Adam is just the sweetest ever, saturday is our 3yr anniversary. He got me a stuffed animal, some sexy undies (more for him than me), white gold and sapphire earrings & and a much lusted after dooney & bourke purse. He knows me so well and I love him so much!

The Pics

I just don't know

Recently, I've had so many kind emails of concern. Folks wondering where I've disappeared to. Not only have I not updated but I haven't been commenting in any journals, that'd explain the 98 alerts in my inbox. Who thinks i'll actually get around to them? I think i'll just have to do it by the journals on my sidebar.

Nothings happened to me, least nothing bad. I've just taken a step back in journal land. Honestly, things aren't what they were for me and I find that there aren't many true and honest people in jland. For me it was never a popularity contest, but a place where I was able to share my thoughts and feelings. And get advice from some wonderful women and mothers. But for some people, they thought it ok to hurt others in order to make themselves popular. And despite never getting involved in jland disputes, people that I thought cared about me turned their backs on me. Well, i'm only 21. There's a life lesson to be had somewhere in here.

But I thought i'd update and share my good news. I really don't feel like posting it here since i'm sure not everyone who reads my journal wishes me well. But there are so many jlanders who I don't email or don't have valid AOL addresses and I wouldn't want to miss them.

April 21st Adam and I got engaged!

Well, I know, it was a long time coming. We did the whole committed relationship thing and then the promise ring thing, but now we're officially engaged to be married. And I couldn't be happier.

His proposal was very romantic and I wasn't quite expecting it. We were out at the beach, we had to walk a good 25 mins to get to this pier so we could fish. And whilst he spent most of the time complaining about his bait getting robbed, I spent my time resting having just been made to walk for so long. And preparing myself for the fact that i'd have to walk all that way back to the car.

Anyway, after a while we decided to take a walk and stop to let someone take a picture of us. Well, I thought Adam was showing the woman how to use the camera and putting it on the right setting for her. Really he was telling her he was about to propose and he wanted it captured on camera.

I was surprised. Happy. Shocked. Overwhelmed. But I think so was the woman taking the picture sinceshe was doing all the screaming and "oh my god" -ing for me! lol!

I said yes, of course and we're very much looking forward to getting married. Oh yeah and living in the same country! lol!

Pics to follow!

Shermeen xx

Blue Skies

 

I don't really suppose I have much to say, but I figure I should write in here more often. I've kinda disappeared from jland for a while, so much has changed here...i'm not sure i feel the same way i once did about it. but one thing that i'm thankful for is the wonderful people that i've met here. always willing to show kindess and support, you can search the whole world over and never find that.

today, i feel like the scales have fallen from my eyes about so many things. the world is so different to how it was on monday or even the majority of yesterday.

people aren't always what you expect, its only human to make mistakes, but somehow we don't think it'll happen. (shrugs) oh well.

This coming week is Easter vacation. I think they need to get one set date for Easter, much less confusing that way. I don't think we have any plans, but my little cousins are coming to stay which will be nice. And Nathan too. I think my mum likes having a full house. We'll be busting at the seams this weekend...kinda like me, but i'm not gonna do the whole weight loss thing in here...but it's nice having kids around. Reminds me of times long ago when I was once young.

Well...i'm gonna toddle off elsewhere. I hope all in jland are having a good week. For some reason I keep thinking today is Thursday!

 

The Pictures

 

Our beloved airport picture. Its our little tradition and I love it, I only just noticed that in 98% of our pictures together i'm always on the left of Adam. Its not intentional so I do wonder how it happens, perhaps we're just naturally confortable like that. Yes, that does happen to be a hickey on his neck but I stand by my statement that its accidental.

I think its just so beautiful out in Florida, natural and unspoilt. You'll have a hard time finding a view like this in London.

 

This next set of pictures Adam and I like to call;

See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil...Spank That Evil!

 

Florida

How terrible am I to still not have updated about Florida. Let's just say it was wonderful and I didn't want to leave, as always.

I did actually type out an entry but being the idiot I am, i did it in AOL and we all know what happens when you do that, we get booted off and away goes our entry.

Let's see, its about two weeks since I got back. Its getting slowly easier and I'm trying to make the most of being back home and getting on with things. But we all know where I'd much rather be!

When I arrived at the airport, believe it or not I was nervous about seeing him. Still after so many times. I always worry that he's not gonna like me anymore, which I know is silly but I think it. I worry i'll trip and make an idiot of myself. But I was also really excited, I was racing round the corners trying to make it to the exit so I could find him.

