green, eggs, and ham

Compared to most, I am a picky eater. I love, love, love food. It's just that I have a long list of things I don't and won't eat, including onions, mayonaise, seafood, ranch dressing, among many, many others.

Beyond not liking certain ingredients, I don't like trying things at new restaurants that I've never had before. Even if I like all the ingredients in it.

Which brings me to what I had for dinner last night.

A fried egg salad!

Yes, it doesn't sound too "out there," but for me, eating a runny fried egg on top of lettuce just sounds...odd!

The gamer took me out to The Flying Biscuit last night, a new restaurant in town. They serve breakfast all day, so I knew I wanted to get fried eggs - I just had no idea I'd end up choosing to get them on a salad!

I totally wish I had a picture of it, but don't worry, I know I'll be going back.

It was basically mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette with two fried eggs on top, bacon, and seasoned potatoes.

I talked the whole time about how I had "potato croutons" on my salad :) It was awesome!

Chris, by the way, had the best pancakes I have had in my lifetime. He agreed.

Anyways, sorry for the random post about our love for what we ate last night. Sigh....just another thing I'll miss when we move from Raleigh!

Happy Friday :)

classic chris

Do you remember that series of posts I had about my gamer husband's "classic Chris" moments?
It had to do with us clearing out his parent's house and finding an old bookbag of the gamer's from high school that still had food in it.

Well, the gamer's parents moved away to Delaware a few months ago, and much to our delight we recieved one final box of random stuff from his childhood.

I mean, I should have expected something crazy to come out of that box.

I was not expecting this...

That's right. What you see there are seven year old brownies.

Brownies that I painstakingly made Chris for our very first Valentine's Day. I still remember making them with Mom and using a heart cookie cutter to make each individual brownie heart.

Then I placed them in a box, decorated it with hearts, and then wrapped the whole thing with brown paper. Mom and I then decorated the brown paper to look like it had been mailed and stamped. It was pretty neat :-P
On Valentine's Day, I snuck out to the gamer's car during class (remember, we were in high school at the time!) and decorated his car with paper hearts and left the brownie box on his seat.

I actually don't remember his reaction. I wasn't there when he got to the car, but I'm sure we talked about it later. Since this was our first Valentine's together the day was FULL of surprises from each other, and I'm sure one of these days I'll get around to blogging about that day because it is quite funny!

Anyways, I long forgot about the brownies, until I saw the box I had made him inside that box full of stuff.
I should have KNOWN that when I opened it I would find moldy, seven year old brownies, but for some reason I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED to find them staring back at me.

Classic Chris.

What more can I say?

By the way, I screamed when I saw them.

I am thoroughly surprised at how well they have kept up. Ziplock really works wonders. Except for being rock solid, they really look actually edible from afar. Unbelievable.

Although I yelled at Chris for forgetting about them all these years (1. why didn't he eat them all? and 2. why did he discard the box somewhere in his house and forget about it?), it made for a very funny story for us.

He stands by his story that it shows a lot about his love for me for keeping them all these years. He likes to twist the truth when it comes to romantics.

But we all know he just plumb forgot about them!

And a note to the gamer: I'm still waiting for those heart shaped balloons ;)

the gamers' wives club!

WOOHOO for The Gamers' Wives Club!

The site is still under construction, but I think it's what I've been waiting for. Just like I mentioned in my where my gamers' wives at post, I dream one day of having my own Gamers' Wife Club!

Can't wait to share my own stories of being a gamer's wife and hear what other people have to say. I hope that it won't be a site dedicated to bashing husbands who play though...we'll see!

Excited and cant wait to join the club!

snow day!

On Monday, the last day of our three-day weekend we woke up to surprising reports that a snowstorm was coming!

This is my third year in Raleigh, and I have seen it snow once. The gamer was very reluctant to believe this sudden forecast, and we went to sleep on Monday night with alarms set to return back to work the following morning.

