Married and Lovin' It!

But all I have is this goat....

2009-06-14T13:32:00.001-07:00

My husband and I recently vacationed in the Caribbean with my brother-in-law and sister-in-crime....I mean, sister-in-law. Let's just say she has an adventurous spirit!

This was technically a 'working vacation' which is great as long as I am not the one actually working! And I was not. So one my SIL suggests that we venture out on our own and do some sight-seeing while the while the guys work. Sounds easy enough except for the fact that I have never driven on the opposite side of the road much less in a foreign country. Apparently, on the island, the yellow line down the middle of the road is simply for decoration!

Nevertheless...we were on our way....map in her hand, steering wheel in mine. Two girls with no sense of direction but the assurance of the concierge that all roads eventually lead you back to the beginning. Kiss, kiss to the boys and we were ready for adventure.

There are so many stories I could share....backing the car onto the ferry (another first), coming face to face with a herd of wild goats on a walking path, snorkeling with stingrays and sea turtles, going behind a wall that said "DO NOT ENTER" because curiosity just got the best of us (and it was well worth the peek I might add!). But I just want to share the story of a man and his goat named Madonna.

As we were on our way back home we rounded a corner on the two lane road and there, on the side of the road, stood a tall, thin, raggedly dressed man with the biggest toothless smile I'd ever seen waving us over, offering us a parking space beside the most breathtaking view of the ocean. And he was holding a tiny goat. Yes...a goat. There were other people already there taking in the scene so we figured it was safe. Besides...he had a goat!

As we got out of our car he handed me his goat and said, 'her name is Madonna...let me take your picture with her". Who could resist? He then began enthusiastically sharing with us the history of the island....where Sir Francis Drake had sailed, he pointed to a house across the way where President Bill Clinton had stayed, he shared his first hand knowledge and years of story of his island. And when he finished my SIL and I tipped him generously and thanked him for his time.

We drove away thinking....wow, this is how this man makes his living. The more I thought about that man and his goat the more I admired his sense of entrepreneurship. While people complain about their circumstances and think of all they DON'T have and how unfair life can be, this man said 'if all I have is a goat and a story I can make a living'. And honestly, at least in my mind, I think if you asked him would he like to trade what he does for a high paying job in a cement-city he would say...."Are you crazy? Madonna and I wouldn't trade our little piece of peace in paradise for anything. Life is good, mon."

Yes indeed....life IS good, mon.

DON'T!!

2009-06-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Wow...these guys really understand how to make a relationship...well, simply magical.

The Secret to a Great Marriage? Great SOCKS!

2009-05-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Socks. Yep....I love him because he wears socks.

You may be saying..."I'm not even going to read any further because everyone wears socks and that is a lame reason to say you love someone - socks....whatever. And besides....I thought you meant SEX." BUT...last night as we were getting into bed I simply said "my feet are so cold" and without hesitation my hubby said "ok, I'll wear my socks".

The thing is - even if I wear socks my feet don't get warm but if HE wears them then my feet get to snuggle up with his and for some reason they just get toasty warm. He knows that....he knows me!

As silly and insignificant as it may seem these are the things that love causes you to do. It's the wink he gives you across the room that says 'you look so good', it's the note left on the mirror, it's choosing his favorite steak restaurant when you really want Mexican......and it's definitely good socks!

Morning People....or Not!

2009-05-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

I think I'm a pretty nice person. I get along with almost everyone and just love life in general. But it takes a little time in the morning before "I" actually come to life and this generally 'nice person' wakes up. I am NOT what people refer to as a 'Morning Person'. I'm not mean - at least I don't think I am. The real problem is I can't form complete sentences before I have my coffee. Yes...I'm one of those, thanks to my grandmother who started letting me have 'coffee milk' at her house when I was about three years old. It was about 2/3 cup of milk and 1/3 cup coffee and lots of sugar!!

My incredibly thoughtful (and wise) hubby gets the coffee ready before we even go to bed at night so all I have to do is push a button and coffee begins brewing. OR...if we know for sure what time we're getting up he will even set the timer and I awaken to the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I know he does this because he loves (or maybe it's purely out of self-defense but I'm going to say it's the love thing,)

Here's my issue - I like French Vanilla creamer in my coffee. So, if the people who make this wonderful product know it is for people who will be putting it in their coffee AND that a lot of their customer base cosists of people who are NOT 'morning people' WHY OH WHY OH WHY would they change their container design WITHOUT attaching some kind of warning on the label? A simple statement that says "Hey friends...before you pour that first cup in the morning please take notice that we have redesigned this bottle and you will now have to open it in the complete OPPOSITE direction than you have been doing for years." I am a nice person....I am a nice person....I must remember....I am a nice person....please put the knife down....I am really a nice person!

