Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Mystery Is Never Gone

Today I decided that I would try a new technique to curl my hair-- the sock bun.  I'll spare you the details (and you can Google it if you are really curious), but the end result is a perfectly round bun square on the top of your head.

I walked down the stairs after attempting this technique.  The look on Drew's face was that of pure shock.  I said, "I don't want to talk about it."  He walked up to me, tapped the top of the bun, and made the noise that occurs in Mario when you get the special mushrooms.

After this occurred, we were sitting on the couch and I happened to glance at my reflection in the window.  I started laughing so hard-- I guess when I was putting the bun in my hair, I didn't realize just how ridiculous I looked.

I started to hum the "I Dream of Jeanie" song and turned to look at Drew.  He looked back, shook his head, and said, "I've lost you."

So, it turns out, after 4 years of marriage, the mystery never really goes away...it's just hiding in the bathroom drawer in the form of a sock bun.  :)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

It's All About New Beginnings

It's been a week of eye-opening thoughts for me...and it's only Wednesday.  Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to be a part of 2,300 guests that were able to listen to Deepak Chopra speak at an event hosted by the Crim Fitness Foundation (have I mentioned how much I love my job?).

Unfortunately, most of my evening was spent outside of the main room, but I was able to listen to some of his very deep, positive, inspiring message.  At one point in the evening, he had everyone close their eyes and "meditate".  At first you could tell people were wondering when the silence would end.  Then, there were the stirs and coughs as people became uncomfortable with the silence.  Finally, there was only silence.  When people left, they indicated to some of the staff that, during the 15 minutes of meditation, they had never felt so relaxed.  It's probably true.

In our fast-paced, over-anxious society, we tend to forget that it is OK (and sometimes necessary) to take a moment and just breathe.  Deepak was able to get 2,300 people to do what they forget they are allow to do-- take a silent moment for themselves.  Drew and I need to take moments to ourselves everyday-- no homework, no work-work, no TV-- just us (and maybe a glass of wine on the back deck with the sunset).

In the midst of greeting VIPs and making sure everything was in order at the event, Drew called me with news that a family member had been diagnosed with cancer.  That, in turn, made me wonder what Drew and I could do to live our lives with more peace and health.

We have both joined the Crim Adult Training Program this year (I did it last year and it was awesome) to prepare for the Crim's 10-Mile Race in August.  We have also discussed getting into yoga which I have also participated in on and off through the years.  Drew buys into the idea because it could help his golf game.  (I'll take what I can get.)


Also, I plan to continue my visits to the chiropractor and massage therapist.  I found out today that my insurance doesn't require paying a deductible when going to the chiropractor because they feel that chiropractic care can eliminate a significant amount of doctor's visits and other health care costs every year.  I agree-- I haven't been to the doctor more than twice in the 2 years that I have been going to the chiropractor.

So, as my seedlings are growing in the window and the weather is warm (and dry) enough to take Colby for a three mile walk, I am beginning my spring of health and happiness!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

It's Not Category 6, It's Category 7.

One of the guilty pleasures Drew and I share is our love of cheesy disaster movies.  You know, the kind that are on SyFy Sunday nights when no one is paying attention.

Tonight's movie is "Category 7: The End of the World".  Not only are the special effects awful, but the cast is packed with people you know-- Randy Quaid, Shannon Doherty, Adam Rodriguez (think CSI: Miami), and none other than Tom Skerritt.  This movie aims to please with 4 hours of fun-- as I write this, we are only at the end of hour two.

(I have my own guilty pleasure show-- What Not To Wear.  Drew calls it Trashy Fashion Television.  I call it fun.) 

Still, it is extremely relaxing to unwind after spending a beautiful Sunday outside (we had an unplanned doggy block party) with a cold beer and a disaster movie that generates more laughter than shock.  This is especially true after our own household mini-disasters that Drew referred to. 

Also, as Drew mentioned, I am still planning to head to Japan in the fall.  This is after the earthquake, tsunami, and volcano (on the island I plan to visit).  He said that if a swarm of locusts hits, I'm not going.  According to the movie, a swarm of flies will signify the end of the world, so, I have to agree with Drew.

In the meantime, check out classic Sunday SyFy...the cinematography makes the entire movie well worth it!

And it's only April 10th....

Like most other Michiganders stricken with cabin fever from a exceptionally cold and snowy winter, today was a welcome weather miracle.  High temps in the low 80's prompted me to put the patio furniture out for the season, and a few adult beverages were had while Colby and my parent's puppy Maggie frolicked in the yard.  I acknowledge that we'll probably be forced to endure another 10 inches of snow before the end of the month, but for at least one day, visions of summer danced in our head.

