For My Husband

You're everything

I always wished for,

better than

I dreamed of,

and all I'll ever need.

Happy Birthday!

xoxo

By this time tomorrow we'll be here...

We'll have a hot dog (or two) here...

We'll do a little (or alot) of shopping here...

and catch some zzz's here...

and since I've never been (surprisingly) we'll spend a little time here...

and have an amazing dinner with Art Smith (if we're lucky) here...

We're off for a 4 day birthday celebration/vacation to the Windy City!

11 months later...10 Ways Marriage is Like Being a Cubs Fan

With Roo on the road this week (Phoenix), I retain control of the blog and in keeping with the theme of the Cubs, I borrowed the following from a friend of a friend. Anna and John joined us for dinner tonight, bringing along baby Buxton. Riley put together a delicious meal, as usual. Over dinner, John...an exceptional writer and the author of Bringing Up Buxton...alluded to a list he had penned for another couple upon their marriage. This couple, also devout Cubs faithful, had recently posted the list on their blog. Intrigued, I tracked it down and with the expressed verbal consent of John, minus the expressed written consent of Major League Baseball, I share:

10 Ways Marriage is Like Being a Cubs Fan

1) The more important it is, the more more likely it is you will lose. She will always be right, so just hope that she still finds you lovable.

2) When all of your single friends are out having fun in October, you will be sitting at home. Asking permission will not help. Even if she lets you out of the house, you will only be able to watch all the fun. Then again, there is always next year.

3) You understand how, after years and years of devoted service, even the heaviest of hitters might need to add a little cork to his bat. Hey, when the long ball leaves, you have to do what it takes to get that hop-skip back into the lineup.

4) At some point, you will think yourself cursed.

5) You will always prefer day games. After a few years, you will think anyone up past midnight to be a fool. You will think about all the money you are saving on electricity bills while getting all your work done in the matinee hours.

6) Blame will be distributed to everyone save you. Bartman, in-laws, some old dead goat, youngsters nowadays. Remember, it is never your fault. You are cursed.

7) You will always find other people just like you with which to commiserate. Everywhere you go, all over the country, you will see hats and T-shirts that you know the pain and suffering experienced by you are not only yours. Somehow you should feel better in light of this common experience, but you will not.

8) Your best decisions will always be made in hindsight. That two-strike pitch with runners on when you blew the save, that strikeout when you sat dead-red on fastball and got the change, that time you thought you were safe and argued until you got thrown out of the game altogether. You will lament each mistake, and there will be many, until the next day, when you will undoubtedly make it all over again.

9) You understand the importance of wearing a cup. It is dangerous out there. A man needs to be protected.

10) Finally, you understand that whether you win or lose (though losing will be the all-t00-common experience), you are playing a team game. One guy hitting for the cycle means nothing if another guy blows the save. One guy winning twenty games means little if the team only wins fifty more. You are part of a team. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. Good luck my friend. May marriage bring you the joy and fulfillment being a Cubs fan never has.

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Well, one of them at least…Our preacher last Sunday talked about passion, and as a side to the main message noted the importance of being passionate about some things strictly for the same of fun. There are two things that come to mind when I think about what I am truly passionate about in this manner. The first is playing softball. With Morgan Construction undefeated at Cherry Park, I am excited for our church league to get started. The second and more significant fun-filled passion I have is Chicago Cubs baseball. I bleed Cubbie blue and not just that I follow the Cubs almost religiously, but I enjoy baseball. The nerd in me gets excited about the stats, the math behind the game. Maybe my second passion part 2 is fantasy sports. But back to reality…

Last Monday marked the first game of ‘next year’ and superstitious folk may tell you that the first batter is a good indication of the game ahead and the first game is a good indicator of the season ahead. Soriano homered for the Cubs on the first pitch so…Ok, I won’t get ahead of myself but they look to have a good team this year and many ‘experts’ are predicting good things. But we’ve heard that song and dance before only to end up at some point in the fall, wondering where the season went and what to do now that it is over. It’s like watching the series finale of ER…but with the Cubs, that final episode plays out every year with just as much if not more heartache.

