For Richer, For Poorer

It's that time of year, when you exchange your wishlist with the wife.  She asks you what you want and you pretty much fear the answer she will provide when asking her the same question.  You try to get away with explaining there is absolutely nothing you have a certain desire for, only to be forced to come up with something that results in endless searches over the internet for stuff you really don't need, just to give her a satisfactory answer.  However, before I got the chance to ask, I was told exactly what to get my wife.  Most men only dream of this occasion, because shopping for your wife can or cannot be the easiest of christmas tasks, unless you've kept a keen ear for the past 300 or so days.  It's been my experience that women quite often will drop hints on things they would like all the time; whether it be for christmas or not.  Before I get to what my wife just so happened to ask for, let me take you back a year......

Last summer while attending a little saturday night soiree, I had to move my wife's CRV so someone could leave.  Both of us had consumed enough beverages that driving was probably out of the question; however, I was asked to simply move the car from 1 spot to another....simple right?  In the process of backing up I just so happened to back into a garden light post that happily provided the car with a some bodily damage.  Needless to say, the tongue of a woman never sounded so fierce the following morning.  Aside from the guilt that overcame me for such a simple accident, my obligations led me to a body shop first thing that Monday morning to get an assessment of the damages.  Long story short, my wife had her car back by the end of the week.  Here's the kicker.....that following weekend my wife had a girl's night out and opted as the designated driver for the evening.  Webster's defines "designated driver" as a person who abstains from alcoholic beverages at a gathering in order to be fit to drive companions home safely.  Therefore, we can safely use the word "sober" to describe my wife's status at the time.  While leaving the parking lot that evening she just so happened to back into a concrete pole.  No harm, no foul, it could happen to anyone right?  But guess where the damage was?  Yep, you got it, in the same spot I just ever so quickly had repaired.  I was told about this the following morning and found it somewhat humorous. 

And it's always been a funny story to share....until now of course. Guess what my wife wants for Christmas?

Nevertheless, I took this woman as my wife no matter how much richer or poorer it may end up making me. 

 Here's my latest celebrity comparison.......

Once Upon a Pastime

If there's one thing I've learned, it's nothing last forever.  A relationship begins and at some point in it's pinnacle, you realize that the small things that you once became childishly giddy over have not so much disappeared, but simply become a pastime.  For instance, you once shared the coziness and warmth of your spouse in the center of a king size bed spooning life's daily encounters into a divine world of hibernation for the night.  And now 3 years, 4 months, and 3 days later, the space between you has now been filled with a boxer named Ziggy, a beagle named Kaya, and a terrier named Gracie.  The warmth and love are still present; however, the sweet nothings you once whispered into your wife's ear are now voiced thru 2 cups and a string over the posturepedic plains and the K-9 furs that occupy them. 

I've been known to wake up in the middle of the night and proceed to the guest bedroom occupied with not 1, but 2 twin beds and all the fixins' for a good night's rest to avoid the heat that radiates from our three K-9 kids.  And only soon to be followed by 1, if not all of them into the smaller sanctuary I was looking forward to; otherwise, leaving my wife to roam the entire king size bed for herself.......how ironic?

However, she now often finds me in a deep sleep spooning with her number 1 who started it all...Ziggy.  Hopefully there won't be any jealousy of the pastime, we once shared.

I'll take the usual please......

Since I can remember, I like things the way i like them and that's about the end of it.  No different than  neologisms or idiosyncrasies, there are certain physical objects I have become accustom to having and/or using on a daily basis.  For example, the monotony of my mornings is pretty simple.  I hit the head, take the dogs out, hop in the shower, start the coffee, then proceed to get dressed.  Usually about this time, my wife is waking up to go to work and Im pouring the first cup of joe.  This routine has worked fairly well since I can remember, so I normally look at this with the same attitude I look at anything being a guy.....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  However, there came a moment this week when a wrench was thrown into the smooth lubricated gears of my complex but highly un-mechanical assembly line of morning routines that have yet broken down until now.  This would be about the time my OCD kicks in when I go to grab my coffie mug and the cabinet where it sits every morning no longer contains this important object.  That cabinet was now full of identical, pretty tea cups sitting upside down on the saucers that complimented each of them individually.  So I proceed to ask "Honey, have you seen my coffee mug?"  At this point, my wife is sitting at her desk working and currently pre-occupied.  I proceed to open every cabinet and my mug is nowhere to be found.  A 5 minute search was quickly concluded when she finally told me where it was........boxed up in the shed.  So what's a guy to do?  

