I Should Be Folding Laundry

Feeling the love

Wii had a great time celebrating our anniversary yesterday.  Thanks to everyone for your well wishes, wii appreciate it so much!  Then wii took the kids out to dinner, because nothing says Happy Anniversary! like taking your kids out to dinner with you.  No biggie.  Wii like our kids.

Brian and I typically do not exchange gifts for our anniversary.  Just flowers, cards, etc.  But this year I wanted to do something really nice for him since he's so nice and because he let me upgrade the camera wii just purchased last October, wii bought the new one last week and sold my "old" one to my friend Lynette, which worked out well for both of us, I do believe.  And I picked up a new Kenneth Cole handbag that is too cute, which I deemed an "anniversary gift from Brian."  I'm thoughtful like that, I mean, he hates to shop so I was just trying to save him from the madness of shopping. or something.

Anyway, back to him.

I went all out y'all.  Can you guess what he got?

Yep!  A Wii!  You're so smart.

It's quite a game, I have to say.  First of all, he plays really close to where I sit and eat nachos and one too many times have I thought he was either going to knock my queso to the ground or give me a black eye.  I'm not sure which I'd prefer.

Secondly, you can imagine how romantic our night was once he opened the box and began to play.  I mean, with all the golf, boxing, bowling, tennis and baseball, it was a full night.  for him.  I just sat at my trusty old laptop and downloaded songs for my iPod.  Workout songs.  Because I am still working out. Aside from the weekend I have worked out everyday and I am LOVING IT.

Can you believe it?

My sister has challenged me, and I promise I will go into more detail very soon, because it really is very interesting.  Really.  But let's just say if someone had told me even one week ago that I would accept anything with the words "challenge" or "100 miles" in it, I would have laughed.  Really hard.

But instead of laughing, I put my game face on.  Because IT. IS .ON.  "BRING IT!"  I say.  and by "it" I mean, something with chocolate and ice cream.  and maybe whipped cream.  And brownies.

Speaking of food...I'm just gaining weight.  Although I have been more aware of my eating than I have been in a long time.  Everyone says it's because I am building muscle.  I do hope that's why.  I feel so good since working out that right now I really don't care about what the scale says.  For now, that is.  So, for my weigh-in this week, I am up 1.3 lbs, but I'm so much healthier now than I was last week.

And that's what it's all about, right?

Anybody have any ideas how many calories can be burned by playing Wii.  By the looks of the sweat and the sound of the curse words, I'd say a lot.

And I leave you with a picture of my anniversary flowers, because how could I not show you?  You're my best friend!

Eight

Eight years ago today was our wedding day.

It's been fun.

and difficult.

and comfortable.

and good.  Very good.  It seems things are better now than they ever have been.  I find myself looking forward to growing old with him, more so than ever.  (assuming he continues to empty the dishwasher each morning and make me nachos each night. I have a good one, I tell you.)  Maybe it's the fact that we sleep well at night.  Or maybe it's because we no longer argue about money.  Maybe it's because we don't worry about who has changed more diapers.  Maybe it's because I make him lavish meals like tacos and spaghetti.   Maybe it's because we have realized the importance of sacrifice and giving and intimacy.  (at least sometimes.)

Whatever it is, it's good stuff.

We celebrated Sunday night by going to a delicious restaurant that we haven't been to since before we had children.   We both indulged in amazing steak, wine and cosmos.  It was a divine. 

How it began...(this story was originally posted in July 2007.)

Twelve years ago today

Mr. Husband and I went on our first date.

It's quite cute really, our little love story.  We knew each other in high school, flirted, but I was in a long term relationship with someone else, as was Brian.  On July 3rd, 1995, my long term boyfriend and I had finally broken up.  We weren't terribly dysfunctional, we just had no future for the two of us.  I can remember during an argument he said "well, are we going to get married, what's our plan?" (he was 2 years older) and I had never even entertained the thought of marriage with him and I was like "uh...no."  We broke up not too soon after that.  Which was good because Brian and his ex-crazy-girlfriend and him broke up and there we were, magically together, thanks to some mutual friends.