Alas, it is spring. Another fresh start, another clean slate and hope of good things to come. There are so many great things about Spring: leaving the windows open all day and night, McLeod strawberries, sunshine into the early evening, blossoming and blooming of flowers and trees. Hopefully, spring will stick around for awhile and not yield to 90 degree temps too quickly. If the past couple months are any indication of what’s to come, I may be mowing the grass twice a week. We have had a considerable amount of rainfall recently, so the lawn is well fed. It always seems that by the time I am done cutting the front yard, the previously groomed grass in the back has already grown an inch. I can’t imagine the Southeast isn’t out of its drought. Most of the showers we’ve had have been heavy downpours. Yet, it never seems to be enough to wash the constant dusting of pollen from the back porch.

Also with Spring comes cleaning…dusting inside is under way, along with vacuuming and sweeping and mopping. Roo has compiled a list of Spring cleaning tasks for us to complete by next weekend. We have slowly worked our way through some of the items on the list but somehow, like the grass, the list is growing exponentially. I cross out one chore as complete, and two more have made there way underneath it. In all fairness, I’ve been the one adding several items, so I can’t complain. I am just hoping for no rain next weekend, when a majority of my to-do’s will take place outside, battling the weeds, trimming, landscaping, pruning and most certainly more mowing and some deep cleaning indoors as well. All of that and more and perhaps getting done in time to catch the Cubs-Cardinals game. For now, all I can do is wait ‘til next weekend.

Mind if I call you McDreamy???

I feel like I'm guest starring on an episode of Grey's Anatomy surrounded by loads of interns and residents. I wonder if their lives are filled with as much drama as Meredith's?? I've already given a few of them new names --- Dr. Reeves has been dubbed McDreamy (sorry EJ) and the chick who came in to do a swallow test could easily be mistaken for Little Grey.

Most of you are probably wondering why I'm surrounded by these less exciting versions of my Seattle Grace favorites and who exactly had to have a swallow test......

My grandfather was in a car accident on Sunday night on his way home from his girlfriend's house. The accident occurred in an accident prone location, at night (what 76 year old can see so great after the sun goes down?), oh and he wasn't wearing his seat belt!! He was immediately taken by ambulance to the local hospital in Hartsville then transferred during the wee hours of Monday morning to ICU at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, SC. For those of you that don't know, this is a teaching hospital hence my reference to Grey's.

God is Good....

• He has a fractured nondisplaced C2 and will have to wear a neck collar for 12 weeks.
• He has several gashes on his head that have been stitched up.
• He's alive and will fully recover.

Due to the sensitivity of the fracture's location and his existing cardiac issues he was put in the ICU. All of his scan/test results have been good and he was able to get through the swallow test this morning. McDreamy even said he can be moved out of the ICU later today!!!

We're counting our blessings and thankful he's going to be okay.

-Roo

18, 263 days old, but who's counting?

HAPPY 1/2 WAY TO 100!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday's SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY was a big success. We celebrated my mom's 50th birthday surrounded by nearly 50 of our family members and friends. She's spending today (her actual birthday) in Greenville at the Cancer Center for an appointment -- say a prayer that we'll be blessed with good results again. She and Daddy will wrap up her birthday with a yummy dinner tonight at High Cotton followed by the stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird at The Peace Center. Ironically Harper Lee's timeless novel is celebrating its 50th birthday as well.

Happy 20th anniversary of your 30th birthday!!

When the cat's away...

...the mouse will play. Usually, when Roo is out of town, I play a lot of xbox. She'd probably tell you that when she is home I play too much xbox. But that's only one aspect of me fending for myself, especially during longer trips. This week's 4 day trip was longer than most and it also sent room mate Jessica (Riley's sister) with Roo to Daytona Beach leaving me completely on my own. Sunday came and went as it normally would, church, lunch, menu planning for the week, Amazing Race, etc. They left on Monday and by 8pm that night, it probably looked like I'd lived by myself for a month. My work clothes scattered over the floor...on top of my pajamas from the night before. My dinner menu transformed from lasagna and garlic chicken pasta to Cheerios and pimento cheese sandwiches. The shower I took before work this morning was the first since Tuesday morning (I worked from home on Wednesday). I was too lazy to search for the remote yesterday evening that I watched back-to-back episodes of Will and Grace on Lifetime. But its Thursday and following a softball game, I was able to get home and tidy up in time for Roo's return. I semi-cleaned the bathroom, cleaned up all the dishes, vacuumed half the house and relocated my piles to the dirty clothes basket. And I think Riley would prefer to assume I just play too much xbox when she isn't home.

