Today the rain is horrendous. It was horrendous yesterday, and it plans on being horrendous all the way through Friday.
When I was in college the rain didn't bother me much. I could wear rainboots and a bright pink puffy raincoat if I so chose, and change outfits four times throughout the day between classes if I got soaked.
Now that I'm working at a college, it's not so fun. Not so fun especially since I don't get to be in my comfy office all day. Instead, most days consist of me walking across campus to spend time with students in the library, in study hall, or teaching a class.
And it's just no fun to walk through the rain in work clothes. Nice, pressed dress pants that get soaked in the winded rain filled walk across campus do not hold up their nice, pressed look upon air drying.
When I was in college in the mountains the remnants of a hurricane from the gulf ripped through our college town. It was ridiculous to be getting hurricane winds and rain in our mountain valley college.
And you know what the school did?
It canceled classes!
Canceled classes because of RAIN.
The gamer and I had to walk through below freezing weather during blizzards in the mountains and yet, they never canceled classes for SNOW and here they were canceling classes because of some rain!
We had an enjoyable day bundled up inside while torrential downpours threatened to flood the valley.
Unfortunately, the remnants of a hurricane coming through my current college does not provide me the same opportunity!
So now I'm sitting here, cold and drenched to the skin, back in my office, bitter over this rain.
But hey, I suppose I'll take this if I can have a clear and sunny Saturday! It seems we've had way too many rain filled weekends this fall!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
eleven tenths
Today is the FOURTH anniversary of when the gamer and I got engaged.
Today is November 10 or 11/10....Eleven tenths.
I can still remember that day so vividly, just like it happened yesterday, and when I looked at the calendar this morning and realized what day it was I was in a bit of disbelief that is has been four entire years since that day.
And so now I will tell you the silly story of how eleven tenths came to be.
When the gamer and I started dating we were in high school so naturally we were a bit silly and childish, and we couldn't possibly say I love you to one another. But we knew we liked each other a lot. A lot, but not enough to say Love. So we broke Love up into bits and decided we loved each other about nine tenths of the way.
Nine tenths.
9/10...
Yes, silly, but it became our trade mark way of saying "I Love you" to each other. We'd write it in cards and notes, say it as we were saying goodbye or goodnight. We liked having a special saying that meant I really care for you, but I don't want to say I Love you until I really mean it.
In high school we never would have imagined we'd make it this long - to go all the way through college, getting engaged, me moving across the state, and getting married. But eventually we did say I Love you to each other and laughed that we finally loved each other wholly, or ten tenths.
We never adopted saying ten tenths, in favor of the real "I Love you" phrase, but occasionally if we were on the phone in front of others, or feeling particularly nostalgic we'd say nine tenths - it was our code phrase that only we knew the meaning behind.
Fast forward several years, and we were getting towards the end of our college years and decided that yes, we wanted to marry each other. I knew an engagement was coming - we'd talked about it - but every available opportunity came forth and still - no ring! I'll tell you more of that story another time :)
Anyways, the gamer proposed to me on November 10, 2005.
Eleven tenths!
He didn't pick that date because of it's date importance. And neither one of us realized it until the gamer bought me a necklace to celebrate our engagement a month later and on it he had engraved our engagement date...It said 11/10.
We looked at each other and couldn't believe how the date had worked out. We had gone from 9/10 to 10/10 and now 11/10...Engaged put us just over the whole 10/10 mark. We laughed at the silliness of it, but it still felt special to us.
And then, fast forward to our wedding date. May 10, 2007.
Five tenths.
Because TWO 5/10 equals a whole - and we were getting married, joining two parts into one. Silly and corny, but we didn't care. The point was we never picked those dates out of importance, but for some reason they just happened to work out right into our story.
So each year when 11/10 passes I smile...I smile because we've made it all this way, and I smile because we ended up with such a silly story of dates!
Eleven tenths baby! I Love you :)
Today is November 10 or 11/10....Eleven tenths.
I can still remember that day so vividly, just like it happened yesterday, and when I looked at the calendar this morning and realized what day it was I was in a bit of disbelief that is has been four entire years since that day.
And so now I will tell you the silly story of how eleven tenths came to be.