It was the evening of July 6th, I was working at a shoe store and Brian walked in.  I remember seeing him walk in and my heart fell to the floor with a loud, obnoxious thud.  I was so nervous and excited and pitiful, all those feelings rolled up into one sweaty mess.   

He needed dress shoes.  No really, he did.  It wasn't anything romantic like "he bought a pair of shoes just to give him a good reason to come visit," because my husband??  Does not spend money unnecessarily, okay?  Even at the ripe old handsome age of eighteen. Either way, I was there, helping him pick out a pair of black oxfords for work. 

He found a pair and then asked me me if I would see a movie with him that night.  I screamed calmly accepted his offer and went home and got changed and he was at my house and it was all pretty dreamy because truthfully I had a crush on this boy for quite awhile.

Two days prior we were at a fourth of July party at our mutual friend's house on the beach and Brian wound up driving me home.  I can remember walking into my house and saying to my parents "you will NEVER believe who just drove me home."  When I told my Mom who it was I could see the excitement in her eyes.  Her thoughts of "good kid, Eagle Scout, nice parents, handsome and smart" were swirling around her head frantically.  She was almost as excited as I was.

We began seeing each other very seriously that summer before he left for college.  When he left I knew that this boy was something amazing. My heart broke as he drove away.

Four years later, two months after college graduation, we were married.

And he wore those black oxford dress shoes on our wedding day.

Mr. Husband and I went on our first date.

It's quite cute really, our little love story.  We knew each other in high school, flirted, but I was in a long term relationship with someone else, as was Brian.  On July 3rd, 1995, my long term boyfriend and I had finally broken up.  We weren't terribly dysfunctional, we just had no future for the two of us.  I can remember during an argument he said "well, are we going to get married, what's our plan?" (he was 2 years older) and I had never even entertained the thought of marriage with him and I was like "uh...no."  We broke up not too soon after that.  Which was good because Brian and his ex-crazy-girlfriend and him broke up and there we were, magically together, thanks to some mutual friends.

It was the evening of July 6th, I was working at a shoe store and Brian walked in.  I remember seeing him walk in and my heart fell to the floor with a loud, obnoxious thud.  I was so nervous and excited and pitiful, all those feelings rolled up into one sweaty mess.   

He needed dress shoes.  No really, he did.  It wasn't anything romantic like "he bought a pair of shoes just to give him a good reason to come visit," because my husband??  Does not spend money unnecessarily, okay?  Even at the ripe old handsome age of eighteen. Either way, I was there, helping him pick out a pair of black oxfords for work. 

He found a pair and then asked me me if I would see a movie with him that night.  I screamed calmly accepted his offer and went home and got changed and he was at my house and it was all pretty dreamy because truthfully I had a crush on this boy for quite awhile.

Two days prior we were at a fourth of July party at our mutual friend's house on the beach and Brian wound up driving me home.  I can remember walking into my house and saying to my parents "you will NEVER believe who just drove me home."  When I told my Mom who it was I could see the excitement in her eyes.  Her thoughts of "good kid, Eagle Scout, nice parents, handsome and smart" were swirling around her head frantically.  She was almost as excited as I was.

We began seeing each other very seriously that summer before he left for college.  When he left I knew that this boy was something amazing. My heart broke as he drove away.

Four years later, two months after college graduation, we were married.

And he wore those black oxford dress shoes on our wedding day.

Twelve years ago today

Mr. Husband and I went on our first date.

It's quite cute really, our little love story.  We knew each other in high school, flirted, but I was in a long term relationship with someone else, as was Brian.  On July 3rd, 1995, my long term boyfriend and I had finally broken up.  We weren't terribly dysfunctional, we just had no future for the two of us.  I can remember during an argument he said "well, are we going to get married, what's our plan?"  (he was 2 years older) and I had never even entertained the thought of marriage with him and I was like "uh...no."  We broke up not too soon after that.  Which was good because Brian and his ex-crazy-girlfriend and him broke up and there we were, magically together, thanks to some mutual friends.