He still makes my heart race!

2009-04-27T10:04:00.001-07:00

I married a Yankee - I know.....what was I thinking? I guess I was thinking...."hey...this guy totally speaks my language (minus the Texan drawl)".

But then the differences became obvious. He like the Cleveland Browns, I was a die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan. He's 6'5" - I'm 5'2". He wore suits to work.....I lived in jeans and flip flops. Rest assured, they were always cute jeans and fancy flips ....you know, the kind with sparkly things and bright colors. But as newlyweds you don't necessarily notice those differences at first....well, I did notice the height difference but the other things we just so cute. **sigh**

I'm here to tell you what true love is all about. Adapting. Not so much compromising because that pretty much means meeting in the middle somewhere - but learning what the other one likes and making some changes. WHAT ( I hear you !) ?? Isn't that just a slap in the face of the 21st century woman? Haven't we worked our tightly toned tushes off to achieve equality? Why would we want to start giving in to what the man likes again?? Well.....maybe because HE LIKES IT!!

But it's a two way street. There were things I liked too. And then one day it happened. My suit wearing, northern boy came struttin' out of our bedroom wearing (oh...I can hardly think about it without my heart racing) blue jeans, a white button down shirt and cowboy boots!! And I was smitten all over again....not just because he looked SO DARN GOOD but because I knew he did it just for me. Now that's what true love is all about.

I say "Let the Sun Shine"!

2009-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned I'm from the South or...did I really even need to? :-)

I love the south but I must confess that the heat can be a bit of a challenge at times. Southern Belles don't say we 'sweat'...we say 'we're glistening'. And we like to have a mint julep in our hands if we are.

But I am considering reviving this trend from a by-gone era ~ the Parasol!

Beauty and functionality all in one! Now...where did I put that invitation to the Garden Party?

Is there such thing as "Too much of a Good Thing"?

2009-04-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

I believe that life is all about balance and that 'too much of a good thing' is probably a valid statement - although I am not sure it applies to the weather but then again, I live in a state that actually has seasons. So maybe if I did live in a place where it was 78 degrees year round with no humidity to make my hair do the exact opposite of what I want it to do then maybe I would make a seemingly irrational statement like "ya know..you really can get too much of a good thing - I think I'd like to live in place where it's so hot in the summer that your shadow sweats."

So I was listening to a radio program (Ok..it was on NPR - yes, sometimes I listen to NPR and so do you and you know it!) where they were interviewing Paula Deen - I woman I admire because she loves real butter and uses it not sparingly which is why her Pound Cake will be served in heaven. BUT... I heard her describe something that I'm pretty sure even if I did my "Hip Hop Abs Cardio Burn" workout DVD four times a day for an entire month I would still not be able to work off the calorie packed, carb filled, deep-fried damage. It's called "The Lady's Brunch Burger". And here is the recipe just in case you're having the girls over soon:

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
3 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
2 tablespoons grated onion
House Seasoning, recipe follows
2 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
6 slices bacon, cooked
3 KRISPY KREME DONUTS (YES...you read correctly)

Directions:
Mix the ground beef, chopped parsley and grated onion together in a large mixing bowl. Season liberally, with House Seasoning. Form 3 hamburger patties.

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Add the burgers and cook until desired temperature, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.

Fry bacon in a hot pan until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

While burgers are cooking, heat a non-stick pan, over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Crack 3 eggs into the pan. Cook until the yolks are just set and still slightly runny and remove.
Place burger patties on glazed donuts, as the buns. Top each burger with 2 pieces of bacon and a fried egg.

Yes, friends.....that is what TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING looks like!

Judge NOT!

2009-04-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

Seriously...I consider myself a pretty low-maintenance kind of girl. Ironically, I'm writing this from my time share condo in a beautiful Caribbean island but that's just because my hubby insisted on this purchase and because I love and respect him so very much...I didn't argue. :-) But...I'm not into designer labels - if the purse if pretty and functional, I'll buy it. Shoes? I just want them to be cute and comfortable. Actually, truth be known....if I could wear sandals or flip flops all year long, I would. Really?? $800 for a pair of shoes because some group of marketing boys decided to put Mr. Big Deal's name on them and convince the world that THIS leather is worth more than THAT leather?

But I discovered a while back that I'm very particular about my coffee....mug. Not the coffee so much...the mug. I do NOT like a dainty, fancy china cup. I do not like short mugs. I do not like a cup where the lip swoops outward. I don't like a thin rim. I do NOT like styrofoam or a metal travel mug.

I want a BIG ceramic mug, with some fancy art-work that holds at least a pint of coffee!! Is that too much to ask?? WELL?? IS IT??

