enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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Today feels like the real start to 2010. It's Monday. The day when new year's resolutions can really begin (so if like me you skipped the gym and ate potato chips for the past three days, it really doesn't matter.) I am battling a cold but will not let that stop me from getting lists, items and spreadsheets organized, both business and personal, today.

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2010 is a BIG year for Elise and Paul. Our biggest yet by far. January is already underway. Paul started his four week medicine rotation this morning. I am working on working and taking a quick trip to Vegas with my college girlfriends in twelve days. Paul will spend February in Washington state for an ER rotation. I will be here in DC except for a week in Sacramento for a bridal shower. And then March is where everything hits the fan. Paul will be back here on a surgery rotation and we have 28 days to pack up our apartment, say adios to the east coast, sell my car and try to keep our heads on straight. The month of April will fly. We are both going to be back in California : Paul will be rotating in Travis and I will be tying up wedding loose ends.

We marry on April 24, 2010 and then spend a glorious week in Bora Bora.

AND THEN, it's back in action. Paul flies out to Maryland for two weeks to prep for graduation. I stay in CA, go to my brother's college graduation and then fly overnight to be back in Maryland for Paul's graduation ceremony on May 15. After that, we hop BACK across the country to San Diego to find an apartment. I am hoping that somewhere around May 25, 2010 we are moved and settled and still very much in love.

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It hurts just to type it all out. Especially right now through sniffles and a sore throat. But I had a great realization on Saturday after our 14 hour travel day that involved lost baggage : My ATTITUDE through these next five months is the only thing I have control over. I don't know if the military is going to store our stuff while we settle our plans. I do know it will be freezing cold during my month in February. I don't know what I am going to do these next few months to stay creative and active with the shop. I do know that our wedding will go off with at least 17 hitches.

But most importantly, I understand that if I take each event and inevitable hiccup in stride and JUST DEAL WITH IT POSITIVELY then Paul will too and we'll not only get through these months, but enjoy these months. (I realize that this sounds like something right out of a self help book. No worries though – this might just work.)

2010, you are a beast. You are anything but boring. But we are ready for you. Me, P and my box of Kleenex.

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23 responses to “here we go.”

  1. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Good luck, and have fun too!

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  2. Armalite Avatar

    What a year… I will be happily following your adventures all the way throgh 2010 🙂

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  3. Panamomma Avatar

    E –
    At the end of April, you and P will be married. That is all that really matters. As long as any of the hiccups do not interfere with that – which they will not they are unimportant and will pass. I like your attitude. It will all be great.

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  4. Krista Avatar

    So sorry you’re sick! But I’m so excited for your upcoming year. What a fun ride this will be. 🙂
    p.s. I’m sure you’ve already seen this, but it was in my Google Reader this morning and made me think of you (even though we don’t know each other. 🙂
    http://www.twigandthistle.com/blog/2010/01/happy-new-year-and-giveaway/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TwigThistle+(Twig+%26+Thistle)&utm_content=Google+Reader

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  5. HeatherB Avatar
    HeatherB

    I read this a bit ago and it’s sinking in with me. I had a rough 2009 with very little going as I had planned or as I had desired. I felt as if I lost all control and became super depressed.
    You are so right about your attitude. It is the only thing you CAN fully control. Go ahead and make plans but know they may not come out and be ready to roll with the punches. Thanks for this lover.

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  6. Sara M. Avatar
    Sara M.

    Enjoy all of the pre-wedding and wedding stuff. It will go SO fast and before you know it all of it will be done. Enjoy it. Take a lot of pictures(I know you will). Don’t wish it away. It is a magical time.

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  7. Suzanne A Avatar
    Suzanne A

    I understand having a ‘beast’ of a year. And your post really sounds like a great opportunity to create a quick (but thick) album you can fill with pix of all the travels and with journaling pages for each day you feel blue, overwhelmed, or just excited!
    What an exciting year to come! Congrats to you and P!
    I’m following your lead and remembering to keep ATTITUDE in check 🙂 Maybe I’ll see ya in SD; I’m moving back there in August!

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  8. indigorchid Avatar

    Ooo, what a year! I agree, one’s attitude can make such a difference, and it’s been a good thing for me to keep in mind as well the past year or so. Best of luck on this whirlwind six months ahead of you!

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  9. Cameron Avatar

    My first thought about the military storing your stuff was to ask you what Paul’s commissioning date is… and then I realized that much, much, much better advice is to warn you that every military family has a different experience and for every question you ask you will get 217 different answers(both from people who have done it and from people who are working in the offices who are supposed to know these things. And sometimes even from the exact same person asked on different days!). Sometimes you won’t actually know if everything’s worked out until you and your stuff actually arrive in the place they send you. So staying positive is absolutely the very best thing you can do. 🙂 Good luck and hang in there, I look forward to following along in your journey! 🙂

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  10. Jessica Fulkerson O'Brien Avatar

    wow! that is a crazy year. what a great attitude you have though. i’m such a controlling, anal person, that i knew from the very start of our wedding planning, that i had to just stay positive and let things roll by me. i didn’t want memories of the wedding planning and wedding day to be of stress or anything negative. enjoy this time and remember that you’ll probably never have to do anything as crazy again! 😉

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  11. Sandy Avatar

    Good luck with everything and you’re right about only being able to control your attitude in it all. That will get you through it. So sorry you’re sick. I woke up this morning with a sore throat so I’m hoping I’m not getting sick, feeling pretty yucky too. Feel better.

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  12. Katie Avatar

    Great post. That attitude thing has really made me think.
    Good luck for everything you have on this year and hope you feel better soon 🙂

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  13. Jennifer Brotchie Avatar

    Congratulations on the upcoming year Elise! I’ve been following you for awhile and my heartfelt best wishes to you and P.

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  14. Flo Avatar

    Wow ! This surely is one exciting plan !
    I do believe our attitudes is often the glue that puts everything together, so go Elise ! You’re more than cut out for 2010 !
    Beautiful (and creative, exciting, amazing) New Year to you !

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  15. Laura Avatar

    What an adventurous year! I hope you find many things to enjoy in all that craziness!

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  16. Martina Tierney Avatar

    My goodness! Such excitement… You’re a recent discovery of mine. I love your blog, your work, your colours and your attitude! I’ve put you on my blogs favs, and as a contact on Flickr. So looking forward to sharing this year with you, and wish you and Paul all the very best – feel like I know you already!
    Martina, London UK x

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  17. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    Wow! What a crazy next few months, how exciting to be going through so many life changing things! It all will be here and over before you know it remember to breathe and take each moment for what it is 🙂 Where in Washington is Paul doing his ER rotations? I live in Washington State and work at Evergreen Hospital.

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  18. Elise Blaha Avatar

    he is going to be working at the military base there…its a little outside of seattle… 🙂

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  19. rose Avatar

    best wishes for all your adventures.x.

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  20. Tor Avatar
    Tor

    o my, you are gonna be so bored the second half of 2010 ;). Keep on smiling. This will all work out just fine.

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  21. Vanessa Avatar

    WOW jam packed first half of the year!! I hope we can squeeze in a little meet up while you are still in MD! Perhaps something crafty!!

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  22. holly Avatar

    it could be worse (!!!) really.

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  23. College Research Paper Avatar

    I appreciate the work of all people who share information with others.

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