Well, about two weeks ago I realized that I would be approaching my 100th post very soon. In honor of that I decided that I wanted to update my blog (hence, the new look thanks to Diana) and that I would make a post of 100 things about me.
Well in all the craziness of getting my blog makeover, fixing my posts to fit into my taskbar, and making the makeover announcement and subsequent posts, I completely blew past my 100th post deadline. But here it is anyways - my very belated 100th post!
1. I got hit by a car once while walking across the street.
2. I only lived in NY for 6 months, and in NC for most of my life, but I consider myself more of a northerner than a southerner.
3. I still don't have my driver's license.
4. I was an only child until age 5.
5. I've lived in 4 states - NY, CA, PA, NC.
6. I have neither a NY or southern accent, because I learned to speak in CA.
7. My favorite breakfast food is authentic NY poppyseed bagels.
8. I met my husband when I was 16.
9. I had an unnatural obsession with the IKEA store as a child, which I called "Icky!"
10. By the age of 15 I'd visited more places than most people do in a lifetime.
11. I cried to come home after my first week in college.
12. I ended up loving my college experience.
13. My favorite color is pink, but as a kid I was obcessed with the color purple.
14. At 5'2'' I am only two inches shorter than my husband.
15. I have sat in the audience of the Rosie O'Donnell Show and the Rachael Ray Show.
16. I am a speed reader.
17. My belly button is pierced.
18. When I was a kid I wanted to be an archaeologist until I realized I didn't like dirt.
19. I started college with the intention of majoring in french and history so I could work in a museum in Paris one day.
20. I ended up majoring in history and secondary education so I could teach.
21. I taught six months, then started grad school for a completely different field - college student development/counseling.
22. I didn't cut my hair for 18 months (not even a trim) so it would be long for my wedding.
23. Up until then I had worn my hair fairly short for most of my life.
24. I have needed to get surgery on my right foot for the past 8 years.
25. My middle name is the first half of my mom's name.
26. I had both my bachelor's and master's degrees by the age of 22.
27. I have brown eyes.
28. People are 50/50 on whether I have brown or red hair. Most people are vehemently on one side or the other.
29. I absolutely hate scary movies.
30. I am exceptionally punctual. In college, I was almost always the first to arrive to class.
31. I joined the colorguard (flag team) as a junior in HS, and it turned out to be one of my most favorite activities I've done in my life.
32. During practice in HS, I collapsed on the field and had to be carried off. Turns out I sprained my ankle!
33. I don't just celebrate my birthday. I have always had a birthday week.
34. My mom says I remind her of Cheyenne, on Reba.
35. I have watched only one soap my whole life, Days of our Lives.
36. My burger preference has never changed. It has always been only pickles.
37. Most people think my mom and I look very alike.
38. I am a perfectly blended version of my mom and dad.
39. I am known for taking the lead of most situations, but I tend to freak out in moments of crisis.
40. My dad flew me and a friend to see the Backstreet Boys in Las Vegas when I was 14 because their NC tickets were sold out.
41. I wrote an article in HS that was published in the city newspaper.
42. I have had letters to the editor published in several papers.
43. I don't like candy. At halloween I always gave mine away afterwards.
44. I read the same books over and over, and each time it feels new to me.
45. My husband lost his wedding band in the pool the first day of our honeymoon, and miraculously I managed to find it.
46. I make it a point to visit butterfly exhibits in new places we go.
47. I once went to London and Paris for the weekend with my dad just to experience riding the train through the Chunnel.
48. I love sleeping 1o hours a night, although that rarely happens.
49. I carried around a yellow blankie as a kid that I still have to this day.
50. Even though I've been to NY hundreds of times I've never seen a Broadway play.
51. I opened the paper one day in 8th grade to find a full page picture of me on the cover for a play I was in...no one told us we'd be in it.
52. I absolutely hate the smell of coffee.
53. It really means nothing to be a favorite of mine, because I call everything my favorite.
54. I can get overly excited over very simple things.
55. I am obcessed with foods from my childhood that I can't get I can't get in the south - Chipwich icecream, REAL bread, White Castle cheeseburgers, bialys, Ferrara's cookies
56. My mom used to say I had an abnormal need to know about my next meal for such a small person.
57. I'm no good at tanning, and almost always burn.
58. I have never played on a sport's team.
59. I have an exceptional memory.
60. I am an extrememly organized person.
61. I like to meticulously plan for events in my life, but would hate doing this for someone else.
62. I was named after Heather Locklear.
63. I get compliments on my handwriting, often.
64. I tie my shoes using the two bunny ears, instead of looping around the tree.
65. My favorite icecream is chocolate with chocolate chips.
66. As a kid my favorite food was chicken and rice.
67. It's on the bottom of my list now.
68. I could eat zucchini every day and never get tired of it.
69. My husband rarely calls me by my first name. It freaks me out to hear him say "Heather"
70. I've been married almost two years, and I still haven't legally changed my last name.
71. I don't know if I ever will.
72. I got married in Las Vegas, but I planned it for over a year.
73. I still wear clothes that I wore in high school.
74. I read cnn.com daily.
75. I have way more book sense than street smarts. I am often made fun of for this fact!
76. At one point I had the nickname "Grace" for how clutzy I was.
77. On a Friday night I would much rather stay in than go out.
78. I bruise like a peach. A really, really, soft peach.
79. I have an uncanny nack for getting random things I ask for.
80. I once complained about the Taco Bell we were at being kind of run-down. It was soon after torn down completely and renovated.
81. I once mentioned that the I-40 stretch we had travelled on for over a year in Raleigh bothered me with its bumps. The next month it was completely resurfaced.
82. I have several huge boxes in my closets full of "memories"
83. I collect blankets unintentionally.
84. When I'm shopping I have a tendency to touch everything as I walk by.
85. My absolute favorite store is Target.
86. I really, really, really hate onions.
87. I have never had a dog or cat as a pet.
88. I really dislike smokers.
89. My next-in-line husband is Alton Brown.
90. I lived in Boone (a mtn town) but I have never once been skiing.
91. My favorite way to exercise is doing pilates.
92. I once gave up meat for Lent for four years in a row.
93. I don't like oranges or orange juice.
94. I've been to 3 Disney's - Land, World, and Paris.
95. In college, I was a huge fan of Vera Bradley.
96. I have over 50 pieces of Vera Bradley purses and accessories.
97. Now that I'm married I hardly every carry a purse. Chris handles the keys, cell, and money so I have no need to!
98. I once traded my husband a video game for a pair of Uggs.
99. I am married to a gamer!
100. And I have the best husband in the whole world :)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
shredding so far
So yesterday was day 10 of Jillian's 30 day shred, so I thought I would post an update.