It was the evening of July 6th, I was working at a shoe store and Brian walked in.  I remember seeing him walk in and my heart fell to the floor with a loud, obnoxious thud.  I was so nervous and excited and pitiful, all those feelings rolled up into one sweaty mess.   

He needed dress shoes.  No really, he did.  It wasn't anything romantic like "he bought a pair of shoes just to give him a good reason to come visit," because my husband??  Does not spend money unnecessarily, okay?  Even at the ripe old handsome age of eighteen.  Either way, I was there, helping him pick out a pair of black oxfords for work. 

He found a pair and then asked me me if I would see a movie with him that night.  I screamed calmy accepted his offer and went home and got changed and he was at my house and it was all pretty dreamy because truthfully I had a crush on this boy for quite awhile.

Two days prior we were at a fourth of July party at our mutual friend's house on the beach and Brian wound up driving me home.  I can remember walking into my house and saying to my parents "you will NEVER believe who just drove me home."  When I told my Mom who it was I could see the excitement in her eyes.  Her thoughts of "good kid, Eagle Scout, nice parents, handsome and smart" were swirling around her head frantically.  She was almost as excited as I was.

We began seeing each other very seriously that summer before he left for college.  When he left I knew that this boy was something amazing.  My heart broke as he drove away.

Four years later, two months after college graduation, we were married.

And he wore those black oxford dress shoes on our wedding day.

It's hard work.

Father's Day is.  It is hard work.

I'm not saying father's don't deserve father's day, oh no, I don't feel that way for one second.  I love having this day dedicated to them, honoring all that they do for their family; work, play, love, laugh, this day is well deserved.  But making it so special is exhausting and it's not even here, yet. 

Father's Day is different than Mother's Day, there is no denying it.  For instance, when there is a Mother's Day get together.  I make the food.  I plan it, shop for it, make it and clean it up.  I still do laundry and I still clean.  And I'm still "in charge" of the chickens.  I am in no way complaining about my Mother's Day, because I LOVED my Mother's Day.  It was an amazing day. I'm just sayin'. 

Now for Father's Day, we moms still plan all the meals for the get togethers, clean and take care of the children, but it's also important to us to make sure they get to relax and do as they wish without having to help with the kids or help around the house, and THAT is what makes the day so tiring.  and to top that off, it would only be the icing on the cake for our husband for us to perform our "wifely duties."  You know, to make the day EXTRA special.   

So, I need to go to bed extra early to start off the days festivities.  Unfortunately, for Brian, he'll be working all day long putting our fence in, alongside his father in ninety degree weather.  So, I'll just shut my mouth now about how exhausting Father's Day is for me and do what I can to make it even better for Brian.

Oh and while shopping for a last minute Father's Day gift today, I realized I never told you about "The Dangerous Book for Boys" that was sent to me for review.  I feel terrible because I love this book and think it's a PERFECT Father's Day gift, Brian has even read through it and thinks it's such a great book to have, so, if you are shopping late, pick it up.  You won't regret it.

So many suitcases, so little time

Brian left for his second business trip in 11 days, this one is one night longer, which also means a whole day longer which also means by Friday I am going to be very, very tired.  But that's okay, because after Friday, he'll be home and I'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief that I can now go to Target alone, er, rather feel safe with my husband by my side.

He was home for a total of five nights.  Four of the nights I had planned events to attend, meetings, a conference call, bowling and the ever important Bunco night.  The fifth night, he and I actually went out of town without the children for a planned surprise party for a dear friend in Illinois.  On Friday afternoon, we joked, in a sad kind of way, that we were living like a divorced couple, sharing custody of the kids.  It was sad really, realizing that we hadn't sat down for a family meal in nearly 8 days and it would be another six days before we could again.  Our family sitting down for a meal together is so important to us and it's something we really miss. 

