Introducing.....

.....drumroll please!! I thought y'all might like to know that I have a boyfriend now. Jis name is Joshua Dorn. Now, I know that you are eager to hear all about this wonderful man.

I'll start off with how we met. I was chatting online with some of my friends and he sent me an IM kind of out of the blue. We chatted for several days, and then on July 3rd, we talked on the phone for the first tim. That conversation was three and a half hours long. Seriously - that is one long phone conversation!! Well, we continued talking on the phone during my vacation to Virginia.

When I was driving home from there, we were talking on the phone (we do that A LOT) and I mentioned that I had to stop at Wal-Mart for a few things. So, Josh said "I can go shopping with you if you want." I was amiable to the idea and we met there. I was quite impressed with him. The next night (Monday) he came over and watched a movie with Tiffany and I. We ended up watching The Princess Bride just in case you were wondering.

The next day (Tuesday) was our very first date. Josh took me downtown to Trio's -- it's a nifty pizza and pasta bistro-type restraunt. We really, really liked it there. Then, we walked downtown to Falls Park. It's a really great park, and very very romantical. We sat on a porch swing for a while and talked. We decided that dating would be good for us, so that's what we're doing. He's my boyfriend now. And I couldn't ask for a better man.

So about my Josh....I'm sure you are wanting all of THOSE details too. He's 26 years old, 6' tall and has green eyes. Josh is the teller manager at one of the Wachovia branches here in town. He is a very mature, responsible man. He grew up in Greenwood, SC, which is about an hour from here. He went to a Christian school while he was growing up. Josh has lived in Greenville for about a year or so. He goes to church here, but is not really happy with where he has been going.....so he's going to start going with me. I'm still deciding about where I want to go to church (LOOONG story) so I think we may try out a few together.

Anyways, those are the main details background wise. As a person, he is one of the most phenominal people that I know. He's sweet and funny and kind and very, very considerate of other people. Josh is always a perfect gentleman....I never have to worry about if he is going to try something inappropriate with me, because he just doesn't do that. We always have so much fun together. Ususally, it involves A LOT of talking. We don't really watch a lot of movies and stuff like that because we get bored. We like to go downtown and walk around. Usually, we end up at Fall's Park....it really is a GREAT place to hang out.

So, that's about my Josh. He's a wonderful, wonderful man and I really like him LOTS AND LOTS!!

Back Home

Well, I'm back from vacation. I had a lot of fun with my family, but it was really nice to get home again. My last vacation update was on Tuesday. Our family had so much fun during our vacation. Wednesday, we went to colonial Williamsburg and played toursist. On the way there, we rode across the Chesapeake Bay (part of it) via ferry. Let me tell you, I odn't want to ride a ferry EVER again. LOL I get motion sickness, and this was no exception. I definately had to get out of the car for the maority of the trip. Silly Melinda. We had also planned a picnic that day, but it was raining...so we ate our picnic in the car. We also stopped at the oldest Gothic (referring to building style) church in the US. That was really REALLY cool!!

Thursday, we went to the beach. That was fun. It was Cynthia's first time "in" the ocean --just her little feetsies -- and it was kinda funny, but poor baby. The water was brrrr -- cooooold!! She did like the taste of the salt water on her hand though. That was cute!! Thursday night, we went Mark's bosses' house for dinner. I've met the Mallory family a couple of times before, and I really like them a lot. It's so nice that Mark and Krystina have a nice family there to hang out with.

Friday we just kinda hung out. I don't really remember what we did, to be honest. Oh yeah -- Mom and I did some errands and stuff. It wasn't anything especially spectacular, but we had fum hanging out together. I think we wen swimming that afternoon and then we had our family picture taken. Shannon, Josh, Mark and Krystina found a really cool place just off the bay. We got lots of different versions, but here is the one with our whole family. After the picture, we went to Sonic and got ice cream. Yummyful!!

On Saturday, we all (except Krystina b/c she had to work and David b/c I'm not sure why) went to the Patrick Henry Mall and hung out. Mark treated us to Chili's....thanks, Mark! Then, we went swimming again and had a tastyful BBQ with hamburgers and hotdogs. Saturday night we went to Williamsburg to this Put-Put Golf and go-kart place. Very fun. I lost at golf....but I always do. LOL

Sunday we all went to Mark and Krystina's church. It's a really nice church. I like it a lot. Then Sunday afternoon, I went home. I was sad to leave my family...I almost cried....but I was ready to get home again.

So, there you have it. That's our vacation. I'll leave you with a cute picture of Cynthia and I. She's sooooo cute!!!

Back in Virginia Beach.....

.....or Hampton, to be specific. We spent the day yesterday in Washington, DC. First, we went to the walk by the Capitol building. That was really cool....all of the buildings there are sooo beautiful!! Then, we walked for a while and ended up at the Smithsonians. We went through the Botanical Gardens. That was really nice....and I love flowers!! There were some really pretty ones there, too. Next, we walked to the Native American Museum and had lunch. There is a really cool cafeteria there....you can kinda pick your luch a'la carte. Mom and I had Bison Prime Rib....very tasty. You can't go wrong with that, can you?? Then, we went to the Air and Space Museum. That was really neat, too. There were some great displays there. Last but not least, we went to the Holocaust Museum. Wow - that is a really powerful place!! There are some thought-provoking displays and pictures. One of the most powerful parts of it, for me, was a train car that they actually used to transport the Jews to the death camps. Wow -- we walked right through it. That place in general makes me want to read The Hiding Place again.

Well, here are some pictures that Dad took. I hope you enjoy them.....

Today, Mom, Cynthia, Marilyn and I went to the Potomac Mills Mall. That was fun, too. We met my friend Silvia and her kids David, Mela and Bella there. So we did lots of shopping and had lunch together and did more shopping. I got some really cute stuff for Cynthia. There is a onesie that says "I love my Auntie"....I've been looking for something like that for her since before she was born....they are hard to come by, and I would have settled for even a bib. I also got two shirts and a pair of capris at Lane Bryant...love that store!!

Then, Mom and Dad and I left and drove down to Hampton. Here I sit now at Mark and Krystina's. That's the end of my day.

Well anwyays, it's late and I need to get going here....my poor little brain is fried. I stayed up way too late talking on the phone last night. LOL!!!

Happy Birthday, America!!

I love July 4th....it's like EVERYONE'S birthday. So in honor of us (and because any day off work is a good excuse to party) I had a cookout. Everyone was here. And I have pics now, so you can all see who my friends are.

Tonight, John and I to see Wall-E and then the fireworks.

Well, I'm off to pack for my vacation. Ciao!!!

VACATION!!!!

I leave in two days for vacation!! I am meeting my family up in the Washington, DC, area (where my cousin Marilyn lives) on Sunday. WOOT!! Everyone will be there, except David. He is flying in on Thursday. I am sooo excited to see everyone again...especially Cynthia. She is getting soo big and sooo cute these days!! Here are some pictures from her eight month photo shoot. You can also check out a super cute video that Shannon posted on her blog HERE.

And here are some pictures of her: