Valentine's Shenanigans!

The past two days have been an absolute blur, but because I'm a nerd, I took a TON of pictures (it started driving T nuts after awhile...haha). And you all get to share in the love with us!

So starting on Saturday morning, T woke up to these cute little things posted all around our house:

I have an absolute love for post-it notes, and I got these ones from one of my good friends for my wedding. I don't know if you can read them but they all basically start with "I love you because..." Also, I was driving T nuts by telling him "Nope, you haven't found them all." And so he would go desperately searching around our tiny mobile home trying to find them all. It was pretty funny. Eventually he did find them all!

I don't know if you can see it but in the second picture above, the lower row in the middle, it says "I love you because you love pizza almost as much as I do." Well, we LOVE Papa Murphy's pizza, and when we saw this as an ad in their window, we had to get it!

Oh yes, heart shaped pizza. LOVE IT!

T gave me my gift around lunchtime, and he bought me "Ever After" and some sweethearts candy. I have always loved "Ever After" and in high school, I used to watch it probably 3 times a week. When we got married, it got left at my parents house and I haven't seen it since. So he did the awesomely husband thing and got it for me. When I told him "Well, now you know you have to watch it with me," he said, "Yeah, right." (He ended up watching it with me on Sunday though. haha)

Later that night, we had an activity that we have been planning for our job. Basically, we threw a Valentine's dinner for all of our neighbors, and these were the tables we decorated.

It was a crazy event. We started at 4:30 and we didn't get out of there until 8:45. Needless to say, T was little a sad that I was tired by the time it was over, being Valentine's Day and all. (Regardless, I found the energy later...hehe.)

After the dinner, I decided that it was time to give T his present. I had been holding it off from him all day and it was driving him crazy. I had it wrapped and left it on our kitchen table and he had to stare at it all day. It.was.fantastic.

This is going to be a little bit hard to explain, but this is what I did for him. A little background though: the only wedding pictures we've got hung in our house are my bridals and it drives him nuts that he's not in any of them. Well, I got one printed and framed it, and I also framed our marriage license. I stacked them in the wrapping so the picture was on top of the license, and this little note was the first thing he saw when we opened it up:

This was going along with my "I love you because..." notes. Then he lifted up the picture and this note was on top of the license.

This is what it looked like all together.

So that was Saturday. Whoo! One day down. Now on to Sunday:

T was really excited about this part. For any of you that know our family pretty well, T is the chef in our family. In fact, his favorite part of cooking is baking, and he bought these cute little heart shaped cake pans. He decided that he wanted us to make cakes for each other for Valentine's Day and since we didn't have time on Saturday, we were going to do it on Sunday.

Before we got started, we cleaned up the pan and it had this label that had super sticky goo holding it on, and so being the totally awesome wife that I am, I stuck to his back. I made him into CUPID! Isn't he cute with his little heart wings!

(PS. He glared at me after I took this picture)

After all was said and done, and about 4 hours of baking cakes, we had two, double-layered, heart-shaped cakes. This is the cake I made for T. It was a devil's food cake with fudge icing, and then the Triforce (from the Zelda games) in the corner in frosting. T was pretty excited about that one! ;)

And this was the cake he made for me. He swirled pink, red, and white cake batter together, then put red raspberry jam in between the layers, covered it in strawberry frosting and put real strawberries on top. Yeah, his cake beat the crap out of mine, but maybe that's why he's the chef!

Needless to say, we're going to need a lot of working out after this weekend is over with all the junk we ate. haha.

I hope you all had a great V-Day! We sure did!

A Poem.

As of midnight tonight, I will be single for about a month.

As of midnight tonight, he will be absorbed by the world of Northrend.

As of midnight tonight, I might actually get something accomplished this month.

As of midnight tonight, I could also lose a couple of pounds.

As of midnight tonight, I will lose my husband.


Tonight, T is going to pick up the next expansion in the World of Warcraft series, Wrath of the Lich King. He and a couple of buddies are going to wait in line for it to be released at midnight.

Some wives think video games are the worst possible thing for their marriage, and that might be true. For me, I figure that I will at least always know where he is at night.

I love my husband, the geekiest geek, and the man of my video game dreams.

Marriage Lesson #67

Never tell your wife that she snores, even if she does.

It will never turn out good for you.

Your wife is perfectly perfect, the sleeping beauty of the planet and there is no possible way that she could do something as absolutely hideous as making atrocious noises while sleeping.

No. Possible. Way.

So don't say anything. Lesson learned.

(PS, if you can't tell, T learned this lesson the hard way last night.)

I *HATE* STUPID PEOPLE - An End to the Ridiculous-ness

Welcome to the final frontier.

And the last post regarding stupid people. An update on people making a change. And heavens, does the world need a change (but we're not going to go there).

Everyone remember about Janie and Rachel? Good. Then let's move on.

As soon as T mentioned to Rachel that her behavior towards Janie was discriminatory and a down-right shame, she really seemed like she didn't want to change. Okay, fine. We can't fix everything. (Plus she doesn't work there anymore -- she quit when school started.)

