Mike’s been gone for a couple of days now and with the kids sick, it’s felt like a week.  He’s traveled before. I travel for work.  The being apart thing stinks, but we are used to it. But this time it was different. This time the kids felt his absense. This time, we made decisions to not do our “typical” thing because he wasn’t here. The kids decided we should watch a movie because Mike isn’t here to watch Big Bang Theory with us. We just made a big plate of nachos to share because we couldn’t have chicken taco night without it’s inventor. 

And with that I realized, that all these worries about the wedding…meh! Who cares?!?!? Our family is strong and established already.  Mike and I, we…are already committed, forever. The kids and I are no longer a family without Mike. The three of us are incomplete without him.  What used to be my kids and I…always together….just the three of us…a complete little lopsided family…is now no longer lopsided, because of him. I’ve known him for 18 years, I know for a fact NO ONE has ever referred to Mike as the one to bring balance.  We’re lucky, this dynamic works for all of us.

And so tonight, a mere 77 wake ups before the wedding day, I know that our marriage will be strong, because it’s foundation is solid.  The land we’re building forever on is firm.  Sure there will some heaving with the changes in seasons, however, I know that should we develop cracks along the way, we’ve learned not to mask them with a little putty and paint…but to resolve the issue.  Just like drywall, we’ll take all the right steps to fix the problem. It will be a hell of a mess, but so worth it in the long run. Consequently, since our Sunday morning routine (when it’s not football season) is to watch Holmes Inspection…we know how to do it right.

What?  You don’t agree? Well I have PROOF!  Let me lay out the facts for you.

About 3 months ago, the man approached me about starting a kickboxing class at 6 am EVERY morning (except Sunday, my new favorite day) I agreed at the time, and also may have mentioned that it would be the end of our then very active sex life.  It was all bravado.  All smack talk.  Just trying to get a rise out of him, if you know what I mean. 

It was tough, and getting used to getting up at very early o’clock did hamper things quite a bit.  I mean morning sex was out, because we were barely awake as we’d stumble out to the truck at 5:30 am.  Evening sex was out because we were staring at each other at 7:30 hoping we could convince the kids it was much later and that they needed to go to bed.  By the time the kids were actually asleep in bed, we’d already been mentally asleep for  hours.  Eventually, we worked out a new routine some mornings, but it just wasn’t what it once had been.  And then came RAGBRAI.  (For those of you who don’t  know, it’s a week long 500+ mile bicycle ride across Iowa.  It’s 1/3 bicycling, 1/3 beer, and 1/3 fresh baked pie)  I didn’t go, but the man did.  And he returned a broken man.  I don’t know if you can imagine what happens to a guy who’s riding his bicycle about 65 miles a day for 7 days in a row…but yeah, that.  Now, when he’s driving me crazy, I can call him “numb nuts” and he can’t complain.  *WIN*

Many of you might be saying, that doesn’t seem like it would be all bad.  And in fact, there is an upside…when we do find time to “get a little”, it’s never over quickly….EVER.  So, the quickies that were getting us through the day…GONE. 

So don’t exercise folks….it messes with your routine, it numbs your ass and other useful areas, it steals your energy for even a quickie before bed. 

I’m telling you friends, this exercise crap is deadly…it can kill your sex life faster than you can say…numb nuts.  So I’m back to surfing the web for a spectacular new “battery operated boyfriend” for me and a urologist for him. 

If I can save even one happy sex life or prevent just one pair of balls from going completely and utterly numb, by sharing my story, well then I have done my part…

Thinking only of naked Ryan Reynolds sans crushed nuts you

Angi

Tomorrow, after going to the Goo Goo Dolls concert outdoors tonight.   I go to do a pre-session physical capability test.  Run a mile, do sit ups for one minute, do push ups for one minute, weigh in, take measurements, etc. (Clearly beer consumption will be limited, at best.)

THEN, after that, I am going to attempt to learn how to golf via instruction from my boyfriend and his buddy.  I do NOT do well with being taught to do anything.  CRAP!  But, I HAVE to learn because my company golf outing is in two weeks and I have to take the place of my best friend. I have learned how to make bomb pop shots and will make breakfast burritos, so, although they are big shoes to fill….all that’s left is the “learning how to golf thing”. I’m really counting on getting those around me drunk enough that I don’t have to worry about it.

Why do I do this stuff to myself???

Masochistic Kisses,

Angi

Getting a  Mother’s Day card from your daughter that simply states…”You make me smile”…and telling her that the sight of her face and the sound of her voice do the same thing for you everyday.

Flowers brought home and put in a vase, for no reason…and stopping to smell them, each time you pass by.

When your son is in a snuggling mood all day….even when he’s 11…and not letting the length of your to-do list push him away.

Coming home from the longest day ever, to find that the dishwasher has been emptied and reloaded…and thanking your family for helping to carry the load.

Being greeted at the door by your pets when you get home…they missed you so much while you were gone…and taking a moment to pet each one.

The smile from your kids when you show up somewhere they don’t expect you…and realizing that merely the sight of you brightened their day.

Being wrapped up in your lover’s arms… and taking the time to hug back.

Seeing your kids play together…without fighting…and stopping for a moment to enjoy the show.

When your best friend sends you a note,  just to say she’s thinking of you…and taking the time to tell her you’re lucky to have her in your life.

Every day, something happens that allows for happiness.  Choosing to acknowledge it, feel it and let it consume you is the difference between being happy and pursuing happy.  It’s the everyday small things, that if we take the time to recognize how they make us feel, will keep us fulfilled and happy. 

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.  ~Robert Brault

It’s been a tough couple of weeks around our house. It’s baseball, tae kwon do, AND dance recital time. We’ve had tae kwon do three nights a week, baseball practice and baseball games. We had pictures for dance. Usually, this is a lot of work, but not a problem because I can manage work/life balance pretty well. This year, however, I had my company’s largest customer meeting, in New Orleans, during this time. I had presentations to create, presentations to review and all the prep work for being away from the office for three days.

Despite all these extra things,  this year,has been better….better because we have our Mike. And when the hills of responsibility and duty have gotten high, he’s pushed us all up them.

Thank you, Mike. We all appreciate who you are and what you’ve done for us.

We love you.

*From Dr Seuss’s One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish