The Fabulous Life of Stefanie

Today is the first day of Lent - also known as Ash Wednesday - which is exciting for two reasons: I am just a little over a month from my baptism, and I am fully participating with the rest of the Catholic community in all things Holy! Today I am fasting - which means I'll eat two small meals not equal to one meal and then one non-meat meal. So far (and it's just past lunch time) this has been a good perspective building practice for me. At anytime that I am hungry - whether legitimate hunger or simply a craving - I can get something to eat, usually whatever it is that I am craving; I can just go, get it, and eat it. No problem. That is not the case for a whole lot of the population - whether here in Boston or across the planet in Africa, and the hunger pangs that I think I am having because my co-worker mentioned pizza are surely nothing in comparison to the immense amount of suffering that is taking place at all times in the world, or when Jesus was hung on the cross. Nails t...

I feel like I swallowed a handful of glass shards and razor blades. Seriously, my throat hurts, my ears are plugged, my sinuses burn and I am beyond tired. I wouldn't be such a whiner if this wasn't the second time in the past month that I have been contaminated with something. There are a million plausible reasons that I can use to explain this - I work in a house with 120 men whose hygiene is very questionable at times, making this a bit of a petri dish; also at work is a radiator that would make Dante's Inferno seem pleasant, and a window that blows cold, Boston air right into my face; add to this a bit of stress, the winter cold, and a raging social life, and you have one unhealthy Stefanie. I am trying to figure out remedies - I am going to start by getting back into my winter Emergen-C routine, or at least getting a vitamin C supplement and getting my lazy ass back into a hardcore gym regimen, since that seems to boost my immune system and keep me from being so tired...

Yep, the love of my life, my best friend, the most handsome man that I have ever laid eyes on asked me to marry him, and of course, I said YES! I could not possibly be any more excited. I am literally bubbling over like a glass of champagne with excitement and love for absolutely everything and everyone. First and foremost, I am so elated that I am going to spend the rest of my life with the love of my life. Growing old will be void of anything dull, boring, or not completely hilarious. We are going to have beautiful babies and live happily ever after - no wicked Stepmothers, turning into vegetables, or singing mice about it - this is my fairy tale ending. Second to that is the love and support that we have been receiving from our family, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers! Although we have been talking about getting married since we met and began our whirlwind romance, it is so exciting to shout it from the rooftops and celebrate our love with everyone. We have an amazin...