But when we woke up it was covered out there!
Several schools and businesses were closed, but no announcement was made at my work yet. I decided regardless not to go, and later on they closed the college and the gamer's work too so we made a good decision!
Yay for a snow day for us!

It snowed all day long which was surprising in itself. Often when we've lived in Boone and Winston we would wake up to snow, but it hardly snowed during the day!

We decided to go out and enjoy it!
That's me in the field beside our house. And here's Chris...look at all that snow!
We took a walk behind our house..
And here's our street...
We watched cars stall out all day! Lots of spinning tires...
We walked down to the main road (above), but it wasn't much better either!

All in all, a good six inches fell. More than I've seen in a long, long while.

It worked out perfectly to be off for another day. We snuggled up and watched the inauguration all day (Gobama!) which we wouldn't have been able to see if we were at work.

This morning we woke up to a snow/ice covered parking lot, so I'm home again! And it's my half birthday today!

Five days at home though...I sure will be ready to return to work tomorrow!

happy birthday gamer bro!

I was 5 and a half years old when it happened.

Mom and dad gave me a little brother.

Sure, I acted all cool about it. I pretended that he was a new dollie, but alive, and attempted to place blame on him for actions that I may/may not have done myself.

I brought him to show-and-tell in school. I blew everyone's elses rocks and shoelaces way out of the water.

I tormented him by putting a baby gate at my doorway when he was a todler, and dressed him up in girl clothes and pretended I had a little sister. (I'll be nice and not post those pictures up here!)

But I never let him forget that I was an only child for five glorious years, and attempted to act like I still was for the remainder of my childhood.

Thing is, he got to be an only child even longer than I did. I went away to college when he was only 12, so he had a good six years alone with just the parents.

We've been a strange brother/sister pair since the beginning. We almost never got along. Almost every vacation was marred by the backseat line being crossed by one of us.

I almost always got in trouble for antagonizing him, but we all know it was him that touched me first.

I always got the blame for things he did, simply for being so much older than him, but he knows to this day that he is the one who did it. He purposefully shined that baby face, and I promptly got yelled at.

I swear, sometimes afterwards he'd wink at me, knowing he got away with it.

And I've heard, "But he's just a baby Heather. He didn't know any better." more times than I can count.

You mean, he didn't know that Barbie likes to have her head ON? He didn't know that I liked my dollhouse just so, instead of looking like Godzilla ripped through it?

He used to call me Hedda because he couldn't pronounce the th sound. I thought he'd grow out of it by kindergarden.

After that, I think he said it just to annoy me.

What about the time in middle school when I so nicely invited him to try out for a role in the play I was in because they needed a six year old boy?

Nobody even noticed me because he freaking stole the show!

We had our all-out-war-bloodbaths but we had some good times too. He'd sit nicely and pretend to be a student when I wanted to teach him how to multiply and divide in kindergarden. At ten years old he even pretended to be my dance partner as we practiced in the living room before my prom date arrived. He'd go up to the counter and ask for ketchup at McDonalds because he knew I hated asking.

But ultimately I think he got joy out of being my annoying baby brother.

Halfway through college we started getting along. Maybe it was because he finally was taller and bigger than me, and could seriously break my arm if I tried to fight him.

I still have a hard time when I hear people call him Peter, since I've only ever known him as PJ or Peej.

And I still can't believe he was only 16 at my wedding, because he acted so mature. He fit in so well with the other guys who were mostly ten years older than him.

Now I can count on him to occupy Chris with gaming-talk while I'm at home doing other things like laundry or cooking.

And I'm sure going to miss him next year when he's away with the Marines.

You've been a pain in my side, lil' brother, but you're really little no longer!

Happy 18th Birthday Gamer Bro!

pil-ahhhhhh-tes

Those of you who know me know that I took a pilates class my last semester in college. And I LOVED it. I bought my own mat, got the DVDs, and practiced several times a week for a good six months.