HOWEVER.

Apparently after the work party where all the employees as well as T's boss were calling Janie foul names, the Boss's wife was not a happy woman. Not even in the least bit. Let's just say that much "discussion" ensued about her husband's behavior. Apparently being deprived of marital relations has caused the Boss to make a change.

Anyway, so the Boss had an employee meeting in which something like the following was mentioned, "Well, we've been doing really well as a team lately, but there is still work to be done."

My thoughts: "What does that MEAN???"

Well, apparently it means that he has decided (whether through personal choice or by fear of lack of intimate relations with his wife, we may never know) that the workplace is making a change. The employees that work with Janie the most no longer treat her with disrespect, including the Boss.

All in all, the puzzle is now falling into place, in the right way this time. Whether through T starting a dialogue or just by sheer luck, the world has changed for the better today.

I *HATE* STUPID PEOPLE -- THE SEQUEL

A short little update on our recent "situation"...

First off, thanks to everyone that commented and is providing their support through this whole process.

Here's what happened the next day (after the work party at the boss' house) when T ended up working with "Rachel," who is basically the main instigator of the whole ordeal. She is the one that started all their complaints and treachery against Janie, and so T felt it was appropriate to perhaps confront her first.

T left for work around 2:00, and I get a text no more than an hour later that says, "I said something to Rachel and it's not going to be a fun night." Obviously, this gets my interest sparked (and I become a little anxious) and I text back "Well, what did she say? What did you say?"

He didn't text me back immediately so I laid down to take nap, and I get a call from him as he is taking his break. Basically what happened, from what I understand, is that T said something like "You know, Rachel, I'm really concerned at the way you have been treating Janie, and I'm wondering if that is going to cause problems for the store in the future. It could possibly be considered harassment if it's not taken care of right now."

Keep in mind, however, that she is a college student, which would imply that she is a semi-full grown adult with at least a half a head on her shoulders. At least this is what should be assumed, people (we already know that she is not as mature as we would expect from someone her age). Apparently after T said something to her, Rachel proceeded to provide numerous excuses including "She brings it on herself, you know?" and "But she's just so annoying when she..." etc etc. And then proceeded to storm off into the back room.

T hasn't worked again since then, but he does work tomorrow. I wonder if her reaction may have worn off onto the other employees already and he may just get a mouthful of cold shoulder. Possibly. We'll see.

At least I know my hubby is trying to do the right thing.

As for the documentation aspect that you have all been mentioning, you are right on point. I think that's what the next step is for us, and if it gets T fired, I'm actually okay with it. Why would I want my husband to be absolutely miserable in a job with people who just won't grow up? Yeah, that's not my husband.

I think it may be time to open a new can of worms.

HAS IT REALLY BEEN A YEAR???

TOP TEN THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR OF MARRIAGE...

(With a few interspersed pictures for your entertainment.)

(1) Laundry does not get done by little gnomes like I thought it did. And sometimes, husbands do not tell wives when they don't have any more socks that were supposed to be washed by the little gnomes, and thus the husbands end up having to wear their socks multiple times until it is time for the gnomes to wash the wives' clothes, and at which time, the wives get angry with the husbands for not letting them know, and an argument ensues. Darn those little gnomes for starting arguments.

(New Year's Eve, 2003)

(2) Husbands fart. And it's gross. And then wives get angry with husbands for not excusing themselves and for it being gross. And then they move on.

(3) A recent lesson I've learned: it's awful to have a period right before your anniversary. That's all I'm going to say about that.

(Preference, December 2003)

(4) In no case, under any circumstance whatsoever, do husbands and wives EVER get fat after getting married. We look as *perfect* as the day we met in high school, and wives are always as beautiful as they were on their wedding day. In fact, to prove this point, I am wearing my jeans from high school today and they are in no way cutting off circulation to my thighs and my butt always looks absolutely fantastic. Always.

(5) You don't have to spend every. single. moment. together. In fact, I wouldn't even recommend it. It's not that I don't love my husband, it's that I can't handle his geekiness for more than oh, 10 hours a day, and he can't handle me be anal-retentive about everything. It's okay to step away and be alone. I love you, honey!

(6) I finally have more freakin' room in my freezer now that that stupid cake is out of it.

(Engagement pictures...The caption here is: "Red, I can't sit like this anymore...I just don't bend that way. Can we be done now?")

(7) You really don't have to fight naked like everybody told us to when we got married. (Yes, it's more fun...) In fact, you don't really have to fight at all. Honestly, there aren't many things in life that need to be fought over, so just apologize and move on. For example, there are going to be financial woes...but you love each other, and so you'll make it work.

(8) Birth control is a necessity. Add it to the expenses list. For those of you secretly wishing that we'll have an "oops" baby (...ahem...Erin...), it's just not going to happen yet. You'll just have to wait for baby Red a bit longer.

(Messing around during engagement pictures.)