When the gamer and I started dating we were in high school so naturally we were a bit silly and childish, and we couldn't possibly say I love you to one another. But we knew we liked each other a lot. A lot, but not enough to say Love. So we broke Love up into bits and decided we loved each other about nine tenths of the way.
Nine tenths.
9/10...
Yes, silly, but it became our trade mark way of saying "I Love you" to each other. We'd write it in cards and notes, say it as we were saying goodbye or goodnight. We liked having a special saying that meant I really care for you, but I don't want to say I Love you until I really mean it.
In high school we never would have imagined we'd make it this long - to go all the way through college, getting engaged, me moving across the state, and getting married. But eventually we did say I Love you to each other and laughed that we finally loved each other wholly, or ten tenths.
We never adopted saying ten tenths, in favor of the real "I Love you" phrase, but occasionally if we were on the phone in front of others, or feeling particularly nostalgic we'd say nine tenths - it was our code phrase that only we knew the meaning behind.
Fast forward several years, and we were getting towards the end of our college years and decided that yes, we wanted to marry each other. I knew an engagement was coming - we'd talked about it - but every available opportunity came forth and still - no ring! I'll tell you more of that story another time :)
Anyways, the gamer proposed to me on November 10, 2005.
Eleven tenths!
He didn't pick that date because of it's date importance. And neither one of us realized it until the gamer bought me a necklace to celebrate our engagement a month later and on it he had engraved our engagement date...It said 11/10.
We looked at each other and couldn't believe how the date had worked out. We had gone from 9/10 to 10/10 and now 11/10...Engaged put us just over the whole 10/10 mark. We laughed at the silliness of it, but it still felt special to us.
And then, fast forward to our wedding date. May 10, 2007.
Five tenths.
Because TWO 5/10 equals a whole - and we were getting married, joining two parts into one. Silly and corny, but we didn't care. The point was we never picked those dates out of importance, but for some reason they just happened to work out right into our story.
So each year when 11/10 passes I smile...I smile because we've made it all this way, and I smile because we ended up with such a silly story of dates!
Eleven tenths baby! I Love you :)
Monday, November 9, 2009
big slap in the face
Today we received the bill for the gamer's first semester in PT school.
It is exactly half of what I make of an entire year's salary! Meaning just one year in medical school equals how much I am making for the year!
We knew this coming into the situation, but it sure made me do a double take to see a bill that large.
The gamer needs to go pro-gamer or something!! :-P
Hmm...I wonder how I could turn being a gamer's wife into another paying full time job?? ;)
It is exactly half of what I make of an entire year's salary! Meaning just one year in medical school equals how much I am making for the year!
We knew this coming into the situation, but it sure made me do a double take to see a bill that large.
The gamer needs to go pro-gamer or something!! :-P
Hmm...I wonder how I could turn being a gamer's wife into another paying full time job?? ;)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
gamer girl
Okay so my very first game turned out to be pretty awesome! We played for several hours the first night we got it :-P I don't care if it's a little embarrassing...I like that I finally can take part in my gamer's hobby with something I enjoy myself!
I sang through all three Taylor Swift songs while the gamer played the guitar. It was so much fun - pretty much just like karaoke.
And then I decided to switch things up a bit. Taylor always sings and plays the guitar at the same time and I thought...why not?!
So I we rigged the mike up to hang from a room separator (we don't have a mic stand, so we made do!) so that I could play the guitar and sing at the same time!
The gamer couldn't believe how well I did!
I was pretty awesome.
Check out these scores!
And that was on my first try!
Yay for me being a gamer girl for a night :) It was fun, but I'll leave the true gaming up to the hubs!
I sang through all three Taylor Swift songs while the gamer played the guitar. It was so much fun - pretty much just like karaoke.
And then I decided to switch things up a bit. Taylor always sings and plays the guitar at the same time and I thought...why not?!
So I we rigged the mike up to hang from a room separator (we don't have a mic stand, so we made do!) so that I could play the guitar and sing at the same time!
The gamer couldn't believe how well I did!
I was pretty awesome.
Check out these scores!
And that was on my first try!
Yay for me being a gamer girl for a night :) It was fun, but I'll leave the true gaming up to the hubs!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
the gamer's wife becomes a gamer
It was a gamer's wish come true.
It all started last October when the gamer fought for and won the right to purchase Guitar Hero, which I recounted that experience yesterday.
