the bonus

So far New Orleans has delivered just about everything we expected and more... waaaaay more.

We have had fantastic food, stiff sugar-filled and colorful drinks, made some quick friends and listened to some rad live music! What we weren't expecting and what we would like to call "the bonus" of our already exciting night went a little something like this:

Got a taxi ride back to the hotel from the French Quarter (normal).
Pulled up to the hotel (normal).
Naked guy comes running at us (eh, could be normal, it is New Orleans).
Naked guy demands us to give him our clothes (I realize things are getting less normal).
Taxi guy checks in his car, no extra clothes.
Naked guy demands me to give him my shawl (he actually used the term shawl).
Uh, no.
Hotel management tries to give him a hotel towel.
Naked guy refuses towel.
Naked guy tweaks.
Naked guy screams.
Jamie goes to get naked guy a towel from our room (our only clean towel).
I stay and take pictures (totally normal).
Naked guy refuses our clean towel stating "No man, I ain't taking that towel it has electrodes in it!" (definitely not normal)
Jamie tries to level with naked guy "No man, see these arches (pointing to the awning of the hotel) these arches cancel out all the electrodes, so this towel is clean dude" (now I am starting to wonder if Jamie is normal).
Naked guy doesn't buy it.
Hotel guy calls cops.
Hotel notifies us that they have ran out of clean towels.
I make a sad face.
Jamie asks naked guy how he got naked.
No answer (bummer).
I decide it's time for me to go back to the room.
As I am walking to the room a half naked chick with only panties on comes running down the hallway holding a hurricane in her hand screaming "GET IN YOUR ROOM! A BLACK GUY IS ROBBIN' PEOPLE!"
So I get in my room.
I triple lock the door thinking only one thing...

"Damn it's impressive that this chick is being robbed and still managing to hold onto her drink."



The bonus:



Note above the penis is this mans crack pipe... Which explains a lot actually.

East Bound: Chapter 1 Volume I

So after a grueling week of packing, cleaning, scraping, packing, cleaning, scraping, packing and saying our goodbyes, we are finally well on our way out east!

Personally, I think if any couple can survive a big move like this, they can survive just about anything (we are hoping for a Zombie Apocalypse next, we are surprisingly more prepared for that).

Here are a few highlights of the trip so far:

1) Having the pleasure of driving through the desert and noticing that it looks the same whether you are 20 minutes into it or 12 hours into it. It felt like running on a treadmill, but we are driving, not running and the treadmill is really big and has dirt and a mountain painted on the wall... and well, that about sums up the scenery so far.
2) Trying to find Cowbell in the car, you never know where her sneaky butt is hiding. We tried to “walk” her on a leash but she immediately rolled around in the dirt/mud/ash/motor oil/and other random desert stuff; she is no longer fluffy white, Cowbell is now flat poop brown.
3) Jamie broke his toe and I have 2 black eyes, possibly unrelated.
4) We wanted to take "lots of pictures” on the journey, but I am never able to get the camera fast enough to take the cool pictures of things we pass (cool is relative at this point), plus my “traveling outfit” is not the most flattering thing I own. As a matter of fact, I ran into Walmart real quick to grab a few things and I am pretty sure I may end up in the next “People of Walmart” chain email you get, look for me!
5) Passing 2 city signs back to back, one reading "Truth or Consequences Elephant Butte" and the next "Rock Hound City of Rocks". I don't even have a comment for those, except that I am sad I wasn't quick enough to take pictures and too lazy to turn around.
6) Paying for an extra night in a hotel just to sleep in...


Goodnight ya'll <3









Note: Truly my favorite thing about road trips is attempting to fix lunches in the car (note to self: everything, EVERYTHING explodes after traveling- I have been covered in mustard, mayo, ketchup and hot sauce... to start) Anyways, it reminds me of road trips with my grandparents when I was younger, where my mamaw would so gracefully fix us a Spam and Mustard sandwiches during our long journeys to Florida... I never recall her being covered in condiments... But oh well, I'm learning :)

tonight I shed a tear for you

Well... Well... Well... It's getting close to "that time" (the time where we go from our home, to another home, that's new to us and that is not the home we are in now), we are almost all packed up and ready to head out and day by day we are getting more anxious for our departure... we are so excited to start our new journey and yet so sad to say good bye to the place that has brought us together and has made us so many great friends and wonderful memories...