(9) It is perfectly okay to take charity from the friends and family around you. Take the couches. And the bed. And the table. And the washer and dryer. TAKE IT ALL! (You'll need it...) (And thanks Mom & Dad, and Ruthann)

(10) And most of all, cry. It gets you what you want.

Lastly, here is my ode to T, in celebration of this glorious day that we both spent at work. Joy.

Love you, sweetie!

I *HATE* STUPID PEOPLE

(And this may just be the PMS talking, so be forewarned....)

If you've ever been around me for more than a few minutes, you'll easily recognize that I am a very organized, logical, ducks-in-a-row kind of person. So when I say that I have a very difficult time dealing with people that are "stupid," it usually means they did something very unorganized, ill-logical, or a very not ducks-in-a-row kind of action.

Exhibit A:

T has been having some issues at work lately. When he was hired back in May, the boss also hired about 5 others. One of these new employees, "Janie", has a disability. She is a little person, which to people like you and me, makes no difference whatsoever. Big deal. I'm going to treat her with the respect she deserves -- as a person -- because every person deserves that respect.

So what's the problem? Everybody. Else.

We live in a small farm town community in a very conservative area. That is not to say that I am not conservative myself because I am. The difference here, people, is that I am open-minded. It must be because I grew up with hippie parents (which I think it totally awesome), but I don't judge people by the way they look -- only by the way they act and treat other people. It's all about the respect! (Did you see that? Can you see the hippie blood running through my veins now?)

Let me start at the beginning. T would come home after work some nights and tell me about how the other employees in the store would ridicule Janie for not learning fast enough and the fact that she had a hard time talking to the other employees and customers. (NOTE: At this point, T hadn't told me yet that she was a little person or had any disabilities whatsoever. As far as I knew, she was normal sized and of average intelligence.) I guess it got so bad one day that the other employees put together all their complaints about Janie and gave them to their boss, with the intent of getting her fired. T didn't participated in this because he had only worked with Janie once so he hadn't had any reason to put complaints in to the boss.

I didn't realize how bad it actually was until we went to T's company party the other night, and all the employees (including the boss) were sitting around the dinner table, making fun of someone or something called "Nugget." I didn't really think anything of it -- I thought they were just laughing about some inside joke at work. I hadn't ever met any of the people T worked with, so I figured it wasn't my place to say anything about a topic I had no idea what they were talking about.

I found out later that night from T that Janie was in fact a little person, wore a hearing aid, and that the employees were in fact calling her "Nugget." (Something about not being a full chicken breast, but only a chicken nugget) I. was. appalled. I can't BELIEVE that anyone would do something so hateful and so discriminatory to anyone. I was pissed.

As T and I got to talking that night, I found out that the reason Janie had such a hard time talking with customers and learning all the products in the store is that no one had taken the time to actually teach her anything about the store...um, well, duh. If you want someone to sell products, they need to be taught (read: ill-logical). And the other store employees were trying to get her fired?? For them not teaching her??? Oh, it gets better.

What frustrates me even more is the fact that T's boss was actually calling Janie "nugget" too. Oh...man....talk about adding fuel to my fire. I am in the military, right? Team leaders just don't do that. You are the leader of your freakin' team, man! Own up and be a friggin' man! Tell off your employees for being utterly disrespectful! Thing is, he HAS to know that what he's doing is discrimination and is punishable by fines starting at $300,000 (T looked that up). Sounds to me like he's just begging to be sued.

Dude, if I was Janie, I'd be all over that man, and not in a good way.

Regardless, this is just one instance lately that has thrown me through the loop of stupid people. Experiences? Stupid people you know? Comment me.

MY HUSBAND IS A GGGOOOODDDD....

And no, that isn't a reference to our bedroom.

Even though that's true too, but we're not going to go there in this post.

When I say that I am a very, VERY awful cook, take my full meaning. My menus normally consist of something along the lines of grilled cheese, tomato soup from a can, macaroni and cheese from a box, and pancakes (also from my second man, Bisquick). My husband is my soulmate in that regard. He basically saved my dietary life.

What I'm getting at is that my husband, T, is one of the best cooks I know of, and thank goodness, he belongs to me. We had friends over the other night, and he made these absolutely adorable desserts!

Sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting with limeade concentrate mixed in, topped with fresh fruit.

Raspberry chocolate cheesecake shooters.

The best part about last night was the following conversation, which took place before our friends got there:

Me: "Hey, T. What do you want me to do?"

T: "Um...." (uncomfortable silence)

Me: "Can I help with something? Do you want me to cut the strawberries?"

T: "Well, you know, it would really be best if...maybe I need to...could I maybe do it myself?"

Me: (obscenely large pout) "...hmph."

T: "Well, really, sweetie. I need to learn to do it myself."

Me: (silence)

T: "I'm sorry!"

Me: (silence)

T: "Come on, now..."

Me: (silence)...."Okay, then can I take pictures???"

T: (silence)

...I am SO in love with this man.