Kyle Hepp

February 17, 2008

We’re not newlyweds anymore! We’ve officially completed our first year together as wife and husband.

Our first anniversary was this weekend, and my lovely husband surprised me with a trip to a hotel here in Santiago. His original plan was to rent a car and take me somewhere outside the city but with his work schedule we really would not have had the time. But I’d say a nice hotel is more than enough. I was just thrilled because I really didn’t think he had anything planned. Then on Thursday he asked me to clear my schedule from lunchtime on Saturday through lunchtime on Sunday. So I got all my Saturday reports for my dad done late Friday night, then woke up early on Saturday to do more work so I could be done in time to go. It was a close call but by the time he was back from work I was ready to go! He arrived home and told me to pack my bag and not to bring anything too fancy but to make sure I didn’t look too “trashy” either. Thanks honey. Haha, he does have a point, I often go places in my pajamas. What can I say? I’m used to working from my apartment so I pretty much never change into real clothes. I couldn’t stand the suspense so I begged and pleaded until he told me our destination — the Marriott hotel! Hallelujah!!! I was so excited just for one night in luxury (aka AMAZING feather pillows and the softest mattress EVER).

When we got to the hotel, we checked in and went up to our room. The first thing I did was turn the air conditioning down to sub-Artic temperatures. Anybody who has ever roomed with me in college knows how I feel about my air conditioning. I like to be freezing during every season of the year! In Chile air conditioning does not exist in any of the houses or apartment buildings, so I jumped on my chance to shiver the night away under a huge pile of covers.

After resting and relaxing, showering in the huge shower, and enjoying our beautiful view towards the mountains from the 21st floor, we headed out for a romantic dinner. We found a nearby restaurant with a nice breezy patio and ate delicious food. Then we walked around the mall looking for tennis shoes for S. No dice. Since we were unlucky in shopping we stopped at the grocery store (that S. built when he was working for his old company) and picked up champagne and rum and Coke. We got back and drank and cuddled in our awesomely chilly air conditioned room, it was so wonderful! And the next morning we got up and ate the Marriott’s breakfast buffet, which coincidentally, cost us more than our hotel room (we got a huge discount on our room because of being cousins with someone who works there. We paid less than 25% of the full price). The food was so ridiculous. I calculate that I ate something like 8,000 calories in bacon and hash browns this morning. What?!? Don’t judge, that breakfast was expensive, I needed to eat my money’s worth! Oh yeah, and it was like true gringo food that I haven’t had in forever. I couldn’t get enough!!!

So that was our first wedding anniversary. We each wrote each other nice little letters too, since the first anniversary you’re supposed to give a gift of paper. I don’t really know why, but I figured it’s better safe than sorry So we followed tradition in order to not bring bad luck upon us, but really I thought the best omen of the weekend was something else. When we were out to eat on Saturday night we met a couple dining at the same restaurant. They were Canadians who were here exploring and then going on a cruise around Cape Horn. The duo declared that Chile was “paradise,” and that Santiago, is “…Amazing! What’s not to like?!?” I kept my mouth shut and smiled and nodded. They’ll never be here long enough to know what the reality of life is really like. For them Santiago’s reality is the Marriott hotel. Anyways, when we got on in the conversation we found out that they have been married for 40 years. They looked truly in love and I was so impressed when I heard how long they had been together. Still traveling, still in love and still loving life together…now that’s a relationship I can tip my hat to. Their advice they gave when they heard we were celebrating one year of marriage, was that we should take things just 5 years at a time. Ok. I guess I can handle that. Although the truth is, for the most part I only take things one day at a time anyways. Five years is pretty much way too far in advance for me to plan.

We could literally be anywhere in the world in five years. But I like the concept of their advice, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

I had a whole bunch of stuff that I was going to write about my husband and how he is the best husband I could ask for, and how being a newlywed was challenging but rewarding and I know the future has good things in store for us…but then I decided not to get sappy on this blog. I’m pretty sure that’s not why people read me

Postings here have been sparse lately, but I just started a job at a new blog — Styledash, check it out, I actually get my name under my stories, not like at my other job where I’m a ghost writer and nobody even knows I exist! My last post for my new blog was about vaginas, that’s always a fun topic.

Anyways, I am basically a writing machine these days, so I’m a little drained when it comes to creativity. Pounding out 12 stories a day is harder work than it sounds even if they are short, and about fun topics like celebrities and vaginas and style. When you throw the work I do for my dad in the mix as well, I’m pretty much at a computer for 12 hours day. Finding it in me to write a blog entry here isn’t as easy as it used to be. And then the fact that I don’t have time to comment back just embarrasses me. It’s like not sending thank you notes (speaking of which, I have some just waiting to be sent out from over 6 months ago, I really need to get on that). It makes me feel completely guilty and awash with shame. *Hangs head* Sorry.