So as I sit here in my beautiful condo with every amenity a person could ever want, I am inconvenienced by the fact that they stock the cabinets with small coffee cups and now I actually have to get up to get a refill.....myself. Gees.

The point to my rambling today is....be careful who you judge and for what. Or better yet...just don't do it at all. Because that same woman with the designer shoes and 4 carat diamond earrings just might be the very same woman who just donated a pint of blood that saves your life...or that she gives anonymously so children in the inner city can have clothes for school.

Now....who wants more coffee? :-)

My Favorite Bra

2009-03-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

While I was getting dressed I kind of whispered under my breath, to myself, that I wished my favorite bra wasn’t in the dirty clothes. My hubby, who must have assumed I was speaking to him since no one else was in the room, said “sorry, I didn’t hear you…what did you say?” I, somewhat startled that I had actually said that out loud, replied “oh…..I was talking to myself saying I wish that my favorite bra wasn’t dirty”. He, obviously unaware of a women and her relationship with her lingerie, said “why don’t you just buy 3 or 4 more of the same kind since it’s your favorite. That way when one is dirty you’ll always have some of the same kind handy.” Bless his heart.

My mind began to ping-pong thinking ‘should I inform him that his feeble attempt at solving my dilemma bordered on insanity or smile innocently and say “thank you baby for that suggestion…why didn’t I think of that?”’ How could I let him know that variety is the spice of life and how incredibly boring it would be to have one choice even if it was wonderful? Didn’t he love that I worked tirelessly to choose colors and designs that were functional, when necessary, but impractical….when necessary *wink wink*?

Then it occurred to me how perfect it is that he thinks that way. I’m thankful that variety isn’t the spice of his life and that it makes perfect sense to him that when you find that one thing that ‘fits’ just right….you stick with it. That’s good news for me. Maybe not such good news for him because my love of lingerie is probably not going away any time soon. But somehow….I don’t think he minds. :-)

Waxing Philosophical Y'all

2009-03-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

So I was enjoying an amazing climb up our neighborhood mountain - and might I add it was truly one of those spectacular days weather-wise especially given the fact that one week ago it snowed ALL DAY LONG. But the temperature on this day was a perfect 72 degree with low humdity. So I was kind of a bit more 'in tune' with nature because I wasn't wiping sweat off my forehead nor was I tucking my hands in my sleeves because the wind picked up and suddenly I was freezing. Nope...it was pristeen and perfect.
Here comes the 'deep thought' portion of the show...seriously, and you know I'm not all that into 'seriously'. A woman was trying to take a picture of the skyline of the city off in the distance and I heard her say "I'm trying to get the big picture and the camera's auto-focus is focusing on the tree in front of me". Kind of like....I can't see the forest for the trees? Here....cool picture for visual effect.

WOW...it really made me go into some kind of meditative mode thinking about how often I have looked at the small 'issue' in front of me and did't see the beauty of the Big Picture. I think I'm going to disable that 'auto focus' in my brain and enjoy the view. And yeah....this is free of charge. You're welcome! :-)

Jury Duty and a few laws you may NOT know about

2009-03-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hubby has jury duty this week. Now while it may not be the most fun activity one can imagine it is, indeed, a responsiblity and a privilege. This is truly a great country we live in. THAT BEING SAID...I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the lesser known laws that have been established "in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty...etc.".

Alabama - It is unlawful to wear a false mustache in church and cause "unseemly laughter.

California (Berkeley) - it is illegal to whistle for a lost canary before 7:00 A.M.
(Costa Mesa, Ca) - it is illegal to enter a movie theatre within four hours of eating garlic.

Connecticut - According to state law, in order for a pickle to be qualified as a pickle, it must bounce.

Delaware- It is against the law to pawn a wooden leg.

Georgia (Conyers) - an ordinance was passed that prohibits saying the phrase "two fried eggs and a fritter for a quarter" in an attempt to prohibit slang talkin'.

Illinois (This one may be my FAVORITE!)- it is illegal to make love while hunting or fishing on your wedding day.

Indiana (South Bend) - it is illegal for a monkey to smoke cigarettes. Violators are fined 25 dollars.

(Elkhart, In.) - it is against the law for a barber to threaten to cut off a youngster's ears.

Mississippi (Canton) - it is illegal to kill a squirrel in a courtroom with a gun.

Missouri (St. Louis) - it is against the law to drink beer from a bucket on any street curb.

Ohio (Bexley) - Ordinance #223 prohibits the installation and usage of slot machines in outhouses.

Tennesse (Memphis) - it is illegal for a woman to drive a car unless there is a man running or walking in front of it, waving a red flag to warn approachingmotorists and pedestrians.

And last on this list but certainly not least....
Wyoming (Newcastle) - It is against the law "to make love in a meat freezer."