And so a year has passed since the gamer got his Guitar Hero World Tour band set. Sure, I pouted the first few hours he had that game, complained it was a waste of money, but still sat there with my brand new Uggs with a sense of satisfaction. Because I knew something he didn't. I could benefit from the deal we made, while he could not. I could learn to play the game and enjoy it, but he was never going to enjoy my boots. Sucks for the gamer!
And so I started with the drums and I learned I really liked them! There were several songs I actually liked to play like Linkin Park and No Doubt, and eventually I learned to play through most of the songs (even Tool! - the gamer's favorite band, and okay I played them on easy). We took the game to our big family Christmas in Delaware and everyone enjoyed it. But I still complained...why couldn't there be pop songs on Guitar Hero? That would be so much cooler...I could definitely get into playing this game if it was more girly. To which the gamer just shrugged at me and said...GUITAR hero Heather. It's called GUITAR hero for a reason. We can't rock out to a pop song.
Ugh.
And over time the gamer got other games for Guitar Hero that I wasn't too interested in...like Metallica. Overall I was just getting bored with playing rock songs I didn't care too much about.
And then, I heard an inkling over the internet several months ago that a family friendly version of Guitar Hero was going to be coming out - with pop and radio songs..and oldies!
I was thrilled. The gamer thought it would be neat to get (mainly he was excited that I even showed interest in a game, let alone wanting to play a game).
AND THEN the set list came out last month. And Taylor Swift was listed to have three songs!!!!!! My absolute favorite singer for the last two years.
It was like I died and went to heaven.
It was like this game was MADE FOR ME.
Atleast it must have been made for all those gamer's wives out there.
I immediately emailed the gamer from work the day I found out there would be Taylor Swift songs on the new Guitar Hero game (called Band Hero). There was a lot of AHHH and I HAVE TO HAVE IT comments in my email. He wrote back...
You are such a gamer!!! I am so forwarding your email to P2!
He was pysched over how excited I was over a game. It was like the gamer had died and gone to heaven. Finally his wife cares about a game! It's what the gamer had always wanted.
And for the last month I have been counting down the days until Tuesday, November 3rd.
And the game has finally arrived!! I might be too busy playing to do a review and update - haha (ohh how pleased the gamer would be!) but stay tuned!
It all started last October when the gamer fought for and won the right to purchase Guitar Hero, which I recounted that experience yesterday.
And so a year has passed since the gamer got his Guitar Hero World Tour band set. Sure, I pouted the first few hours he had that game, complained it was a waste of money, but still sat there with my brand new Uggs with a sense of satisfaction. Because I knew something he didn't. I could benefit from the deal we made, while he could not. I could learn to play the game and enjoy it, but he was never going to enjoy my boots. Sucks for the gamer!
And so I started with the drums and I learned I really liked them! There were several songs I actually liked to play like Linkin Park and No Doubt, and eventually I learned to play through most of the songs (even Tool! - the gamer's favorite band, and okay I played them on easy). We took the game to our big family Christmas in Delaware and everyone enjoyed it. But I still complained...why couldn't there be pop songs on Guitar Hero? That would be so much cooler...I could definitely get into playing this game if it was more girly. To which the gamer just shrugged at me and said...GUITAR hero Heather. It's called GUITAR hero for a reason. We can't rock out to a pop song.
Ugh.
And over time the gamer got other games for Guitar Hero that I wasn't too interested in...like Metallica. Overall I was just getting bored with playing rock songs I didn't care too much about.
And then, I heard an inkling over the internet several months ago that a family friendly version of Guitar Hero was going to be coming out - with pop and radio songs..and oldies!
I was thrilled. The gamer thought it would be neat to get (mainly he was excited that I even showed interest in a game, let alone wanting to play a game).
AND THEN the set list came out last month. And Taylor Swift was listed to have three songs!!!!!! My absolute favorite singer for the last two years.
It was like I died and went to heaven.
It was like this game was MADE FOR ME.
Atleast it must have been made for all those gamer's wives out there.
I immediately emailed the gamer from work the day I found out there would be Taylor Swift songs on the new Guitar Hero game (called Band Hero). There was a lot of AHHH and I HAVE TO HAVE IT comments in my email. He wrote back...