I grabbed the shed keys and proceeded to the shed, found the box marked dishes, and found my coffee mug.  Free at last, free at last!!  My coffee mug has now found it's way back inside our home for my personal everyday use.  In her defense however, she simply wanted to make use of the wonderful wedding gifts we were given and actually have a matching set of coffee cups.  I can't blame her, they're really nice cups.  But in the end, I like things the way I like em and there's no changing that.  No one said it was easy becoming Mr. Husband.

Behind Every Great Man, There is a Great Woman!

Well, the wife is getting ready for tonight's dinner at Toyama's.....a little sushi is good for the soul.

So while Im waiting for hair and makeup to be completed (trust me, I got time), I wanted to elaborate on my previous "honey-do" post and the title of this one.....Thanks Jon. 

Let me start by saying anything from here forward is by no means chauvinist, but in fact, an expression of appreciation to my wife and her own honey-do's, but without the list.  Though it can be troubling to accomplish the every day list provided by your better half; it does have it's rewards.  Yvette is an awesome homemaker.  On top of working a 40hr week, she more than maintains our home.  The food is always remarkable after she's been slaving over the stove, the sink very rarely has a dish in it, and I can't even estimate how much money she has probably saved me on clothes.  GUYS....you know what I mean, when's the last time you actually separated your laundry before you washed it?  As a token of appreciation, you go out on the occasional date away from home, stop by your local Wal-Mart and watch as she puts things in the cart that you probably don't even need and you flip the bill.  But then again, it's always worth it.  There's something about the Feng shui of our home and the carefree atmosphere when I come home from work, besides the 3 barking dogs, but thats another time.  It's a complete breath of fresh air coming home, and that's all thanks to her.  So remember, be smart, be thorough, and be thankful....you never know what rewards lie behind those honey do's proving Behind every Great Man, There is a Great Woman.

Honey-Do's & Honey-Don'ts

We are all quite aware of the "honey-do" lists.  Every guy (married or not) receives this on a regular basis.  However, do not by any means interpret this as actually receiving a physical sheet of paper with a list of things that your wife wants you to complete.  Though it took months for me to actually realize that this reality would not come as easy as a grocery list, i finally found that the honey-do list can be presented to you in multiple ways.  More ways than I care to share, but you all know where Im going.  In the past 2 weeks, here's what I've been asked in some way, shape, or form.

-install a new dining room light fixture
-find a kitchen island that fits in our kitchen
-get new window installed above sink
-pickup christmas tree
-pull decorations from shed
-pickup dog meds from vet

Now I may have missed one or two, but you get the general idea.  I had to be reminded a few times.....ok, ok, multiple times, but nevertheless, I finally completed this during lunch today.  So in short, I suggest, make your own list and when your done, throw it out.  As a result you find a feeling of accomplishment; only to be followed by yet another list.....and that my friends.....never ends.

Personal Note: This list can also come from your mother (also not on paper), whose kitchen table is still in her kitchen, upside down, waiting for legs to be re-attached. 

The Beginning

First, Let me introduce myself.  My name is BJ and I am 28 yrs. old living in the small rural hideaways of northeast NC.  I enjoy the little things and the small town lifestyle I have grown accustomed to.  I'd like to think that I'm a simple man and that I require next to no maintenance; however, my wife will probably tell you differently. 
Speaking of wife, let's get to the reason I decided to start this blog.  Did I mention I was recently married?  Im almost 1 month into this and who would've thought?  A fella like me finding happiness in the middle of nowhere and actually enjoying every minute of it....or at least "almost."  All jokes aside, my wife's name is Yvette and she is one of the most unique and eager people I know to take life in and enjoy every single pleasure it has to offer......but she just so happens to be stuck with me along the way.  Therefore, I thought creating a blog would be a unique way to share our experiences with the world; not all experiences of course....I do wish to actually stay married.  What do I stand to gain by this?  Absolutely nothing, but maybe.....just maybe....share some insight to those already married or those thinking of marriage; then again, what do I know?  Remember, it's always the little things.