Then I had a semester of teaching, and following that, my first semester in grad school.

Pilates and me weren't friends during that time. I was too busy for any type of fitness. I know, terrible.

Then, the four months before I was married I was DETERMINED to lose a little bit of weight and look awesome in my wedding dress.

Pilates and me were friends again.

Then I got married, and felt funny doing my pilates moves in front of the gamer. I occasionally would practice. We got an elipitcal machine, and we attempted to run on a good schedule for the last year. Overall, we were disapointed in our progress.

You'd expect more from an exercise science major and his wife.

But on January 1st we got back into the swing of things.

We run just about every other day. On the off days I do pilates. The gamer lifts weights (with that new awesome set I got him for Christmas!)

And we've kept up our schedule for TWO weeks today. GO US!

But man, do my abs hurt a TON today. I upped my pilates workout on Monday, and ran extra hard yesterday, and I'm certainly feeling it now.

Either way, I'm proud of us! Wish us luck as we attempt to stick with it this time!

calling all gamer's wives

Seriously. Am I the only one?

I know I'm not. I know that there are a ton of women out there involved with gamers.

The problem is, either:
a) they don't want people to know they're with a gamer
or
b) they HATE the fact that their gamer games.

I'm not in either category.

Yes, I would much rather Chris didn't play games as much as he did. Yes, I wish he could just pause WOW whenever I wanted him to. Sure, I'd rather be a millionaire's wife, or a celebrity wife, before I would have chosen to be a gamer's wife.

But ultimately I've grown to relate his personality to that of a gamer, and I understand his habit of playing. It doesn't get in the way of his real life (most of the time), and he doesn't neglect me or his responsibilities (usually).

The problem is finding other gamer's wives who think like me.

There are a TON of women on the internet moaning and groaning about their husbands playing games too much. They call themselves gaming widows.

They, unfortunately are not happy their husbands are gamers, and thus they are no fun to associate with. There are message boards full of these women complaining and arguing about how their husbands play games 24 hours a day, don't pay attention to them, their jobs, or their kids.

Thankfully, my gamer isn't like that.

But it sure would be nice to be able to have other wives to talk to and joke with!

And that's the other problem with fitting in with the blog world. There are tons of mommy blogs and food blogs, but not a whole lot of newlywed blogs, and certainly not gamer's wife blogs!

Maybe one day.

And maybe one day I'll start my own gamer's wife club when all the guys in my life get married - PJ, Jeff, Tim, Ryan. You know, so when you steal my husband away for a gaming weekend, I've got a group of women to moan and complain to :-P

And, so I don't have to listen to things like...

"We'll be raiding tonight honey....so, you're on your own."

Which is exactly what I heard in the car this morning on the way to work ;)

where are my coats???

What's that?

Where did you say they were?

DELAWARE?!

That's right. I am freezing and coatless.

I have absolutely no idea how my coats remained in Delaware and everything else made it soundly to Raleigh. I am a super packer, and I always double check the room. It's a complete mystery to me.

I brought three coats to Delaware. My fave red peacoat, my other fave grey-made-out-of-sweashirt-material peacoat, and my black fleece.

I know you think that's too many coats. But I like to be prepared for many an occasion.

Except on our entire trip to Delaware it was uncharacteristically mild.

I didn't wear a single coat.

And when we returned to Raleigh?

Still mild.

SO that's why it wasn't until a week later when mother nature finally decided to dip back into the fourties that I opened my closet and was aghast at what I saw.

No coats!

The gamer made a phone call, and my coats were found. Thank goodness for my mother-in-law who is shipping them home to me!

And I know. I have a whole closet of coats. But those are my favorites.

Do you know what it means to be a favorite of mine?

If not, ask my mother, who groans everytime I wander near the coats in the department stores. I have hardly ever escaped a season without a new coat. Might as well continue the tradition!

the boxes have arrived!