We did stay in a hotel last night that was actually very nice and extremely clean and would you believe the bed was soft?  Almost billowy, which is something you just don't see very often.  We (myself, my husband and the chickens) are taking a VERY LONG DRIVE in June that will require stopping in the middle of the drive to sleep at a hotel, we typically stay at one particular type of hotel, but the beds are just not very comfortable, we just liked the hotel because of the warm Cinnabons they serve, okay?  So, we tried this new one and we are so pleased to have found the soft beds.  When we walked into our room we realized they had booked us into a handicap hotel room.  The doorways were so wide I'm pretty sure we could have pulled our car into the room to unpack. (which would have been nice considering I packed four pairs of shoes for a one night trip.)  We even had a lovely seat in the tub, wall bars everywhere and an adjustable shower head that I really did not know how to work at first, accidentally spraying myself in the face.  It was the best.  The most amazing thing was how large our THREE fire alarms were in the one room.  One had a strobe light so big that if it were to go off in the middle of the night, I'm not sure if I would run or dance.

Another benefit to being in a handicap room is that it is situated very close to the lobby, which is great when you are stumbling in late at night with blisters on your toes the size of dimes caused by the very cute shoes you had purchased that same day.  However, being close to the lobby also means you are close to the breakfast area which is very busy at seven in the morning.  Not to mention the outdoor area just outside the lobby for visitors to sit and relax in the summer warmth, or to get drunk and laugh and yell, like you're in a beer garden all night long.  Right outside our window.   So, although we had the nice wide doorways, the fancy hand held showers, and the enormous fire alarms and strobe lights, (did I mention we were also directly across from the indoor pool??), we think given the choice, we would have chosen a room three floors up, or you know, in a shed somewhere.

Either way, we did have a great time away and needless to say, I'm feeling a little down that my husband is in another part of the country.   I think I'll just sit here and stuff my face with nachos and queso and maybe some ice cream.   Okay, not the ice cream, I really have to watch this growing figure of mine, speaking of which, be sure to check back on Tuesday.  Remember almost two weeks ago I mentioned working on a little project for weight loss?  Well, I'm so excited to tell you that the unveiling will be on May 1, 2007.  So, check back, bring your friends and your scales, because y'all, I'm tired of feeling fat, are you?  If so, maybe I can help...
see you then.

Terribly random

I really do not have much to say about what is going on in my life right now.  To be honest, this bloggity contest for Heather is well, time consuming, in a healthy sorta way.  I never expected the prize donations to fly in the way they have.  I'm touched, to say the least.  When I e-mailed BooMama about the contest this past Friday, I told her that I had three vendors I could contact and well...have you seen the list lately??  It's a beautiful bloggy world out there.

I could tell you that I have sat down on many different occasions to write an entry, only to find e-mails in my inbox from people wanting to donate items to the contest.  What a thrill!  But terribly distracting!

I guess I could write about the fact that I am still stenciling on Ariel's walls for the third day in the row.  She still loves it, I still do not, today will be the last day.

I could also tell you that yesterday I counted points and had a great Weight Watcher day and this morning when I weighed myself I had gained a pound.  How's that for incentive.  (I admit, I weigh myself five times a day every morning.)

Speaking of weight loss, or weight gain, rather, I had to make cupcakes for Ariel's class as she is the V.I.P (very important preschooler) for this week.  I heart cupcakes.  Especially homemade white cupcakes with fresh vanilla frosting.  I love them so much that I had to only make enough cupcakes for Ariel's class and her teachers, because otherwise I would have taken the cupcakes, plopped myself on the floor and shoved them as quickly as possible into my face.  I dumped the remaining batter in the sink.  That is what I call strength!  My heart still aches just thinking about the cupcakes that could have been.  Had I known I was going to gain a pound, I would have indulged in three one.

Oh!  I should share with you that Brian is going to Los Angeles in a few days and well, that just sucks for me.  You see, my days are so long being a SAHM to a 3 and 4 year old, but when Brian gets home at 6:20pm, he's my glass of wine, my moment of relaxation, my helper.  The mere thought of not having him around for five whole days, well, causes me to throw up a little bit in my mouth.  So, if you are free, come over, you can mop and fold the laundry and take the kids to the park, unless it snows.  great, thanks.  Don't even get me started on the fact that when he comes back he'll leave in another week for another week.  I have to stop talking about it, it puts me in a bad, bad place.

