I can hardly believe it. My husband/boyfriend/best-friend-with-benefits and I have been together for ten whole years now! (Our 10 year wedding anniversary is in December)
Committing to spending my life with my very best friend has been the best thing ever. I highly recommend it. Although, this person will have to be your special friend, mine is taken. Michael is wonderful, witty, and passionate. I'm a very lucky girl. We've been through a lot together, and it has only brought us closer.
So I'm feeling pretty good today, and I browsed on over to one of my favorite bloggers only to find that she was linking me. Thank you Rachel Lucas. I'm feeling remarkably cool and like maybe I should clean up the place since your readers will probably be visiting. If you came from there, welcome. Please make yourself comfortable.
Showing posts with label Announcement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Announcement. Show all posts
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
I'm not dead yet!
I'm still here. Just been busy in my real life. I promise, I haven't left you lovely people and will be posting more soon. And I promise, it will not all be political rants.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Ooh! Pretty and Deadly
Guess what's coming home today! Yeah, you're right. I guess I kind of gave it away with the picture. That's a stock photo. I'll take a couple with my camera later. Smith & Wesson's photographer is probably better at it that I am though.
Hubby and I went to the range on New Year's Day. This is part of a plan we have been putting together for some time now. His grandfather had the original version of this gun. There are some differences. His grandfather's is a .44 special rather than a magnum and it doesn't have all the pretty engraving. My husband and his brother figured out that that was probably the one thing that they would be fighting about inheriting. So they decided that the best solution would be to obtain another one. Having never shot a .44, my husband started doing some research. Several people recommended H&H Gun Range. We decided to hold off until after Christmas and then take a trip there. We made our first trip that weekend and loved it. New Year's Day we brought my brother-in-law and his wife to go shoot stuff.
Prior to this I had basically no experience with a firearm. I shot the .44 and decided that I had no business with a freaking hand cannon, but I really liked the 9mm semi-automatic M&P. Mr Smurf turned into swiss cheese.
After spending some time shooting the targets, we headed in to talk to a salesman to work out finances. Turns out, we were approved for their 6 months no interest plan so we decided to go ahead and get the revolver. Well then he showed us the limited edition engraved version. We ooh'd and ah'd and decided we had to take it home. After signing the paperwork, the background check came back with a delay. We know why, it's a long story. But today the gun was released. Hooray! Now I've just got to pick one out for myself. I plan to shoot several of the rentals on the range before I decide what I can really handle. Then we will start the process to get our conceal and carry permits. Long Live the Second Amendment!
Funny that it should be today that my friend over at Casto Creations would write this. Go read it. I've never shot a rifle, but I bet my aim isn't as good as hers was. I'll get some practice in though. I'll get there.
Let's look at the pretty thing again shall we?
Edit: corrected fat finger errors
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
A Girl's Best Friend
As promised, I have pictures. I haven't finished my coffee, and so therefore they are not good pictures. We will see if I can do better once I am fully awake.
First, my original set. These are very special. We were VERY poor at the time. We have a family friend that makes jewelry out of his home. He does beautiful work. Michael talked to him and was able to design our wedding set. We took a cylinder of wax and carved the molds in my little apartment. Michael made my ring and I made his. There were slivers of wax forever ground into the couch. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but my ring is two tone. It is yellow gold around the band and white gold on the infinity symbol. We chose that symbol because the traditional unbroken band of gold seems to have lost some significance in our society.
As pointed out on Casto Creations, handmade items are far superior for all the reasons she cited and then some. My ring is one of a kind, even if all of you copy it now that the picture is on the interwebs, my ring always will be the only one like it.
This is the re-engagement ring
Ooh! Aah! Yes, I thought you might be impressed. He did very well. He went to the previously mentioned jeweler. In fact, we just visited him last night to have it sized. It was really cool to stand there and watch while he cut out a piece of the platinum and then soldered it back together. The process is fascinating.
And here is the whole shebang all together. He cleaned and polished everything last night so it is all very shiny.
