Okay, Okay, I know I'm the worst Blogger ever. It's easier said than done!

Quite a huge bit has changed since my last post. Brian is a sexy doctor and we live in Little Rock now, where he has a job doing testing, pre- and post-op care at a lasik eye surgery center. We're so glad to be Arkansans again!! It's been so great to see our friends more often. We've really enjoyed it. We have an adorable house, and the dogs have adjusted quite well to the move. We got here officially 4th of July weekend. I've been doing my photography full-force these days; Brian and I have designed a website for me: www.KerryGuicePhotography.com, and I've kept fairly busy with weddings, portrait sessions, and all the editing that goes into doing what I do. I've thoroughly fallen in love with it!

I also just started a job as a manager at a local restaurant here called Trio's. It's an awesome restaurant that uses local and organic ingredients and has a great chef that visits the local farmer's market and changes the menu according to what's in season. It's such great food, and the people there have been there for a LONG time, so that says a lot about the place and the way it's run. I'll eventually be taking over the catering and beverage department- choosing their wine list, controlling liquor inventory, booking banquets and off-site catering, etc. I'm really looking forward to it.

Brian and I have also been scouting out places for him to open his own practice! It's a whirlwind of excitement, stress, anxiety, exhilaration, and optimism for both of us, but more so for him. He's been studying business collateral and has been on the phone with real estate companies and doctors asking questions and getting advice. I know without a doubt that he'll do amazing when we open, but I know it's going to take a lot of guts to start it! It's a BIG loan and a risk to open a business- no matter what the business is, so we're sure to know what we're doing before we jump in it, but we're ready to take it on! I'll be working the front for him and selling the retail side of the practice. Eclectic, exclusive, boutique retail eyewear is what we'll focus on. I think Little Rock will accept it with open arms... we'll see! We've got our eye on a place right now, so I'll keep you posted on the progress!

Our summer has been eventful and fun so far. The weather has let up just a bit this week, it's not too dreadfully hot outside! We've been going on more bikerides now that we're in the Hillcrest area- much more freedom to ride around town than in Memphis! It's been nice to be able to ride my bike to Kroger for some groceries- it's only 4 or 5 blocks away, and in the middle of the neigborhood. I love it!

I miss my friends in Memphis, but it's been such a wonderful change to be able to cook dinner every night at a decent hour, and be able to spend the evening with Brian, walking the dogs or taking a nice bikeride. We've felt spoiled! We've been together for 7 1/2 years now, and this is the FIRST time we've had almost every evening with each other, due to my restaurant night-jobs. It's been pure heaven! :)

Here is a photo of the house, and just a few weddings I've shot recently:

Catching Up

Well, Brian is almost a month into his externship in Batesville, AR. It was pretty tough at first, and although it's still PAINFULLY lonely at home and I have trouble sleeping, it's getting a bit easier for both of us. :) We'll be ready for December, that's all I can say. I went to visit him a few weekends back, and we had a great time. He comes home on weekends, but this weekend we decided to go camping close to where he lives. It didn't work out though, because young kids kept driving around the campsite and we were worried about the dogs, and it's not the most relaxing feeling to keep seeing people driving- some of them speeding- throughout a campsite! We packed up our things and decided we should just climb in bed at his apartment and watch the Arkansas football game and drink beer instead. :) It was a good decision (although the Razorbacks didn't make for a great game that night against Alabama...). He lives in a cute apartment that looks like a cabin! It's wooden on the outside and is one long story of 6 or 7 apartments. It's got new carpets and a dishwasher and is clean, so we're grateful we found it at the price we got!
Work is going well for Brian. The doctor he's working with has told him he's doing a fantastic job and even called a doctor in Little Rock for us to see if he needed anyone (it's a 65 year old guy in his own clinic downtown close to the Clinton Library- we were fantasizing about him retiring soon and selling his practice to Brian after having him under his wing for a year or two...). It may pan out, but we'll see...
Work is busy for me. The restaurant is going well, and I'm currently 4th in a National Sales Manager contest for banquet sales. It goes through the end of December, and if I win I get a trip for 2 to Napa Valley, CA for 3 days!! That would be VERY appreciated after Brian gets home from Batesville!!! I don't know how much of a chance I have, but I'm doing fairly well so far, so we'll see... I know it would be a GREEEEAAAATTTTT trip if we were to go- Ruth's Chris doesn't skimp when it comes to these things. They'd pay for everything and we'd get into exclusive wineries and meet really cool people- it would be SOOO fun!!
My photography business is also doing pretty well! I took some bridal pictures this past Sunday, and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. I'm taking a friend's wedding pictures on the 20th of this month, too. I've been staying as busy as I want to be with my other job into consideration, and I haven't advertised at all, so I'm very proud of the work I've been doing!
The "girls" are doing well. They miss their daddy (especially Emma). She gets so anxious after he leaves on Sundays. :( I also feel terrible that they have to stay cooped up at home while I'm at work and Brian's not here to entertain them! It was good for them to go "semi-camping" with us. We did go on a great hike, and Brian almost stepped on 2 snakes!!! The second time his foot was en route to the snakes head, about 6 inches away! It was a pretty big snake, too!
This separation has made my heart grow fonder, without a doubt. I realize everyday the things we take for granted in seeing each other everyday, and it makes for great weekends together with no bickering or whining. We just enjoy each other's company and get to re-live why we decided to spend our lives together. :) I get confirmation all the time that I made the right choice in snagging this guy up! :)

Glad to be Home, but Busier than Ever!

I'm back from Washington D.C.! It was so great to get that hug from Brian when I got off the plane!! The girls were very, very excited to see me too.

My experience in D.C. was such a great one. I missed home a lot, but it was a HUGE learning experience and great confidence boost for me to be out there for 3 weeks alone, with no comfort zone whatsoever! I think I did pretty well and it will help me do my job much better. I really, really liked the D.C. area. It's gorgeous.

Brian has an apartment "semi" lined up for Batesville. The lady who promised a GREAT priced apartment with no lease won't return his calls! We have less than 3 weeks until he starts his position there. It's going to be a LONG 4 months! (And I thought 3 weeks was bad!) :)

Not too much is new around here but work, work, work. I got another request to photograph a wedding in November! That will be my 3rd "official" wedding to shoot. I'm really enjoying taking photos professionally. I feel very comfortable doing it!

Well, I've pretty much said all that's new for us right now! I'll have plenty more to say soon, I'm sure! Brian and I will have a strange time getting used to having a "long distance" relationship for a while. I'll be glad when it's over.

Bye for now!