me to do it..” and presses the button for the window. What do ya know!?!?! the window rolls up! I was stunned! I absolutely could not believe it.  At that point in time, I was actually irritated knowing that I missed some of the game, was drenched head to toe pretty much the entire day, and had wasted about 3 hours of my day on this, and Emily gets in the car and one click of the button and it rolls up. She thought I was kidding and that the window was not really broke. I got out of the car, and just walked with my head down all the way to the door. I forgot all about what had happened throughout the day. thanks to Emily for the “touch” or the advice from Tom! Either way, the window is now up and, needless to say, will not be going down until I make a trip to Infiniti to have them fix it!

So other than that, Saturday was awesome! (kinda like Carl’s Jr., Mark) – Oh and I decided to make Tacos after all of this, and I  wanted to put some freshly cut jalapeños in the taco meat. I ended up putting two nice sized, diced peppers in the meat and just as a note to future taco makers – never put two peppers in the meat. you will not even be able to taste the taco because of the pure burning sensation in your mouth. Unless you enjoy that, I would advise maybe one pepper!

I cannot wait to go to the Colts/Dolphins game tomorrow night! Going to be my first professional football game and should be a good one!

Today is going to be another long day of football and probably going to visit my Rick and Gloria (my aunt and uncle).

Also – congrats to my lil brother Kyle on his first touchdown!!

Have a great weekend!

GJM

Well Gabe is having more issues with the house buying…..Hopefully it can all be resolved by Friday so that next week he can be stress free and painting!! The whole house deal has been a nightmare, but it will all be worth it in the end…Just wish I could do something to help!!  I on the other hand I have been working part time at Guess at Tanger Outlets and will be working a baseball tournament at the City of Palms (Red Sox stadium) this weekend for a company called The Perfect Game.  Should be a long weekend, but a fun one!

Also got some good news, my new friend and Fort Myers contact for the Miami Dolphins gave me two tickets and two seats on the Dolphins Express (a charter bus that takes fans from Fort Myers to Miami for home games) next Monday night!! They are playing the Colts..Soo if Gabe can leave work a little early we will be in Miami Monday night.. But dont worry, I’m still and always will be a Chiefs fan!!!

-Em