You are such a gamer!!! I am so forwarding your email to P2!
He was pysched over how excited I was over a game. It was like the gamer had died and gone to heaven. Finally his wife cares about a game! It's what the gamer had always wanted.
And for the last month I have been counting down the days until Tuesday, November 3rd.
And the game has finally arrived!! I might be too busy playing to do a review and update - haha (ohh how pleased the gamer would be!) but stay tuned!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
ode to uggs
It's time!! The season has arrived for me to finally wear my beloved Uggs again. In honor of the occasion (ok, I lie..I wore them a few weeks ago, but because of my blogosphere absence forgot to get around to telling you all..) I have decided to repost this gem in my history of gamer's wife tips.
Originally posted October 26, 2008.
HOW TO MANIPULATE A GAMER
So the gamer husband isn't the only one playing games.
I've got my little game going on as well. You see, it has to do with manipulation.
There are many things a gamer wants. I've learned that "I promise, this is the last game I'll ever get" is an outright lie. There really is no end to amount of games, gaming accessories and other extraneous costs that come up.
It costs a lot to be a gamer. And everything is a "I have to have it" item.
The Wii last year? Check.
Four Wii controllers so everyone could play? Check.
Wii Play game? Check.
Mario Party? Super Smash Brothers? Zelda? Mario Kart? Check, check, check, check.
Mario Kart Wheels? Wii crossbow? Check, check.
Rechargeable battery packs and charging station? Check and check.
Guitar Hero and guitar? Check and check.
Monthly Wow fees? Check, infinity.
New Mac laptop with better graphics cabilities? Grrr, check.
And just when you thought he couldn't need anything more, the gamer says he must have the new Guitar Hero World Tour bundle pack that includes guitar, drum set, microphone and game.
$200 bucks!!
And did I mention he already has a guitar??
So what do you do when your gamer husband refuses to back down from his insistence that he get yet. another. new. game.???
Step One: Pout.
This usually at least alerts the gamer that you are unhappy with his intended purchase. However, once a gamer's mind is set, there's really no changing it.
Step Two: Guilt.
Attempt to explain to the gamer that he already has enough games, and he should be happy with what he's got. However, this usually results in the gamer's wife to be even more upset as she recounts all the games, gaming accessories and expenses he's already cost them. Still, this signals the beginning of the "guilt the gamer" phase.
Step Three: Manipulate.
The gamer will get this game no matter what. But now is your time to get what you want out of the deal. Usually when a gamer becomes infatuated with a new game, he'll get it at any cost. Meaning, you could get a lot out of a potential deal. Think carefully about what you want.
Step Four: Negotiate.
Tell the gamer he can have his game, ONLY if you get the following. Pick things you know he hates, or under normal circumstances wouldn't want you to have. Have some back up options ready. Normally, if you've followed all the previous steps correctly and really laid on the guilt you'll end up getting more than you originally wanted or even needed, even though he still gets his stupid game!
Step Five: Glory.
He gets the game, but you'll hardly notice as you relish your win!
So now, the gamer does indeed have the new GHWT band set.
But I am relishing in the fact that I am getting:
-new Ugg boots (which the gamer hates)
-choice of small dog in the future (which the gamer is very against - he likes big dogs!)
-naming rights of said dog
(Edited to add: Hmm...just a year ago I wanted a dog. Man, the gamer does indeed have his own form of manipulation going on since we got his favorite - a cat!)
Plus, even though I claimed to be totally against getting this new game, saying it would be a waste to get a band game when he'd be the only one playing it...
I ended up rocking the drums. Ahhh, the life of a gamer's wife!
Originally posted October 26, 2008.
HOW TO MANIPULATE A GAMER
So the gamer husband isn't the only one playing games.
I've got my little game going on as well. You see, it has to do with manipulation.
There are many things a gamer wants. I've learned that "I promise, this is the last game I'll ever get" is an outright lie. There really is no end to amount of games, gaming accessories and other extraneous costs that come up.
It costs a lot to be a gamer. And everything is a "I have to have it" item.
The Wii last year? Check.
Four Wii controllers so everyone could play? Check.
Wii Play game? Check.
Mario Party? Super Smash Brothers? Zelda? Mario Kart? Check, check, check, check.