I don't know how long I will actually wear it all together. Maybe just for now, or maybe until we get our re-statement bands. We've been working on the design for the new bands for some time now. It is finally time for them to start becoming a reality.
So there you have it. You have the pictures and the story. Also, I can give you contact information for the jeweler, serious inquiries only.
First, my original set. These are very special. We were VERY poor at the time. We have a family friend that makes jewelry out of his home. He does beautiful work. Michael talked to him and was able to design our wedding set. We took a cylinder of wax and carved the molds in my little apartment. Michael made my ring and I made his. There were slivers of wax forever ground into the couch. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but my ring is two tone. It is yellow gold around the band and white gold on the infinity symbol. We chose that symbol because the traditional unbroken band of gold seems to have lost some significance in our society.
As pointed out on Casto Creations, handmade items are far superior for all the reasons she cited and then some. My ring is one of a kind, even if all of you copy it now that the picture is on the interwebs, my ring always will be the only one like it.
This is the re-engagement ring
Ooh! Aah! Yes, I thought you might be impressed. He did very well. He went to the previously mentioned jeweler. In fact, we just visited him last night to have it sized. It was really cool to stand there and watch while he cut out a piece of the platinum and then soldered it back together. The process is fascinating.
And here is the whole shebang all together. He cleaned and polished everything last night so it is all very shiny.
I don't know how long I will actually wear it all together. Maybe just for now, or maybe until we get our re-statement bands. We've been working on the design for the new bands for some time now. It is finally time for them to start becoming a reality.
So there you have it. You have the pictures and the story. Also, I can give you contact information for the jeweler, serious inquiries only.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Unable To Come Up With A Creative Title Today
I'm in a bad mood today. The very fact that I am in a bad mood is pissing me off because I have every reason to be in a good mood. But I have a headache. A bad one. Not a migraine, no, I thankfully haven't had one of those in a while. But at least there are stronger drugs for those. I suppose I could take Excedrin Migraine anyway and then I could be hopped up on caffeine and pissed off because my head hurts.
I should be in a good mood though. Hubby's Christmas present arrived in the mail on Saturday. I took it to rehearsal and showed it off to the choir. I got him this:
I wrapped it when I got home from choir rehearsal. Hope he doesn't figure it out! Yeah, kidding. When he got home, we decided to do our Christmas early. We had strong suspicions about what we were getting for each other and didn't want to put it off any longer. That, and it was looking more and more like Christmas Eve was just not going to work out as planned. Our suspicions were correct so I am glad we didn't wait. It's just no fun to keep secrets from each other. I was paranoid that I might be talking in my sleep.
He was very cute and romantic with his presentation. I opened a large box that contained a pair of candlesticks, some dark chocolate, and a bottle of red wine. The Watcher, in case anyone is interested. He asked if after nine years together, whether or not I would do it all over again if given the chance. I told him that of course I would. Then he presented me with my new very sparkley re-engagement ring. Don't worry, I'll post a picture later.
I got to show it off to the choir Sunday morning. The director's husband actually offered me a bribe to not show it to his wife. Needless to say, I am not ten dollars richer. The very difficult anthem was beautiful. Later, we made an appearance at the Christmas party for our Sunday school class. That was annoying because they scheduled it the same night as the Christmas Cantata. Since I was the soloist, I kind of needed to be at the Cantata.
The Cantata was beautiful. I was lavished with compliments. By the way, here's some free advice for you. When you go to compliment a soloist, don't ever say, "I didn't know you could sing." Even though I appreciate the sentiment, there is no good way to respond to that. Besides, I'm a Soprano, we come prepackaged with a Diva Complex. Sopranos feed off compliments. Our heads swell and we become nearly intolerable. We learn special techniques to not become dizzy with the world revolving around us. I can't tell you about them, that would be breaking the secret code.
Hmm, maybe that is the source of my headache. Upon returning to reality where I'm in accounting rather than gracing the stage with my presence, my head has been unceremoniously returned to it's natural size. I did get to show off my new ring. The Ooohs and Aaahs apparently couldn't maintain the appropriate cranial inflation. The headache set in after my show-and-tell was done. I'm sure the pressures will readjust eventually. But for now, my head hurts and so therefore, my mood sucks.