Happy 10 months!

No lists or stories here or best of's here, just a thank you and I love you sent from Rock Hill, SC to my wife currently in Daytona, Fl...we've been married for 10 months, together for 7 years and looking forward to an uncountable number of memories and moments for the next 70 years and 10 months. Always. xoxo.

A night at the movies...at home

March has indeed come in like a lion. Three weekends ago, we were faced with 6 inches of snow. Last weekend, we saw the mercury climb into the 80s. Unfortunately, those temps were cut in half this weekend accompanied by a slow and steady sprinkle. Its raining just hard enough to have to use your wipers and carry an umbrella but soft enough to really just be a nuisance more than anything else. A good rain is one you can nap to. This mist is mostly just moistening everything in sight. It certainly messed with my plans to cut the grass this weekend, but for that I am not completely complaining.

Nor am I complaining the choices for our Saturday night double feature. Friday night was dinner in Charlotte with friends from work and we hit the ground running Saturday morning. Following a birthday lunch with my dad in Columbia, we attended a SC start-up support group with Roo's mom for the International Myeloma Foundation. We were spent and thus decided to spend Saturday night on the couch. We returned from Blockbuster with Burn After Reading and Changeling. The first was light and easy to follow and just sort of ended. It wasn't a ridiculously complex plot, but the acting was enough to keep it going. We followed that up with the thicker and darker story that may have won Angelina Jolie an Academy Award (I didn't watch them this year and Roo is out shopping so I can't confirm or deny this statement).

Our evening was catered by a local Chinese restaurant. Riley enjoyed the Coldstone that followed dinner more than her Chicken Lo Mein for. I rarely stray from the safe favorites on the menu so had no complaints about my Sesame Chicken (even the second time around with leftovers for lunch after church). With all the places we've been and all the things we could be doing on a Saturday night with all of our friends, more times than not, there is no place I'd rather be than on the couch with Roo, in like a lamb.

Simple-minded posts for 200

A week ago, I spent the week working out of our Philly office in the University area of the city of Brotherly Love. Just over a week ago, we had around 6 inches of snow in South Carolina. A week later, Roo is now outside Philadelphia and I am typing from the back porch enjoying 70 degree weather in the early evening. This follows spending 30 minutes during dinner with my friend Alex. Our friends at Nielson would tell you that Jeopardy is popular pre-prime time programing in our household...if they ever asked. I used to get bummed out when an unsuspecting Teen Tournament would sneak onto the set. Tonight, just as equally as I craved any of Roo's menu items over the meal I was forced to feed myself, at the end of the show, I longed for that Teen Tournament and the remote chance at a challenge on any of the questions. Instead, along with Alex, the girl from Big, the second-rate Bob Saget AFHV and Dancing With the Stars host and some other lady joined me for dinner as they kicked off another Celebrity Jeopardy tournament. I have taken serious issue through my facebook statuses against ABC and their ratings push by staging the Bachelor finale(s) and then bringing the dumped back to DWTS (mark my words, she will win). But, Jeopardy has over-responded to Saturday Night Live parodies claiming dumb celebrities simply can't answer real questions by throwing really dumb questions at simple celebrities. Halfway through the first round, I felt pretty good about all the questions I was answering. Before the first daily double was uncovered in the Double Jeopardy round, I was un-challenged and had returned my attention to the equally stale meal in front of me. This presented me with two realizations. 1. I should pay more attention to the Food Network. 2. I should have been a celebrity, because I could have then been on Jeopardy and challenged that Ken dude for longest run.

Life Update

Over the past 17 days since our last post....

