Two Blogs in Two Days

Well, I realized that now that I am shoulder deep in studying, I may be blogging more often. These will probably be random thoughts that I am using as a distraction from studying. Today's lesson in on technology. As I am writing, I have been on the computer for at least 4 hours "studying." This is a problem. The program that I use is over the internet, so it gives me ample access to my email, Facebook and any blogs I want to randomly check. (Including the frequency at which people are checking mine.) I know, I need to get out of the house.

Anyway, I had to put my phone on silenct and move it across the room so I wouldn't be distracted by random texts that popped up (even if they were just from Verizon telling me I have a bill to pay.) I recently told my dad that I have adult onset ADD. I like to believe that all my issues are adult onset. Anyway, he told me I am creating the ADD for myself. He told me to go to the library (how long has it been since you went there) and turn off the internet. Surprisingly, my ADD went away. We are so connected to everything and have been taught that we need to know everything immediately, and we are shortening our attention spans. Is it necessary for me to see immediately who has posted pictures or their random thought for the day on Facebook? No. Plus, it opens up a world of privacy issues. I know more about people I don't "really know" than they would probably like. Sometimes I feel like I still live in AL because I know what everyone did that week. When you think about writing something on your wall, you don't think about the other 513 friends you have - you are probably thinking about your close friends that will read the sentence.

My next issue is texting. It drives me crazy. I don't mind a quick text here and there about when and where to meet, or "I'm running a little late." However, when you text me, "What are you doing?" I would prefer that you pick up the phone. Additionally, dating is now a victim of technology. I have no problem with people meeting on-line. I actually think that is a pretty good idea, as long as you are safe about it. My issue is that romances don't seem to start with conversations anymore. They start with texts! Then you end up with people attempting to read into one or two sentences that their potential boyfriend or girlfriend has sent. "What exactly did the question mark at the end of the sentence mean?" Also, I read an article that said those relationships that do start with texts tend to move more quickly physically because you feel like you know that person more intimately. People are less afraid to write what they may be thinking/feeling than they are to say it. Maybe if Mike and I had started dating in the time of the text, it wouldn't have taken so long for him to say, "I love you!"

I know that there are positive things that come from technology. The internet is a great tool, and I do love Facebook so that I can keep up with friends who live far away. I think I will go check it before I get back to studying.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I know this is a few days (a week) late, but Bar prep is in full swing and it seems like all I am doing is studying and attempting to keep our house in some sort of order. Plus, I kept thinking about how exactly I wanted to write this - a celebration of marriage? What we did that weekend? Or a reflection on the past year. I am going to attempt to put all three of these things into one (somewhat) short post.

In pictures, the weekend:

We bought a new grill because the old one is not working. Do not ask me to explain why. This is the grill master at work. We had steaks, baked potatoes and....

A bottle of wine that my parents got for us. Yes, those super cute wine glasses have a "J" and a "M" on them. They were a wedding present. :-)

Sunday night (our actual anniversary) we went to dinner at Ruth Chris with a gift certificate from Mike's parents.

If you notice Mike is holding up the cork to the wine we had...he was excited. (can you tell we like wine?)

Here is the picture of the wine we had. Seriously, again with the cork?

And here is a picture of us. Please don't ask me why I look like I just got out of the ocean. It was humid and rainy that night and my hair was not co-operating. However, please take note that Mike has lost some weight since last year! He is looking quite handsome if I do say so myself!

So that was the weekend. We had a great time and made sure to eat that top layer of our cake. It was delicious!

Now, marriage is wonderful. I love having Mike as my husband - seeing him everyday, picturing the future together and knowing that I have a partner who will always be there to lean on. Mike is one of the most patient and supportive people I have ever met. He is also an incredible listener. (And not just to the last 5 seconds of a sentence when I say, "Did you even hear what I just said?") These are fantastic qualities, particularly because I realized this year that I have no patience. (I'm working on it.)

But, the first year is a challenge. If you attempt to tell me that you are married and made it through the first year without a disagreement, I will not believe you. I'm just laying that out there. You don't need to have had a knock down, drag out fight, but some sort of disagreement. Essentially, marriage is taking two completely separate lives and trying to somehow merge them into that perfect puzzle where you maintain your identities, but also are working as a partnership. I do not believe it can be done in a year. If you have achieved this, kudos to you. It is tough.

