On to Philly, Back to Chicago

So after dating for two years across six states, the distance started to take its toll on our relationship. While we took a brief hiatus during the summer/fall of 2005, we eventually strategerized (Bush was still in office) a two-fold plan to try and make things work. Brandi would begin looking for jobs in Philadelphia and Brady would begin looking for jobs in Chicago. Whoever had a bite first would act on it. The second part was a pact that we make sure to see each other more.

While working in the athletic department at the University of Pennsylvania, Brady applied to some Chicago jobs and landed an interview with a Chicago PR firm, Hill & Knowlton. After a four-month wait, he finally got a call-back in April 2006 and was offered a position. Brady called Brandi with an ominous tone in his voice, pretending that the whole deal was over, and then cleverly asking her, “So, do you think we should live in Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville?”

When Brandi finally realized what that meant, she was obviously elated (she also didn’t believe Brady for about 10 minutes).

Yes, after seven jobs, six states, countless long-distance phone calls and almost three years, Brandi and Brady would finally be together in the same city!

The first year of our domestic bliss wasn’t easy. We lived in a studio apartment, which is basically one room plus a bathroom. We didn’t even have a couch for the first year! After some time, our apartment building was able to hook us up with the lovely one bedroom apartment that we currently reside in.

We absolutely love the city of Chicago (which we’ll get into much greater detail in some future posts). Oh, and don’t worry – we have TWO couches now.

Brandi* & Brady BC: Before Chicago

So from last post you learned that Brandi & Brady met eight years ago this week!

We’ve told you how the magic happened … now, here’s a quick snapshot of the past six years of our lives.

B.B.C. – Blacksburg and Before Chicago

After Brandi graduated from WVU in May of 2003, she decided to continue her pursuit of a career in sports media relations. It seemed that Brandi applied for every job and internship open in collegiate athletics. But after two call-backs from the University of Houston and Virginia Tech, Brandi decided that she could cross enemy lines and work for the Hokies. After all, it was only a 10-month internship.

So as Brandi moved to Blacksburg, Brady was moving back to Morgantown, W.Va., to finish his fifth and final year at WVU. After talking all summer and spending a weekend in Morgantown, Brandi went to visit Brady on August 22st on her way home to Pittsburgh. It was on this trip when B&B had “the talk” and decided we would officially be boyfriend and girlfriend…on “an item” as Brandi’s dad likes to say. We knew that the four-hour driving distance would be a challenge, but we were ready.

We’re just going to blunt – Blacksburg, Virginia sucks. Sure, it’s got some nice scenery, but the town is just in the middle of nowhere, forcing B&B to get creative during Brady’s visits. For one, we would hit up the local pizza shop on Thursday nights where the waiter would flip a coin when your check arrived, and if it favored your call – your pizza was free! (let’s just say we were batted over .500 on that deal). Afterwards, we’d head to the “Super Bowl” – the local bowling alley! We had some tight games, but Brandi would typically dominate. I know, I know – very exciting stuff.

Upon graduation in 2004, Brady received an internship offer he could not refuse – the opportunity to work with the Denver Broncos! Brandi moved back to Pittsburgh where she began an internship at Ketchum, but they decided to keep the relationship going despite the long-distance. Brandi even came out to visit Brady in the Mile High City twice – we traveled all over Denver, visited the zoo, the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and of course the magical Coors factory!

Reader’s Note: If you are keeping track, the B&B relationship state count is now at four (WV, VA, PA, CO).

In November of 2004, Brandi received a full-time job offer from Ketchum, but it would require her moving to Chicago. Having heard amazing things about the Windy City, Brandi decided to give it a shot and on January 1, 2005, Brandi became an Illinois resident.

After leaving Denver in January of 2005, Brady briefly stayed in Chicago as he continued his full-time job search, but couldn’t find any work and opted to do another internship at a small PR firm in Philadelphia while commuting from his home in New Jersey.

State Count: Six. (WV, VA, PA, CO, IL, NJ)

Check back next week to find out what happened next in the travels and tribulations of B&B (you obviously know the ending to this story, but check back anyway!)

Once Upon a Time...

Chi Omega date party, April 2003

August is a special month for us – it’s when we first met and first started “dating.” This month, we’ll divide our posts into three topics – How we met, and B.C. and A.C. (Before Chicago and After Chicago).

And this folks is how the magic happened…

Once upon a time it was August 20, 2001. West Virginia University had just started its fall semester. Blues Traveler was headlining the ever popular Fall Fest concert and Rich Rodriquez was about to begin his first season as the head football coach for the Mountaineers.

This was the day that we first met in the Walt Babcock Room of the Coliseum – the spaceship-looking concrete structure that houses the WVU hoops teams and athletic department offices. Both of us were starting our first year as student interns in the Sports Communications department.

During the 2001-02 school year, we maintained a working relationship and witnessed a lot of interesting things at work, including:

· Brandi & Brady were both in the office when the tragic events of September 11th took place. In fact, Brandi didn’t have a car at school at that time, so Brady drove her home after office hours.

· On Brady’s 21st birthday, he received a shout out on the big screen at Mountaineer Field where the WVU Football team beat Rutgers 80-7. Brandi remembers this day because she was really, really hungover and the game seemed to last really, really long. Richy Rod led the Mountaineers to a 3-8 overall season (1-6 in the BIG EAST).

· We witness Gale Catlett’s last year as head basketball coach. The school then hired Dan D., which lasted two days, but Brady can say he was at that press conference (Brandi had class).

Brandi & Brady both returned to the Sports Communications department for a second year in 2002-03. This would be Brandi’s last, as she miraculously made it through WVU in four years – (Brady, not wanting to leave the party too early, was on the five-year plan in Motown). This is the year the “magic” happened.

Brandi Describes the Magic
I never really looked at Brady as more than a co-worker. My roommates will tell you different because I would always come home and the conversation would be “Brady did this today” or “Brady said this.” They suspected a crush, but other than Megan, a fellow sports comm intern and Chi-Omega sister, none of the roommies had met Brady.

I really can’t explain how Brady and I got together. He likes to say that I couldn’t resist his tan from his spring break trip to Jamaica, but anyone who knows Brady well, knows that he doesn’t tan, therefore, it wasn’t the tan.

One day at work, Brady asked what I was doing that night and I told him that we would eventually end up at Bent Willy’s because…well, that’s what we did every night. Brady met me out at the bar and we realized that we knew some of each other’s friends. I lived in the same dorm as Gene and Hiles from Mainland and Brady knew my best friend Bubba. After one too many Coors Lights, we invited the New Jersey boys back to 408 Forrest (above) and the rest is history.

So for me, the magic was Coors Light.

Brady Describes The Magic
First of all – I was definitely tan and yes, she dug it. A lot.

But Brandi’s right, this was certainly not a “love at first sight” affair. We had worked together and I thought Brandi was just another sorority girl obsessed with frat dudes and “date parties.” That spring semester though, I talked to Brandi a lot more at work and started to realize that there was more substance to her than I expected. Funny enough – and this is a memory I’m sure of but she doesn’t recall – I even alluded to one day marrying her, jokingly, a few times at work. Who knew I was such a Nostradamus?

I won’t get into too many details of that fateful spring evening at Bent Willey’s because, well, quite frankly I don’t remember much.

So – in review, I think the initial “magic” was a combination of several factors … my undeniable charm … a couple years of getting to know each other at work … beer, lots of beer … a little egging on from my friends and Brandi’s roommates. But, it was probably just my tan.