Mario Kart Wheels? Wii crossbow? Check, check.
Rechargeable battery packs and charging station? Check and check.
Guitar Hero and guitar? Check and check.
Monthly Wow fees? Check, infinity.
New Mac laptop with better graphics cabilities? Grrr, check.
And just when you thought he couldn't need anything more, the gamer says he must have the new Guitar Hero World Tour bundle pack that includes guitar, drum set, microphone and game.
$200 bucks!!
And did I mention he already has a guitar??
So what do you do when your gamer husband refuses to back down from his insistence that he get yet. another. new. game.???
Step One: Pout.
This usually at least alerts the gamer that you are unhappy with his intended purchase. However, once a gamer's mind is set, there's really no changing it.
Step Two: Guilt.
Attempt to explain to the gamer that he already has enough games, and he should be happy with what he's got. However, this usually results in the gamer's wife to be even more upset as she recounts all the games, gaming accessories and expenses he's already cost them. Still, this signals the beginning of the "guilt the gamer" phase.
Step Three: Manipulate.
The gamer will get this game no matter what. But now is your time to get what you want out of the deal. Usually when a gamer becomes infatuated with a new game, he'll get it at any cost. Meaning, you could get a lot out of a potential deal. Think carefully about what you want.
Step Four: Negotiate.
Tell the gamer he can have his game, ONLY if you get the following. Pick things you know he hates, or under normal circumstances wouldn't want you to have. Have some back up options ready. Normally, if you've followed all the previous steps correctly and really laid on the guilt you'll end up getting more than you originally wanted or even needed, even though he still gets his stupid game!
Step Five: Glory.
He gets the game, but you'll hardly notice as you relish your win!
So now, the gamer does indeed have the new GHWT band set.
But I am relishing in the fact that I am getting:
-new Ugg boots (which the gamer hates)
-choice of small dog in the future (which the gamer is very against - he likes big dogs!)
-naming rights of said dog
(Edited to add: Hmm...just a year ago I wanted a dog. Man, the gamer does indeed have his own form of manipulation going on since we got his favorite - a cat!)
Plus, even though I claimed to be totally against getting this new game, saying it would be a waste to get a band game when he'd be the only one playing it...
I ended up rocking the drums. Ahhh, the life of a gamer's wife!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
i blinked and it was november
I'm alive...and so is my kitten!
It's been a pretty exhausting past two weeks. At home and at work I've been busy like I haven't been in a long, long time. I've ignored this blog, and my blog reader, and it's been all I can do to simply exist. At times I felt like Bit (the shortened version we decided on for our kitten's name!) was getting better, and then she'd suddenly turn for the worse again. It's times like that that I just don't feel like writing. But now I think we have finally turned a corner, and even though I'm afraid to say it for fear of me jinxing anything, I think our kitty is going to live a nice long life with us :)
After her bout with fleas, dehydration, low blood sugar, and lethargy which several treatments and antibiotics seemed to fix she came down with a case of the sniffles - then a horrible case of coughs, and we couldn't tell if she was trying to hack a hairball or had a cold. And neither could the vet! So she went on more medicines and eye drops....and in the past week it finally seems like we've got ourselves the vibrant, energetic kitty we thought we were going to have from the beginning!
She absolutely won't stop playing - she is nonstop jumping and hiding and attacking! She is always looking for a game to play, looks all over the place for victims, attempts to scale walls, and meows and meows if she can't find us in the house!
We had a nearly three feet wall of plywood up to keep her in the living room. A straight up wall of wood, and being only a few inches high herself she never could even attempt to scratch her way up. We'll one night she did! And she went all the way up the staircase on her own and we burst out laughing in our bedroom when we hear her meow outside our door! Needless to say she's got full reign of the house now!
So here's what's been going on (lots of pictures coming up!). I had planned so many posts over the last two weeks of things other than cat news, but now I'm just going to give you a lot of our cute kitty and hopefully you'll hear from me again soon! :)
It has been so nice to have a nap partner lately...
Bit likes to take a LOT of cat naps on her own though!
She loves to curl up on her daddy...
She meows and meows when we leave her!
She was so cute trying to get through the door to us!
See the wall we had up in the top right of the picture? Well on one of my attempts over the wall I completely fell over and demolished the cat house we had built for her! Me wiped out on the floor and the loud crashing noise didn't even phase her. This is the aftermath, and there's Bit just sitting there like nothing happened!