The Newlywed Game returns to TV

2009-02-25T11:08:00.000-08:00

"Carnie Wilson, the Wilson Phillips singer who hosted her own talk show and appeared on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club," is slated to host 40 episodes of a new GSN edition of the show where newly married couples answer questions to find out how well they know each other.

Are you as totally excited about this as I am?? And I'm pretty sure my hubby will be just as happy - he {loves} endures my love for games! Give me a SCRABBLE board and a glass of wine and we can have the game night of all game nights! Having friends over? Bring out the TABOO! But this brings a new level of excitement to "our" love of games. Seriously....how many times do I need to be reminded that I am not a genius...thank you JEOPARDY. But we'll rock the newlywed game - oh yes we will because my hubby and I know everything about each other....I think...I mean, he does know where we went on our first date, doesn't he?? And I'm pretty sure he knows my favorite flavor of ice cream...maybe. And what I wore on our honeymoon night...right? He'd surely remember that, RIGHT?
Hmmm...who needs marriage therapy when we will soon have The Newlywed Game!

The new edition of "The Newlywed Game" premieres April 6. It will feature an updated set and a new bonus round with couples who have remained married since appearing on the show."

Come on....You know you want to see what the girls are talking about! HERE!

Commercials WORK!

2009-02-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

I saw this on TV last night...I will own one by tomorrow!

A case of advertising dollars well spent! Good job Revlon.

No way was I going to buy "The Ped Egg" even though I needed one. I don't know why - maybe because "As seen on TV" makes me skeptical from the get-go or maybe because I just can't grasp the image of an egg on my foot being a good thing. I'm funny about eggs. I like eggs, don't get me wrong. But when I see that commercial where the woman proudly proclaims she only uses the BEST eggs for her son, uh-hem...."The Chef", and then she presents a plate of BARELY cooked eggs where the yolks look exactly like they do when they first hit the frying pan, I want to gag. In fact, I have to look away because, in that case, the commercial makes me want to NOT buy eggs. I think she should leave the cooking to the chef. But I loved eggs (especially in a cake!) long before that visual assault so I resort to my own internal commericals where eggs are involved....and they are yummy.

I will have more to say about commercials next time but for now - can someone tell me where my Geico Gecko went??

Oh you've got to see what our girlfriends are saying - READ MORE!

An Entire Month Dedicated to PANCAKES!

2009-02-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

Who knew?? Not me!! Where have I been? I just discovered what a lot of people, apparently, already knew and that is ... February is Pancake Month! Like...as in...Officially! I am now the happiest girl...in the whole U.S.A. (Oh yes ...there is actually a song called "I'm the Happiest Girl in the whole USA" and the following line starts with "Skip-a-dee doo da, thank you Lord". If you ever want to hear the most annoying song ever - one of those "I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY BRAIN SONGS" - well, why would you want to do that?). Back to my point - PANCAKES! HAPPY!!

I like mine smothered with Mrs. Butterworth's syrup and not the light variety. If you're going to have a pancake, this is not the time to make any type of compromise or try to justify the binge by using 'sugar free' syrup or anything less than the thickest, most buttery syrup you can find. And speaking of butter - please, sir, may I have another! Lots of butter is a must and don't even dare try a non-butter substitute that promises to lower your cholesterol. NOT TODAY! Today - we celebrate the people of ancient times who, perhaps by sheer accident because of the lack of a non-stick skillet, created a delicacy that we honor with, not just a single day, but an entire month! So here's to you - Flapjack, Fritter, or just plain o' Pancake....today I lift my fork to you in shameless, sweet, syrupy celebration!

Follow us for more goodies HERE!

Happy Engagement Anniversary to ME (oh..and him)

2009-02-13T07:42:00.000-08:00

My hubby is crazy or as Holly Hunter said in "O Brother, Where Art Thou" - he's 'bona-fide'! A certified, bona-fide crazy man! I fell in love with this man as soon as our cosmic comic sides collided. He makes me laugh...a lot! And he thinks I'm a hoot! Now granted....not everyone finds the humor in many of the things we think are so funny but we think they're the misfortunate ones. So - here's my point. Today is the celebration the day he proposed to me....in the parking lot of the Quick Trip Convenience Store. WHAT?? Not romantic?? I beg to differ. You see....we had developed this routine of going to the QT on Wednesday nights to get a cup of cappuccino - mmmmm......self served, piping hot right out of the convenient nozzle (thus, the title "Convenience" Store). We talked about getting one of those fancy cappuccino machines where we could brew one for ourselves any time day or night.

