Mr. Independent

Okay, so he's not exactly the Kelly Clarkson song... but my man never ceases to amaze me. Every now and then he just up and does something that you wouldn't think he could pull off.

It's amazing how much stuff he's started doing independently since we got married. I remember when we went on vacation with his family last May, his mom was super impressed at all the stuff he was doing on his own!

I was so proud. :) But, I realized, I don't really have that much to be proud of. He's the one doing the stuff. He should be so proud of himself! It doesn't really say anything about me, like I'm this great inspiration for independence or anything. What it does is it says something about him.

He does this stuff so I won't have to. Because he knows I already have so much to do. Like Friday, when I came home to him making grilled cheese sandwiches. In the toaster oven. Yeah!

So, his way of transporting the sandwiches from the toaster oven to the table may be a little unconventional...

Note Brokaw the helper dog, always available to offer assistance when it comes to food! (Licking his chops) Ha.

He's come a long way from the time I came home to rice all over the kitchen floor and a pot of water on the stove. I so almost had a heart attack that day as I explained to him, I will cook for you, please don't! I really don't want to put our renters' insurance to work and I don't have time for a trip to the burn unit...

Yep. Sandwiches are his thing. He made them again yesterday so we would have lunches for the next few days. I just finished one, it was yummy.

I used to feel the weight of doing everything a lot more when we first got married than I do now. I realized that yesterday because we actually did run into a situation where I ended up feeling that way. So thankful it's not like that anymore.

Yesterday, it was the Post Office. I need 11 priority mail boxes to mail the Christmas gifts I've made for our families. But the Post Office is only open during the hours I work, and since Michael doesn't drive, he can't get to it. We looked into ordering the boxes online, but found out it would take up to 7 days to get them. I was grumpy and pouty as I left yesterday morning for work.

I ended up ordering them online anyway. If people don't get their gifts until the Day after Christmas, sorry, that's just the way it is. Remember, I'm trying not to stress out about Christmas this year? :)

M and I had this little e-mail exchange about it yesterday:

Me: i never had a chance today to check on the post office situation until now.

it's 4:30 and the PO by the WH closed at 4pm and the one in Springfield closes at 5pm.
i just went ahead and ordered the boxes online. hopefully they will come faster than 7 days. we'll see... i think i might stop by target tonight and get bubble wrap.
or, maybe tomorrow, i don't know yet. i am a little tired. busy but good day! how was your day?

Michael: Good. I just couldn't get to the PO. So sorry.

Me: but you did get my oven fixed.**

and i love you for that. even if you can't get to the post office.
thank you very much for taking care of the oven!
that is priority over priority mail ANY DAY!!!
Love you BABE.

Michael: :) u made me grin.

**More about the oven later.

Pets Everywhere!

Maybe it's the cold. I don't know. I do know the cold makes me want to snuggle. Maybe our pets are the same way?

Check Brokaw out, as we were finishing up breakfast...

Brokaw used to have a really bad habit of jumping up in M's lap. He doesn't really do it anymore, because he now understands Michael is the Alpha dog or whatever. But he did it on this particular day and I thought it was so cute, so I took a picture. I showed Michael, who replied, "Hey, I'm not really in there! I'm not just a piece of furniture."

Ok... take two...

*Note, Laundry Man has some work cut out for him there in the background*

Then Miss Katy jumped in the action... wanting a snuggle with me...

She gets jealous of the blackberry getting so much attention.

I am not generally fond of this cat's bad habit of jumping onto the dining room table... but she does make a nice snuggly pillow.

Of course, now that we've shown attention/affection to Brokaw and Katy, we had to show Princess some love, too. Of course, that means we have to go to her. Because life happens on Princess's terms. But it's all good, because Michael is used to working with a demanding diva. :)

We're Not Going Home for Christmas.

There, I said it.

That's right.

We aren't going home for Christmas this year.

Usually, our plan is to spend Thanksgiving with my family (easier because they're all in the same place) and Christmas with Michael's family. This year, it worked out better to spend Thanksgiving with his family. And we were planning on going to see my family for Christmas.

But, it was totally stressing me out!!

Take a look at my mother's house.

It is a beautiful, awesome, on the water beach house. One of my favorite places on earth. It's bright and cheery, and peaceful and always incredibly clean. I love it. And I love going to visit in the summertime when M and I can stay on the futon in the Man Cave downstairs, and there are no worries.