• We had dinner at Cantina 1511 with a work friend of mine who was in town on business. EJ had been here a few times for lunch but it was my first time and after our delicious meal I've already made reservations for us to go back next weekend! The guacamole is the best I've had in Charlotte!

• My parents came to town for an impromptu weekend visit. I tried a few new recipes out on my Dad. We went to Beef O'Bradys on Sunday after church, a place that doesn't serve "real food" as my southern fried daddy likes to say. We ended the weekend with a trip to Sears to purchase a freezer. EJ and I had been discussing getting one for a few months. My dad had his truck so it made sense get one while he was in town. Little did we know that my parents would decide to cover the remaining balance after we used up a gift card we'd received for Christmas!! We're spoiled. EJ has plans to fill the new freezer with steaks. My vote's for ice cream....

• I went to West Palm Beach for work.
• I went to Atlanta to interview for a new job.
• We spent a rain saturated weekend celebrating Winthrop's Homecoming. Saturday's basketball game was followed by an evening of grilling under the tent (not a good idea), reminiscing with friends, flip cup, beer pong, and of course Rock Band.

• We enjoyed a SNOW DAY!!

• EJ went to Philly for work.
• I went back to Atlanta for meetings and to accept a new position with my company!
• EJ spent the better part of Friday delayed at the Philly airport.

That brings us to today. In the same week we saw 4 inches of snow and insanely cold weather we're now out on the deck enjoying the Carolina blue sky, birds chirping, and 78 "unseasonably warm" degree weather. Hello Spring!!

Trust Him for Tomorrow

Isn't it a blessing to be sitting in church and hear a sermon that touches your heart and gives you answers to questions you were asking yourself just a a few days before?


During our Valentine's Day dinner on Saturday, EJ looked across the table at me and asked, "What do you think we'll be talking about over our v-day dinner next year?" I honestly had no idea.....
I did however know exactly what he was referring to because there's no doubt in my mind that he has a mild case of baby fever. So I wasn't surprised when he said he thought we'd be discussing what's been on his mind since the day we said "I Do".

I'll be honest -- I'm an obsessive planner. I make tons of lists on a daily basis. I plan our weekly meals every Saturday. I planned our entire wedding with the help of my mom. Our 1 year anniversary trip has already been planned and booked. I could go on and on. However, the one thing I can't seem to "plan" is when to start our family....

I pray every day for God's guidance. When will be the right time for us? How will I know if we're ready? My job requires me to travel 90% of the time -- when will I be willing to leave my jet setting job? Could I even find a job if I decided to leave? Again, I could go on and on.

I hadn't gotten any answers to these questions/prayers until Sunday. Our pastor began a sermon series two weeks ago titled God's Purpose: Right Now. The second sermon of the series told us that as we live out the purpose of God we must remember five things.

1. We WILL face challenges. Sometimes God asks us to endure challenges to get us to a place where He can do future things.
2. We WILL make mistakes.
3. Our work for God will outlive us.
4. God does not always work according to our timeline. We must obey Him today and trust Him for tomorrow.
5. We will have to make sacrifices. Sometimes God asks us to sacrifice the things we love because he has a plan for us that we'll love more.

Points four and five filled my heart with such peace and certainty about the future and answered the questions I've been asking myself for months. So Valentine's Day 2010 dinner conversation may or may not involve baby talk and that's okay because we're obeying Him today and trusting Him for tomorrow.

9 for 9

Following our 8 reasons after 8 months...and in no way inspired by the 25 things chain letter tagging its way through Facebook...its seems lists are a fun and fitting way to count away at the months and memories that Roo and I have shared so far. So here is February's 9 for 9...9 simple memories after 9 sensational months.

June - Roo and I sing karaoke for the first time as husband and wife at Kate's post graduation party. We perhaps later paid $5 to hear the same song played at the grand opening of Charlotte's Howl at the Moon dueling piano bar.

July - We got to share a room on the annual family vacation to Edisto Island...finally! Though my snoring may send me back in with the boys next year.

August - We celebrated 1 year as homeowners...a nice tax deduction from one side, a long honey-do list from another view...from any standpoint, a beautiful home. We also celebrated the birth of baby boy Buxton, the son of Roo's best friend and college roommate. For Roo, it was love at first sight....