So - it was another Wednesday night and I plopped myself down (yes....you can take the girl out of the country, but....) in the soft leather seats of the passenger side of his very pretty European car. It was a beauty - well, he loved it - I couldn't understand why he didn't just want a pick-up. :-) When we got to 'our' QT he put the car in park and I opened my door. He said "hold on just a minute...I've got something for you". NOW...what do you think I thought he had for me? Two days before Valentine's Day?? YES - I thought he had truly bought me my very own CAPPUCCINO MACHINE!! I was so excited!! And then.....well, the rest of the story is history. I still call my diamond ring my cappuccino machine. And we laugh. And other people still don't get us!

Check out what our girlfriends are talking about at She Just Got Married!

Is it just me or are addicted to Cash Cab too?

2009-02-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

I've never really been a Game Show Junkie but I do love one in particular – Cash Cab!! I am addicted to this one. It's become a ritual for me and the hubby - which means it's scheduled fun - so that counts as a date, right? HA!

Anyway...it makes me happy – like, strangely happy. Unsuspecting passengers get in, what looks like, a typical New York yellow cab. Ben Bailey, the taxi driver, ducks his head a bit making him appear to a hunched over old man, greets them in one of his many fake accents and right when they are settled in for the ride….BAM – flashing lights come on overhead and Ben turns around and cheerfully announces “You’re in the Cash Cab….a game show that takes place right here in my Taxi!” And I can’t wait to see their reactions. Some know the show well and are just giddy with excitement while others look suspicious and question the validity of this bizarre situation. It’s these skeptics that I enjoy watching the most. At times they look guarded and even annoyed but agree, sometimes condescendingly, to play Ben’s little game. The questions start off easy and the captured contestant typically answers the first few correctly and…”well, that was easy”, you can see them say to themselves but they are not yet fully engaged to the point of outright fun. Yet, as they weave through the city traffic and the random trivia questions proceed to get a little more challenging their body begins to engage with their minds. Their expressions turn from sophisticated to silly and then they’re hooked! They’re happy…I’m happy…it’s another win/win. Even when they lose….Ben manages to make them see that the FUN was the game itself. I love fun!! :-)

For more fun check out the other BLOGS

The Votes are in...I'm OFF the Charts!

2009-01-31T12:57:00.000-08:00

That sounds like a good thing, right? If someone tells a Rock Star his latest song is 'off the charts' he's thrilled, right? Or when your honey says "baby my love for you is immeasurable...it's off the charts (ok, sometimes I have these crazy dreams....whatever!) - that would be a really good thing, right? But when your chiropractor says it....not so much. FYI - I rarely go to a doctor and I haven't been to a chiropractor since I was two - yeah...the pain was severe!
My doctor has some piece of equipment that looks like it's right out of Star Trek. She starts scanning my back and I hear beep after beep. Then she says...and I quote:
"Let's look at your scan. We're looking at the amount of swelling in the areas you're feeling pain. Yellow means moderate, green means mild and red means severe. Yours are black....off the charts".
I'd love to tell you this pain came because I had attempted some amazing atheletic feat and, while I may have come away with a few bumps and bruises or even a broken bone or two, it was totally worth it - that it was, in fact, just the price of victory. Sadly, it is not the least bit glamorous. So here it is - my words of warning...MAKE SURE YOUR COMPUTER MONITOR IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU. You force your muscles to their limits by twisting in an unnatural position for hours on end....and you too can be told you are "off the charts". I don't advise it. Move the monitor!
The good news is...I've gotten some pretty nice neck messages from hubby. At this point I'm not sure I'll tell him when the pain is gone. :-)

More and MUCH MORE from our friends' points of view - CLICK HERE!

It Clearly Says "Omelet Pan"

2009-01-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

Hubby and I love, love, love weekend brunch and would dearly love to experience it every other day of the week but there’s that little thing called ‘work’ that keeps cramping our lifestyle. Nonetheless – I'm talking about a slow, laid-back kind of day where we drink coffee till 10:00 a.m. and follow it up with, what he refers to as, a ‘country girl breakfast’. That means biscuits and cream gravy, strawberry jam and scrambled eggs with cheese and, just for that extra bit of tasty, caloric delight….bacon. AHHH – bacon. So we talk about how yummy that would be and reminisce about the days before we knew what ‘carbs’ were. Then we agree that, perhaps, we should stick to omelets – which we love and since I’m from Texas – I, naturally, top mine with pico de gallo. Now THAT is what I call good eatin’!