But the idea of Christmas was stressing me out! I was waking up in the middle of the night last week, trying to figure out how we were go get M up to the THIRD FLOOR for Christmas Eve, back down to the SECOND FLOOR to sleep that night,then back up to the THIRD FLOOR again for Christmas morning. Then back down to the ground floor to leave. I actually cried a couple of times.

Not that we couldn't figure it out. I'm sure with a series of my mom's friends who have strong backs, we could have made it. But it would have been a lot. Up and down flights of steps is not easy. It just isn't. And not only do you have to get him up and down the steps, you also have to get the chair up and down the steps.

I kept visualizing all of that, plus the 7 hour drive back and forth, plus the fact that we would probably also have to stop in Chesapeake to see my Dad and my Sister and her family, plus my Granny lives in California now so she wouldn't be there, plus my Brother who is in the Army isn't going to be able to be home for Christmas.... and the giant Christmas math problem was adding up to what was just a really hard decision for me.

I pondered the idea of us just staying home by ourselves for Christmas. I have a few days off and we could just relax around here. Open gifts and stockings by our own Christmas tree. Maybe I could make my first Turkey for our own Christmas dinner. We could relax. Snuggle. Read the Christmas story together. Christmas can be just ours.

And I felt a huge sense of relief. My mom has told me when that is the case, you know you've made the right decision. The next day, I called her and told her. And I think she was a little sad, but she mostly understood. And truth be told, it was stressing her out, too.

No need for all that stress! I'm really looking forward to our first Christmas just us. It will be really special. And we're lucky because I think most people have to wait until they have kids to de-tach and claim Christmas for themselves, but we get to do it now :)

We'll make lots of phone calls Christmas morning. And we'll see both sets of parents when they separately come visit us, in January. What a relief!

Our first Christmas together, in Texas. 2008

The Saturday Morning Post

This font is probably going to look weird because I started writing this post just as a journal entry in Pages, then copied and pasted it and I don't know why it does this but it just does. I guess I'll have to check with my Technology Advisor about that, when I get him up.

Aaahhh. It’s 7:45 on a Saturday morning. You know how I love my Saturday mornings. They’re even better in December because there’s a Christmas tree, and Christmas carols playing on Pandora, and a candle burning that smells like cookies.

Makes me want to bake cookies. Which I will probably do, in mass form, later today. Also later today, our friends Jessi and Brendan will be here and we’ll share a pot roast, homemade bread (I need to get on that) and other items of deliciousness.

First I need to clean. And get to making some dough.

No, not first. Not first.

First, I need to just sit in my white chair with this blue and white blanket Ann gave me when she gave away everything she owned to move to Thailand. And drink my coffee (that needs to be refilled soon) and snuggle with this warm Puggle who is curled up at my feet and ENJOY.

Yes, that’s what I need to do first. And apparently tell the TV that yes, “I am still listening” to Pandora...

The heat just kicked on. It’s been very cold here this week. I don’t like commuting in the cold. It makes me order espresso drinks at Starbucks which are expensive and will ultimately make me fat as all get out. I think soon I’ll go back to driving, at least for the next several months, so I can just get coffee. Yeah, that’s better.

There are a couple of things I'm going to try to blog about before I go wake my best friend up.

Tansfer Like a Girl

Whenever we go anywhere, there is a little logistical detail that needs to be noted. This is whether we're driving to church, the grocery store, another state, or to the White House Christmas party. Actually, it's not little at all, it's a HUGE deal.

Michael needs to get in and out of the car. He can't do this on his own, so I have to do it for him. This is called a "transfer." I don't really know why it's called that, I guess because you're transferring from one place to another. Whatever. It's one of those words you learn when you live with someone that's paralyzed.

We have a Ford Escape. It's a smaller SUV. It's perfect for us. All three of us fit comfortably. Me. Michael. And the chair. In the back. It's great, I don't even have to take it apart, which is good, because that would take time and you know I'm anti-anything taking up precious seconds from my day! :)

To do this, Michael pulls up next to the passenger side back door. Locks his chair. Then, I squat down and put one arm under his armpit and one arm under the backs of his knees, and my chin on his other shoulder. I use my legs to literally pick him up (think groom picking up his bride) and sit him down in the passenger seat. I put on his seat belt, close the door. Then push the chair over to the back and lock the wheels again, pick it up and set it in the back, close the hatchback, then sit my own butt down in the driver's seat and we're off!