I don't think I've lost any pounds, but I definitely feel like my endurance and strength have improved, so I'm happy with that! And I haven't seen any soreness since I had to take that sick day!
Just working out every day has been a big improvement for me. I don't really like the ellipital, as I tend to get reeeeally bored running, so I often wouldn't run all the days that I said I would. Or I would get home from work and say I was too tired to work out. Not so with the shred!
And, even though I still love pilates, it's a solitary workout... and I really like that the gamer and I can do the shred together.
Today we move on to Level 2, and I'm a bit nervous. If it's anything like the beginning of Level 1, I have much to be worried about!
Maybe I will see more results over the next 10 days. I'll update again at Day 20!
I don't think I've lost any pounds, but I definitely feel like my endurance and strength have improved, so I'm happy with that! And I haven't seen any soreness since I had to take that sick day!
Just working out every day has been a big improvement for me. I don't really like the ellipital, as I tend to get reeeeally bored running, so I often wouldn't run all the days that I said I would. Or I would get home from work and say I was too tired to work out. Not so with the shred!
And, even though I still love pilates, it's a solitary workout... and I really like that the gamer and I can do the shred together.
Today we move on to Level 2, and I'm a bit nervous. If it's anything like the beginning of Level 1, I have much to be worried about!
Maybe I will see more results over the next 10 days. I'll update again at Day 20!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
happy Lent
Note: If you want to see the changes I've made to the blog, make sure you visit the site instead of just reading in your Reader! I am soooo behind on my posts, and I apologize for that! Even though I'm way behind, stay tuned for my very, very, belated "100th" post coming later this week! And back to regularly scheduled programming...
Today starts our annual 40(ish) days of Lent!
I love this time of year, and for as long as I can remember I've always participated in the Lenten season. In the past I have not only limited a food item, but have also tried to improve something in my life like staying off the internet at night, not watching TV, not complaining, not gossiping, reading more, etc.
I will have to say that the "improvement" piece of Lent has always been harder for me than the "limiting" piece!
All four years of high school I gave up beef. As a lover of meat, this has probably been the hardest and most challenging item I have ever given up!
I talked with the gamer about giving up unhealthy foods, or carb-overloaded foods this time. But the list of those foods seemed to grow, and it seemed more like a diet overhall, and something I was afraid I wouldn't be able to accomplish fully over the next 4o days.
So I decided to give up my most favorite snack in the entire world - sunflower seeds. Only my immediate family knows about my love for this salty snack! I get this love from my mom, and I admit, we often buy the whole stock of sunflower seed bags when we are at the store!
Some of my earliest memories are of me and my mom eating sunflower seeds and watching Days of Our Lives on the couch. Since a kid I have eaten a snack of sunflower seeds almost every day of my life.
There are only two times in my life that I can remember not eating them - for the first two years of college (no time for snacking!), and for the six months before my wedding (I just gave up snacking in general then).
I love sunflower seeds.
When I told the husband that I was giving them up he said, "nooooooo" as if I'd be losing my identity by not snacking on them every night! :)
But he's come around to the idea, and I actually stopped eating them a week ago in preparation for Lent! I ran out of bags, so I'm sunflower seed free for the next 40 days!
I know it might not seem like a huge sacrifice to most, but believe me - this is going to be tough for me! I could have easily given up chocolate or ice cream!!
So when the gamer was contemplating what to give up for Lent instead of a food item, I made the following suggestion...
"Why don't you give up WOW?"
And he just stared at me.
I don't think he's ready to make that kind of sacrifice!
Today starts our annual 40(ish) days of Lent!
I love this time of year, and for as long as I can remember I've always participated in the Lenten season. In the past I have not only limited a food item, but have also tried to improve something in my life like staying off the internet at night, not watching TV, not complaining, not gossiping, reading more, etc.
I will have to say that the "improvement" piece of Lent has always been harder for me than the "limiting" piece!
All four years of high school I gave up beef. As a lover of meat, this has probably been the hardest and most challenging item I have ever given up!
I talked with the gamer about giving up unhealthy foods, or carb-overloaded foods this time. But the list of those foods seemed to grow, and it seemed more like a diet overhall, and something I was afraid I wouldn't be able to accomplish fully over the next 4o days.
So I decided to give up my most favorite snack in the entire world - sunflower seeds. Only my immediate family knows about my love for this salty snack! I get this love from my mom, and I admit, we often buy the whole stock of sunflower seed bags when we are at the store!
Some of my earliest memories are of me and my mom eating sunflower seeds and watching Days of Our Lives on the couch. Since a kid I have eaten a snack of sunflower seeds almost every day of my life.
There are only two times in my life that I can remember not eating them - for the first two years of college (no time for snacking!), and for the six months before my wedding (I just gave up snacking in general then).
I love sunflower seeds.
When I told the husband that I was giving them up he said, "nooooooo" as if I'd be losing my identity by not snacking on them every night! :)
But he's come around to the idea, and I actually stopped eating them a week ago in preparation for Lent! I ran out of bags, so I'm sunflower seed free for the next 40 days!
I know it might not seem like a huge sacrifice to most, but believe me - this is going to be tough for me! I could have easily given up chocolate or ice cream!!
So when the gamer was contemplating what to give up for Lent instead of a food item, I made the following suggestion...
"Why don't you give up WOW?"
And he just stared at me.
I don't think he's ready to make that kind of sacrifice!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
yes, it's still me!
Hello everyone!! Notice the changes around here?
This has been my little secret all last week and I am so excited that my new look is finally here!
Hopefully my new navigation bar will help you find things much easier. Also, I'll be adding more information soon to each of these links, particularly in Club and Tips - so stay tuned!
