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First off, a few corrections: My oatmeal was MAPLE and brown sugar (more on that in a moment) and Jesse purchased a 32oz bag of rice, not 24.

My breakfast this morning was two packets of the maple and brown sugar oatmeal, which I watered down so it would last a little longer and hopefully be more filling.  Lies.  All of them.  All watering it down did was make the maple flavoring taste like freaking syrup.  By the end of it, I felt like I was eating chunky maple syrup.  I’m now referring to that oatmeal as “sad-meal”.

For lunch, I had ace in a hole (or eggs in a basket, depending on your family), which was filling for a few hours.

For dinner, I had another ace in a hole with an extra slice of toast.  Which I burnt.  So, that became kind of sad.

Right now, I’m starved.  I ate everything I had today, even the burny bits, except for a small chunk of egg which I couldn’t force down.  I’m not sure if it was my aversion to eggs or the fact that my body was being fed after constantly wanting food this morning that wouldn’t let me eat it, but I just couldn’t do it.  As much of a challenge as today was to not just give up and buy a damned candy bar, tomorrow is going to be worse.

Through BzzAgent, a site I’ve been a part of since high school, I was offered a chance to Live Below the Line.  Living Below the Line wants everyone to experience the equivalent of “living on the extreme poverty line” (about $1.50 a day) for five days.  The challenge began today, May 7th, and lasts until Friday, May 11th.

Both Jesse and I had prior lunch engagements that we couldn’t get out of, so day one was kind of a cheat-day for both of us, which, we understand, kind of misses the  point.  But, either way, after work, we went to the store and purchased our $15 worth of food ($7.50 each).

The way we worked, Jesse and I decided to buy some food separately as well as split some items.  The items we split: a dozen medium eggs ($1 at the Dollar Tree), a loaf of white bread ($1 at Tops, on sale), a 10-pack of store-brand cinnamon and brown sugar instant oatmeal ($2.50 at Tops), a small package of mild breakfast sausage ($1 at the Dollar Tree), a berry-flavored just-add-water pancake mix ($1 at Tops), and a tub of margarine ($1 at the Dollar Tree).  Jesse’s purchases on his own: a 24oz bag of white rice ($2.50 at Tops) and a can of garbanzo beans ($1 at Tops).  My purchases on my own: 2 Uncle Ben’s flavored rice boxes ($1 each at Tops, for a total of $2), a box of Rotini pasta ($1 at the Dollar Tree), and a can of Hunt’s pasta sauce ($1 at the Dollar Tree).

For dinner, I had 1/3 of my chicken-flavored Uncle Ben’s rice and two slices of bread with butter on them.  Right now I feel pretty full, but talk to me tomorrow, and I’m sure that my tone will have changed.

As of right now, Jesse’s unsure of what he’ll eat, if at all, stating that he “had a big lunch,” but he said he’d probably end up eating some rice mixed with beans and butter.

It’s been just over two weeks since Jesse popped the question, and I’ve already begun to appreciate all the hard work that goes into planning a wedding.

My mother, a bride’s traditional big helper, lives not only in another state, but in another timezone.  So, she’s been helping with what she can, telling me what I need to get done first, through Facebook messaging.  (Not my favorite form of communication, but it’s what works for us.)  She stressed that the most important thing to find at this point in time was not a wedding dress, but a wedding venue- which included somewhere to hold the reception.

Through a series of listing off places in town, we did happen upon a wonderful place for the reception and the ceremony.  (We’re not getting married in a church- but I’m sure that blog post will come later.)  I was afraid it would be too outrageously priced, but, after viewing loads of pictures online, decided to go ahead and take a look at the place.  I had eaten at The Old Library before, but Jesse had never seen more than the outside of the building.  After taking the few steps up into the foyer of the ex-Carnegie library turned restaurant turned banquet hall, I’m pretty sure he was in love.

Since it’s no longer a restaurant, we would have the entire two-story building to ourselves, which is exactly what I wanted.  The downstairs foyer also doubles as an amazing dance floor with chandeliers overhead.  (They covered up what would have been the ‘dome’ of the library long ago.)  Then, there are three separate rooms that we will have use of, including both the bar and a little balcony area overlooking the dance floor.

I must say, after having a couple days to think over all the things I could do in there (and discuss them with my maid of honor), I’m just as in love with this place as Jesse is.  And I can not *wait* to start making decorations for in there.

I was unaware that you had to set a date for your wedding minutes after you were engaged.  I thought that was one of those things you were allowed to decide on, you know, the next day or something.  

But, alas, the most popular question after announcing my engagement was not “How’d he do it?”, but “So, when’s the date?”

After evading most everyone’s questions all weekend (a whole weekend!), Jesse and I have finally set a date:

October 11, 2012

And now, I’m off to answer the next question that keeps cropping up:  How many people are you inviting?