Lietzke Letters: The Dating Years

You can catch up on part one of our story here.

Jameson and I officially started dating in October of 2010. We were living over 700 miles apart. He was still at Penn State while I was at Georgia Tech, but thanks to Facetime and Skype we never felt too far away.

Because we were long distance I would say we got serious rather quickly because you don't just drop $300 on a flight for a guy you just kinda sorta like. Prior to dating we had a really solid friendship and communication was always something that came very naturally for both of us. I believe this has been the key to our success as husband and wife. We may not always agree about things but we can definitely talk our way through any problem that arises.

Our first official trip while dating was to Washtington D.C. to watch Penn State play Indiana at FedEx field. Jameson's sister and brother-in-law had just gotten married and it was a fun trip for me to get to know his family better.

Over the course of the next 2 years we traveled all over the east coast for visits. We tried alternating trips and usually didn't go more than 4-5 weeks between visits.

Jameson's first trip to Atlanta: January 2011 | GDS Anniversary Party: February 2011

Atlanta: Spring 2011 | Peachtree Road Race: July 2011

Disney World: April 2011 | Petoskey, Michigan: August 2011

My Sister's Wedding in Nashville, TN: May 2012 | Bahamas Cruise: May 2012

Up Next: The Engagement Story

Lietzke Letters: How We Met

One of my favorite parts of blogging is being able to document special moments. Big moments. Little moments. Any moment really. It is so special to look back on life and my desire is for this little blog help document all of those wonderful things. I figured it would only make sense to look back on how Jameson and I met and how we got to be where we are now.

It all goes back to Fall 2008. Jameson was one of the very first people I met freshman year at Penn State. I was a young 18 year old girl all the way from Atlanta. He was a "townie" who grew up only 20 minutes away from campus. Like many college freshman do we met through mutual friends. A girl on my floor was dating his roommate. So naturally one day we all got together to go to the dining hall for lunch. Afterwards a group of us went back to the dorm and Jameson ended up hanging out with my roommate and I while watching a football game. Here is all I remember about the first time we all hung out:
1. I impressed him with my football knowledge. We were watching Clemson play and as he says "I knew a lot about the game for a girl."
2. I could not pronounce his last name to save my life. To my defense Lietzke is pretty challenging. Who would have guessed 5 years later it would become my last name.
3. He was also majoring in Engineering. He was Mechanical. I was Industrial.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and my roommate and Jameson start hanging out more and more often.

Fall 2008. Freshman Year. Our first picture together.

Low and behold my roommate and Jameson start dating so we all hung out quite a bit. We also had a couple of similar classes so every so often we would compare Chemistry notes. But for the greater part of freshman year he was just my roommates boyfriend. And then after they broke up a couple months later he was then just my roommates ex-boyfriend.

Fast forward to Sophomore year and I returned to campus in the Fall of 2009 and find Jameson and I have a couple of classes together. As I walked into Computer Science on the first day of class I recognize the familiar face so we sat together with some mutual friends. Our CS lab was right before lunch every Tuesday and Thursday so we started going to the dining hall together after class those days. We would eat, watch SportsCenter, talk about class and daily happenings. Sometimes his roommate or other people would meet us too. To kill time I would head to his dorm on west campus (I lived in South campus) and we would hang out with his roommate before our next class and watch episodes of The Office. Oh the joys of college, the free time was glorious!

We continued hanging out and studying together. I carried his butt through Computer Science and he was the sole reason I passed Physics II. We ended the semester as really close friends but at the end of December I left Penn State and transferred to Georgia Tech to finish my degree closer to home.

Some Fun Facts:
1. The whole time I was at Penn State I had a boyfriend back home.
2.  Jameson was the last person I said goodbye to when leaving PSU. I held it together pretty good up until he stopped by the hotel I was staying at with my parents to say goodbye. After that I just lost it.
3.  Georgia Tech and Penn State are over 700 miles apart

Then comes Fall 2010 (Junior year of college). Jameson and I continued to stay in touch. (I even saw him on a trip up to State College that summer while I was visiting a close girlfriend). We texted back and forth every now and then and were still up to date on each others lives. That Fall,
after a lot of soul searching and many tears I ended the 2 year relationship I had with my boyfriend from home. I distinctly remember texting Jameson after we broke up to tell him the news. I wasn't quite sure what his reaction would be but I remember having a huge desire to let him know.

When you talked to Jameson about this moment he will tell you that his first thoughts when he read that text were "Oh boy. Here we go!" --- Underlying our friendship the entire time was a strong compatibility and unspoken attraction. It was never discussed or acted upon since I was dating someone else at the time. But I think we both knew when I sent him that text that "our" time to figure things out was about it begin.

Spoiler Alert: Things worked out pretty well!!

Up Next: Our long distance dating adventures

My Truth About the Motor City

When I tell people I live in Detroit I usually brace myself for their response because more times than not it is not a positive one.

Well what brought you from Atlanta to Detroit? - They say

To which I respond the auto industry. Well technically the auto industry brought my husband to Detroit and he brought me, but that just minor details.

Is it really as bad as I see on the news? - They ask

To which I response yes. and no.

