He Loves Me, He REALLY Loves Me

Not that I've been doubting it.

THGGM woke me up this morning to tell me that our power had gone out overnight.

No biggy, thought I. How would that be a problem? It's Presidents Day which means that Daughter is not working and no grandkids are coming over to play with me.

We have a gas fireplace, so there would be some heat.

I even know where the flash lights are, and those candles with the batteries.

But, no phone. No! Wait! He could leave me the cell phone in case of, something, although I can never think of what.

And he is a smart man. He knows how to get out of the garage without the use of the garage door opener. I learned the hard way once, that I do NOT know how to do that. Since the remote runs on a battery, I thought all was good. Certainly no one would ever confuse me with the brightest crayon in the box.

So I thought that I'd be just fine, perfectly fine.

Until it hit me.

NO COFFEE???!!!

No can do.

So, not only did he have to get the car out, clear out the end of the driveway, and GO TO WORK, he also made a stop at MacDonalds to get me coffee.

That is LOVE, my friends. That is LOVE.

Especially when you think that he wouldn't have even been stuck here listening to me complain about it.

Projects

THGGM is on vacation this week. While I sit at my computer, this is what he is doing.
Putting shelves in the kitchen closet.
Finally. A place to store those appliances.
It used to have a closet rod, but I cannot stand to have coats hanging in a kitchen, so nothing ever hung there.
I'm like my mom that way, who could not stand cooking smells in coats.

With the exceptions of not being able to breathe through my nose or move around much without getting extremely tired, I feel some better today.

THGGM has been sent out to procure provisions for the week.

And, a handy little rack for hanging brooms and such.

When I wake from my nap I think I shall find the strength to move my cookbooks into this little closet.

The rest of the projects for the week will be happening at my dad's condo, as we work to prepare that for sale. If you know anyone who would like a lovely little 'lake view' condo just let me know.

THGGM

While I worked inside the house, THGGM was mowing the lawn.

He knocked on the back door and told me to get my camera.

He knows what I like.

Weird bugs.

I have a lot of pictures of weird bugs.

The praying mantis is one of the more amazing bugs.

Last year, I posted a great many pictures of a pair of mating matis'.

This year? Just the male, probably waiting for his wife to come bite his head off.

Looks like they were fruitful and multiplied last year.

So, I'll be ready with my camera again next year!

Today at the thrift store I found a children's book about Henry David Thoreau.

Apparently, he wore a hat that had a shelf built into it for carrying his botanical specimens.

Hmm.

No.

I wouldn't want a shelf for bugs in MY hat.

The book also told me that he almost bought a farm, but that deal fell through. He was happy about that, as he didn't want to farm. He was more interested in weeds and undisturbed nature.

If only it were simple to simplify. I find it not to be so.

Anyway..,

I think that I have a very nice husband, to interupt his lawn mowing to tell me about a bug.

(click on picture to enlarge)

Pake Loves Jonge

Boop, Boop, Boop!

It's a secret code around here. Pake says "Pake loves Jonge" and Jonge responds by saying "Boop, boop, boop!" Of course, there is much armpit tickling that occurs. I cannot participate in it, as it is THEIR secret code. If I try it, I get reprimanded with a "No Beppe. Pake!"

My videos tend to be dark, as they are taken on my digital camera. Neither of them know they are being recorded. I prefer it that way. We've got enough comedians in this family as it is. The top picture is what they are actually playing with. An odd assortment of my kids remaining toys and the occasional treasure found while thrifting.

Being a Pake is the most fun THGGM has had in his entire life. I know this, because I have been there for all but 15 of his 49 years.

It's Mutual

If Jonge needs cheering, Pake is the one to do it.

This week it is Pake who needs cheering, and Jonge is happy to oblige.

The Old Man and The Sea

With all of the moving and baby-having going on in our family this year, it looked like a trip to Lake Michigan was out of the question.

But today, we found time. September 25, and it was a warm, beautiful day to be at the shore.

Drawing 'bookballs' in the sand, listening to the noisy white-caps rolling in,

and, cuddling with Pake.

Pake and Jonge At Lake Michigan

It was a perfect day for running into the lake.

Jonge had a wonderful time, and Pake enjoyed every minute of it.

Yard Sale

THGGM had a wonderful time today.

He dragged out a bunch of stuff from the garage to the front yard in a sort of 'pre-moving' yard sale.

His ultimate plan is to move everything we want to keep to the 'new' house, and then sell everything we don't want to keep in one big sale after this tumultuous time in our life is all over.

Yesterday he had another idea. THGGM is a spontaneous guy, and he spontaneously decided that all he wanted to do today was sit on his porch swing. So, he thought he would try to make a little bit of money while doing that.

By the time I got up this morning, he had creatively displayed vignettes all around the yard and in the driveway.

So, for eight hours of swinging on his porch swing on a warm Saturday in June, the man made $320.00.

Anyway, I could not resist posting this picture. Isn't that the cutest oval picture you have ever seen? I call it - "Plaid Shorts with a Side of Pine Tree".