Personally, this year has taught me a lot about myself. I'm not perfect - surprise! I am messy...more than I thought. I forget things that you ask me to do (and I attribute this to old age) and I hate to clean bathrooms and fold laundry. There. It's out there. I need assurance when I do things, which actually really surprised me. Right now I am looking at signs that are posted around the house that say things like, "You WILL pass the Bar." There are approximately 7 of them. Mike can't wait for August to get here!

Mike and I did not grow up in identical families. We had to learn how to merge our ideas of what a family "should" be, into one that both of us were able TO be. I have accepted that Mike is not ever going to be my running partner. He has accepted that I do not like loud music and do not wake up well. Ever. (Even on our wedding day, I remember wanting to hit snooze.) But somehow, the pieces fall into place, and it works. Yes, there are disagreements along the way, but at the end of the day, there is no one I want to eat dinner with/watch Modern Family with/sit outside and do nothing with, more than Mike.

So, here's to another year of learning and love! Happy Anniversary!

It's Been Awhile

Well, my computer is fixed! Mike figured out that the computer needed to be taken to CompUSA and basically my hard drive was wiped out. (There was never a need for the instillation CD!) Then things got a little crazy. Mom and Grandma came to visit, then we went on our Southeastern Tour to celebrate Grandma's 80th birthday and meet our sweet new niece. It was a nice break and we were able to spend some wonderful time with family and friends.

Today is our One year Anniversary!! I am going to write a separate blog about that later, because it really needs its own space to be reflected on. However, we are having a wonderful weekend just hanging out and doing absolutely nothing! It is fantastic.

So below are just a few pictures to sum up the past couple of weeks.

This is Grandma when she came to visit us. Those are the ears I gave Mike for Easter, but he has yet to put them on his head....

Also, I don't know why this picture posted twice...sorry.

This is mom and me after a wonderful Mother's Day dinner (still in Dallas.) We had had a few glasses of wine...

While we were in Birmingham, we took a family picture. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it is hard to get 7 people to stare into a tri-pod at the same time. It was also interesting to see how much taller Mike is than the Blackburns. I never realized just quite how short we are all. He looks like he is anchoring our family down.

After the photo shoot, I was able to visit with three of my wonderful friends from high school and their baby girls. We have pictures, but I don't have a copy. Have you ever tried to take a picture of 3 babies ranging in age from 4 months to almost a year? It is difficult. The hoop-la (that is the only way I can think to describe it) behind the camera is hilarious as each person attempts to get the babies to look the same way. (And smile.) Then there is the catcher, jumping in and out of camera shots to make sure that no child will succeed in her attempt to dive head first off the couch.

We left for Atlanta a few days later. Mike and I drove in just in time for me to start observing my MIL making the secret sauce I will be chasing for the rest of my life. It was amazing, and I realized how off mine had been. We had a wonderful dinner in their new house and played a rousing game of dominoes. (They play for pennies, and it is hard core!)

Here is our sweet new niece, Calista. She is absolutely beautiful and such a good baby. I'm not sure how my sister in law survived this weekend. She had a month old baby, a 2 and a half year old and was attempting to move from house she has lived in for 10 years, into a bigger one.

Luckily, I was placed on baby duty - I don't do very well in packing situations. (Clearly, as I was taking pictures while everyone was helping pack)

Our nephew came home around 5 pm that evening. Kristen (my SIL) and I attempted to clean out the cabinet underneath her bathroom sink while this sweet child ran around and around. We threw the boy in the bathtub which was fun until he found the water gun, and then we got him into his Superman pajamas, complete with a cape. Now, Calista brought him a long Superman cape when she was born, so I got to wear the pajama one.

I wish y'all could have seen me as we got ready to leave for dinner. Kristen graciously offered me some make-up, with the caveat, "You don't need it, just if you want it." So sweet. I couldn't even think about putting some on because I was soaking wet from the bath (that I did not take) and sweaty from packing the house and chasing Houston. As we walked out, Mike said, "Hey Superman - do you want to leave your cape?" Yep. Still had it on.

So that pretty much sums up the past few weeks. I will write again soon. So glad to have my computer back!!