This year will be better.

It's been like a month since I updated this blog. The thing is, sometimes, I think in my head, "Man, this would make a great blog post." But then I immediately forget that I thought whatever it was would make a great blog post because it happens to make for a great life. Whoo, am I deep or what?

Bygones. Multiple people have requested new information. Erin informed me that she would jam school supplies in her eyes if I didn't update. There were just so many things going on I didn't know where to start. Since that's still the case, I'll just give you the update in a nice list format, tasty little morsels of What I've Been Doing With Myself.

1) I decided I do, in fact, enjoy my job. Sometimes. About 10 days ago, I covered a standoff ("on the beat," as Nicole would say) in good ol' West Plano. A 19-year-old man baricaded himself in his home after an argument with his mother. Supposedly, in that argument, he threatened to hurt himself and her. He had a prior felony drug charge for which he had been indicted. He fired at least four shots at SWAT and tactical teams and has now been charged with four counts of attempted capital murder. And I got to stand about three blocks from the West Plano home where his family lives waiting with the rest of the Dallas news media as the story developed.

(I realize that this is about the point in the post when most of my readership [all five of you] raise your eyebrows in disbelief that I could possibly derive so much enjoyment out of covering a standoff, but I'm telling you, there's nothing like it if you're a reporter. It's just exciting.)

2) My sister got engaged on Friday. Zach invited the whole family up for a barbecue at his family's doublewide on Lake Eufaula on Saturday. My parents met Zach's parents, and it wasn't that bad. This gives me some slight ray of hope that when my parents meet Brandon's parents, it won't be that bad.

3) On a similar note, Brandon and I had big plans to go camping on Friday night at Lake Eufaula State Park. We were very excited. I even got a new sleeping bag. I am super cool and own a fancy North Face sleeping bag ideally suited for the foothills of the Himalayas. Seriously, it's really freaking cool. Unfortunately, my mom flipped her shit out when she heard we had plans to go camping. She balked at the perceived impropriety and told my dad she would throw me out of the house if we went camping and told me that we were probably going to have a lot of crazy wild sex and would regret it big time blah blah blah. I disagree. I think it's pretty difficult to accidentally have sex and even if we did we'd probably get over it because, um, we're grown-ups. Whatevs. We decided not to go camping and not to poke the Mama Bear.

4) So-oo, I'm moving in with JenA on April 15-ish. I'm really excited about this because it is my last chance to live with a girl before I must live with a boy forever. I'm looking forward to reviving our Tequila Tuesday ritual, even if that means a cheap well tequila we keep in our freezer for special occasions.

5) Brandon and I are taking engagement pictures on April 13 at the Dallas Arboretum. My good friend Allison is taking them, and I'm pretty excited because who doesn't like flowers and pretty springtime days and being with people you love? I'm happy. Also, she's a fantastic photographer and is shooting our photos as a gift.

6) My life is good right now. I wish there were more ways I could express it to you. Unfortunately, this is about all I have right now. Pictures to come. Here's one to tide you over.