But what I will tell you is to be sure to check back tonight, as my American Idol Review will be up tonight and well...I can't wait.  It's going to be awesome.

We did not go to Wal-Mart

I can hardly believe I went a Friday night without going to Wal-Mart, I'm a little shocked and thrown off by the change of routine, but I also feel like a daredevil, a rebel.

Brian and I did go on our date Friday night, we had a wonderful time, we were away from home and children for almost 5 hours.  We went to dinner, where I am pretty sure the waitress was very upset with my cheapness.  Here's an example of the cheap conversation we had:

"I'd like the Signature Margarita, please." 

"Would you like the Premium Signature Margarita?" 

I replied with "how much does it cost?" 

"$6.99." 

"huh??  How much is the non-premium margarita?" 

"four something," she replied dryly.

"I'll take it!"

Then I ordered the blackened chicken alfredo and she asked if I wanted garlic bread for forty nine cents.  "You charge for garlic bread when someone orders a pasta dish?"  She replies "yes we do."  Classy.

And although we did stay out of Wal-Mart, we did go to Home Depot because I had this crazy idea to paint Ariel's room on Saturday while my sister was in town and she could help me do it.  Because you know, nothing says a nice visit from your sister on a sunny Saturday like painting.  It wasn't the easiest decision, I have to tell you, we could have gone to breakfast, gotten manicures, gone shopping, gone to lunch, the possibilities were endless (and fattening!).  Instead, we opted to surprise Ariel with the pink room she has wanted for a very long time.  Plus, Ariel continues to peel the butterfly border of her walls and things are looking a little rough in there.  So, pink paint we purchased.  Lots of it.  Making our date even more expensive.  (oh and we totally did not take a picture of us.)

After Home Depot we went to see "Reign Over Me."  Let me know tell you that I am EMBARRASSED by my comment about Adam Sandler taking the serious roles, and how that actually made me NOT want to see the movie.  It's even worse that I made the opinion so very public by posting it on the internet.  It was an awesome movie.  Mr. Sandler knocked our socks off.  I laughed and cried and it is still sticking with me two days later.  My man Don Cheadle did not disappoint. I.LOVED.IT.  Go see it, k?

So, as planned, we spent Saturday peeling wallpaper and painting, without Ariel knowing.  She spent the day at her Grandmother's.  I'm so lucky to have had my sister help because she is a CRAZY PAINTING MANIAC.  Then, after we got all the furniture moved back into Ariel's room, rather than sitting and waiting for Ariel to come home...SHE CONTINUED TO CLEAN!  AND DUST!  AND ORGANIZE DVD's!  I could have kissed and hugged her all night long, but she wouldn't have liked it, I just know it.   Especially since, well, let's just say I wasn't smelling too pretty.

Before

After

Before (I had already began peeling the wallpaper before taking the picture)

After

So, there you have it.  Lots of pink paint.  And a very happy girl.  And because I can't leave anything alone, I began stenciling this flowery, hearty, starry, ribbony thing on the top of one of the light pink walls using the darker pink paint used on one of the walls, the only problem is that is looks like I taped a stencil on the wall and then painted with a blindfold on, I'm not a good "stippler" apparently, which I can accept.  I had just decided to paint over it when Ariel walked in and almost passed out by it's "loveliness" and where I think it's an eyesore, with each new section I do, she passes out a little bit more because she loves it SO! MUCH!  So, it's her room and she loves it and isn't that the point?

Oh and it was heartbreaking to take down her baby border and to paint over the paint we picked for her when she was just a baby.  Heartbreaking.  I wasn't expecting it until I took a cross off of her wall that read "God Bless Baby" and it made my heart ache just a little bit.  But He sure has blessed her, and all of us.