September - It wouldn't be an EJ-written blog entry (just as it wouldn't be EJ and Roo) without a hint of Chicago. We tailgated with my dad, Mike, Caroline, Phil and others at the Bears-Panthers game in Charlotte. October - Trick or treat? Definitely a treat to have hosted a Halloween themed baby shower for Bradriane. Brad and Adriane in non-US Weekly talk.

November - This past Thanksgiving will be hard to top and I may never eat another un-fried turkey again. Add Riley's cheesecakes and family to the mix and we obviously have so much to be thankful for.

December - Max celebrates 1 year in our house and in our family. Its not that we had a party for him or anything close to a celebration but our dogs do play such a significant role in our lives that they were due a mention here. I also assumed no one wanted to hear that I was excited to get socks for Christmas.

January - Roo and I camped out...in our living room. Thanks to Blockbuster, Roo's chocolate-covered strawberries and our fireplace. It was the best stay-cation I've ever had.

February - As if we aren't short-changing February enough by only giving it 28 days, we are also trying to force a favorite moment out of the first two weeks? Valentine's Day dinner at the River Rat seems to be the front-runner but with Winthrop's Homecoming at the end of the month, my surf and turf my take a backseat to Scandals, cornhole, and our 1st Annual Homecoming Party. Stay tuned for those stories.

This one's for the guys

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us. I've learned quickly that giving her a ring DIDN'T give me a lifetime free pass to not worry about February 14th. I've also learned that Roo will very easily let me know what she might want for V-Day...or Christmas...or her birthday. All I have to do is ask and sometime not even that much. I guess a few years of giving her practical gifts or playing the "I'll take you shopping to buy whatever you want" card have motivated Roo to motivate me to try a little harder. Not harder, smarter I think. She appreciates any gift, and expects no gift, make no mistake. But she knows I enjoy giving her something she enjoys. So I've got the rest of the week to hammer this out. I just wanted to let the guys out their know that all you have to do is ask. We made it this far on our own. Why not get a little help? But if anyone has any really good ideas...feel free to share.

Nostalgia

I can't sleep. And no, its not because I've been stressed over writer's block and not posting a new blog in 2 weeks. I am most likely apprehensive about the night to come. Riley is the traveler of the family, not me. It takes me at least a night to get used to being in a new place, away from our pillow-top, to get a decent night's sleep. Hence, sleeping in 3 different hotels in 3 nights isn't working out for me. I don't like being away from home. But, I am in Chicago...and better yet, my old stomping ground. Much like Steelers fans needed specific events to take place in the closing minutes of Sunday's Superbowl, it took an alignment of certain cosmic events for me to be writing you from Diversey and Clark in the 773. Yet, here I am. I am travelling this week, my once-a-month away from home that has taken me to Rockford, Illinois and will take me to Manassas, Virginia. Its easier to say Chicago and DC. Our work at the Rockford hospital ended at least a half a day early and left me on my own for over a day in the Windy City. My search for an overnight stay sent me to a place I knew, said old stomping ground in north Lincoln Park/south Lakeview. I took not only the cheapest hotel on my company's approved list but also the closest to where I lived during my sabbatical from the sunny South between 2005 and 2007. I've been to Chicago 3 times now since Roo and I packed...correction...crammed all of my belongings from my studio apartment 5G in the Brewster on the shores of Lake Michigan into an Enterprise mini-van, headed south bound for a better life and a life together. For you trivia buffs, my old apartment while I was at Northwestern was where the movie Child's Play was filmed. For you good friends, this place was one that nearly breaked but ultimately maked Riley and my relationship. So its bittersweet being in the old stomping ground, I tried to reunite with a few close family members and friends, I watched some Bulls basketball and even some Blackhawks hockey. I walked in the brisk gusts that brought negative wind chills. And I laid my head down thanking God for all of it and mostly for Riley not giving up on me. I got promoted today, for the second time in about 6 months. While very deserved, it came quite unexpected. I take pride in what I do and I try to make those around me proud of my work. Again, mostly, I want Riley to be proud of what I am working towards because it is for us, not for me...and yet it all finally comes so naturally. The days when I lived for myself are long gone. The days when I thought I could or had to fight for myself are past me. I know I don't have to nor would I ever want to without Roo at my side. Again, it is bittersweet, and a little frostbitten, to be in the old neighborhood. So many memories, good and bad, come back to me so quickly...but then all of those are overwritten by the memories forged over the past year and a half. I'll probably go get a Chicago-style hot dog with my Uncle Mike on the way to O'hare tomorrow but I don't think any hot dog has ever tasted as good since Roo said I do.