Last night our first order of moving moxes ARRIVED!

Chris and I sat around talking about what kind of house we'd like, what things we want to take with us and what we want to purge, and how we'll pack up this house over the next few months.

I cannot believe that it's finally becoming a reality!

When I applied to graduate school back in November 2005, I really didn't think I would get in. I was making a bold career change (in my opinion) and didn't think that all my history/education classes were going to count for much for a Master's program focused on development/counseling. Lucky for me, my diverse background helped me get in to the schools I applied to - Arizona State University and NC State University.

Suddenly, I had a decision to make. Chris still had over a year of college left in Boone, and even though Arizona would have been my first choice, it would have been tough to leave him. Instead, I decided on Raleigh.

I hated Raleigh from day ONE.

Remind me to tell you about my grad school experience. That's a whole 'nother post. But seriously, I LOVED my job and LOVED all the new friends I made. I loved all the new restaurants I got to try, and finally living in a place where anything I could possibly want/or need I could buy somewhere in the city.

But Raleigh just never felt like home to me.

It has always felt temporary.

And I can't stand living in a place that has EVERYTHING, yet it takes 20 minutes to get ANYWHERE.

It was always our intention to leave Raleigh, last May, right after I graduated. But when Chris didn't get into school during his first round of applications, we had to make the tough decision. Stay in Raleigh and re-apply next year? Or, move somewhere exciting, re-apply and possibly have to move again?

We chose Raleigh reluctantly.

Raleigh will always hold some very special memories for us. Especially because it's where we came home to after we were married. There are a ton of things I will miss about Raleigh, mostly people and food.

But I can't WAIT to get out of this townhouse!!

Break out those moving boxes! Let's get started!

2008 in review

So I know I'm a little behind with this post, as most people made their review posts around New Year's Eve or Day, but it's here now. The Christmas posts took over!

I cannot believe that 2008 is over! When it started we couldn't even picture what our lives would hold after May, and here we are a year later!

In January Chris was rejected from ECU, then given the opportunity to interview, then was rejected again. It was a crazy month for us, wondering where our future would be.

I started my last semester of graduate school and also began working full time doing my last internship semester at NCSU.

In February we got an elliptical machine, our first major purchase since getting married. Somehow still, in 2008 I gained back all my pre-wedding weight. Go figure ;)

We also decided to stay in Raleigh for another year, and extended our lease to May 2009. That was a big decision for us to stay in a place we didn't like so much.

In March I enjoyed my very last spring break doing nothing, for the last time as a college student.

In April we went to Vegas to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary (we were married there the year before) a month early.

May was a huge month for me. I graduated with my master's and became a national certified counselor and started my first real job!

In June on a whim, I started this blog. I came to the reality, that yes, I am, a gamer's wife.

In July I started wearing my hair curly every day, and finally said goodbye to blow dryers and straighteners for the first time in my life!

In August Chris completed the process of re-applying to PT schools. I forked over a ton of money and almost got into a fight with the GRE company.

In September Chris turned 25 and we celebrated at Brazza's, a place that still comes up in conversation at least once a week.

October was a really a busy month for us. We went pumpkin picking, went to see an Appalachian football game, went to the Renaissance Festival like we do every year, and went to Scarowinds for the first time.

In November I almost burned down the house at Thanksgiving and Chris got into PT school!

In December I attended my very first Backus Family Christmas, and rang in the new year in true gamer's wife style - playing guitar hero and mario kart with the gamer and his best friend.

And for the other gamer's wives out there:
The number one video game buy of 2008: Mario Kart for the Wii, with wheels!

The most expensive video game buy of 2008: Guitar Hero World Tour

The most reluctant video game buy of 2008: WOW Expansion set

What the gamer's wife is looking forward to in 2009: A year without gaming purchases.