This is all made possible thanks to Diana of Custom Blog Designs. She's the best, and if you're looking for someone to make your blog dazzle she's the one to go to!
Oh! And don't forget to scroll all the way to the bottom for the best part! :-D
This has been my little secret all last week and I am so excited that my new look is finally here!
Hopefully my new navigation bar will help you find things much easier. Also, I'll be adding more information soon to each of these links, particularly in Club and Tips - so stay tuned!
This is all made possible thanks to Diana of Custom Blog Designs. She's the best, and if you're looking for someone to make your blog dazzle she's the one to go to!
Oh! And don't forget to scroll all the way to the bottom for the best part! :-D
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ausiello just moved up on my husband-to-be list
Yes, I have a "husband-to-be list."
It's been a long standing joke between the gamer and me that I pick out men (mostly celebrities) to add to my husband list. The list of men I plan to marry if the gamer and I part ways. Which won't ever happen, and that's why I have fun making my imaginary list.
The gamer will often joke, "ohhh, did you add him to your husband list?" Or, when I "get mad" at one of the guys on my list I'll say, "ohh, he is so totally off the husband list."
Yes, I know the gamer and I are weirdos.
In the past I have had Peter Krause, T.R. Knight (yes, I know he's gay), Alton Brown, and Sylar (yes, the character, not the actor!)
There have been many casualities on my list this year for one reason or another. Until now, Alton has been the sole survivor. But he's just been replaced by Michael Ausiello!
Yeah, I know he's gay too. Some of you might remember me talking about him once before. He is one of the editors on Entertainment Weekly and writes a weekly article about upcoming TV scoop. He get's tons of question each week, and once before he chose MY question to answer.
I have only ever asked him that one question, and he picked it! Since then, I haven't asked a thing.
Well yesterday, I decided to ask him another question.
And today he picked my question to answer again!
How cool is that!!!!
You can see my question to him about the TV show, Privileged, here, and also ready his snarky responses to other viewers questions.
Ausiello made my day! And that just moved him up a notch on the husband list.
It's been a long standing joke between the gamer and me that I pick out men (mostly celebrities) to add to my husband list. The list of men I plan to marry if the gamer and I part ways. Which won't ever happen, and that's why I have fun making my imaginary list.
The gamer will often joke, "ohhh, did you add him to your husband list?" Or, when I "get mad" at one of the guys on my list I'll say, "ohh, he is so totally off the husband list."
Yes, I know the gamer and I are weirdos.
In the past I have had Peter Krause, T.R. Knight (yes, I know he's gay), Alton Brown, and Sylar (yes, the character, not the actor!)
There have been many casualities on my list this year for one reason or another. Until now, Alton has been the sole survivor. But he's just been replaced by Michael Ausiello!
Yeah, I know he's gay too. Some of you might remember me talking about him once before. He is one of the editors on Entertainment Weekly and writes a weekly article about upcoming TV scoop. He get's tons of question each week, and once before he chose MY question to answer.
I have only ever asked him that one question, and he picked it! Since then, I haven't asked a thing.
Well yesterday, I decided to ask him another question.
And today he picked my question to answer again!
How cool is that!!!!
You can see my question to him about the TV show, Privileged, here, and also ready his snarky responses to other viewers questions.
Ausiello made my day! And that just moved him up a notch on the husband list.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
"sick day" or why i stayed home from work because jillian was a meanie to me
Yes, I had a "sick day" yesterday.
And it's really hard to admit it, but I stayed home from work because I could not lift my legs.
And it's because I recently met a woman named Jillian and she has been a world class big fat meanie to me the last few days.
Some of you might know her.
Right now, she is my and the gamer's personal trainer, and the words "I hate Jillian" have come up probably 100 times since we were first introduced...on Sunday.
I was really excited to try her program, the 30 Day Shred. I thought to myself, how hard can it be to workout 20 minutes a day?
We both have been doing a pretty good job at exercising semi-regularly since the new year started. I usually run at least 20 minutes. Pilates can take another 30 minutes. Surely, I could handle 20 minutes of jumping jacks and lunges.
WRONG!
The gamer was even up to doing it with me. So on Sunday we set out to start our Day 1 on Level 1.
I honestly didn't think it was that bad. Monday, I had a little soreness, but that was to be expected. But after Monday's workout I cried. I cursed Jillian and her stupid workout.
And on Tuesday morning I couldn't even get out of bed. Or lift myself off the toilet. I never realized how much I use my leg muscles on a daily basis. So I had to take a sick day. A sick day because Jillian kicked my ass, literally.
But I pushed through Day 3, and now it's Day 4 (I'm back to work) and I'm feeling much better. The Shred promises pretty big results, so I'll let you know on Day 30 how the gamer and I end up!
*Note: The gamer and I are only attempting to lose a few pounds (not the 20lbs Jillian claims is possible with her workout). Also, our focus is better endurance and strength, not weight.
And it's really hard to admit it, but I stayed home from work because I could not lift my legs.
And it's because I recently met a woman named Jillian and she has been a world class big fat meanie to me the last few days.
Some of you might know her.
Right now, she is my and the gamer's personal trainer, and the words "I hate Jillian" have come up probably 100 times since we were first introduced...on Sunday.
I was really excited to try her program, the 30 Day Shred. I thought to myself, how hard can it be to workout 20 minutes a day?
We both have been doing a pretty good job at exercising semi-regularly since the new year started. I usually run at least 20 minutes. Pilates can take another 30 minutes. Surely, I could handle 20 minutes of jumping jacks and lunges.
WRONG!
The gamer was even up to doing it with me. So on Sunday we set out to start our Day 1 on Level 1.
I honestly didn't think it was that bad. Monday, I had a little soreness, but that was to be expected. But after Monday's workout I cried. I cursed Jillian and her stupid workout.
And on Tuesday morning I couldn't even get out of bed. Or lift myself off the toilet. I never realized how much I use my leg muscles on a daily basis. So I had to take a sick day. A sick day because Jillian kicked my ass, literally.
But I pushed through Day 3, and now it's Day 4 (I'm back to work) and I'm feeling much better. The Shred promises pretty big results, so I'll let you know on Day 30 how the gamer and I end up!