Editor's note: I don't write this stuff just to attract followers or to get "You guys are so sweet" posts. This was mostly written because Roo is a time zone away and most likely asleep while I can't be just that and wish I were a few 900 miles closer. The bed here is very uncomfortable...find me a case where the cheapest hotel option was the best.

Soup, Snow, Miami, Cheesecake, & Vegas

We made Chicken Tortilla Soup on Monday and it was delicious. Definately a keeper and will be added to the menu rotation. If you want the recipe let me know!!

We woke up Tuesday morning to a blanket of snow. Unfortunately I was headed to Miami for a meeting and didn't get the opportunity to enjoy a snow day at home with EJ, Max, & Kennedy.

(Please note that we don't normally shave Kennedy during the winter months. She is now sporting a summer cut. There was a little mix up at the groomer's on Monday --- completely EJ's fault by the way.)

I was sad to leave the snow behind but excited to warm up in Miami, or so I thought.... Miami wasn't much warmer than SC and my plan to spend Wednesday morning on the beach was foiled. The highlight of my quick trip was dinner at Michy's on Tuesday night. The decor was beautiful and the food was DELICIOUS!!!

We're headed out to a dinner party tonight at the home of one of EJ's coworkers. We're in charge of dessert so I've got a chocolate chip cheesecake in the oven right now. No big plans for Saturday -- I do have a few gift cards from Christmas burning a hole in my pocket so we may venture out for a mini shopping trip. Sunday's plans include church and a four hour plane ride to Las Vegas for me. It's a work trip and I've never been to Vegas nor have I ever really been interested in going. We're staying at the Monte Carlo -- their beds better not suck. I really hate being away from home more than 2-3 days.... Is there anything to do in Vegas besides gamble??

Exasperated by the Inauguration?

My wife will probably change the password to ban me from posting here after she reads this...but...I have read on blogs and heard office talk and glanced at Facebook statuses and even engaged in conversation with Roo regarding the election and inauguration of Obama. I too watched in awe at the turnout and respectfully applauded the passion and patriotism displayed by so many that wanted to witness history. But I haven't understood all of the criticisms.

The scene of the mall flooded with waving American flags was breathtaking...and inspiring...and also overwhelming to consider not only how much money was spent on the inauguration ceremony itself, but also by the millions of people that attended, those that held their own after-parties and those viewing parties set up on widescreens and projectors in parks and street corners across the country. Perhaps that money could have been spent better on feeding the homeless or researching disease...but at what point do we draw the line where normalcy is no longer acceptable? Please excuse the comparison and try to follow me. After 9/11, the NFL played a full slate of games the following Sunday. Enthusiastic fans cheered louder than they ever have because it felt good. Life, if only for four fifteen-minute quarters, felt normal again because the world's trouble existed only outside the turnstiles and terraces.

America hasn't been feeling well lately, in so many ways. The economy, wars, natural disasters, political scandal, peanut butter recalls. There are many reasons people are losing confidence in the world we live in. Watch your local news tonight. How long into the show before you hear a good story, a happy story? And don't count the weather...which you especially won't if you are down south. Brrr.

As witnessed Tuesday, many people expressed enthusiasm and emotions beyond that as they watched Obama's inauguration. I believe most of the celebration was for the very change that so many voters sought. It goes without saying (which the expression itself makes no sense to me because whenever anyone uses it, they go on to say what didn't need to be said) that many participated in the event wanted to solely be part of the event itself, part of history.