(actually, it's a mirror - but you knew that...)

UPDATE: as of 6:00 tonight, THGGM sold $40 more with the promise of $65 on Monday

Happy Anniversary to Us

Today is the 29th anniversary of the day THGGM became "The Husband God Gave Me".

We are presently in our hotel room in Traverse City watching the Detroit Tiger's.

But first, we went to our favorite restaurant for dinner. Then, took in the view of both bays. And, of course, went to Murdock's for fudge.

We are here due to the kindness' of our family. Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law are staying at our house. Oldest Son has several job interviews this week. Daughter and Daughter-in-law have a day of marathon house-hunting going on this week. Daughter and Son-in-law are helping us out too. And, I've arranged with Daughter to sneak into our closet and get more pictures of the baby robins before they fly away. Youngest Son's lovely girlfriend graciously used her influence in hotel management to get us a discount on our accommodations.

Wow. 29 years ago on this day, none of these wonderful people even existed.

Irreconcilable Differences (First appeared in May of 2006) In Honor of Valentine's Day

Goodness.

If Irreconcilable Differences is a reason to get divorced, I cannot believe that I am still married.

The Husband God Gave Me and I have SO many irreconcilable differences that we could marry and divorce every day for the rest of our lives.

His snoring is enough to drive me insane. I like to sleep ALL night. But, I no longer can, as I must kick start him back to life. He quits breathing so often I cannot believe he is still alive. Hence, I don't dare sleep. He goes to the sleep clinic August 1st. The papers came today. Maybe we can reconcile this one.

He likes celebrity news shows. I like the History Channel. He has a habit of changing the channel when I am in the middle of something. "Oh. Were you watching that?" If my eyes are on the TV, chances are I am 'watching that'. Arghhh.

Whenever he unwraps something, he hands the paper to me. I do not know why. I DO save a lot of scraps, but not shrink plastic or candy wrappers.

THGGM is terribly fussy about his ironing. He will not let me iron his shirts. Says he doesn't want two or three creases going down his arm. Well. Imagine that.

Presently, I only own five pairs of shoes. Black heels, ivory heels, beige slip-on flats, black clogs and my favorite Dr. Shoals. He has developed long term relationships with more pairs of shoes than I have ever owned in my life. If he asks "Can you bring me my brown loafers" I usually end up getting a review of brown vs. burgundy. In a dark closet, they look the same to me.

Oh, and his belt MUST always match his shoes. Even though his belt no longer shows.

I am the owner of six pair of identical navy blue socks. He, on the other hand, owns socks in every hue of every color in the spectrum.

I love to play Scrabble. He doesn't. Yet, he always wins.

THGGM has shy kidneys. My kidneys are extremely outgoing.

He likes to sleep on a nicely made bed with smooth sheets. I could sleep on a dog, six magazines, a book and a pair of jeans.

He also needs a fan going to sleep. I like to sleep in quiet.

I love to read in bed. Until the book falls and I am asleep. He likes to sleep in the dark. Pitch dark.

He loves the beach. I love the woods.

THGGM loves to eat Chinese food from the mall. Ack. Double Ack.

When he is ill, he wants to be left totally alone. When I am ill I want to keep telling him just how ill I am. And how even if he has had the same illness, mine is just a bit worse.

I love books. He thinks they make dandy coasters. My beloved copy of "My Utmost for His Highest" looks like it has the Olympic symbol on the cover.

It is important to him that his darks and whites are washed separately. It matters not a wit to me. I do not intend for anyone to see my underwear, ever. Anyway, 'bluing' has always been known to perk up whites.

I like the dining room chairs just as they are. He wants to paint them black.

He said "Let's take up the horrid carpet in the bedroom!" I said, "No. There is a sticky pad under it." We now have sticky pad carpet in our bedroom. I don't like it. He won't talk about it.

THGGM likes to get where we are going. I like to meander like a shallow stream.

He likes to sit on the front porch so he can see everything that's going on. I like to be in the fenced in backyard were I can pretend that nothing is going on.

He likes sun. I like shade. Which means, he gets tan, I glow in the dark.

I like museums and nature preserves. He likes shopping malls and crowded art festivals.

He likes all curtains open and blinds up. I would wear a burka if I knew were to get one.

THGGM irons linen napkins to relax. He also clips coupons to relax. And, he cleans the house to relax. The only way I can relax is if I take Vicodin - which I don't. So I never relax. I sit very very still and LOOK relaxed, but I am not.

Classical music. We both like it. Although, he likes Bach adaggio's that make me depressed. I like Beethoven and trilly happy sounds. With the exception of Moonlight Sonata. I do like that.

He likes country music. It sounds like a migraine to me.

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

As we approach our TWENTY-EIGHTH Wedding Anniversary I will attempt to find time to drone on about what we HAVE reconciled.

But, most importantly, I love him and he loves me. And that love covers a multiple of irreconcilable differences.