Our Competitive Sides

A random moment caught when we're both talking smack to each other, aka making fun of each other/challenging the other to an absurd opportunity to compete against each other to prove one's superiority.  This competition has included: bowling, wrestling, corn hole, geography trivia, rumicube, beer pong, and tripoly...just to name a few.

Nick's Going Deaf

Nick's right ear has problems.

For the past few years, it has rung more than Sunday church bells and gives him annoying headaches that require zoning out in front of the TV, which happens to be the #1 life pet peeve of mine.  I hate 90% of television.

I try not to be an annoying wife.  I never say anything about his white holey socks or astronaut shoes.  I think he looks great in those shirts he's worn since 1992.  I participate in sporting events, learned how to play poker (albeit, with a cheat sheet), have decreased shopping trips and never drag him along unless it's absolutely necessary.

However, with concern to his hearing,  I have been nagging him like a horse.  This last episode where his ear was ringing like a schoolbell, I yelled at him to get to the damn ear doctor before he goes deaf and can't hear me anymore.  He consistently argues this is fine with him and will just wander around in his own world.  UNACCEPTABLE.

The thought of how much work it will take when I'm 89 and will have to hobble around to his left ear so I can blast my latest thought into his noggin motivates me to get him to the doctor NOW.

He makes an appointment.

Basically, the words internal pressure, balance, fluid, and inevitability were used doctor to explain why he inserted a new tube in Nick's ear that will help drain whatever needs to be drained.  A small sliver was cut into his eardrum to support the new tube, but otherwise it's a relatively uncomplicated process.  I was impressed with the simple procedure because he had a tube put in about 3 years ago and was entirely put out for surgery.  When I came to get him post-surgery, they warned me he might be "a little off."

His behavior was indeed "a little off" after surgery.  Nick was flirting with the 60 year old lady nurses and laughing his head off.  He kept saying, "HI BABE!  WHAT'S HAPPENING?" about 9 times in 10 minutes and picking at his hospital gown.  The nurses loved him.  I had a headache.

So, now that the procedure is done, I am grateful for two things:

1) Nick's hearing is preserved (for now)

2) I didn't have to live through the nurse flirting again

Bring on the Fire

Nick and I have been married for 2.5 years.  In that time frame, I've begun to forget the rage and hectic stress that came with planning a wedding.  As Kelly, Nick's sister, is now engaged, we are often talking about our own experiences with vendors, catering, DJs, space, money, photography, guest lists, flowers, music, ceremony, dress, priest, gifts, time, programs, court, rehearsal, readings, petitions, aisle runners, hair cuts, honeymoon...you get the idea.

As I told Nick last night, I am "reliving the fury."  It's absolutely appalling at how much CRAP you have to do to get married.  It's insane!  I joined The Knot when I was newly engaged.  The Knot is a site for planning the big day and it has more tips and buttons on that thing than anything else on the internet.  Brides from all over go on that thing, ask each other questions, compare rates for vendors, and gather ideas for themselves.  To get an account, you must have an ID.

Mine was FieryBride27.

Whenever I am reliving the fury, Nick nods in agreement but then punches, "FieryBride's back!"

This FieryBride is definitely fired up for Big Fun, but hope that all of our friends out there who are planning this special sacrament are able to really step back and ENJOY the sacrament, the sanctity of your love.

So for Bella and Anderson, Megs and Dave, Kerri and Chris, Tom and Vanessa, Geri and Jim, Greg and Maura, and of course Tim and Kelly - we are keeping you guys in our prayers as your special day inches closer and closer.

Contact FieryBride 27 with any questions!

Anticipating the Impossible

We're over the Sugar Bowl.

I know that we're officially over it when Nick proclaims, his eyes round like huge UFOs, "You know something? I'm excited for Ohio State football next year!"

My mouth is full of my burger, "You are?" Except it sounded like, "YHO AH?

"Yes! They're going to have everyone back next year except for two guys."

"Ok." I am contemplating the level of danger to emotionally invest in the 2008-2009 OSU football season so soon after the Sugar Bowl.

"I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT YEAR!" He's nearly jumping from his seat.