I should be in a good mood though. Hubby's Christmas present arrived in the mail on Saturday. I took it to rehearsal and showed it off to the choir. I got him this:
I wrapped it when I got home from choir rehearsal. Hope he doesn't figure it out! Yeah, kidding. When he got home, we decided to do our Christmas early. We had strong suspicions about what we were getting for each other and didn't want to put it off any longer. That, and it was looking more and more like Christmas Eve was just not going to work out as planned. Our suspicions were correct so I am glad we didn't wait. It's just no fun to keep secrets from each other. I was paranoid that I might be talking in my sleep.
He was very cute and romantic with his presentation. I opened a large box that contained a pair of candlesticks, some dark chocolate, and a bottle of red wine. The Watcher, in case anyone is interested. He asked if after nine years together, whether or not I would do it all over again if given the chance. I told him that of course I would. Then he presented me with my new very sparkley re-engagement ring. Don't worry, I'll post a picture later.
I got to show it off to the choir Sunday morning. The director's husband actually offered me a bribe to not show it to his wife. Needless to say, I am not ten dollars richer. The very difficult anthem was beautiful. Later, we made an appearance at the Christmas party for our Sunday school class. That was annoying because they scheduled it the same night as the Christmas Cantata. Since I was the soloist, I kind of needed to be at the Cantata.
The Cantata was beautiful. I was lavished with compliments. By the way, here's some free advice for you. When you go to compliment a soloist, don't ever say, "I didn't know you could sing." Even though I appreciate the sentiment, there is no good way to respond to that. Besides, I'm a Soprano, we come prepackaged with a Diva Complex. Sopranos feed off compliments. Our heads swell and we become nearly intolerable. We learn special techniques to not become dizzy with the world revolving around us. I can't tell you about them, that would be breaking the secret code.
Hmm, maybe that is the source of my headache. Upon returning to reality where I'm in accounting rather than gracing the stage with my presence, my head has been unceremoniously returned to it's natural size. I did get to show off my new ring. The Ooohs and Aaahs apparently couldn't maintain the appropriate cranial inflation. The headache set in after my show-and-tell was done. I'm sure the pressures will readjust eventually. But for now, my head hurts and so therefore, my mood sucks.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
9 Years Today!
Nine years ago today, I married Michael (of Michael's Soapbox). We are still blissfully in love, and each year is better than the last. We intend to remain newlyweds forever. I know, I didn't give you enough notice to purchase gifts. Don't worry, we accept PayPal :)
Funny how in this world, 9 years is quite an accomplishment. 50+ years is commonplace for my grandparent's generation. Our generation has invented things like "irreconcilable differences" and "pre-nuptial agreements." Many have changed their vows from "as long as we both shall live" to "as long as we both shall love." What a difference one little letter makes. Too often, couples go into their marriages with an escape plan.
Marriage is an institution, and I have been committed to that institution for life. It does take some work, but it gets easier with practice and it's worth it. Here are a few rules and pointers:
1. If you aren't sure that it's forever, you aren't ready to get married.
2. Marry your best friend. Your friendship will be there during the times that the romance is not.
3. Schedule and budget for a date night every week once you are married. It's important.
4. Dress cute for your spouse. It's hard to see a person as sexy when they wear their sweats all the time.
5. No opposite sex friends allowed! You may think this person is just a friend, but they will become a threat to your relationship when times are tough. Your spouse should be the only one you are confiding those feelings to.
In a perfect world, no marriage would fail. Everyone would go into it with the right ideas and work through everything that came along. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world. I really do believe that if both parties work at it from day one, the problems will never be too big to overcome. But sometimes one partner gives up and it takes two to make it work. Sometimes a person can be fooled from the beginning. Everyone makes mistakes. Each situation is unique, and I am not condemning anyone who is in or has been in a failed marriage. My heart goes out to you. I'll never understand, but the hurt must be terrible.