I wish! ;)

B2 Family Christmas - Part 4

On our last full day in Delaware Chris's dad took us to the Old Christ Church. Just around the corner from their house, this is a very old church (with no modern amenities) and is used in the summer and for other special times (like Christmas Eve).

With almost all the men in the B2 family involved with a church of some sort, this was quite an interesting field trip for most!

It was also neat that we were the old ones in the church since Chris's dad had the key!

Everyone enjoyed going up to the pulpit and pretend to preach.

With no electric lights, the only light that entered the church was from the sunlight, so it was hard to take good pictures. It was so neat being inside, and as a history major, I always love visiting historical sites!
The neatest thing about the church was that the pulpit was at the side, and not at the end of the church. Also, instead of pews, there were boxes (with doors) that people would sit in. Each box was designated for a family, and boxes closer to the pulpit were the most desired (and most expensive). Yes, you actually paid for your box at church!

BOX seats at church!!!


How neat are these?

Here's what the inside of the box looks like:

Here's a better length picture of the church, which also shows all the boxes...


The B2 box. OK, not really, but we pretended it was.
It was right in front of the pulpit, and Tim pretended to preach from it. Here's the reaction from the parishioners...

Back outside the church....

Here's the church, all boarded back up.

There was also a small graveyard next to the church.
Which Tim had fun with...
Congregating around the graveyard...

And then something happened with a series of photos I took...

Ghosts bothered by us tramping their resting ground? Who knows...

Either way I packed the camera away and we all got in the cars to go home!!!!

The next morning we left Delaware to return home to Raleigh, and we made a short stop on the Bridge/Tunnel.
It was a short, interesting, and exciting B2 Family Christmas, and I'm glad we were able to go this year!

Thank you to EVERY member of the extended B2 family who made me feel at home with you! :)

B2 Family Christmas - Part 3

I just couldn't resist taking a photo of ALL the cars in the driveway...

Also, here is the new B2 house. Isn't it huge?!? It was the perfect place for a big family get together.

After picture taking, we all came inside to open presents!

Here's Jaxer, anxiously getting into the gifts...
Gift opening, galore!

After gifts we played games. The B2 family really likes playing games (of all sorts, not even just video games!)

Chris's dad and Uncle Harold even attempted to play Mario Kart!
I was surprised at how many people liked playing Guitar Hero! Here's Uncle David and Aunt Janice rocking out...
Chris has some awesome video of Pennie attempting to play and of Dustin singing. By the end of the trip I think almost half of the group had attempted to play an instrument. Not bad!

And here's a whole bunch of Backi playing Pit, a game which involves a whole lot of yelling at each other.

Later on that night after everyone went home we had a much smaller B2 Christmas...
And then finally, time for SLEEP!

The next day we all visited the Old Christ Church so stay tuned for Part 4!

B2 Family Christmas - Part 2

ETA: Originally there was a list here of all my family members that I saw in Delaware (sort of like a family tree). Recently I have seen a LOT of activity on this particular page (for reasons unknown to me) and in the interest of privacy and security I have decided to delete that information.

************************************

Pennie made everyone a B2 Directory for Christmas. I truly couldn't have asked for a better Christmas gift. I LOVE my directory. I think I finally can name all of Chris's family and their relationship to him. It took me awhile, but I've got it now!

Uncle David told me that I'm now a B2 outlaw (meaning someone married to someone of B2 blood). I love being an outlaw!

On to the photos!!

Everyone who has cousin status:

The B2 siblings...

The paparazzi...

The B2 siblings and their dad...

The B2 outlaws..

Phil and Dionne

The second cousins:

Random pictures outside...

Look at all that family!

It's definitely crazy being a newlywed, and going from just having my family, to suddenly having a whole new family to add to the mix. It's exciting!

Aunt Diane and baby Jaxer

Jeff, scaring his two brothers...

And lastly, my immediate B2 family:

I love my B2 family!

We haven't even opened presents yet or played games! Stay tuned for Part 3!