For me, moving has always been a big part of my younger 20something days, so when it has come time to pack up and move forward it has come easily to me, for a long time I took pride into being able to fit just about everything that I own in the trunk of a car. But this time is a bit different for me, my time in California has become me. Since graduating college and chasing me, this place has easily felt like my second home, and actually my first adult home (I actually have furniture and a plant that's half alive). The sun has a way with wrapping its arms around you and the people here have become a part of my heart. There is just something about having the beach beside you that is so fulfilling and knowing the sun will shine tomorrow brings an ease to your mind.

This time I think about everyone I will miss, not only all of my close friends that I have started spending family holidays with instead of my family (these people that have actually become my family)(with, of course, the exception of my fabulous sister that has brought the familiarity of home out to the west with me <3)... But I think of all the people that have become a part of my life here in small ways, some people I do not see often but think of often, some people that do not even know the impact they have had on my life here... both small and large. I think about every single one of you and how my weeks and days will just never be the same without you.

I am excited for this journey, I am ecstatic to be close to my family again and to reunite with my old friends. I can not wait to plan my wedding and to marry the most incredible person I know. I know laughter and warmth will fill my heart and this will be one of the most exciting points in my life...

But tonight, tonight I shed a tear for you.

... for I will miss you more than you will ever know.

Us...

(taken from our wedding website)

"The last place you'd find most people is where they are. Most of us spend our lives thinking about what's next, who I'm going to meet, who I'm going to be when I get married, skinny, rich, famous. You know, life is what happens while we're busy making other plans.

But life doesn't happen in the future - or the past. It happens right here, right now. That's why it's important to start each day wherever you are.

Today, shake yourself free of any expectation of arriving. Encourage yourself to be fully in the moment-to enjoy your transformations and to seek out new obstacles. Sink your teeth into the endless dessert that life is serving up every moment of the day."

About the Bride and Groom:

Lorraine Choon-Choon Koay
The Bride
Born and raised in the urban town of Fairmont, West Virginia Rai played basketball, dabbled in some soccer, ran track and bit a girl on the arm in the 3rd grade. For the most part, Rai has a clean driving record and enjoys a good thunderstorm.
Favorite Quote: "I like things that make sense."

Jamie John Vigliotta
The Groom
Born in New York and raised in Virginia, growing up Jamie was quite annoying, had a deep love for playing basketball and enjoyed jumping off rooftops with his friends.
Favorite quote: "I'm the type of person that doesn't have to have a favorite quote."


How we met

You know in the movies when a boy and a girl run towards one another in slow motion, feet digging in the sand with beautiful ocean waves and a romantic soundtrack in the background? Well it was exactly like that, except we ran in regular motion and the soundtrack was noise coming from a kid’s birthday party and it was actually all a little awkward. But that's how it all started, on June 24, 2008 on the beach in beautiful sunny San Diego. Unfortunately the day Jamie and Rai met ended abruptly with Rai in the hospital running a 103 degree fever, struggling to remember out of the three friends she met that day, "which one was Jamie again?". Shortly after getting out of the hospital Rai (still slightly sick) went to watch Jamie and his friends play in a kickball game, thats when the crushes developed and all hell was about to break loose. They decided that before they would even consider dating they had to have at least one thousand things in common, a goal they all too quickly reached. One by one things got checked off the list and before they had time to control it, feelings were caught and love was in the air. In the years to follow Jamie and Rai shared great times with friends, incredible moments with each other, a few tears, some fears, many successes, laughter in abundance and most importantly, they found a best friend in one another. A bond that took them both by surprise, a bond that lead them on the unimaginable journey of two great hearts, one snobby cat, a crazy dog and a ring...