The only problem is this transfer business can be pretty physical! It's hard to do in heels (hello, lower back injury, anyone?) And, in a skirt, how shall I say this? It's impossible to do with any amount of modesty. Friends, this is why you'll never see me at church a) in a skirt or b) in heels. Sometimes it does take the fun out of being a girl, but whatever. It has to be safe, first and foremost!

Well... obviously for the WH Christmas party I was all dressed up in a dress and heels, hello! I certainly did not want a back injury and/or for everyone on God's green earth to see the parts of me you see when I hike said dress up high enough to squat deep enough to pick a grown man up!

So, my solution: I wore a pair of black yoga pants over my pantyhose. Pulled my dress up like it was a shirt. And I wore flat, slip on shoes, just for the transfer. Well, I wore that stuff the whole drive to the White House, and for the transfer back to M's wheelchair when we got there. Then, in the car, I shanked my pants off, put on my heels, and we were good to go!

I consider this a victory in planning, accommodation and resourcefulness! I'll definitely be doing this again. Glad I figured that out.

The White House Christmas Party

I know you've been waiting for this post!

First, a confession.

I can be a little cheesy when it comes to dreams coming true.

But, know that it's from my heart. That I mean it, even with the cheese and what not. Because going to this party is seriously, literally a dream come true for me!! I've wanted to go for years, came close twice, but no cigar. Almost didn't make it this year, I was very close to crying about not making the cut again, but no, instead, I got to go, and it was the most amazing timing ever.

I'm SO glad all those other years I didn't get the chance to go and that THIS was the year it happened for me. For US. Because Michael enjoyed it AS MUCH if not more than I did!! And it wouldn't have been the same if I'd been before. It was so special to share this awesome night.

Two years ago, I would have gone with a co-worker, and while it would have been nice, that's just not the same as going with your husband. Last year, it would have been "us" but I think I would have been way too nervous about a few of the logistical details of going to really enjoy it, and I would have been afraid of the wrath of having fun/having a dream come true. More on some of that, later.

This year, everything was just perfect. Even better than I expected it to be! Isn't it so nice when something you're anticipating not only lives up to the expectations you've set up, but exceeds them?

Pictures first... then, stories.

Mr wonderful admiring himself in a tie. Thank God he doesn't wear a tie every day. Also thank God this particular tie was still "tied" from the last time he wore it. Because him explaining to me how to do it, and my lack of patience in doing so is not good for our marriage, trust me. :)

We were told to arrive a little early. So, we ended up being some of the first people to the White House for the party. It was really nice to wander around the rooms and just take it all in. I made a conscious effort to "go Michael speed" (which was a good idea because my poor black pumps are literally falling apart and if I walk fast, I literally step out of them!) and pay attention to the details and soak it all in.

He did look really great in that suit, didn't he? Gosh, I love this guy.

I noticed that there are books in the sitting room for men and dishes in the sitting room for women. What's that supposed to mean? They get to read while we get to look at dishes? Boo. I would not be opposed if there were desserts and such being served on the dishes, but I only find dishes mildly interesting to look at.

We ate dinner in the Red Room. And, although both of us managed to forget to bring one of the straps Michael uses to hold a fork or whatever, he managed to eat without any major spills on any White House rugs. And I managed not to have an anxiety attack, although I was definitely given the "calm down" look from my loving husband several times. :)

And dessert in the Green Room. Thanks Babe for getting a shot of me!

The spread was, of course, amazing. Smoked salmon, fresh shrimp and scallops, beef tenderloin, latkes, roasted veggies, raw veggies, butter soaked mini-potatoes, I can't remember it all at this point, but it was delish! Dessert was an assortment of cookies, a divine yule log, pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, a cream cheesy lemony layery cake, and an incredible fresh fruit tart, among other things I'm sure I'm forgetting.

We really enjoyed eating and roaming all over the State Floor, mingling with people. It was fun to meet new people, and also introduce my super cute Hubs to some of the other reporters and some of my White House contacts and some of the President's senior advisors.

We also posed in front of a series of huge/beautiful Christmas trees.

We took it slow. We took it all in. We looked at each other several times that night, like "Is this really happening?" We met a guy who runs the elevator who has been doing it for 40 years. Imagine! So cool.