*Note: The gamer and I are only attempting to lose a few pounds (not the 20lbs Jillian claims is possible with her workout). Also, our focus is better endurance and strength, not weight.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
happy birthday Aunt Diane!
I just wanted to give a shout out to my Aunt Diane on her special day!The gamer and I both wish you a Happy Birthday!
Monday, February 16, 2009
i'm a celebrity and didn't even know it
Around the time that I started my blog last June, I tried to search online and see if there were others like me. Google didn't give me much. I did a blog search, and came up with A Gamer's Wife, and was excited to see another woman like me, except her gamer husband was a bit cooler, since he works in the industry.
I was a new blogger at the time (and still actually consider myself fairly new), and didn't even think to write a comment to her to let her know that I existed. But it seems that recently, she also googled "gamer's wife" to see what she could find, and ended up finding me!
What a crazy, small world us gamer's wives live in!
So I decided to drop by her site recently, and you wouldn't believe to my surprise that she had posted about 'lil ole me! Apparently she thought my flair for the dramatics was amusing regarding my post on how I manipulate the gamer!
So I just wanted to say thanks to A Gamer's Wife for the recognition!! You made me feel like such a special blogger today!
When I started this blog, it was mainly for myself. I had no idea the blogosphere even existed like it does. I slowly started sharing the blog with (some) family and friends. And then suddenly people I didn't even know started reading!
I still don't consider myself an experienced blogger. I don't have "a following". I really don't get any comments - and that's mostly my fault because I fail to comment on other's blogs like a "good blogger should!"
But I am having a blast writing like I do, and it is even more fun to see that practical strangers are coming across my blog and enjoying my writings as well. I never would have thought nine months ago that at least once a day someone would come across my blog just by googling "gamer's wife" or "wife of a gamer".
It makes me feel kind of like a blogo-celebrity!
Go ahead, you type gamer's wife into google. You'll see over 2.5 million search results. And I'm number two! On the first page!
That is my claim to fame people! Five years of schooling, two advanced degrees, and a certification, and all I care about is where I fall into a google search. Sad, I know.
So please don't forget to check out A Gamer's Wife to read her insights as well! I still can't get over the fact that she posted about me, and it was so nice of her to give me a good review!
And also, she probably doesn't even know it, but one of the first people to actually comment on my blog - a fellow Heather - is also a fellow gamer's wife, and you can check out her blog here. One day I hope to have as many blog friends and comments as she does!
I was a new blogger at the time (and still actually consider myself fairly new), and didn't even think to write a comment to her to let her know that I existed. But it seems that recently, she also googled "gamer's wife" to see what she could find, and ended up finding me!
What a crazy, small world us gamer's wives live in!
So I decided to drop by her site recently, and you wouldn't believe to my surprise that she had posted about 'lil ole me! Apparently she thought my flair for the dramatics was amusing regarding my post on how I manipulate the gamer!
So I just wanted to say thanks to A Gamer's Wife for the recognition!! You made me feel like such a special blogger today!
When I started this blog, it was mainly for myself. I had no idea the blogosphere even existed like it does. I slowly started sharing the blog with (some) family and friends. And then suddenly people I didn't even know started reading!
I still don't consider myself an experienced blogger. I don't have "a following". I really don't get any comments - and that's mostly my fault because I fail to comment on other's blogs like a "good blogger should!"
But I am having a blast writing like I do, and it is even more fun to see that practical strangers are coming across my blog and enjoying my writings as well. I never would have thought nine months ago that at least once a day someone would come across my blog just by googling "gamer's wife" or "wife of a gamer".
It makes me feel kind of like a blogo-celebrity!
Go ahead, you type gamer's wife into google. You'll see over 2.5 million search results. And I'm number two! On the first page!
That is my claim to fame people! Five years of schooling, two advanced degrees, and a certification, and all I care about is where I fall into a google search. Sad, I know.
So please don't forget to check out A Gamer's Wife to read her insights as well! I still can't get over the fact that she posted about me, and it was so nice of her to give me a good review!
And also, she probably doesn't even know it, but one of the first people to actually comment on my blog - a fellow Heather - is also a fellow gamer's wife, and you can check out her blog here. One day I hope to have as many blog friends and comments as she does!
Friday, February 13, 2009
friday the 13th, OR how i scored two dates on v-day eve
Yeah, you read that right.
So Monday last week the gamer and I were talking about our plans for Valentine's Day weekend. We decided since it was on a Saturday night we were going to continue our tradition of just making a nice dinner at home instead of trying to brave all the romantic crazies dining out that night.
I had already bought him a card and a small present, but I had absolutely ZIPPO in the ideas department for any romantic surprises. Heck, I hadn't even bought any new lingerie. I was pretty much doomed to be the world's worst Valentine's Day date ever.
So the gamer was talking and he said, "Yeah...Ryan and I really wanted to go see Friday the 13th, since the movie comes out that day, you know.."
Note: I hate scary movies. With a passion. Want proof? I've been known to close my eyes, sing and hum to myself in the movie theater just so I can't hear "the scary" going on. Just ask the gamer. He loves scary movies and is secretly disapointed (ok, outwardly disapointed) that he married a woman who won't go see them with him.
And the gamer kept talking, "But it's the Friday before Valentines, and we don't want to look like a bunch of losers going on a 'date' with each other..."
Light bulb!
What better Valentine's day gift and surprise for my gamer-scary-movie-loving-hubby than a ticket with MOI to a scary movie I otherwise would never dare to see???
And so I said, "How 'bout I go with you two?"
And that my friends, is how I spent Friday night of Valentine's weekend seeing Friday the 13th with two dates. And scored major points for the best Valentines gift ever.
He's so easy to please!
So Monday last week the gamer and I were talking about our plans for Valentine's Day weekend. We decided since it was on a Saturday night we were going to continue our tradition of just making a nice dinner at home instead of trying to brave all the romantic crazies dining out that night.
I had already bought him a card and a small present, but I had absolutely ZIPPO in the ideas department for any romantic surprises. Heck, I hadn't even bought any new lingerie. I was pretty much doomed to be the world's worst Valentine's Day date ever.
