I don't really know why you'd be here. I mean, I know I'm the single most interesting person, but don't you people have lives? Really, it's quite sad.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Do you remember me?
It is really very strange to be working in your hometown at a job where you encounter a lot of people that you grew up calling "Mr." or "Mrs. so-and-so." They walk into the office and I have to make myself say "Hi Larry" not "Mr. Middleton" or "Mary" not "Mrs. Kitchell" or...there are a lot of people like that here: Mrs. Dowling (she subbed, but here she's the bell choir director), Mr. Zwagerman (who just inspired this post by giving me something to update), the Middletons, Kitchells, Crases, Schillings (though they don't actually attend here anymore), Mrs. Terpstra (who, they apparently were not aware of around here until I said something, is an art teacher at the high school), and I'm sure there are more. I do it with phone calls, too, and asking about their kids. I'll recognize a last name and ask if they're any relation to whoever, then I get into my, "yeah, I graduated from Ames High in 2000...I remember being in choir with him/her" or whatever. It's kinda fun, but also kinda strange. :-)
Friday, October 21, 2005
We always knew dem Iowa State journalism students was a smart bunch
I just got a phone call from a woman who said that the Iowa State Daily said today that this weekend is when Daylight Saving Time ends. My favorite part of the correction is the first five words. It's something I'd do on purpose, but not on a mass publication like that.
October 21, 2005
CORRECTION: Daylight Saving Time
Due to a editing error, the cutline accompanying the 'Fall back' feature photo was incorrectly stated to turn back clocks this weekend for Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time reverts back to standard time at 2 a.m. October 30, it is at this time when you should turn back your clocks. The Daily regrets this error.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Blogwatch, etc.
Patty posted!
Paul posted!
Congrats to Matt and Kim!
And moM and daD!
And now it's Beth's turn, right? ;-)
Monday, October 03, 2005
I am not alone!
For years I've been telling this to everyone who laughs at me for my fear of butterflies. Even Nicole Kidman has it. Mine extends to all fluttery insects that you can just never tell where they're going to go.
Aldi: A tip that every man should know
Romance doesn't have to be planned or expensive.
Friday night we had cooked a lasagna and were going to have green beans as the side but Paul was out of both butter and margarine, so he made a run to Aldi just down the road. Almost half an hour and two sinks full of dishes later, he finally came back with an armful of food his pantry had been sorely lacking and told me he'd get the rest out of the car. I hadn't figured there had been a "rest." He went back out to the car and came back to the front door, opened the screen door and knocked. I told him the door was open enough he could just kick it open, but he knocked again, so I went to see what he needed help with. What I found was a grinning Paul with both hands behind his back telling me to "pick a hand any hand." The first hand held a bottle of Wyalla Cove Shiraz [$5, and it's a very good wine that we liked a lot] and the other hand held a beautiful fall bouquet of flowers [$3]. He lit the torches around the porch and a candle on the table and we enjoyed a delicious and romantic dinner outside on a beautiful fall evening.
Flowers, wine, and a romantic dinner for under $10.
This is one of my pet peeves when guys complain about the price of flowers or that their wife/fiancee/girlfriend doesn't get flowers: Most women don't care how expensive or what kind of flowers they are and they don't have to be for a special occasion. In fact, I have never gotten flowers for a special occasion [from Phil doesn't count]. The first time Paul did something like this, he brought me half a dozen roses at work--another Aldi flower buy for a whopping $4. That brought a comment from Larry (the Interim Pastor who hired me and who is no longer here) not to let his wife see them or she'd get jealous, and that afternoon Jeff (our mailman) and Jennie (the administrative assistant) were teasing me about how we weren't married yet so that's why I was getting flowers. Jennie said she got flowers when she had her son but that was the only time in 20 years. Jeff said how his wife never gets flowers and I told him (and Larry earlier in the day) that if his wife never got flowers it was his own fault. They still laughed like I just didn't know how married life really is, so I told them a little story about the wonderful example of married life that I've had for 23 years: A couple of weeks before, I was home getting a few more of my things to move them into my apartment, my parents had just gotten home, and my mom had a bouquet of carnations. I asked her what the occasion was because my parents celebrate several anniversaries each year (meeting, first date, second first date, wedding, etc.) and she said, "None. He just got me flowers." That is the type of house I grew up in, and I know both from talking and from Paul's actions that that is likely the type of house we will have. Yes, marriage is not always flowers, happiness, and sunshine, (and neither has our relationship been over the past year--I'd be worried if it had been) but who ever said it couldn't be much of the time?
Another point to be made: The guys aren't the only ones in a relationship who should do things like this. Granted, some might not appreciate flowers, but I have a feeling a lot of them would have to admit at least to themselves that they do. And there are other things you can do--random little gifts and cards. Cards are fun and easy--Hallmark has a great selection from stupidly hilarious to seriously touching. I've given the whole range. My favorite had a hole puncher on the front and inside said, "I love you a hole-punch." :-)
Have fun and make sure they know how you feel and how special they are to you and don't save it just for a special occasion--it means more to the person if it's just a normal day.