Coincidentally, this weekend was the first step into our first major home renovation.  Thanks to a burst pipe and the subsequent insurance settlement, we're taking on the project of improving our kitchen.  It kind of makes me nervous what the rest of the year will hold, considering that since January, we've:  had my car basically die prompting the purchase of a new one, had a pipe burst creating our new project, had Erin be involved in a car accident that ended up with some high-priced repairs, had me up stranded in an airport for close to 24 hours, among other things.  Erin is scheduled to go to Japan in October for a month.  Luckily there isn't anything crazy going on there these days...

So back to this glorious weather...  I'm really looking forward to this summer.  Spending time with friends and family, playing more golf, and taking a break from the grind of the class/work combo will all be welcome distractions.  It'll all go by too fast naturally, but once it starts to wind down, it'll be time for Michigan football again.  For now though, I'll settle for a really warm day on April 10th...

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Lazy Sunday

It only happens once in a while, especially these days.  With Drew working and going to school full time, it is very rare that we are both home on a Sunday-- let alone one where the weather is gloomy and we can just sit on the couch.  Today just happens to be one of those days.

The last time we had a truly lazy Sunday, we spent twelve hours watching Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel.  Yea, not my finest day, but at least Drew, Colby, and I spent it together...and turned our brains to mush.

After Colby licked my lips (not joking) at 6:30 this morning to wake me up, Drew was very sweet and kept him downstairs so that I could sleep in longer than should be allowed.

After I woke up, we had homemade zucchini bread while I enjoyed a cup of coffee and the local paper.  Ahhhhh...Sunday. 

Then, I sat on the couch with Drew while he finished watching EuroTrip.  I'm not sure why I choose lazy Sundays to watch television that I wouldn't, under any circumstances, watch on a regular day.  When the movie ended, there was a commercial for Cherry Coke where Fergie ties a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue. 

Drew explained that he thought his tongue was too big for his mouth.  "It takes up my entire mouth," he said.  To which I appropriately responded, "That's what she said."  (You have to love The Office.)  He looked at me and said, "I want ice cream."  I laughed for an entire minute. 

While I do plan to spring clean my closet, I certainly could not pass up a lazy Sunday with my adorable husband who, after the ice cream comment, insisted I was treating him like a "special" person.

Oh, and for anyone who is following our blog, there is now a car on blocks in front of the house across the street.  Not because we live in a place where people don't have all of their teeth, but because the driveway is too steep for cars to stay in.

Happy Sunday!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

We've Created A Monster

Our little furry baby has been with us for almost a year, this is true.  My boss warned me.  We went to lunch the Thursday before Easter and I said, "We are going to look at Golden Retrievers on Saturday."  He responded by saying, "Yea, you will have a dog by Monday."  Even though I didn't believe him, we walked out the door with our little, fuzzy ball of fur.

We have never stopped being amazed as Colby has grown.  I am still convinced he thinks he is part human.  After all, he loves to ride in the car with his front paws on the console making sure we stay on track.  He truly believes the couches and the bed were made for him.  He loves to snuggle with us every night, and, as Drew indicated, he loves to crawl between us every morning (and sometimes at night).  He also loves beer.  Whenever we come home with a box, he is right there, trying to grab at the bottles.  We have strongly indicated to him that he will not drink until he is three years old (21 in dog years).

Now, I'm pretty sure that when Colby was baby, I told Drew not to let him on the couch.  "He's not on the couch, he's on my lap," Drew would say.  Clearly, that backfired.  He chews his bone on the couch, crawls on the top of the couch, and licks the fabric to create a disgusting crusty feel.

I am not entirely innocent.  I take him to work (My boss, who has a Golden and loves Colby, just adores him.) and let him sit in my chair.  On his first birthday (the day after Drew's), I let him pick out a piece of cake at the dog treat store and then put a candle in it.  Plus, we took him sledding this year.  He is our baby.

Still, he is there when I get home, snuggles with me in bed (and snores) when Drew works on the weekend and we decide to sleep in, and waits patiently as I get ready in the morning (hoping he gets to go wherever I do).  Golden retrievers are the sweetest and I can't wait to go through another summer with ours!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Who needs an alarm clock?