So – here’s the point…..we decided to go shopping for a bona-fide omelet pan. Sure, you can cook them in a traditional non-stick pan that you’d use for grilled cheese sandwiches or salmon fillet but what if we had a pan that was made specifically for cooking omelets? How distinguished we would feel and how magnificent those omelets would surely taste. SO…off to “Kitchen Gadget Store” (I love the store but am not so sure the employees are the sharpest knives in the drawer – kitchen humor – ha!). Hubby and I walk the aisles in search of the HOLY GRAIL of omelet pans since we have committed to less carbs, more protein. Alas – there it was. I picked it up and it said in big, bold letters “Omelet Pan”. It was beautiful and shiny and EXPENSIVE which had to mean something wonderful. As mentioned previously, hubby doesn’t love (abhors) shopping so this meant our trip to said store had come to an end. We proceed to the checkout counter with treasure in hand. The young man, whose job was to scan item, collect money, and bid us a heart-felt “have a good day”, says “Yea…this is a ‘good pan’ but I hear EGGS STICK TO IT”. I looked around to see if we were on one of those hidden camera shows – or if Ashton Kutcher was crouched behind the register!! I’m thinking about contacting Alanis Morissette to ask her to re-write her song….”Isn’t it Ironic”?

Want to hear what our girlfriends are saying today? Read more HERE

He's Tall, I'm Short...It just works!

2009-01-22T06:24:00.000-08:00

I'm 5'2" and that's with my Texas hair - he's 6'5". We gets "looks" when we walk through the mall...which is rare because hubby hates to shop!! But we are a "sight" and people ask strange questions - well, some they never really come out and ask but they certainly imply that they are wondering. I just stop them and say...."we're the same height laying down".

That pretty much brings a screeching halt to the conversation!

There are several advantages to being married to a tall guy....I don't have to keep a step stool in the kitchen, he can clean the ceiling fans without standing on a chair and we are pretty awesome at vollyeball. Ok - he's awesome but I have a pretty good serve - alright fine....it's not all that great but whatever! But - I discovered that his height is not always a blessing - at least not to ME because I had NO IDEA what was on the top of my refrigerator!! Do you know what's on top of yours? Let me tell you....if you haven't looked in over a year, well.... I'll just say that if hubby and I are coming over to your house - I'll give you fair warning!

Check out what our girlfriends are talking about HERE!

A Swim With The Opposite Sex Could Lead to Scrabble

2009-01-20T16:23:00.000-08:00

I grew up going to summer camp and I LOVED IT. I learned ‘oh so much’ at camp (some of which I’ll just leave to your imagination….ok, sadly, it really was just "PG" rated but it sounded risqué for a minute). Contrary to my view of the opposite sex today, in those days I saw them strictly as competition. I despised the phrase 'you’re pretty good….for a girl'. That was like throwing gasoline on a bon-fire and caused me to scream obscenities like 'Oh yea? I can whip your butt in ping-pong!' I should stop right here and tell you that saying "butt" in my house growing up was cause for immediate grounding. Did I mention I was a preacher’s daughter? More on that topic later.

So when it came time for 'girls' swim' (because who knows what mischief would have happened if 12 and 13 year old boys and girls swam together under the watchful eye of 10 camp counselors…..well, then again – maybe they did know ) I quickly scurried up the TREE (yes, tree…..we swam in the river) and headed for the diving platform. That’s when the shouting began….."You can’t go up there….that's the BOY'S diving platform". “OH NO YOU DIDN’T just say that!!”

Years later I became an excellent diver, I parasailed UPSIDE DOWN, and I still play a pretty wicked game of ping-pong. Yes….I still have a competitive streak but today when my husband asks if I want to play ping-pong or tennis or Scrabble (our own version - yea...you know what I mean!) it’s because it’s just want to have fun. And quite frankly, you’d be surprised how MUCH fun it can be….. when you just use that imagination.

Having FUN?? Read what my girlfriends are talking about: She Just Got Married Bloggers

Lights, Video Cam, Action!

2009-01-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

Ok - seriously...I may need to start charging the FLIP FOLKS to advertise for them. I have to tell you - I've truly flipped for the FLIP (oh...how cliché but I can't help myself).

The fun was catching the brides-to-be by surprise and asking them a certain question - if you want to see their reactions and answers I'll just let the video do the talking!

CLICK HERE - YES, HERE

Enjoy!

Fun with my new Toy

2008-12-30T06:37:00.000-08:00

Meet Chloe and Casey

I just bought a Flip Video Camera and while I am not quite ready to start my own production company, I do, however, feel pretty much the same as I did when I got my first cell phone (only I'm not hiding behind racks of clothes in a department store like I used to because I thought someone might think I was pretentious and snobby because I owned a cell phone which, by the way, was about the size of a brick!) FYI - my little video camera is smaller than my first cell phone actually. But - this - this is MAGIC! I feel like I've just entered into a new dimension...like being on the Starship Enterprise where Captain Kirk can teleport me anywhere I want to go in the blink of an eye - to BOLDLY go where no man has gone before!! (Simmer down....I'm still talking about the camera!) This little piece of technological ingenuity has opened up a whole new world of possibility! And now....my family lives in fear. Here's why (and I quote):

"Oh my goodness.....Mom is on FaceBook. Did you know Mom was on FaceBook?"