Home is where the heart is, is the saying...

click here to stalk our trip :)


*UPDATE, we have altered our trip to make sure we include New Orleans!! It would seem wrong not to :)

Our "end" point is really in Pittsburgh, these are our pit stops! Once settled in, DC, NY and WV will be on our list of "regular pit stops" along with NC, FL and VA... Oh it will good to be back <3

I know you are but what am I?

Jamie and I find ourselves doing the strangest things... I guess thats what happens when you live with someone and plan to marry them, you are no longer doing the conventional 'getting to know you after work activities', you are now doing 'lets keep ourselves entertained in ways that other people would judge us for' activities. Like today for instance, today Jamie wanted to play a game where we look up words and try to guess the correct definition before we read it. I'm always up for a challenge, so I agreed. It went like this:

Jamie: "Look up 'uptight' and see if thats you!"

Me: "What?!? Why on earth would you think I am uptight??"

Me: "It means
1. Tense; nervous.
2. Financially pressed; destitute.
3. Outraged; angry.
4. Rigidly conventional, as in manners, opinions, and tastes"

Jamie: "ok, not you... Lets try 'strung out' and see if thats you!"

Me: "What the hell, that would mean I am on drugs and other than Claritin, Penicillin, Day Quil, Motrin and Vicodin I am not on ANY drugs!"

Jamie: "Ok, ok, thats not you either.... Hmmm, I dont know what you are then"

Me: "Those were my only options?"

Jamie: "Yeah, now lets do me, type in 'calm cool and collected'

Me: "Hmm, nothing comes up"

Jamie: "Oh, I must be a phenom then... Oh yeah, look that up, thats what I am, a phenom!"

Me: "I dont want to play this game any more"

and that was the end of that game.

Home Sweet Home

IOU

2011 - you rock! I want to thank you 2010 as well for bringing me a great year and then to end it with giving me 2011.  I am indebted to you for that, and with that, I will pay these debts to you:

In 2011:

- I promise to make big moves. My fiancée and I are going to pack up our home, our pets and all 150 pairs of our shoes and cross the country back to the east coast! During our trip home we going to stop and enjoy several wonderful places along the way including, but not limited to: Las Vegas, New Mexico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia (not including all the other states we are driving through)… Being the crazy planner I am, I promise I will update everyone with maps with our stops, updates or our progress and pictures of our journey. (I’m sure you just can’t wait)

- I promise to start really actually planning my wedding, I’ll stop putting it off simply because theknot.com scares the shit out of me with their insane 4,000 page agenda and endless “to-do”  list.

- I promise to enjoy every part of this year, to include: the crazy packing that’s about to go down at the Koay/Vigliotta household, the endless hours on the road stopping for me to pee, the dog to pee, Jamie to pee, me to  pee again and all at different times, giving up ocean views for the “city life” of Pittsburgh, the harsh cold cold cold cold cold winters, the snow, the fact that I will no longer be able to wear flip flops in January and most importantly, being obnoxiously close to our amazing/crazy/fun/annoying/loving/wonderful families :)

- I promise to install (aka have Jamie install) an automatic car starter in my new car so it won’t get stolen like my other new car did in the winter of ’05 in DC.

- I promise to blog more.

- I promise to re-connect with old friends, make new friends and keep all of my San Diego friends close to my heart and a part of our new lives.

- I promise to realize that even when I do not spend any money shopping at the mall- Target, the grocery store, 7-11 and CVS all count as spending money just the same.

And last but not least:

- I promise to keep life interesting, not focus on the destination but enjoy the journey, not to sweat the small stuff, to stay active, to be appreciative of everything, to be blissfully rich in love, traditions, non-traditions, family, life and my relationships.

In return, I would like to win the lottery.

Thank you 2011.


I Googled "White Trash Lottery Winners" and it said "Do you mean White Trash Humpers?" and I figured... Maybe that is what I meant, so here it is:

Have you ever created a wedding website? This crap takes FOREVER!

boy meets girl, boy falls in love. girl meets boy, girl not impressed. girl says "yes" anyway.