Hard to believe, but it has been nearly one year since we went out and picked up our new alarm clock.  Not at Bed Bath and Beyond or one of the 300 other chains located on the west side of Flint, but just down the road from our house at a dog breeder specializing in Golden Retrievers.  We walked in the door, and less than 30 minutes later were walking out with the newest member of the family.

It's been a year full of discovery for both him and us.  Plenty of moments where we said to ourselves "I can't believe he just did that."  Definitely plenty of laughs.  He also reminds us of what he looked like when we brought him home as I continually pick up puppy-sized tumbleweeds of fur that accumulate daily next to the walls.

It's been a lot of fun having him around the house.  I also think he's responsible for helping keep things structured for me as I've taken on a full-time class load while maintaining the full-time job.  Many mornings I've had to make sure I was up in plenty of time to get to work early because I'd have to put in a 12-14 hour day, but the only time I've had to set an alarm clock in the last year is when I've had to be up prior to 6:00am.  Otherwise, Colby takes care of it.

The routine is down pretty well now.  Between 6:00am and 6:15am, he'll jump up on the bed and immediately lay down at the end of it.  At 6:30am, he'll stand up and look to see if either Erin or I are awake, and lay back down if neither one of us acknowledges him.  This happens again at 6:45, however, this time he'll lay down in between us.  At 7:00am, he's standing over me waiting for me to look at him, at which point he licks my face and let's me pet him.  It's then time to let him out and feed him breakfast.  This timeline rarely changes.  Even when the clocks moved ahead an hour a few weeks back, there he was, at 7:00am, hovering, ready to pounce on me the moment I opened my eyes.  I was certain that the difference in daylight would garner me an extra bit of sleep.  Wouldn't you know it though, instead of the dog who fetches well or plays "dead" on command, we got the one that can read a clock.  Lucky us.  :)

Here's to another fun year of seeing what other talents Colby develops.  Happy 'anniversary' buddy!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Will You...Eat Sushi With Me?

As Drew and I were enjoying sushi yesterday, the young man at the table next to us proposed to his girlfriend.  After, Drew said he was going to walk over to give the couple advice, beginning with- "Don't leave any hangers out." 

Drew's sarcasm aside, I began to think about what advice I would give newlyweds as they start their married lives together.  Now, I am not expert and I honestly don't know if anyone is.  Also, I know that I have only been married for three and a half years and there are no children in our lives (at which point I have no doubt I'll have different advice to give), but I figured there are a few things I have learned along the way that I would offer to new couples.  So, here it is:

Have your own lives.  Obviously you want to have lives together too, but what I mean by this is to have your own friends and hobbies to go to when you want to be alone.  Drew made a funny (yet accurate) comment at the end of February as I headed to Florida with a close friend and he headed to California to see his childhood friend.  He said, "I have never traveled alone as much as I have since I've been married."  I commented back and said, "That's because we live together, we don't need to travel together."  The fact is, sometimes you need that girl (or boy) time.  Plus, it keeps conversation in the marriage fresh when you have different things to talk about and discuss.

Keep it light.  I am the queen of breakdowns-- sometimes I'll even warn Drew if I'm close to having one, just so that he is prepared.  Normally, he replies with a witty comment and most of the time (but certainly not all) the humor is enough to keep me out of a meltdown.  Now, there are times when I get angry and lash out at Drew (which I always apologize for), but instead of bringing it up over and over again, he turns it into sassy joke and we end up laughing about it.  We like to laugh with each other and I think that is one of the things that I enjoy most about our marriage.

Each day brings a new challenge for us (and I'm sure all married couples), but each time we get through it, it brings us closer together.  For the newly engaged couple at the sushi restaurant, I hope they are very happy.  Also, as I told Drew yesterday, I hope the woman isn't as mortified as I would've been that my boyfriend proposed to me in a crowded sushi bar in the middle of the afternoon, but, hey, maybe they both love sushi.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

The Devil is in the Details

First things first, I'm glad Erin is OK after her minor accidient this morning.  I think when she's up for a new vehicle, we go for the one without the bulls eye on it.  And now, on with the show...

All this uproar over a hanger?  I would think making sure I iron my own clothes would more than make up the 1 in 4 chance that a hanger gets left on a door knob.  Hard to believe that my Husband of the Year nomination is already threatened, and it's only March!  I guess it's to bed without dinner for me, although after my 12 1/2 hour day that may not be the worst thing.  And after stepping on the scale this morning, maybe missing a meal couldn't hurt either.  Having trouble losing weight guys?  Try the Hanger Diet!