"Oh great - someone gave her a digital camera AND she's on FaceBook."

"Who told Mom about the Flip Video Camera? What?? She saw it advertised on FaceBook?"

"Are you KIDDING ME?? She has her own YouTube account?"

Yeah....I'm pretty excited.

His Name is Eric

2008-12-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

They met in the sixth grade and he was her ‘bully’ – or more accurately, he was doing what sixth grade boys do when they like a girl. And if that girl’s assigned seat just happened to be directly in front of said ‘bully’, then it made it just a little easier for him to get her attention. They had their first date in the ninth grade and he asked her to marry him on her 20th birthday.

When Eric accompanied our family to Costa Rica to be a part of the wedding celebration of my son and soon to be daughter in law, anyone would be hard-pressed to think he could have ever bullied her even on a sixth grade level. At the reception we girls kicked off our sassy high heels shoes and danced the night away, barefoot, while the Costa Rican monsoon dropped buckets from the moonlit sky. It was fantastic! When we got back to our garden of paradise hotel we were soaking wet and drenched in happiness. We all went our separate ways to change into dry clothes. As I walked down the hall to say goodnight to my own mom, she silently motioned for me to stop, put her finger up to her lips in the universal “shhhh” position then pointed, directing my attention to the room on the left. I know my mom’s smiles – the ones that say “thank you” or “you’re still so silly” but this one let me know that I was about to be witness to something that would speak volumes about the man who would soon be my only daughter’s husband. As I walked closer I heard a giggle. I turned back and looked at my mom with an expression that asked “are you sure I should look?” With her nod of approval, I cautiously peeked in, hoping not to be seen, and there I caught a glimpse of love in action. My daughter sat perched barefoot on the edge of the bathroom sink as Eric washed her dance weary feet like she was a princess. Bully? I think not. I can’t help but wonder… did the thought ever occur to her as she squirmed in her sixth grade classroom chair or when she threatened to tell the teacher on him if he didn’t stop teasing her….. “Today I met the boy I’m gonna marry”.

**Just a Thought**

Life Lessons from Stone Mountain

2008-12-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

2008 has been a Wonderful year for Personal Growth!! How’s that for a positive point of view? Hey…it’s better than saying 2008 was a miserable year and I’ll be glad when it’s over. Ok…I’ve actually said that but I’m looking for that silver lining.

Truthfully, as I now reflect 2008 and Stone Mountain has taught me so much about life (yes, it's a mountain made of stone and you can walk the 1.25 miles up - it's spectacular but a real booty kicker if you're aerobically challenged). I liken this lesson to a moron…..excuse me, a PERSON who, on January 1st loudly proclaims "this is going to be the year I get into shape" (by the way, my mom told me ‘round’ is a shape – I kind of like that one). So, this "person", being a slave to fashion conformity, dons (don, you know..as in "Don we now our gay apparel…fa la la….") his Nike jogging pants, New Balance running shoes, a pair of polarized Aviator sun glasses and heads to Stone Mountain to join the other 1, 224 proud owners of new running gear who have made the very same New Year's resolution. Yep…you’ve seen him. The one who does those annoying warm up toe touches and windmill stretches making sure everyone sees him. Then suddenly, he hits the ground in a full sprint because he's decided there will be no pussy-footin’ around. He truly believes he can just RUN up the mountain when, for the previous 11 months and 30 days he hasn't so much as taken the trash to the end of the driveway without having to stop and catch his breath at least once. He envisions the crowd cheering and the music crescendoing as he reaches the summit – like the great Rocky Balboa. Yes, this is the same guy you pass who is standing with his hands on his hips, head bent down gasping for oxygen, mumbling something about “breaking in new shoes” as you methodically pace yourself in a steady rhythmic walk because YOU, at one time, were ‘that guy’. It sounded like a good idea as he announced his intentions to everyone in ear shot – we like to call it “accountability" because if we say it aloud then surely, it shall be SO. There might even have been a time in days of long ago that he could have sprinted his way to the top and not felt the pang of muscles that had atrophied or, at the very least, been comfortably hibernating. But today…not so much!

Ok – you ask, "WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH LIFE LESSONS FROM 2008?" Not really anything. I just love watching those people and, because I’ve learned to look for the positive in any situation, I usually say something like "good for you...hang in there” or ‘Hey...nice sun glasses!!’ That usually cheers them right up. :-)

Check out: "Just a Thought" for more insight into life!