It's like that game where you have to aim the water in the hole to blow up the balloon...

This year in goals...

I take my New Years resolutions very seriously, so this year I figured I would document them for all of you to hold me accountable.

Here are my top five 2011 goals:

1) Learn how to use a ninja star. I mean, how bad ass would it be to show up to a slap fight with ninja stars. It may be a little dramatic but I bet it would be a firm way to guarantee less people would ride my ass on the commute to work with a bumper sticker that says "Guns dont kill people, ninja stars kill people and I have ninja stars that I am not afraid to use, so back up off my tail lights bitches!" I'm not sure if that will fit on a bumper sticker and I usually don't use the term "bitches" but since I'll be so bad ass, I can say what I want.

2) Lose a ton of weight. I'm talking like I want to weigh 28 pounds max. Because at that weight I will be almost invisible and who doesn't want to be invisible.

3) I want to spend every cent I make on those gold collector's coins on TV. I mean, $100 dollars in paper money for a $10 dollar gold coin just seems like a steal and technically I would be investing my money.

4) I want to have all the people who stalk me in the mall and right outside of Target with clipboards moved over to KMart, where people don't shop anymore. I am so sick and tired of hearing them say things like "do you have a minute to help save a dying child?" or "do you have time to save animals from being beaten and slaughtered in your community?" or "do you believe in world peace, you can help save our planet if you stop now" or "do you support gay marriage?" Oh My God people, I am trying to power shop on my lunch break, I dont have time for any of that shit! But thank you for making me feel awful for not taking a moment to save dying children or beaten animals or to help you marry the love of you life. You people have managed to ruin too many of my days and make me feel like a bad person, when all I wanted was to buy a new pair of shoes. Way to take me from 10 to 0 in 15 seconds jerks.

5) I want to not power shop on my lunch break anymore. I think that would guarantee success with all 5 of my top 2011 goals. I could use my lunch time to practice throwing my ninja stars, I would save paper money on shoes to invest in gold money on TV, I wont eat mall food and will lose a ton of weight and become invisible AND I wouldn't have to be made to feel like crap anymore for not taking a moment to save our planet.

BOOM! I'm taking 2011 by the balls.

I got this.




(side note: if it only takes a second to save our planet, then why are those people wasting all those seconds trying to get busy people to sign a piece of paper when if they would all just come together and actively stop the violence or mountain top removal, shit might actually get done).



I googled "2011 New Years images" and this is what I got:



If anything, these kids need some clipboard people.

Holy Crapola... We're getting married!

Now I can say I'm a Vlogger.


Our Proposal...

After a long 8 hour drive from the Vigliotta household to the Koay household, we finally had Christmas at my dads, 12/26/2010. I couldn't understand why my family wanted me so badly to change my clothes and put on some makeup to unwrap a few freaking gifts... Something I now regret not doing (never underestimate the power of looking good on camera people).

My dad "got a new flip camera for Christmas"** and wanted to give the gift a whirl, understandable, right? Well, growing up we have video taped about a dozen Christmas's where we never ever actually watched the tapes (or CD's or DVDs, Roms, Hard drives or whatever magic happens in those recordable electronic devices) so I put no thought into getting dazzled for this Christmas video either.

The last gift under the tree was a book created for me by (my now Fiancé) Jamie, it was a story about our relationship from the very beginning, through all the laughter and fun, through some trials and tribulations, up to our present day including the jumanji household we share with Cowbell and Xander Crews (I'm sorry it's hard to follow our story on video through my stutters, nervous laughter and tears) but it was thoughtful, real, heartfelt and raw...


The end of the story was not the end though, the end was actually our beginning...



I had to watch the video 3 times to even understand it. 4 times to appreciate it...


Enjoy :)


Can I get a Hell Yeah!!

** The flip camera was actually not a gift, rather a lie. A lie to make me not question why we were video taping a Christmas when I am almost 30. My dad had us erase all footage on the camera so he could take it back though, a very Koay thing to do :)