So the gamer was talking and he said, "Yeah...Ryan and I really wanted to go see Friday the 13th, since the movie comes out that day, you know.."
Note: I hate scary movies. With a passion. Want proof? I've been known to close my eyes, sing and hum to myself in the movie theater just so I can't hear "the scary" going on. Just ask the gamer. He loves scary movies and is secretly disapointed (ok, outwardly disapointed) that he married a woman who won't go see them with him.
And the gamer kept talking, "But it's the Friday before Valentines, and we don't want to look like a bunch of losers going on a 'date' with each other..."
Light bulb!
What better Valentine's day gift and surprise for my gamer-scary-movie-loving-hubby than a ticket with MOI to a scary movie I otherwise would never dare to see???
And so I said, "How 'bout I go with you two?"
And that my friends, is how I spent Friday night of Valentine's weekend seeing Friday the 13th with two dates. And scored major points for the best Valentines gift ever.
He's so easy to please!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
CGB+HJB=4EVER
Keeping up with the "love" theme of my February posts...
I was looking through photos of our past Valentine's Days and I completely forgot about what happened on V-Day, 2004. Seeing the photos put a big smile on my face!
The gamer has always been good to me on Valentine's. Over the years he has surprised me with balloons, flowers, lingerie (gasp!), candy, cards - things to be expected on that day. But he won't be the first person to tell you that surprising me is almost impossible.
You see, I pretty much always know where the gamer is. And he is awful and terrible at lying. Which I should see as a positive quality, but it really is his downful in trying to plan things for me. Instead of picking something up for me while he runs other errands or leaving early from work to pick up flowers or a card, he almost always gives me lame excuses. He says he is "running late" but gives no reason what so ever, and does it in a way that I know he is up to something.
So needless to say, I might not always know what he's up to or what the actual surprise is, but I almost always figure out he is the process of buying me a gift or planning something special. Because he is such a crap liar.
But in February 2004, the gamer fooled me. We were in college at the time, and I worked on Friday afternoons 1-4. Chris got out of classes at 1, and typically would come to pick me up, or meet me at my dorm around 4 when I got out. I usually would email him while at work, or talk to him on the phone, but this time there was no communication. I really didn't think anything was up at the time.
He was a little later than normal, but still, I was clueless.
So Valentine's Day rolled around three days later. Chris sent a HUGE card to my office at work, along with red tulips. I surprised him with champagne classes, and we had a steak dinner by candlelight. I was pretty content with the day.
And then we got into bed, and I looked up at the ceiling and saw....THIS.
Yes, that's right.
What you are seeing is hundreds of little glow-in-the-dark stars laid out in a pattern on the ceiling to say CGB+HJB=4EVER.
How sappy is that? But I LOVED IT.
This totally doesn't fit the gamer's personality AT ALL. He's sweet and all, but this kind of gesture is way out of his element.
I couldn't believe he had kept this from me! I had absolutely no idea about this surprise, and was completely surprised that the gamer was able to pull this off!
Apparently, that Friday while I worked he drove to Winston (for some reason he couldn't get the stars in Boone) - that's a 3 hour round trip, and was able to put all the stars on the ceiling, without me even knowing.
I was thrilled. I spent that summer in the apartment by myself while the gamer worked in Winston, and every night I got to look up at the ceiling and smile.
It was perfect for the college setting, so I'm not sure I would want a glow in the dark star message on my ceiling now, but it was such a simple, sweet gesture, and I still can't believe the gamer was able to surprise me!
I was looking through photos of our past Valentine's Days and I completely forgot about what happened on V-Day, 2004. Seeing the photos put a big smile on my face!
The gamer has always been good to me on Valentine's. Over the years he has surprised me with balloons, flowers, lingerie (gasp!), candy, cards - things to be expected on that day. But he won't be the first person to tell you that surprising me is almost impossible.
You see, I pretty much always know where the gamer is. And he is awful and terrible at lying. Which I should see as a positive quality, but it really is his downful in trying to plan things for me. Instead of picking something up for me while he runs other errands or leaving early from work to pick up flowers or a card, he almost always gives me lame excuses. He says he is "running late" but gives no reason what so ever, and does it in a way that I know he is up to something.
So needless to say, I might not always know what he's up to or what the actual surprise is, but I almost always figure out he is the process of buying me a gift or planning something special. Because he is such a crap liar.
But in February 2004, the gamer fooled me. We were in college at the time, and I worked on Friday afternoons 1-4. Chris got out of classes at 1, and typically would come to pick me up, or meet me at my dorm around 4 when I got out. I usually would email him while at work, or talk to him on the phone, but this time there was no communication. I really didn't think anything was up at the time.
He was a little later than normal, but still, I was clueless.
So Valentine's Day rolled around three days later. Chris sent a HUGE card to my office at work, along with red tulips. I surprised him with champagne classes, and we had a steak dinner by candlelight. I was pretty content with the day.
And then we got into bed, and I looked up at the ceiling and saw....THIS.
Yes, that's right.What you are seeing is hundreds of little glow-in-the-dark stars laid out in a pattern on the ceiling to say CGB+HJB=4EVER.
How sappy is that? But I LOVED IT.
This totally doesn't fit the gamer's personality AT ALL. He's sweet and all, but this kind of gesture is way out of his element.
I couldn't believe he had kept this from me! I had absolutely no idea about this surprise, and was completely surprised that the gamer was able to pull this off!
Apparently, that Friday while I worked he drove to Winston (for some reason he couldn't get the stars in Boone) - that's a 3 hour round trip, and was able to put all the stars on the ceiling, without me even knowing.
I was thrilled. I spent that summer in the apartment by myself while the gamer worked in Winston, and every night I got to look up at the ceiling and smile.
It was perfect for the college setting, so I'm not sure I would want a glow in the dark star message on my ceiling now, but it was such a simple, sweet gesture, and I still can't believe the gamer was able to surprise me!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
welcome fellow gamer's wife!
I would just like to say welcome to all the fellow gamer's wives who have come to visit recently!
I have noticed an increase in traffic flow lately for people searching for "gamer's wife" and I am glad that you have landed at my lil' ole blog!