Speaking of dropping some pounds, I was signed up yesterday to do the Warrior Dash and the Crim 10 Mile Training Program.  Should be a fun summer of getting into shape all in the name of a cold beverage at the end of each session.  While I may use some colorful language during some of the longer runs, I know it'll benefit me in the long run (no pun intended) which is why I secretly am looking forward to it.  Don't tell my wife, though... 

The Hanger

Today has been a rough day.  It started out with a fender-bender on the way to work and ended with a ten and a half hour day.

In the middle of the day, I decided I would visit the chiropractor to make sure the car accident didn't cause any damage to my neck.  Then, I stopped at home to let our golden retriever, Colby outside.  I walked up stairs and there it was-- a big, blue hanger.  It was hanging on the door of our office.

Why is this an issue, you ask?  Each and every time I find a hanger on the ironing board, in the chair in the office (our ironing board is in our office), or on one of our many doors upstairs, I bring it to Drew's attention.  Always in my sweetest voice I ask, "Dear husband, would you please make sure you put away the hangers from your shirts after you put the shirt on your body?"  Always in response, he sneers at me.  It's not like I'm asking him to drink motor oil!

Now, I understand that time is rushed in the morning, but really?  How long does it take to pick up the hanger, walk into the bedroom, open the closet door, hang the hanger in its proper place, and close the closet door?  If I can put away my blow dryer (which takes just as many steps as the hanger-- unplug blow dryer, replug in night light, open drawer, put blow dryer in drawer, close drawer), why is it so difficult for Drew to put away his hanger?  ...especially knowing just how much it bothers me and that I will probably bring it up to him which will cause him anger and frustration. 

I know that he will respond by saying that when he wakes up before me, he doesn't want to wake me up by opening the closet door.  So, I will answer that by saying that he could hang it in the office closet until a later time...that way I don't have to see that it is not put away.

Maybe I should start collecting the hangers that I find hanging out by themselves and see what he says when he is out of hangers...

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Giddyup

Now that you've heard from Erin "Peggy Lee Cletus" Lamb, time for my voice.  I agreed to the blog concept because there are just too many good stories that come up in simple day to day experiences that cannot be expressed in 140 characters or in a status update.

Tonight seemed like one of those times.  Since winter decided to slap spring upside the head and give us a nasty storm tonight, it was time to catch up on some TV that we'd missed over the past few weeks.  Somewhere between episodes was when my encounter with my wife's "southern roots" occurred.  She quoted me accurately, and if our previous neighbors hadn't walked away from their house last fall, we just may have seen either a car on blocks or some semblance of a Confederate flag.

As for the creation of the blog itself, if my name was going to be a part of it, I wanted it to at least be creative.  A great title, URL, and description were at my fingertips, I just needed to figure out the wording.  My wife wanted me to get on with it so she could post her eloquent tale.  No patience, why do women have to be like that?

Alas, my empty beer was replaced with a fresh one and magically the creativity began to flow.  We were done and she was free to post.  And now here we are.  Enjoy the insight, and more specifically, the equal opportunity to present our sides of those stories that make married life, well, colorful.

You're Riding Me Like The Kentucky Derby

At the advice of my mom, Drew and I have decided to join the blogging world!

While we were sitting on our couch this evening, I farted (I'll admit it-- I'm a woman and I fart) and sucked through my teeth to try and get a piece of food dislodged. Drew looked at me and said (with complete sarcasm), "You are so attractive." He went on to comment about the bowl of peanut shells on my lap and the Bud Light in my hand. As we both looked over at our dog, he (the dog) sat down and rubbed his butt along the carpet. Drew started to laugh and said, "I'm surprised that instead of snow, we don't see a car on blocks outside." I told him that he brought me into the country (I moved from the suburbs to a rural area when Drew and I became engaged) and what happens now is out of my control.

I started to laugh and told him that we should be sharing experiences like this with everyone else.

So, we began the process. After I attempted to sign up for a blog, Drew took control to look for a blog that we could both author. THAT was the easy part.

Coming up with a name for the blog took significantly longer than I thought was necessary. Instead of vocalizing his thoughts about a name, he just stared at the computer. Why do men do that?

I asked him what he was thinking so that I could help. He became frustrated with me. Why do men do that?

At some point, our ideas magically clicked and everything came together.

Then, came the description of the blog. For some reason, that was easier than the name... Oh, wait, I know why... I walked away to get another beer. Of course, that was after Drew told me that I was riding him like the Kentucky Derby.

We hope you enjoy our thoughts about life and marriage filled with ups, downs, humor, and wit.