When we were leaving, we stopped to take in the sounds of these guys from Princeton singing. I called them a giant Boy Band, but I don't know if that's really what they were going for. Beautiful voices, though. I think Michael wanted to dance with me right there but I wasn't up for that. Don't want to make a scene :) But it was romantic, just standing there with each other, as the boy band sang acapella love songs right there in the East Wing.

Then, I took one last picture of Michael, in a suit, next to the Giant Bo Dog made out of something like 40,000 pipe cleaners, and we went home. Just like that.

I have no pictures to illustrate the two coolest things from the night, though!

#1. We got a major hook up and got to park our SUV on the White House Complex. Like, seriously, you may or may not know this, but there are these concrete beam thingys that are at the checkpoints by the security gates for very important vehicles to drive thru, I haven't ever been in a vehicle that is "cleared in" for those things to shoot into the ground, not even for work. We pulled up, handed the SS agent our info, the doggie swept our vehicle, then a series of concrete beams were sucked into the ground for us to drive on to the complex. Major cool factor!!

#2. We were the very first people that night who got our picture with the President. Okay, y'all. You know me. Or, maybe you don't, I don't know. But you don't have to spend much time around this blog to know that I hate playing that card. I seriously do. I hate playing the wheelchair card so much that I have been known to be in tears at sporting events when we get any kind of "special treatment" or at a national park, when we get in for free. I'm a freak. I realize this. However... I/we did NOT even play that card, it just got played for us, and we were bumped to the front of a really long line of people waiting to get their picture taken with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. We were escorted into the Diplomatic Reception room and shown where to stand. Someone came in with a black velcro X and placed it right behind me on the floor, so POTUS would know where to stand. We stayed there for 10 minutes or so before the First Couple entered.

Michael: "Well, hey Mr. President!" President Obama shook M's hand, "Hi, welcome to the White House." Me: "Hi Mr. President, thank you, Merry Christmas." We said hello to Michelle, too and shook hands with her.

The President definitely had his hand on my shoulder! And, for the record, he has really soft hands. They were both very tall and striking and warm. Very friendly. Michelle Obama does not have a wrinkle on her face. She's like a chocolate bunny. I'm so glad she stood on Michael's side because there is no way on earth I would be able to avoid looking short/fat/white next to her! I am a little fat right now so I hope the photo turns out okay with me next to Barry. :)

It was an unforgettable experience. A dream come true. An awesome middle-of-the week date night! And, also for the record, 24 hours later we were eating leftover sloppy joes in our living room. So, I think it's safe to say we've come back down to earth.

So Wrong...

Brokaw has been shivering in the cold. He is a little dramatic... no idea where he gets that from! :)
So, I dug out his little sweater. It's a little, um, how you say??? Snug. Haha. So, I got Princess's sweater, too.

B was not amused.

Laundry Man

I wouldn't say the household chores are evenly divided around here. But when you consider the circumstances, and the time and effort involved, they kind of are. Michael folds (pretty much) all of the laundry. It's not perfect. It's not exactly how I would do it. Although he has gotten better and faster in the year that he's been folding laundry! But, I'm thankful to come home to a basket full of folded laundry that's sorted his and hers and is ready to put away. Because I know he does it because he loves me and wants to contribute. And it's good enough to be stuffed into drawers and closets, for sure!

I love you, babe. Thanks for being the laundry man.

I secretly shot this video of M folding laundry one night while we were watching 24. Don't mind the TV in the background, it does sound like some love-making is going on, haha!

Baking Day!

Saturday, my good friend Jessi came over and we had a bake-a-thon!
We made pumpkin bread...
Mini-loaves of chocolate chip banana bread...
Peanut butter toffee bars...
With Jessi's homemade brown sugar!
Look at that action shot, not bad for my iPhone camera!
Magic cookie bars (my favorite!!!) and sugar cookies with Jessi's antique cookie press. Fun, fun, fun!!!
Too bad Sunday after church I got all sneezy and yucky sick :( Because I was planning to mail all this stuff off to our families Monday. Guess my co-workers will be loving me tomorrow!!! And, I'll be back at the mass-baking THIS weekend. Phew! I love this stuff, though.

I have some sad news to report...

in the plant life department. Remember those fresh, organic herbs I got at the cooking show? Yeah... I watered them, from the bottom, like I was supposed to... and yet... they still died. What can I say? Unless you bark, meow, or just plain ask for food and/or water, I cannot help you!