Please Pass the Junior Mints

Yesterday, I blogged about my expanding belly (not due to pregnancy, but due to chocolate) and widening thighs (thanks to ice cream) and announced to the e-world that I would start counting points and I will.  I promise, but if I were to count points today, my brain may explode by the very large numbers that are being calculated. 

Today, my sister is visiting with her children and we are taking all of our four children (ages 3, 4, 6 & 7) to lunch because we are crazy and looking for a way to embarrass ourselves faster than dressing up as chickens and pecking random people on the head while singing "She Bangs."  Well, I may be exaggerating a little bit because really they all LOVE! EACH OTHER! SO! MUCH! they really just kinda look at each other with hearts in their eyes and a smile on their face with birds chirping and flying around their heads.  Unless, of course, one child takes another child's toy, then it's all over and divorce papers will be filed immediately.

Either way, we are going to a place with unlimited fries and really that is all that matters in the world.

Tonight, Brian and I are going on a date. (Reason number 1,239,512 not to count points)  A date, do you hear me?  Like dinner, beer and margaritas and then a movie.  We haven't been on a date since early December, even though all of the Save Your Marriage!!!!!!! books tell you to date once a month or more often, well, we find that to be a little impossible.  So, we've tucked away tonight to be alone.  (I was also inspired by this post which nudged be gently to go this weekend, so thank you to Shalee.)  Hopefully I'll have pictures of the Mister and I to share with the e-world to prove that I am married, that I have gained weight and that we did in fact get dressed and go out and were not in our pajamas at 8:30pm. 

Seen any good movies lately?  First of all, I admit that I have a fear of going to the movie theater, mainly because sitting in one spot doing nothing but looking straight ahead for two hours is painful, the thought causes me to break out in hives, but also because sitting for that long, with my hands doing nothing, typically leads me to popping chocolate and peanut butter into my mouth at a very unhealthy rate.  Screw the popcorn.  Screw the soda (or pop, if you live in my area).  Bring on the chocolate.  But in an effort to do something different besides going to Wal-Mart on a Friday night, we thought a movie would be divine.  So, what are we going to see?   I'm not sure.  I don't want to see Blades of Glory with Will Ferrell, and I don't want to be scared, and I love Don Cheadle, I love him so much that if I were to meet him I would stuff him into my purse, take him home and make him live in my basement.  So, that leads me to Reign Over Me.  My only resignation is that Adam Sandler is in it, as a serious actor, and well that is frightening, but I'll just pop a glance over at Mr. Cheadle and I'll be just fine.    

And for those of you who are wanting to join my weight loss journey with me, first of all, thank you and welcome, secondly I am working on a little project that most certainly will help me along and hopefully you, too.  Things should be ready in 1-2 weeks, yip.pee.  You have your warning, eat up that box of Ding Dongs and get ready.

shocking

Last night, Brian asked me what my prediction was for American Idol, I replied with "Haley is going home."  His response was filled with pure shock and horror.  "Seriously?  Not Phil or Sanjaya, but Haley?!?!?!" 

While stuffing my face with nachos, I couldn't help but think how hypnotizing Haley's legs must be for him to think she shouldn't be voted off.   And what's so great about her legs?  I mean, I have nice legs, they may be covered with fat and cellulite, stubble and yoga pants, but somewhere in there, I've got Haley beat for sure.

After she was voted off and she began singing, Brian commented on how awful she sounded, I replied "it's amazing how bad she sounds when she has pants on." 

He couldn't have agreed more.

Women are from Mars, Men are just stupid

Gosh, that comes across so harsh, doesn't it?  And I don't mean men are stupid as in they're dumb.  I just mean, they're stupid that sometimes they just don't think.  At all.  hmmm...still harsh.  Okay, let me try to word this better.  Women are superior?   Yes, yes, now I'm on to something.  Women are rockin'?  Good.  Getting warmer.  I GOT IT!  Men are stupid.  BINGO.

If you've been reading my BLAWG for a long time, you should know that I never bash my husband publicly.  Because he is a great husband.  He empties the dishwasher every night, he gives the kids a bath three times a week, he shows affection for me and his children, he even brings me flowers "for no reason."  BUT, that doesn't mean my entry title isn't true, because, it is.  And when I told him what my entry title was going to be he replied with a chuckle and thought it was funny.  Either he wasn't listening, (SURPRISE SURPRISE) or he's just stupid, in a cute sorta way.