So welcome to you if you googled "gamer's wife" and found me :) To those who searched "two people one bed" (repeatedly, and kept finding yourselves here) I have nothing to say to you. Haha :-P
I have noticed an increase in traffic flow lately for people searching for "gamer's wife" and I am glad that you have landed at my lil' ole blog!
So welcome to you if you googled "gamer's wife" and found me :) To those who searched "two people one bed" (repeatedly, and kept finding yourselves here) I have nothing to say to you. Haha :-P
Monday, February 9, 2009
together or separate?
Very few know that for a very short time in the summer of 2004 Chris and I broke up. (Wow, what a way to start a story out, huh?)
It was a very, very short time. And during that time we tried to be just friends.
On one of our outings as just friends we went to Qdoba.
Now, Chris and I looooove Qdoba. It was our place. I always went through the line first, and while Chris was ordering I would always let them know that his order would be with mine (he always paid for the both of us).
That night was no different. I went through the line first, and approached the cashier.
He asked me, "together or separate?" as he pointed to our two burritos.
I looked at Chris, he looked at me. One or both of us said.... separate.
And I just about burst into tears.
It was more than the fact that I was paying for my own burrito for once. It was the fact that the cashier reaffirmed that we were no longer a we, but a seperate.
Now, everytime we go anywhere and they ask us "together or separate" Chris and I just about bust out laughing everytime. It always make us think back to that crazy time, and I am so glad to always say...
Together....Definitely together. :)
It was a very, very short time. And during that time we tried to be just friends.
On one of our outings as just friends we went to Qdoba.
Now, Chris and I looooove Qdoba. It was our place. I always went through the line first, and while Chris was ordering I would always let them know that his order would be with mine (he always paid for the both of us).
That night was no different. I went through the line first, and approached the cashier.
He asked me, "together or separate?" as he pointed to our two burritos.
I looked at Chris, he looked at me. One or both of us said.... separate.
And I just about burst into tears.
It was more than the fact that I was paying for my own burrito for once. It was the fact that the cashier reaffirmed that we were no longer a we, but a seperate.
Now, everytime we go anywhere and they ask us "together or separate" Chris and I just about bust out laughing everytime. It always make us think back to that crazy time, and I am so glad to always say...
Together....Definitely together. :)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
the gamer and his wife: a love story, part 3
The final installment in my love story with the gamer!
Chris and I were inseperable the next nine months. He graduated from high school in May, and we spent all our extra time with each other over that summer, knowing he would be leaving for college in August.
In August, on the night before he left for Boone, he brought me to Build-a-Bear, where I made "Little Chris" the stuffed bear that I still have! Even though he was only two hours away it was really hard for me to see him go.
Somehow over the next year we survived a long distance relationship. The following August I moved up to Boone as well to attend Appalachian State with Chris. It was the only school I applied to, and I think that decision is what made it clear that we would stay together for the rest of our lives.
Unfortunately, my first year at App with Chris was pretty rocky. I had a new group of friends that I was busy with, and Chris lived off campus (without a car!) so we didn't see each other a lot at night. Plus, the bus didn't run on weekends so we either had to spend the entire weekend together at his place, or not see each other at all.
We have some really happy memories of that year, but some pretty terrible ones as well. We faught a LOT.
The June after my first year at App I worked a summer camp and met a guy that seemed to get me. I broke up with Chris.
The next few weeks were crazy. I went on vacation with my family so reality didn't set in for me yet that I had a new boyfriend and that I wasn't with my old boyfriend of over two and half years. When I returned home, I struggled to be at the same place with the new boyfriend that I used to be with Chris.
A few days later I called Chris and I asked him to go out to dinner with me. We had a friendly, if not strained, dinner.
A couple days later we decided to go to the movies together. Afterwards, I told Chris that it was just too hard to be only friends with him, and that I just couldn't do it. I thought that was going to be it for us...until he pulled me into his lap and kissed me.
I broke up with that other boyfriend the very next day (over the phone - I know, how terrible of me!)
We started off slow at first, trying to rebuild the trust that I'd broken, and it was difficult. But it's like all the pain from the last year was gone. By August we were back to normal again, and it was like we had never been apart. Even though it was painful, we both agree that that time apart did so much for our relationship. From the moment we got back together, I knew that he was the one I was going to marry.
The next year and a half were amazing. I have almost only happy memories of that last little bit of time I had left at App with Chris. When we think back to our time in college together, those memories are what we remember - hanging out with our friends, going to football games, movies at his crappy apartment, and going out to dinner together almost every night.
On November 10, 2005 Chris asked me to marry him. He had candles set out all over his apartment, and gave me a present of "softie socks" (one of my favorite things - I actually still have these and call them my engagement socks!) He tipped the sock over and out fell a ring box! And then he got down on one knee (how else?) and proposed! It was magical and exciting!
We were married exactly 18 months later on May 10, 2007.
And we had chocolate striped cheesecake for our wedding cake! :)
Thanks for staying tuned to hear our love story! More than anything this blog is a way for me to recount stories, not for an audience, but really for the gamer and me. We often say "do you remember that?!" when we think of a great memory, and I feel that this is the best way to document all those memories from the past and the present, so that we'll have them to look back on in the future. Thanks for reading :)
Chris and I were inseperable the next nine months. He graduated from high school in May, and we spent all our extra time with each other over that summer, knowing he would be leaving for college in August.
In August, on the night before he left for Boone, he brought me to Build-a-Bear, where I made "Little Chris" the stuffed bear that I still have! Even though he was only two hours away it was really hard for me to see him go.
Somehow over the next year we survived a long distance relationship. The following August I moved up to Boone as well to attend Appalachian State with Chris. It was the only school I applied to, and I think that decision is what made it clear that we would stay together for the rest of our lives.
Unfortunately, my first year at App with Chris was pretty rocky. I had a new group of friends that I was busy with, and Chris lived off campus (without a car!) so we didn't see each other a lot at night. Plus, the bus didn't run on weekends so we either had to spend the entire weekend together at his place, or not see each other at all.
We have some really happy memories of that year, but some pretty terrible ones as well. We faught a LOT.
The June after my first year at App I worked a summer camp and met a guy that seemed to get me. I broke up with Chris.