Wherever the computer is Bit has to be...
She just loves the heat that comes off the laptop...
Me and the gamer finally took some time away from the kitten to go up to Boone and enjoy our annual Black Saturday game at App!
YAY WE WON!
More cat naps...
Bit loves to play peek a boo with daddy - here's her on the attack!
I can't stop taking pictures like this...
and this!
It so adorable when she stretches out like this...
More napping...
Been so busy I had to work from home, which meant a new laptop for her to curl up on (er..and clean herself!) See those grey boxes popping up on the screen? I wasn't too happy to find out my programs had been closing!
Getting ready for her first Halloween...
Our first halloween in the suburbs...We had over fifty kids and had hardly any candy left!
Bit contemplating the candy stash...
And finally, me and Bit lounging around on our lazy Sunday. I swear, since we got her no matter what her activity has been throughout the week she has always taken a "lazy day" on Sunday. It's awesome..she just lounges on us and takes naps and gets petted. Oh the life!
It's been a pretty exhausting past two weeks. At home and at work I've been busy like I haven't been in a long, long time. I've ignored this blog, and my blog reader, and it's been all I can do to simply exist. At times I felt like Bit (the shortened version we decided on for our kitten's name!) was getting better, and then she'd suddenly turn for the worse again. It's times like that that I just don't feel like writing. But now I think we have finally turned a corner, and even though I'm afraid to say it for fear of me jinxing anything, I think our kitty is going to live a nice long life with us :)
After her bout with fleas, dehydration, low blood sugar, and lethargy which several treatments and antibiotics seemed to fix she came down with a case of the sniffles - then a horrible case of coughs, and we couldn't tell if she was trying to hack a hairball or had a cold. And neither could the vet! So she went on more medicines and eye drops....and in the past week it finally seems like we've got ourselves the vibrant, energetic kitty we thought we were going to have from the beginning!
She absolutely won't stop playing - she is nonstop jumping and hiding and attacking! She is always looking for a game to play, looks all over the place for victims, attempts to scale walls, and meows and meows if she can't find us in the house!
We had a nearly three feet wall of plywood up to keep her in the living room. A straight up wall of wood, and being only a few inches high herself she never could even attempt to scratch her way up. We'll one night she did! And she went all the way up the staircase on her own and we burst out laughing in our bedroom when we hear her meow outside our door! Needless to say she's got full reign of the house now!
So here's what's been going on (lots of pictures coming up!). I had planned so many posts over the last two weeks of things other than cat news, but now I'm just going to give you a lot of our cute kitty and hopefully you'll hear from me again soon! :)
It has been so nice to have a nap partner lately...
Bit likes to take a LOT of cat naps on her own though!
She loves to curl up on her daddy...
She meows and meows when we leave her!
She was so cute trying to get through the door to us!
See the wall we had up in the top right of the picture? Well on one of my attempts over the wall I completely fell over and demolished the cat house we had built for her! Me wiped out on the floor and the loud crashing noise didn't even phase her. This is the aftermath, and there's Bit just sitting there like nothing happened!
Wherever the computer is Bit has to be...
She just loves the heat that comes off the laptop...
Me and the gamer finally took some time away from the kitten to go up to Boone and enjoy our annual Black Saturday game at App!
YAY WE WON!
More cat naps...
Bit loves to play peek a boo with daddy - here's her on the attack!
I can't stop taking pictures like this...
and this!
It so adorable when she stretches out like this...
More napping...
Been so busy I had to work from home, which meant a new laptop for her to curl up on (er..and clean herself!) See those grey boxes popping up on the screen? I wasn't too happy to find out my programs had been closing!
Getting ready for her first Halloween...
Our first halloween in the suburbs...We had over fifty kids and had hardly any candy left!
Bit contemplating the candy stash...
And finally, me and Bit lounging around on our lazy Sunday. I swear, since we got her no matter what her activity has been throughout the week she has always taken a "lazy day" on Sunday. It's awesome..she just lounges on us and takes naps and gets petted. Oh the life!
Thanks for hanging around and waiting on me to post again! Hopefully I won't blink and it's December, but who knows based on how it's been going so far!
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