Allow me to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us to all of you. (assuming you live in the United States and celebrate Thanksgiving. To all the rest of you out there let me just wish you an especially good day today)
As often seems to be the case, one member of my family is sick on turkey day. Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s Jen. This year it’s Jen. I need to bring her a turkey plate home from my brother’s house.
Gobble Gobble!
Remember last week when I posted a picture of a soda bottle with my beloved wife’s name on it and titled the post, “Love”?
Look what my wife just texted me…
In the immortal words of John Lennon, “it’s real love.”
I know most of the Western Hemisphere is wishing each other a happy Easter right now, but I’d much rather take this opportunity to wish Jennifer, my beloved, brilliant, charming, witty, sophisticated, gorgeous wife, a happy eighth anniversary of our first date. Since that day our paths first crossed in person, I have learned what being In Love truly means. I have learned what caring for some one really means. I have learned just how good life can be. I have learned what real happiness feels like. And it’s all Jennifer’s fault. Thank you so much for that first date, and every single moment that followed it. I love you with all my heart, and I always will.
I know you don’t like me posting pictures, but I want the whole world to see the smile I so adore.
We’re celebrating tonight.
Eight years ago tomorrow was the first in a string of life changing events. Eight years ago tomorrow I went on my first date with my beloved, brilliant, beautiful wife.
We’re going out to dinner with the kids tonight to celebrate our 8th Dataversary.
I’ve made a slew of bone head, dumb ass moves in my day. Meeting Jen was not one of them. Nope, it was exactly the opposite. It was the start of something wonderful that keeps getting more wonderful with each new day.
Love you, sweetie!
Am I that guy who used to scoff at Valentines Day and say it was nothing but a drug store holiday designed to sell mass quantities of greeting cards and who actively, enthusiastically even, used to participate in Anti-Valentines day parties that included bowling and mountains of pizza and snickering at the loser couples all around us?
Yes, I am that guy.
Do I still feel that way?
Hells no! I love Valentines Day now! It’s all Jennifer’s fault. You know the story, cynical boy meets perfect girl and suddenly his entire outlook on life changes drastically. That’s me too. Objectively I know that I don’t need a “holiday” to express to Jennifer how much I love her. I know that. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to use the day as an excuse to go over the top and lay it on as thick as I can. Why not? I am head over heels, completely off my rocker, nuts in love with her. Why wouldn’t I take advantage of the situation, even if it is just a drug store holiday?
Happy Valentines Day to the love of my life, Jennifer. Every single aspect of life is infinitely better now that I’m with you. I love you!
I thought it would be fun to pull all of my old myspace blog posts onto wordpress. Yeah. Fun. The archive files I got from myspace are on the desktop of my laptop so I only go through them when I am using my laptop, which is only once every couple of weeks or so.
What have I learned?
Nine years ago I was a major tool!
I swore a lot more. I didn’t have to worry about kids reading over my shoulder, so there was little to no self censorship. My attitude was idiotic. I was pissed off all the time. Even when I was writing about things that made me happy I managed to sneak in snide comments about something or other. I just wasn’t happy with who I was or where I was at that time.
I’m still sifting through posts from 2006. They are only a little more than eight years old. They aren’t that old.
But something important happened in April of 2007. Something Earth shattering. I don’t know if it is going to show through in the posts from that time or not, but the major event really changed my attitude. It changed the very foundation of who I am.
What happened in April 2007?
I met Jen, of course.
We started chatting online late in 2006, met for reals in 2007, got engaged in 2008, got married in 2009.
Everything about me is different now. Everything about me feels better now. I am so completely in love with her, I can’t even put it into words. Jen has made me a better person. I owe her everything that I am. I love her so much.
My high school class lost a member yesterday. Not someone I knew well, I don’t think I’d seen her since graduation in 1989. We were never friends. I doubt either of us ever gave the other a second thought.
Still, 43 years old…
Give the people you love an extra hug and kiss. You just never know.
My wife is the best GPS navigator on Earth. Also, I have mirrored sunglasses and a huge nose.
This year is going by so fast it’s down right terrifying. How can it possibly be June 1st when New Years Day was just a couple of weeks ago?
We got home from our get away yesterday and before we were even in the house my beloved bride of five years and one day (two days, as of today) injured her leg. We were pretty sure it was nothing serious, but we went to the ER to get an x-ray to make sure. Thankfully our diagnosis was correct. She’s okay, but it hurts a lot. My poor sweetie.
Our trip included one night in Conway, NH and two nights in Jackson, NH. The hotel in Conway was called Adventure Suites. Each suite has a different theme. Ours was a jungle theme. It was really cheesy, but fun. In Jackson we stayed at the Wentworth which was pretty seriously classy. I would go back there in a heartbeat.
Mostly we just drove around in the mountains enjoying the views but enjoying the company even more. We stopped at a couple of waterfalls. Jackson Falls and Glen Ellis Falls. Jackson was right on the road next to our hotel. I could have just spent a day hanging out there. Glen Ellis required a short hike. The path was mostly stairs, and while it would have been easy for most people a super out of shaper like me had to take it slow. The view was absolutely worth it though. As with all of our White Mountains trips, it has made me want to plan a full vacation of just waterfall hopping. That would be awesome.
The best part of the trip happened on Friday when we celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary. We went for a fancy dinner at the Wentworth’s excellent restaurant. More importantly we spent the day just being together. I love my wife very much. Just being near her is a thrill for me.
We are home now though. Back to reality. Patches the kitty was meowing like a maniac the minute we opened the door. I think she was glad to see us. She hadn’t been pet in a while so we showered her with attention. Today I’ll post some pictures here. All the keepers are already on Flickr. It’s also a new month, and the 20 songs from April and March are all done (though a few could use a new mix) so today starts a new album in a month. June Music. How exciting!
Then tomorrow? Back to work. Oh, way to ruin the happy post, you jerk.
Five years ago today I married the love of my life. It’s been a great run so far and I can’t wait to see what the rest of our life together has in store for us.
I love you, Jennifer. Today, yesterday, and every day to come.
Inside the Red Head's Head 