The next few weeks were crazy. I went on vacation with my family so reality didn't set in for me yet that I had a new boyfriend and that I wasn't with my old boyfriend of over two and half years. When I returned home, I struggled to be at the same place with the new boyfriend that I used to be with Chris.
A few days later I called Chris and I asked him to go out to dinner with me. We had a friendly, if not strained, dinner.
A couple days later we decided to go to the movies together. Afterwards, I told Chris that it was just too hard to be only friends with him, and that I just couldn't do it. I thought that was going to be it for us...until he pulled me into his lap and kissed me.
I broke up with that other boyfriend the very next day (over the phone - I know, how terrible of me!)
We started off slow at first, trying to rebuild the trust that I'd broken, and it was difficult. But it's like all the pain from the last year was gone. By August we were back to normal again, and it was like we had never been apart. Even though it was painful, we both agree that that time apart did so much for our relationship. From the moment we got back together, I knew that he was the one I was going to marry.
The next year and a half were amazing. I have almost only happy memories of that last little bit of time I had left at App with Chris. When we think back to our time in college together, those memories are what we remember - hanging out with our friends, going to football games, movies at his crappy apartment, and going out to dinner together almost every night.
On November 10, 2005 Chris asked me to marry him. He had candles set out all over his apartment, and gave me a present of "softie socks" (one of my favorite things - I actually still have these and call them my engagement socks!) He tipped the sock over and out fell a ring box! And then he got down on one knee (how else?) and proposed! It was magical and exciting!
We were married exactly 18 months later on May 10, 2007.
And we had chocolate striped cheesecake for our wedding cake! :)
Thanks for staying tuned to hear our love story! More than anything this blog is a way for me to recount stories, not for an audience, but really for the gamer and me. We often say "do you remember that?!" when we think of a great memory, and I feel that this is the best way to document all those memories from the past and the present, so that we'll have them to look back on in the future. Thanks for reading :)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
the gamer and his wife: a love story, part 2
I know you are just on the edge of your seats! Here's part two in the series about how the gamer and I came to be. For part one, click here.
I had never really spoken to Chris before the parking lot incident. Remember, I was way swept up with new boyfriend, new best friend, new huge group of friends - new life.
The next day at lunch though I let him have it.
I yelled at him for not being grateful to Caitlin in the parking lot, and told him how rude it was for him not to acknowledge her.
That day he called my house to apologize.
Then, he wrote me an email to apologize again.
Within a week, we were best friends.
We emailed each other every single day. I couldn't believe the luck of my life. Not only did I have a steady boyfriend (for the first time in my life), but I also had a solid best girlfriend and best guyfriend (for the first time in my life).
It was so awesome, for about...oh...a week.
Then the inevitable came. Apparently my boyfriend was not too fond of sharing his time with so many other people, particularly Chris.
I on the other hand refused to give up all these new favorite people in my life. I spent more and more time with Chris. We went out for icecream, we studied pre-cal at each other's houses, we taped shows for the other when one of us was too busy to watch, and we hung out and had striped cookies and Dr. Pepper.
Caitlin told me I was clearly falling for Chris. My mom claimed the same thing. My boyfriend was getting more angry with me.
But Chris and I refused to acknowledge what others were saying. We had a great time together, but after all, we both had significant others, so what's the worry?
Through all of it, things were becoming increasinly unhappy with my boyfriend, and Chris was not having the time of his life with his girlfriend either. We still were committed to them though, and never, ever once did we talk about liking each other.
Well, my boyfriend couldn't take it anymore, and in early December he broke up with me. Within a week Chris broke up with his girlfriend.
One week after that, Chris and I went on our first date. December 14, 2001. Black tie mouse pie (a chocolate striped cheesecake) at the Olive Garden to congratulate him on getting into Appalachian State.
We didn't really consider it a date at the time. We hadn't talked about having feelings for one another. I think we honestly both were scared to admit it, didn't want to tempt fate by talking about, and seriously were trying to just be good friends, since that's what we wanted all along.
Two days later we had our first kiss.
We were studying for our pre-calculus final, and it just happened. I will never, ever forget it.
Chris also won't let me the live down the fact that the next day I made a D on that pre-cal final. Seriously, I was a straight A student, and that was the lowest grade I had seen in my life! Guess my brain was just somewhere else.... ;)
That next week we discussed all sorts of possiblities - one big one being that we would wait at least six months to officially date each other out of respect for our previous bf/gf.
But we spent every day that week together, and staying apart for six months just didn't look like a possibility.
On December 22, 2001 Chris officially asked me to be his girlfriend.
And we've been together ever since :)
Stay tuned for tomorrow and the final installment in this series about how we managed to stay together and eventually end up married!
I had never really spoken to Chris before the parking lot incident. Remember, I was way swept up with new boyfriend, new best friend, new huge group of friends - new life.
The next day at lunch though I let him have it.
I yelled at him for not being grateful to Caitlin in the parking lot, and told him how rude it was for him not to acknowledge her.
That day he called my house to apologize.
Then, he wrote me an email to apologize again.
Within a week, we were best friends.
We emailed each other every single day. I couldn't believe the luck of my life. Not only did I have a steady boyfriend (for the first time in my life), but I also had a solid best girlfriend and best guyfriend (for the first time in my life).
It was so awesome, for about...oh...a week.
Then the inevitable came. Apparently my boyfriend was not too fond of sharing his time with so many other people, particularly Chris.
I on the other hand refused to give up all these new favorite people in my life. I spent more and more time with Chris. We went out for icecream, we studied pre-cal at each other's houses, we taped shows for the other when one of us was too busy to watch, and we hung out and had striped cookies and Dr. Pepper.
Caitlin told me I was clearly falling for Chris. My mom claimed the same thing. My boyfriend was getting more angry with me.
But Chris and I refused to acknowledge what others were saying. We had a great time together, but after all, we both had significant others, so what's the worry?
Through all of it, things were becoming increasinly unhappy with my boyfriend, and Chris was not having the time of his life with his girlfriend either. We still were committed to them though, and never, ever once did we talk about liking each other.
Well, my boyfriend couldn't take it anymore, and in early December he broke up with me. Within a week Chris broke up with his girlfriend.