Valid criticisms can be made at the magnitude of the event but is it any different than the millions of fans cheering on their favorite athlete at a game or singer at a concert? Lets not forget this is a very significant moment historically. Had Hillary Clinton defeated Obama in the primaries, I feel she would have easily commanded the November election for many of the same reasons Obama did. How many of the blogs, including ours, might have been devoted to the first female President of the United States? And what would be wrong with that?

I almost don't like that I am writing any of this. As I type I debate hitting that orange publish post button because this isn't so much a snapshot of a day in our married life or a sneak-peak into how my brain and bathroom etiquette have evolved over the past 8 months. This is a defining point of our lives even if over-induced by the media so I suppose to react and respond is not entirely revolutionary.

Nevertheless, I think the message would be missed so I will hack away. The point of all of this is that unmistakenly, hope and faith are placed in God and God alone. There are different views of religion that weigh pre-destination differently and that's the last thing I want to get into. Simply put, Obama is a man of God and I trust he will be guided in leading our country by God and through the prayers of the nation. And I trust that Obama will make the decisions to lead our country through these troubled times or at least make his best efforts to make America feel a little better. And I think that is what all the excitement was about yesterday. I fail to understand criticism of the opportunity for change in our nation. But that's just my take.

Riley and I have different political philosphies and that's ok. We know that God will lead us through whatever life is presented before us. Whatever happens in the world, wherever Obama takes America, we will face it all together. I want to celebrate the last days of Obama's term with the same passion and enthusiasm as we witnessed Tuesday. I want to see what I voted for.

Ultimately, now that its all said and done, I am ready and want to see the change I voted for instead of seeing the first dance highlights...I accept that they go hand-in-hand. Last night's bash was the honeymoon, and it will be short-lived because we are reaching the 2 minute warning. Back to reality. And tomorrow, back to our regular posts.

Editor's note: I appreciate the freedom of speech, one of many freedoms forged so long ago that perhaps we take for granted. I appreciate that I was able to vote for Obama as my president and I appreciate that my wife was able to vote for McCain. We appreciate all of our readers and your comments. I must say that I don't care too much for people that aggressively try to change my opinion or that of others. I hope you can all respect that...or else appreciate my ability to delete disrespectful comments.

8 reasons after 8 months

Happy Anniversary to us! It's been 8 months! And here are 8 reasons we will last 80 more years and then some...

1. Our wonderful friends, our family and our faith.
2. She is a phenomenal cook, I am a phenomenal eater.
3. We know how to fight without hurting feelings...and how to make up.
4. I will spend an entire Saturday afternoon shopping with Roo, even though after 20 minutes at Hobby Lobby, I am exhausted.
5. She will skip the last stop at Belk or TJ Maxx on that Saturday to get me home to watch some football.
6. Everything we are is with and through each other.
7. I share the remote control and she shares the cleaning duties.
8. Because when we said I do, we knew it as forever.

Chairmen of the Board

Our weekend "to do" list has one and only one thing on it --- seeing these amazing beach music crooners on Saturday night at Amos'. I'm a born and raised Carolina Girl who'd always Rather Be in Carolina somewhere On the Beach because I've got a major case of Beach Fever so we'll spend Saturday night Shaggin' the Night Away....

Stir Crazy

Its been nice having Roo home without much work travel for the better part of the past two months. I know she has enjoyed the break from security lines, baggage claims and continental breakfasts. But from Sunday to Friday of the past week, I think she was starting to get a little stir crazy here in the house. She left the house once, Friday, to make a grocery run. I applaud her will power. To prevent impulse shopping trips, she had employed a self-imposed quarantine. Because she had been shut in the house for a period longer than the first eliminated Big Brother contestants stay in the CBS house, I figured our Friday night might include a dinner and desert trip, or perhaps a movie. However, the most unlikely events followed. We rented 3 movies...and watched them all Friday night. We camped out in front of the fireplace, shutting out the rest of the world. And it was great...so were the chocolate covered strawberries she had prepared earlier in the day. We did manage to sneak out of the house a few times this weekend, watch some football, go to church, but all in all, there's no place like home.

Editor's note: The Happening is the worst movie I have seen in quite some time...if not ever. But that's a different rant for a later date.