Football and Fantasies

2008-12-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Back before “everything.com”, we subscribed to the local newspaper that was delivered to our front porch each morning via a young boy on a bicycle with a whale of precision pitch. Everyone took their favorite sections and we were your typical family….Dad clipped coupons (yes), I did the Jumble puzzle, my mom looked to see when the Dallas Cowboys were scheduled to play next. Our family lived and breathed Cowboy football. My father was a preacher (oh stop it already…I can hear what you’re saying about preachers' daughters, ya know!)….. And if the Cowboys were in the Super Bowl there was obviously a special heavenly injunction that allowed the church powers that be to rearrange, what was otherwise, a set in stone, attendance mandatory, service schedule. Oh we got our obligatory time in …song, prayer, two more songs, a mini-sermon that somehow weaved in a blessing for the boys about to take the field, that no harm would come their way (no blessing for the opposing team, mind you), one last prayer and a collective “Amen….Kill the Dolphins.” Wow…that just sounds wrong now on so many levels. Growing up in Texas we were taught to believe that we lived in “God’s country” and that the Cowboys were God’s team which is why the football stadium has a hole in the roof….so God could watch them play! And when my great-grandmother passed away, there above her casket, displayed with pride and honor… was a Dallas Cowboy pennant….I kid thee not.

I left Texas and moved to Georgia but never rescinded my loyalty to the Cowboys. Thankfully, my daughter was a cheerleader all through high school and understood the game. She cheered those Spartan boys to victory with her spirited “We want a…we want a...we want a TOUCHDOWN” and was even able to make sure the fans were engaged with “We’ve got Spirit YES WE DO…we’ve got Spirit HOW ‘BOUT YOU?”

Wait…let me correct myself – she did not understand the game, come to find out. Apparently she had not inherited the football gene. So when the moans and groans ensued of having to endure yet another Sunday afternoon of football I simply suggested she pull out her old cheerleading uniform and BE the half time show! She was less than amused but I'm pretty sure this is how Fantasy Football got started. :-)

Like this? Then check out: "Just a Thought" ~

Your Family Traditions are Weird

2008-12-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

Let me start by saying our family used panty hose for Christmas stockings. Do you know how far panty hose stretch and how much you can stuff in them? And anything goes – fruit, tooth brushes, underwear (which had to be worn on your head if you got underwear in your stocking). Sometimes we’d go so far as to tie ‘trailers’ on the toe of the stocking if the goodie wouldn’t fit inside the stocking – like an omelet pan. I know…”why didn’t you just wrap them up in a box like normal people?” We did – we had traditional wrapped presents as well. But the stockings were half the fun! And when the kids looked in the den with their sleepy eyes and saw their stocking draped over the back of a chair filled to overflowing with a mystery bonus gift tied to the toe – well, priceless. You should have seen what our 80 year old grandmother did with her stocking and a banana … and two oranges…use your imagination!!

But now it was Easter which, to us, traditionally meant dying Easter Eggs…and hiding them along with chocolate bunnies and robin’s eggs which were malted milk balls – which the kids hated but I loved. But that was pretty much the extent of the Easter Celebration. This is not to say that we didn’t celebrate the resurrection of Christ – we just didn’t restrict it to a particular day. But her fiancé’s family had traditions that paled in comparison – like refraining from eating meat for six weeks! When you come from the land of beef, that concept was…well, hard to swallow! He also does the egg thing but they follow the Orthodox calendar so it’s never the same time as mainstream Easter which was confusing at first but then I realized HEY…twice as much fun! But this was his tradition and if she wanted to embrace it that would be her decision. I just wanted malted milk balls.

My son married and embraced the traditions of his wife which meant he would not celebrate any holiday. I have to be honest that at first that was a system shocker – not so much the thought of not having family Christmas together or that he wouldn’t pass the panty hose custom down the family tree but more that I wouldn’t be getting a birthday present from him any more. Birthdays are big to me. It’s a tradition that goes back to when my grandmother started throwing her own birthday party and does to this day. I love that tradition so I embraced that one myself.

My other son has been dating a girl who doesn’t celebrate the resurrection or Christmas at all. And she’s Vegetarian – which is amazing that someone can refrain from ever having a Chili’s Big Mouth Burger. Six weeks? Maybe. So….I learned all about hummus. I also began learning about Shabbat and the beauty of people rich in history.

From my daughter’s fiancé I learned about "stefana", thin white crowns used in an Orthodox wedding which are joined by a white ribbon and have been blessed by the priest. These crowns symbolize the glory and honor that is being bestowed on them by God, and the ribbon symbolizes their unity.

And I learned that you don’t need any holiday or tradition to express love and acceptance. And that being given a gift for no reason other than “I thought you’d like this” is better than anything tradition ever guilted us into buying.

The beauty of family begins with embracing diversity and making room for new traditions – even if those traditions include the removal of some old ones. Happy…every day!

http://www.shejustgotmarried.com/