One week after that, Chris and I went on our first date. December 14, 2001. Black tie mouse pie (a chocolate striped cheesecake) at the Olive Garden to congratulate him on getting into Appalachian State.
We didn't really consider it a date at the time. We hadn't talked about having feelings for one another. I think we honestly both were scared to admit it, didn't want to tempt fate by talking about, and seriously were trying to just be good friends, since that's what we wanted all along.
Two days later we had our first kiss.
We were studying for our pre-calculus final, and it just happened. I will never, ever forget it.
Chris also won't let me the live down the fact that the next day I made a D on that pre-cal final. Seriously, I was a straight A student, and that was the lowest grade I had seen in my life! Guess my brain was just somewhere else.... ;)
That next week we discussed all sorts of possiblities - one big one being that we would wait at least six months to officially date each other out of respect for our previous bf/gf.
But we spent every day that week together, and staying apart for six months just didn't look like a possibility.
On December 22, 2001 Chris officially asked me to be his girlfriend.
And we've been together ever since :)
Stay tuned for tomorrow and the final installment in this series about how we managed to stay together and eventually end up married!
Monday, February 2, 2009
the gamer and his wife: a love story, part 1
Happy February! It's the Valentine's Day month, so what better time to recount my love story with the gamer? Here is the beginning of this three-parter!
The gamer and I met in August 2001, when I falsely believed he was just an average, no-gaming kind of guy. I had just turned 16 and was starting my junior year of high school, and I had also just joined the marching band as a member of the colorguard.
But even though that's when we really met, our love story goes back many more years than that. You see, it starts in 1989.
That is the year that destiny took a hand in bringing Chris and me to the place that we would eventually meet - Winston-Salem.
In 1989 I was four years old. I was born in NY, and after moving to CA and then PA, my family was moving to NC at this time. Chris, born in WV, was now moving to NC at the age of six. We both lived in different parts of the city and attended different schools at first, but within a few years our families had both moved to an area called Sherwood Forest, where we ended up going to the same elementary school. We lived just a mile down the road from each other and never knew it.
In middle school Chris and I worked on the musical, A Christmas Carol, I was in the cast, and he was behind-the-scenes. I didn't meet him then either. Years later he would tell me he remembered me from the play and ended up taking me to see it on our one year anniversary.
So then, finally, in high school our paths crossed....
The gamer was 17, going on 18 and was starting his senior year - this being his final year in the marching band as clarinet section captain.
A lot of stuff happened all at once for me. Having just turned 16 (the last in my group of friends to do so) I was enamored with my new grown-up life. All my friends had cars, colorguard brought a whole new group of friends and took up all my time, and I had a huge crush on a younger drummer in the band. I was completely oblivious to everything and everyone else around me.
Well, the drummer didn't like me back, and I moved on to a new guy - a clarinet player - but not the gamer. We started dating in early September and I swear I thought I was in love.
About the same time I became best friends with a girl named Caitlin who was also in the band.
Soon I found out that Caitlin used to be best friends with Chris, another clarinet player in the band. He was also close friends with my new boyfriend, and lived just down the block from him.
Are you still there? Have you kept up with all the players in this story?
Well, Chris had his own girlfriend (at another school), but as I learned that there was a lot of past issues between Caitlin and Chris, I felt that there was something that could be done to help these two become friends again.
I also realized that Chris was in mine and Caitlin's pre-calculus class. Yes, I know - such a small world, and so hard to believe I didn't know any of these people only the month before.
Then, one day in early October Caitlin and I were in her car in the school parking lot. Being a nice driver, she waved Chris on to drive ahead of her in line.
He did not wave back. No acknowledgement. No gratitude.
Who knew this one simple act would have such an impact on our lives?
Stay tuned for Part 2 to see what happens next between the gamer and me!
The gamer and I met in August 2001, when I falsely believed he was just an average, no-gaming kind of guy. I had just turned 16 and was starting my junior year of high school, and I had also just joined the marching band as a member of the colorguard.
But even though that's when we really met, our love story goes back many more years than that. You see, it starts in 1989.
That is the year that destiny took a hand in bringing Chris and me to the place that we would eventually meet - Winston-Salem.
In 1989 I was four years old. I was born in NY, and after moving to CA and then PA, my family was moving to NC at this time. Chris, born in WV, was now moving to NC at the age of six. We both lived in different parts of the city and attended different schools at first, but within a few years our families had both moved to an area called Sherwood Forest, where we ended up going to the same elementary school. We lived just a mile down the road from each other and never knew it.
In middle school Chris and I worked on the musical, A Christmas Carol, I was in the cast, and he was behind-the-scenes. I didn't meet him then either. Years later he would tell me he remembered me from the play and ended up taking me to see it on our one year anniversary.
So then, finally, in high school our paths crossed....
The gamer was 17, going on 18 and was starting his senior year - this being his final year in the marching band as clarinet section captain.
A lot of stuff happened all at once for me. Having just turned 16 (the last in my group of friends to do so) I was enamored with my new grown-up life. All my friends had cars, colorguard brought a whole new group of friends and took up all my time, and I had a huge crush on a younger drummer in the band. I was completely oblivious to everything and everyone else around me.
Well, the drummer didn't like me back, and I moved on to a new guy - a clarinet player - but not the gamer. We started dating in early September and I swear I thought I was in love.
About the same time I became best friends with a girl named Caitlin who was also in the band.
Soon I found out that Caitlin used to be best friends with Chris, another clarinet player in the band. He was also close friends with my new boyfriend, and lived just down the block from him.
Are you still there? Have you kept up with all the players in this story?
Well, Chris had his own girlfriend (at another school), but as I learned that there was a lot of past issues between Caitlin and Chris, I felt that there was something that could be done to help these two become friends again.
I also realized that Chris was in mine and Caitlin's pre-calculus class. Yes, I know - such a small world, and so hard to believe I didn't know any of these people only the month before.
Then, one day in early October Caitlin and I were in her car in the school parking lot. Being a nice driver, she waved Chris on to drive ahead of her in line.
He did not wave back. No acknowledgement. No gratitude.
Who knew this one simple act would have such an impact on our lives?
Stay tuned for Part 2 to see what happens next between the gamer and me!
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