I would like to make an anniversary request. Hug and kiss your spouse. Tell him/her that you love them. Remember what made you fall in love in the first place. If you have stories, share them with me. Here, I will go first.
Michael and I met in 1998 in the music building at the university we were attending. He had a pseudo-girlfriend, but I didn't really care. They were on what she called a "trial break." I still think that was stupid and still think that meant he was fair game. Besides, I didn't even know about her in the first place. He was standing in the hall talking to a mutual friend. I approached and announced that he looked like he needed a hug and proceeded to hug him. We didn't even know each other's names at the time. He asked the friend if he really looked that pathetic. She told him that no, I just thought he was hot. She was right. I obviously got his attention. It's been nearly 10 years since that event, and I still think he's hot. And I apparently still have his attention.
Funny how in this world, 9 years is quite an accomplishment. 50+ years is commonplace for my grandparent's generation. Our generation has invented things like "irreconcilable differences" and "pre-nuptial agreements." Many have changed their vows from "as long as we both shall live" to "as long as we both shall love." What a difference one little letter makes. Too often, couples go into their marriages with an escape plan.
Marriage is an institution, and I have been committed to that institution for life. It does take some work, but it gets easier with practice and it's worth it. Here are a few rules and pointers:
1. If you aren't sure that it's forever, you aren't ready to get married.
2. Marry your best friend. Your friendship will be there during the times that the romance is not.
3. Schedule and budget for a date night every week once you are married. It's important.
4. Dress cute for your spouse. It's hard to see a person as sexy when they wear their sweats all the time.
5. No opposite sex friends allowed! You may think this person is just a friend, but they will become a threat to your relationship when times are tough. Your spouse should be the only one you are confiding those feelings to.
In a perfect world, no marriage would fail. Everyone would go into it with the right ideas and work through everything that came along. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world. I really do believe that if both parties work at it from day one, the problems will never be too big to overcome. But sometimes one partner gives up and it takes two to make it work. Sometimes a person can be fooled from the beginning. Everyone makes mistakes. Each situation is unique, and I am not condemning anyone who is in or has been in a failed marriage. My heart goes out to you. I'll never understand, but the hurt must be terrible.
I would like to make an anniversary request. Hug and kiss your spouse. Tell him/her that you love them. Remember what made you fall in love in the first place. If you have stories, share them with me. Here, I will go first.
Michael and I met in 1998 in the music building at the university we were attending. He had a pseudo-girlfriend, but I didn't really care. They were on what she called a "trial break." I still think that was stupid and still think that meant he was fair game. Besides, I didn't even know about her in the first place. He was standing in the hall talking to a mutual friend. I approached and announced that he looked like he needed a hug and proceeded to hug him. We didn't even know each other's names at the time. He asked the friend if he really looked that pathetic. She told him that no, I just thought he was hot. She was right. I obviously got his attention. It's been nearly 10 years since that event, and I still think he's hot. And I apparently still have his attention.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Check Mate!
My kid beat me at chess yesterday. First time ever. He was so excited, and I am so proud of him. He beat me fair and square. I did not let him win. It was a very clean check mate. I'm going to have to work harder to stay competitive with my 8 year old.
He had his first tournament on Saturday, September 29th. He didn't win anything individually, but his team took first and second place. I've mentioned the Chess Club here before. These kids are really amazing. Provided my son can keep up with his schoolwork and behavior in class, his next tournament will be October 20th. He's bound to just keep getting better. And I've already noticed a change in his level of motivation at school.
Feel free to visit IdaFreemanChess.com, shop in the store. It helps the team.
He had his first tournament on Saturday, September 29th. He didn't win anything individually, but his team took first and second place. I've mentioned the Chess Club here before. These kids are really amazing. Provided my son can keep up with his schoolwork and behavior in class, his next tournament will be October 20th. He's bound to just keep getting better. And I've already noticed a change in his level of motivation at school.
Feel free to visit IdaFreemanChess.com, shop in the store. It helps the team.
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