A few things have occurred lately that lead me to believe my blog title is true. 

I'll fill you in.

Last Saturday, as in 9 days ago, I drove his car to do some shopping and I used his coffee mug.  When I got home, I had my arms full of purchases from Kohl's, Target, Panera, a hot coffee and a purchase from a local children's consignment shop.  Oh...I also grabbed the newspaper and the mail.  My hands and arms were full.

I did not bring in the coffee mug.

Last Tuesday, 3 days after wards, before he left for work, he asked where is coffee mug was.  I told him probably in his car.  He acted all indignant and abrupt that I had left his coffee mug in his car.  And I was like, "didn't you drive your car yesterday?  Did ya notice the bright blue coffee mug on the seat beside you?"  No response. 

Which leads me to this morning.  Brian had to work in a suburb north of Chicago, A.K.A. a drive to hell.  I had just made coffee and without even looking in the coffee cabinet he says "Do you know where my coffee mug is?"  uh...unless I took it out of your car, apparently it's still in YOUR car, where it's been since before our last conversation about your coffee mug."  To which he replies "I don't remember having a conversation about my coffee mug last week."  Right.  Play the Memory Card.  After that, play the Confused Card.  And if all else fails, play the Not Enough Sex Card.  Those cards always work out so well for you.  (by the way, he still has no recollection of said conversation and wants me to tell all of you that the mug was ALL THE WAY in the back seat of the 4 door vehicle.  But he does give me full permission to make fun of him for forgetting said conversation.)

The thing about this story is that it's not about the coffee mug or about someone being right or wrong.  It's that I KNOW he knew where the coffee mug was.  His point was to show me that I, too, can be irresponsible and forgetful.  Which is fine, I'll accept that little lesson last Tuesday.  But today?  It's just stupid.  And maybe I was irresponsible or forgetful but let's compare that to the time when he forgot to call all night long because he was so drunk.  And I didn't even know he was going out in the first place.    good times.

Another scenario for you.  Remember our cordless phone fiasco last week at Office Max?  Remember I said the phones didn't work very well?  Well, we returned them.  Brian went into the store while the kids and I waited in the car.  He was going to exchange it for a different phone that we had liked when we were there.  My cell phone rings and not surprisingly, it was Brian calling from inside the store.  He said the other phone was now out of stock, but "here's another brand, with the same features for the same price."  I replied with "Fine.  But does it have speaker phone?"  (the one thing I wanted on our new phones.)  He said yes.  He get back in the car, he hands me the phone box and the receipts.  We start driving and I'm checking out the new phone.  As we are heading onto the interstate I say "this phone does not have speaker phone."  He just assumed it had speaker phone because of the speaker holes on the answering machine, he never actually read or made sure there was speaker phone.

I went to Target the next morning and bought a phone.  With speaker phone.

Now, friends, my point is not to male bash, although, it has been fun while it's lasted.  I have never been the type to stereotype men because I know all men are different.  But lately, my cup runneth over and sometimes, I just need to vent.  But mostly, I need to laugh.  I need to laugh at these moments that occur because these are the moments that make up a marriage. 

This past Friday, I tried to move around our DVD player and VCR and electronic crap, but once I pulled out all of the colorful wires out of the components I had no idea what went where and who was who.  (why are there so many holes??)  So, I left it.

Like this.  And Brian came home from a hard day of computer speak and grunting and walked in and saw the mess and actually laughed and jokingly said "did you have some trouble?"  And he squatted and fixed it in an impressive 37 seconds.  He never got mad or irritated and he never called me stupid.  He just laughed.

I think I'll try that next time.

P.S.  For those that may be wondering, Brian actually reads every entry that has to do with him and our relationship before I hit the publish button.  There are some posts that you will never see.  Unless he goes out, gets drunk and forgets to call again.