And there he was standing against the wall holding a bunch of flowers! I think my heart just about melted there and then and in true hollywood movie fashion, he lifted me up and span me around. And then suddenly I didn't feel so nervous.

We didn't really have too much time together since I was there for just under two weeks, but we had a great time. We went out to eat, went to the zoo, visited his family. It was nice. And I love hanging out with his mom. Both his neighbours have new puppys, so adorable and cute and they'd follow me as i'd walk around the yard, wanting me to play with them.

The time as always went by too fast and truly, I didn't get homesick once. Usually, if i'm staying for longer i'll get a little homesick once a month. But this time I wanted to stay forever, contemplated burning my passport so I could. But I knew I couldn't.

On my last day there Adam and I went by the store to say goodbye to two of his friends who work there. I thought, heck I need to waste these dollars I have left, so I bought two scratch cards, I won $16. Which went towards lunch and two bags of peanut M&Ms. Believe it or not, but peanut M&Ms taste much better in America than they do over here. Don't know what you guys are putting in them or what we're not, but there is a taste difference!

A few days before I left I went to walmart to get some gifts to take home. I love walmart, there's just so much choice. You guys have way more products than we do and its not fair!

Poor Adam had just got home from work and i'm certain he was tired, but he was a trooper and took me shopping. Of course, in true Adamus style he hated walking around the aisles. Esp the same aisle more than once, but i'm female and love to shop. And I did give him the option of sitting somewhere and i'd come find him later. But then what kind of bf/bodyguard would he be if he did that!

He's actually very good to me. On like my second day out there I got a throat infection, I think it was just because I was so run down. I hadn't had much sleep before I went to see him and late nights & early mornings tend to make me sick. My bodys way of saying I need to rest. But he's so good to me, he took care of me, made me drink plenty of ginger for my throat and before I knew it I was back to normal.

I guess, I'm gonna go. I'll add and entry after this one of just pictures. And i'll hopefully update again soon. I went out last night. Let's just say once we left the second club my boots came off because I couldn't walk anymore! But we had a blast and I didn't actually get in until about half 3 in the morning. But such a good night.

Happy St. Paddys Day to anyone who's IRISH!

Happy Birthday to Shadi!

Pondering

 

For the past five years I've been hearing about the special relationship between Britain and America and was almost fooled into believing that one existed and not just when America wanted something.

 

Does the fact that they gave us Madonna and in return we gave them The Beckhams not go to show, that neither country has that much love for the other?

 

The past few days i've been buried, literally, in information on immigration. Both from the US to the UK and from the UK to the US. If there is a special relationship between these two fine nations, its certainly buried under lot's of red tape. And I have to ask myself the question of why it's so difficult to legally immigrate to another country.

 

And it's not just me who's in this predicament. There are thousands of people regularly falling in love with someone who lives overseas. Fooled by the internet world of no borders, they quickly come to find that it's a harsh and very different reality when they want to take the final step and be together.

 

We all hear about men and women alike, duped by internet lovers for their money or a visa. But what of the people who are truly in love but can't find the best way of being together? Nobody ever tells their story. But that's my story. And not just mine, but lot's of other people's too.

 

I've never broken a law, i've just fallen in love. But because of where I was born or where Adam wasn't, we have to jump through hoops to be together.

 

Europe has pretty quickly become a continent without borders and it seems that every day we're hearing about illegal immigrants who come into the country and rape and murder innocent people. Or worse still, legal immigrants who had committed atrocious crimes in their own countries, but it was discovered after they'd done the same or worse here.

 

There's a notion of preserving what's "British" which many see as too little too late. For example, making immigrants take a test, much like America has had in place for years. Ensuring that they can speak English of a certain standard, something else the Americans had in place for years. And that they can support themselves well above the poverty level, can anyone else say America was there first!?

 

But what I wonder is why its so easy for someone who can't speak a word of English to move here, whilst your average American (granted they don't speak English very well either, rather some butchered version) who just wants to be with their love after 3 years of separation, has to jump through hoops. 

 

(sighs) i'm just rattling on to myself. I'll update soon about my visit to Florida. Its just, i'm highly emotional right now. What with it only being a week since I left and Aunt Flo visiting. I cry every time I think about it!

 

Love you ALL!

Just wanted to say, Best Of Luck to Katie Jane, she gets married in a matter of days. And Get Well Soon to Lisa.

 

Ps, I'm gonna turn my alerts back on tomorrow. Please leave me a link to your journal if you want to be on my alerts. Obviously, my regular reader won't need to bother as i'll already know to turn you on.