Dexter Gunner Retter

Alex and I got a new pup!

His name is Dexter Gunner Retter.

Dexter is his given name, Gunner is the name we gave him, and Retter is his family name :)

We were at a pilsen thrift store and were walking around. Back in the warehouse part, we saw a little skinny boxer tied up. I started playing with him, and although a little skiddish, he was a real sweetheart.

Long story short, he had come from a previous owner before that, probably been abused some, and the thrift store owner had little money to take care of him. He was mostly being fed white rice. :(

The owner offered him to us for FREE.

We thought about it, then of course, made Dexter part of our family.

He is an awesome dog already, cuddles with us, plays lots of ball with us, and just loves being loved.

We have waited a long time to have a dog, and although we were going to wait a little longer, this was obviously fate for us.

A brindle male boxer? Our favorite.

So Meet our newest family member. Dexter Gunner Retter.

Rachael Heubner RN-BSN!

I'm happy to announce that I got my unofficial results of my NCLEX exam this morning!!!

Phew---brush that sweat off your forehead....

I PASSED!

The Good news???....I'm a nurse, a real nurse. After many years of faith, sweat, struggles, and tears....I finally did it.

The Bad News??? I now have no studying excuse to use when i want to get out of wedding planning!!!!

Just Kidding, I'll get right on that......

PSYCH!

I'm taking a nap.

Getting my Ass Kicked by Jillian

So one day I thought to myself...."hey, i'm getting married...

Maybe I'd like to be in tip-top shape?"

True, indeed this is true.

I decided to do a workout called "making the cut"

with Jillian Michaels as my trainer.

She apparently is the trainer from "the biggest loser."

A TV show I've never really seen. Well i'm on day 9 out

of 30 and i get it. She's a crazy ass woman. She's kicking my

ass daily and only letting me eat 1200 calories a day.

But it's a love-hate thing. Because today....9 days into this

program? I lost 8 pounds!!!

I was never over weight according to the charts, but certainly

did want some tone and lean muscle to go under my wedding dress.

Jillian, you are kicking my ass everyday.

But I kinda like it. Please keep checking on me, keeping me

accountable....making sure my day included an ass-whooping....

One of my saddest moments to date

I just experienced an incredibly sad moment. One of the saddest.

The moment I had to hold my head down, mope into McDonalds take my Shrek cups back!!!!

They were recalled because of some "toxic substance."

If you are not aware, I am a shrek fanatic! Seriously. I can't even contain myself. I'm like a three year old who watches the movies on a constant loop. I never get over it, i never stop laughing. I never stop adoring the film and everything it stands for. So returning these beautiful glass cups imprinted with all my favorite characters and friends....was to say the very least, heart wrenching.

NPR did a pretty interesting article on it.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127467531

NPR had raved on the film as well. Saying it was "better than sex." I have no specific comment on that. But yes, it was wonderful. One of my favorite films. And surely just as passionate and loving as love-making itself.

http://scpr.org/news/2010/05/30/shrek-better-sex-box-office/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+893KpccSouthernCaliforniaNews+%28KPCC%3A+News%29

So goodbye Fiona, Shrek, Puss, and Donkey. Goodbye ogre resistance....

Goodbye Rumple, Gingy, Charming, Three blind mice, and Dragon-donkey babies.

But most of all???

Goodbye my happily-ever after.

:(

Pilsen Pride Pictures

Pictures of Pilsen.....

(our New neighborhood)!!!!

So here are some pictures i have compiled of Pilsen.

Some I took from last time I lived here, some I found. Enjoy :)

Apartment Pictures

Here are some more pictures of our place and of Pilsen.

(Pictures of the apartment of the realtor's website. When we actually move in, we'll have better ones!)

Part of our new bedroom (above).

Looking toward the front door (above)

View from the upper loft (above.)

Our First Apartment...and Bar???!

Alex and I got an a apartment!

Well actually, Alex and I signed a lease today on a bar.

Yes, that's right kids. Alex and I will be renting out a bar starting July 1st.

Let's clarify:

>1. So there's this really sweet dive bar

>2. So this really sweet dive bar struggles economically and the owner tries to save it by selling excotic reptiles on the black market

>3. Nobody wants the reptiles, the owner can't save the bar.

>4. The bar becomes vacant.

>5. The bar is being rented out as a "living space."

>6. We rent it.

So, yes, it's a bar.

And yes, it will be where we live.

At this point we have no intention of opening up our home as a bar.

But hey, it's us. You never know.

SO Here's the deal:

*There's a huge bar complete with the taps. (Taps not currently working, but alex will have them up and running in NO time).

*There's a completely full basement just for us!!!! (with a washer and dryer!!!)

>note: VERY unfinished basement, DUH! but that's the way we like it.

*There's a loft up the stairs.

*There's a ladies and mens room.

*There's a big room with double doors that says "private". Probably an office at one point. But now to be our "private bedroom." :)

*The walls are magnetic

*The ceilings are tin.

*You will all want to come visit.

*I will post more pictures of the apartment and of Pilsen in my next one.

Story Worthy Life?

I think that life should always be "story worthy."

I got this wording from the Moth podcast. The Moth is an awesome event that meets at different places throughout different cities. Here in Chicago, it meets at Martyrs Bar. People go up to the microphone, without notes, and tell a true story about their life. The stories often make you laugh so hard you have to pee your pants, or maybe even cry. It reminds us to live lives that make good stories later. This is a philosophy that I truly try to live by. Sometimes I try to make situations interesting, sometimes things just happen.

This is also why I adore the movie "Big fish." Sometime even the craziest sounding stories are true, or at least mostly true.

These are the tales of my story worthy life that I share with my partner in crime and best friend, my future husband, Alex.