Work in Progress!

Forgive me if every time you check our blog it is different!! I am still working on its perfection!!

Taste of Cincinnati 2008

This past weekend Michael and I were able to go downtown to take part in Cincinnati's 30th Annual Taste of Cincinnati. This is a great festival that takes place downtown that restaurants, deli's and cafe's from around the tri-state take part in.
We had such a great time enjoying all the yummy food such as deep-fried cheesecake, seafood gumbo, crab rangoon, corn on the cob, crab cakes and not to mention some other interesting dishes we did not try such as fried pickles! There were concerts going on and vendors giving away lots of "swag" and I made it my goal to get as much as I could - I walked away with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a free shirt that says "Smile - You're in CincinnatiUSA!) I felt that I was channeling Michael from the Office at the time...
We had a great time and were excited to see some of our friends there such as the Broadbent's and the Kaufmann's and lots of Michael's friends from school. We will be sure to go back next year, and maybe then we will have the guts to try some fried pickles...

Elder and Sister Durrance

Well, my parents left today for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah to prepare for their mission to Germany. I will miss them so very much but they are excited about all of the missionary and service opportunities that will be awaiting them. I can't wait to see all of the progress they will make on their mission and I don't know what I would do if I couldn't email them while they are gone. Good Luck Mom and Dad and have fun! Michael and I will visit you next summer!!

This is Pretty Fun! Thanks Dee Ann!

My sister Dee Ann sent me this email and usually I hate forwarding on junk email, but this one is pretty fun so I decided to just add it to our blog. I have left my "names" on the list so you can see some of them and comment on any of your own that were pretty funny!! I think a couple of my favorites are my Gagsta name Chocolate Chucks and my soap Opera name Michelle Pleasant-Ridge!

1. ROCK STAR NAME: (Pets name, current car):Sadie Civic
2. GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe):Chocolate Chucks
3. NATIVE AMERICAN NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal):Blue Panther
4. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you live):Michelle PleasantRidge
5. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name):SmiJa
6. SUPERHERO NAME: (The 2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Pink Pepsi
7. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers):Oscar Edwin
8. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy: Gucci Nerds
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter):
Law Louisville
10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower):Autumn Pansie
11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now Grapefruit Jeans

Our Shutterfly Albums

Just in case you wanted to see more pics of Michael and I, we have a Shutterfly account, but we warn you, some of the pics are pretty old!!

Just click on the title above and enjoy!

We Need Help...In More Ways Than One.

Well, we woke up this morning to a beautiful, sunny day and decided it would be the perfect time to paint our porch. The paint I had picked out had been sitting in our utility closet for the past 9 months, so we thought now was as good a time as any.
So, after painting the porch a nice blue color called Silver Blueberry, we are at a loss for what color to now paint our front door, so we set up a little poll to the right, and any help would be appreciated!! Thanks, and wish us luck on getting our home ready to rent by the middle of June!!

Beautiful Weather

Well, we have been having some really beautiful weather here in Cincinnati lately and I can't wait to spend some time outdoors. I am also happy that with as busy as Michael has been we have still been able to spend a lot of time together this quarter.

He is coming up on the end of his Junior year and looking for a summer co-op (hopefully here in Cincinnati) but could end up taking a job back in L.A. again or he may even head back to New York City. It is really hard to be apart from him for 3 months but we know that it will benefit us in the future!! Wish him luck!

What I'm Reading Right Now

This is a very interesting book that I am reading for my Modern Fiction class. It is novel about a Creole community living in Martinique during the 1980's. So far I would give it 7 out of 10 Stars. Not too bad.

-Jayna

Tired and Worn OUT!!!

I have decided to fast-track my college education so that I can graduate from the University of Cincinnati with an English Literature Degree by next Spring. I am very excited about this because it means that Michael, who graduates with his Architecture Degree next spring, and I can actually walk together for Graduation. This is my motivation. The only problem is that it means I will be taking between 17 and 20 credit hours for at least 2 quarters next year and I am already wearing myself out! I've gotten pretty sick this past week with the flu and my voice is nothing more than a whisper! Not fun when you have to speak up in English classes and share how you feel about readings! Anyway, with going to school, working two jobs, packing up and cleaning my house, looking for a new apartment to move into, and trying to find time to spend with MIchael, I have met my limit. Thank goodness it is Friday and I can rest, at least until I have to write my next paper due Monday.

-Jayna