January 1, 2015 marked my 2 year anniversary of living in southeastern Michigan. In those 2 years I have learned so many things about life in metro Detroit. I have learned how to drive in the snow. I have learned about the delicacy that is Tim Horton's. I have learned how to navigate the Michigan left hand turns. I have learned that most people spend their summer weekends at a lake Up North. But more so than anything I have learned about the spirit that is Detroit. As commercials sometimes remind us, Detroit has been to hell and back and will forever be changed because of it.

I spent most of my time during the worst of the recession sheltered in a safe college bubble in Atlanta, GA. I remained mostly unaffected by the loss and despair that accompanied the rapidly increasing unemployment rate. I went to class. I studied. I worked hard and was rewarded for my efforts. But since moving up to Detroit I have witnessed first hand the aftermath of a city brought to it's knees. A city who had no choice but to humble itself as it hit absolute rock bottom. A city who exposed it's imperfections to the world and now must slowly pick of the pieces of a shattered reputation.

Since filing for bankruptcy in March of 2013 Detroit leaders have taken significant steps towards acknowledging and finding solutions for the cities massive debt and crippling city services. Both public and private sectors have come together and started investing in the rebirth of this historic city. There are new restaurants, entertainment hot spots, rail lines to improve public transit, and a sports district to house the new Red Wings hockey arena. All of these changes are breathing fresh new life into a city that has remained stagnant for so long.

This past week President Obama was in town visiting a Ford plant and he discussed the resurgence of the auto industry which is the heart and soul of Detroit's economy. When speaking at Wayne Assembly Plant President Obama said "One thing is for sure. We may not all root for the Lions, but America is rooting for Detroit. We want the Motor City strong. And behind the stories of plants and cities and economic data it’s people. It’s all of you."

Regardless of your political beliefs I think the point he made is so important to remember. Behind all the pictures of abandoned buildings are people living in their shadows. Real. Life. People. Growing up I never in a million years thought I would be living in Detroit working for an auto company. But now I am one of those people. Jameson has such a passion for the revival of the American auto industry and the city that founded it, and I could not me more proud to stand by his side as we watch Detroit grow and evolve. I have learned to respect and appreciate the resilience of this city. I have learned to look for the good. To see the opportunity and light even when it might be covered by some dust.

Below are just a few of the unique local shops, people, and places Detroit has to offer. I know I am just one person and I cannot change the image and reputation of an entire city, but Detroit is now my home and I desire for others to see it in the same light I do. I may curse it from time to time when the snow is to my knees but nevertheless Jameson and I love exploring Detroit and making this place truly our home!

 Slows BBQ | Nicole Curtis: Rehab Addict | Two James Spirits

Better Life Bags | Shinola | Roasting Plant

Our Christmas Gift Exchange 2014

As I mentioned here Jameson and I like to switch things up every year when it comes to what we do for gifts. This year we decided that the Friday before Christmas we would go to the mall to divide and conquer.
The rules:
1. We had exactly 1 hour to do our shopping
2. A $50 budget for each of us
3. Have fun!
I have to be honest and say that both Jameson and I went slightly over our set budget but we both agreed our gifts were perfect and totally worth the slight splurge! We try very hard during the year to stick to our set family budget so it is always nice to indulge every once in awhile and buy things for each other that are just treats!

John Varvatos Cologne  |  Le Creuset Kettle

HIS GIFT: The morning before our shopping trip Jameson was getting around in the bathroom and as he was spraying his cologne he said that cologne reminds him of Christmas. It's something he wears almost every day but never buys for himself. In the past it has always been a gift from me, his mom, or sister. So after he said that I just knew that I would have to get him some again this year. With the idea that I wanted to get him a new scent this year I wandered into Nordstrom and smelled half of their collection before a sweet sales woman walked up to me and said "You have to smell this, it is my absolute favorite." I smelled the stick she handed to me and knew this was the perfect one! The lady at Nordstrom told me that this cologne sells out every year and I was happy to snag the last one! Not only does it smell great but John Varvatos is also a designer from Detroit who is opening up a store downtown this Spring. Jameson loves supporting local Detroit businesses so this was just the icing on top of the cake!

HER GIFT: While we were eating our favorite Chinese food at the mall prior to shopping Jameson admitted to me that he had absolutely no idea what he was getting but not to be alarmed because he works well under pressure. And I have to admit he came through on his promise and totally nailed my gift! I had been using our Keurig for hot water when I make tea and I have been wanting a legit tea kettle for months. Needless to say I felt totally spoiled when he got me this Le Creuset kettle. The yellow matches other accent  pieces we have in our kitchen and William-Sonoma had it for 20% off which was an added bonus! He told me he spent 30 minutes chatting with the sales lady in the store learning about all things kitchen related then spent the last 30 minutes sitting in a massage chair in Brookstone. Silly boy.

It was such a special evening exchanging gifts and spending some quality time as just the two of us before the crazy Christmas activities begin. We will be spending the holidays with my family and I absolutely cannot wait to see all of them. My parents, sister, brother-in-law, grandparents, great aunt...needless to say it will be a full house! But spending time with the ones I love fill my heart with so much joy and is hands down the best part about Christmas!!