I remain calm and contained my emotions by maintaining distance to that prediction. It's like we switched life roles or something.

Nick continues, his eyeballs fixated on something far far away into the future, his voice drops in thoughtfulness, "As long as they beat USC. As long as they beat USC, we've got a chance."

Well, I'm glad we're healing and Nick is planning next year already. As I finished my burger and watched his face begin contemplate how the Fall 2008 schedule will unfold, I began fearing what might happen to the Bucks in about 48 weeks should they advance that far.

Our fanhood cannot be questioned.

Boston Undies

Keith is in town.

As he is now Mr. Audit for Macy's, Keith has spent the weekend with us here in Beantown. Knowing that Keith's been up here a few times before, we knew that entertaining wouldn't be difficult. A few bars and good eats provided a fitting backdrop as we got to spend some quality time catching up.

On Saturday afternoon, Nick, Keith, and I went into Harvard Square for the afternoon. After a nice lunch at Au Bon Pan, Nick and Keith headed off to explore and I went to explore the sales at some of my favorite retail places. We met up at the great bar of John Harvard's Brewery and I saw Nick's shoulders sag with relief when he saw me return with empty hands. No shopping bags means thicker wallet in butt pocket.

We headed back home and walked to the T stop (Boston's public train station) and amidst our chatting, I noticed an odd site. I shook my head thinking I saw it wrong. I looked again and I could have sworn I saw a few men with jackets and ties, but no pants - only boxers. Nick and Keith were engaged in conversation and I peaked around them to get another look. A few more people appeared in their underwear and before I knew it the train pulled up and Nick was pushing me along to get on the train.

Nick and Keith looked dumbfounded as Fox news and police officers were on the train with us. Cameramen were interviewing common T riders asking how they felt about riding the T with others in their underwear. It was then I looked beside me and saw a man, mostly normally dresssed in a nice suit, except for no pants. He was wearing boxers. Nonchalantly, he read the newspaper and Keith was swiping glances out of the corner of his eye while he did the infamous silent shoulder-shaking Keith laugh.

I looked around and saw a number of police officers just ensuring that nothing too outrageous occured.

Nothing outrageous?

Fox news, police officers, and people running around in their underwear on the T was just another funny day in Boston. As it turns out, it was just an organized harmless prank of over 500 individuals to get people smiling and laughing. Click here for the full story.

As we contemplated whether to drop our own pants or not, Nick, Keith and I could barely contain our laughter when we overheard a police officer say, "Yeah, did you see that one guy's boxers? The Rubix Cube ones? He must be an engineer or something."

Repercussions

We're moving on in Boston, but our hearts were broken in New Orleans.

We're still in mourning.

Nick is now sick, too.

A very painful, "Go Bucks."

Settling Again

Nick and I made it back to Boston. With delays.

We're enjoying a work-free, class-free, student-free weekend and we're loving it. Little bit of TBS movies and soup, lounging, and light cleaning studded our first Saturday back in Boston. We're also on a two-a-day workout regime. In hopes of melting off our Massillon/Russia/Cincinnati blubber, we're hitting the gym twice a day for a while to get back into shape. Other than that, we're still unpacking and waiting to hear more about Kelly and Tim's wedding decisions.

Every few hours, Nick explodes with a new number in his countdown toward the BCS national championship game. Tressel and Miles are now household names as we brace ourselves for a tense and nail-biting game. Until then, we're still debating our 2008 goals (08 is oh-great), how long our two-a-days will last, how awesome Big Fun will be, and how the Buckeyes will resurrect against the Lions.

Oh, by the way, all must be aware that Big Fun is a term I coined about three years ago when I began thinking about how fun their wedding would be and so I casually began using the term, much to Nick's amusement.

And so, for the future and for clarity, Big Fun will be frequently referenced in the upcoming months.

Big Fun in 08!

Home for Christmas

Home for Christmas

Kelly and Tim's Engagement Slideshow

2008 started off with a bang!

Nick and I were partying like rock stars at the Renaissance Hotel in Columbus, Ohio with Tim, Kelly, Ruthie, Books, and loved ones. At approximately 10pm, Kelly got the surprise of her life!

WHOOP IT UP!

08 - OH GREAT!