How do I love thee?
All that was left!
My friend Dixie told me about a journal that she keeps specifically to record the many reasons that she loves her husband. I thought that this was one of the best ideas I’d ever heard. Sometimes something will come to me in the middle of the day, but by the time Doug gets home from work I’m too tired or frustrated or fed up with the kids to tell him. If I can write it down while I’m thinking about it, then it will be there for him to read when he’s having a bad day. It is also a great record for my kids. They do not always see us at our best, so it’s good for them to know that we always love each other, even when they are driving us bananas!
So, without further ado, here is the first entry that is going into the journal:
Dear Doug,
I don’t know how many husbands love their wives enough to travel all the way to Utah to bring their wives a Pulled Pork Burrito, Enchilada Style. I know I’ve been joking with you about this since we moved to Texas, but I didn’t know if you’d really do it. I can’t tell you happy having that little piece of heaven made me! I’m also glad that you’ve got friends who support us in our craziness and are willing to drive you around and let you use their freezer! Maybe most people don’t equate burritos with love, but those people have not been separated from their beloved burritos for years on end. I know that I can be a complainer, but I just want you to know how happy this made me. I love you.
p.s. If any of you are wondering how a burrito holds up after being frozen and flying halfway across the country, the answer is: amazingly well. Delicious!
Neverending Surprises
Sometimes I think there’s nothing my husband can do to surprise me, that I’ve heard every story possible (in the case of the Navajo Taco story, too many times!). I know all about his childhood. We’ve driven by his old house, his old school, where he stood up to the kids who wanted to beat him up, and the path he used to follow to get from his house to his grandmother’s house. I’d like to think I know a fair bit about the father of my children.
I know, for example, that he will leave the room if I turn on certain television shows. Also, bringing up certain political figures is guaranteed to elicit predictable responses. Not that this ever happens, but if I hypothetically wanted to toy with my husband, I might say something like, “That Al Gore sure is a genius when it comes to the environment. Can you believe he also invented the internet?” (I do this very sincerely, or else it doesn’t have the desired effect!)
So, imagine my surprise when, while fast forwarding through an old episode of the Gilmore Girls last night I experience the following dialogue:
image from fanpop.com
(show)
Luke: Jess is gone.
Lorelai: Do you know where?
Luke: Yeah, I think I know where
Doug: Didn’t Jess go to California to see his Dad?
Alright, I paraphrased the dialogue a little bit, but not Doug’s contribution from the sofa (while he was in the middle of programming his video game, by the way! Such the multi tasker!)
And you think you know someone!
How do you gauge “normal?”
Date night at the Fair?
So, Doug decided that we weren’t going to waste another Saturday at home. It was time for some culture for our family, and nothing says culture like the Texas Renaissance Fair (or is it Faire? I can never be sure sure!).
Turkey legs & suasage on a stick
I was expecting funnel cakes and turkey legs, but I didn’t know it would be a worldwide celebration spanning centuries!
After the funnel cake
My sister Jessica loves this stuff, and I have to say that after spending a day at the fair I am seriously worried about her! Maybe it was the fact that we were there for Invasion of the Barbarians week-end! You have to wonder how Shakespeare completely comes together with Luana from 1,000,000 years B.C.
Jessica
(Clearly that’s not Jessica. I meant to write “Jessica’s Prom Date!)
There were lots of fun things to do. The boys enjoyed the bows and arrows, and Doug liked the axe throwing. There was also a maze and some jousting. The best part for the kids was the Children’s School of Swords. There was a hands on tutorial with a certificate of completion at the end. This was one of the rare free activities, and Samuel had a great time.
My little Robin Hood
It was disturbing how many teenagers there were who dressed completely inappropriately. I can’t imagine if I was there on a date with someone I hardly knew(Doug actually took a girl there on a date once. It didn’t end well … for her!).
I have no words
There were some similarities with the French Quarter at Mardi Gras. For instance, just because you can wear a particular costume doesn’t mean that you should wear that costume; time affects everyone. Also, the fair is a fun day, it probably shouldn’t be a whole lifestyle choice. Some people were taking this whole thing very seriously! I mean complete leather outfits and dog collars seriously!
Sword School
I’m trying to decide if this is something we’re going to do again next year. It might be more fun with a whole group of people, but then we would have to share the mortification! If we do go again I think we’ll choose the Celtic Christmas week-end.
At one of the many wedding chapels
P.S. Greg, this is why you need to move to Texas. Doesn’t it look like more fun than your week-end?!
Geek by Association
Today I get a very urgent phone message from my sister-in-law Ingrid. She tells me that she has news and that I need to call her back right away. Of course, my first thought is that we are falling behind in baby making at our house, and then I think that maybe they’ve ditched their plans for Florida and decided to start up a medical practice here in Texas. What I was not expecting was a friendly reminder of the importance of today’s date.
“Do you know today is?” Ingrid asks.
“Umm Friday” I reply
“No, it’s Pi day”
“Pie day?”
“No, Pi. As in 3.14….. You need to make Doug a pie”
images from Wikipedia
How great is Ingrid. Although her husband is not near so geeky as my own, she was thoughtful enough to keep us in mind on a day that must be near and dear to geeks around the world. Liz and Sharleen, I’m not sure if this is a paid holiday for math scholars, but I’m sure it will be made into a federal holiday any time. You two should definitely hit the town tonight! Pam and Christina, you might want to do a little something for the engineers in your lives. I’m not certain if Hallmark makes a card, but I’m sure you can come up with something!
I’m trying to decide if I, myself should make a whole theme night out of it. You know, chicken pot pie, then apple pie, and then fun little math problems where we actually use pi to figure out the measurements of the pie! Ah, so much to do and so little time. Man, to think I was stressing out about St. Patrick’s Day dinner. I have got to get myself more organized. Thanks for the heads up Ingrid! I knew there was a reason that I like you so much!
Don’t make me call the Geek Squad
My computer has been on the fritz all week long. Everything is super slow, and I can’t leave any comments on blogs requiring a blogger sign in, which means I haven’t been able to enter any of Design Mom’s contests. It’s killing me!
What’s really obnoxious though, is that I am married to the ultimate geek, and he hasn’t fixed it yet. Apparently the computer works well enough for his latest Excel spreadsheet, and that’s good enough for him! I mean, come on. I actually threatened to call Geek Squad thinking that would threaten his inner geekness… not so much! And, I can’t actually call Geek Squad because they are very pricey.
Oh what to do. I need my high speed hook up!
oohh…
Everyone please keep quiet and concentrate. There are 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter and the Tigers ar up by 6, but it’s not a happy 6. In fact, I’m surprised my children haven’t been woken up by all the yelling. Think happy thoughts. We can’t lose two weeks in a row. You cannot imagine how bad the rest of my night will be if these next five minutes don’t go well.
Think happy thoughts.
