My husband's humor

Today I am thankful for....my husband's humor.  Seriously, over 5 years later, and he makes me laugh.  It's scary because we share a very similar twisted and dark sense of humor.  I was never quite sure that I would meet my match, but....I have.  I keep saying that I need to put together a book of "Shit my Husband Says," because otherwise, I'd forget it.  He's one of the few men I know who can make himself laugh at his own jokes, even before he gets them out.  He does the world's best Beavis and Butthead impressions, and he can relate any situation to Family Guy.  He's the one person I can make completely inappropriate and totally not politically correct statement and jokes to, and he'll find them equally funny if not already thought of them himself.  
I'd post some of them myself, but I don't want you all to think less of either of us because...well...they're inappropriate.  Instead, I'm going to repost something I wrote a long time ago of "T-isms" - Enjoy!
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2010

Where's a tape recorder when I need one?

 Sometimes I feel like I should walk around with a tape recorder when having conversations with my husband. You know, that guy who wrote the book “S**t My Dad Says” makes a ton of money off of what his dad says to him, and well, it gets me wondering sometimes whether I should write down some of the things that spew out of T’s mouth on a regular basis.

(After watching Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday)
“I’m really glad I’m not a star because I’d have to do shows like Dancing with the Stars, and I just don’t have the time for that.”

(After watching an episode of Teen Mom on MTV)
“I’m really glad I’m not a teen mom”

“If I were a gay man, I would want to get married, too. But I wouldn’t want to marry a douche. I’d want to find a good, quality man.”

While driving with my parents last week (and I should mention the car was in total silence before he randomly says this…)
“I love cruise control” (To which my Father responds, “That’s great. Good for you.”)

“When you become an attorney you should totally do that…”
(Referring to a television ad by this cheesy attorney’s office in Indianapolis. I quickly point out to him that I am, in fact, an attorney already.)

(Again after watching Dancing with the Stars)
“If I was a gay man, I would totally sleep with Rick Fox. He’s sexy.” (Yes, this one worried me, too.)

(At night, when we’re getting ready for bed and he still has beer left from dinner to drink)
“Don’t worry, just put it in the fridge, and I’ll drink it in the morning.”

(This morning after watching a piece on the Today Show about Marilyn Monroe)
"I'm glad I never had sex with Marilyn Monroe.  She sounds crazy." 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…he’s a goof. But he’s my goof, and I love him for that.

Speaking of my goof, come back tomorrow because it’s all T tomorrow…he’ll be guest posting about the wedding. I promise it’ll be good!

Here's a new one for you all "Make marriage your bitch or it will make you its bitch."  Oh, T...

Thankful for creativity

Folks, I'm not a creative person.  Let's just get that out there in the open.  I've tried scrap-booking resulting in pictures taped to pretty pieces of paper.  I tried to knit once.  I think it lasted one minute before I threw the needles down declaring how much I suck at life.  So when I first was turned towards Pinterest, I thought, really?  No, sorry, no.  I don't do crafts.  My child is screwed because she does not have scrapbooks documenting her childhood.  She has Walgreens online photo albums.  Which reminds me...I should probably order some pictures to actually put in a photo album.
Anyway, I have since documented my obsession with Pinterest, and look, I told you all that I was not putting these posts in any particular order.  Why am I following a post about Veteran's Day with one about Pinterest? Because I don't think these things through, that's why :-)  But yes, today I'm thankful for creative inspiration.  Thank you, creative people on Pinterest, for posting creative ideas and links to recipes so that I don't have to try to come up with these on my own.  Because God knows I wouldn't.  
This week is a Pinterest recipe week for us....I look forward to my Chicken Teriyaki on Thursday, but Monday night I made damn good cube steak courtesy of crock pot ideas on Pinterest.  Just put some cubed steaks in the good old crock pot with 2 cans of cream of onion and onion soup mix.  Cook all day, and heck yes - 1) I don't have to cook when I get home and 2) it's good.  
It's not just food either.  I'm trying to come up with creative ideas to make little "thank you" gifts for our volunteer attorneys.  I think I have some cute ideas, and let me tell you, none of this would have come to my mind.  Putting little bags of Reese pieces together with "We thank you to pieces" or making a little packet with s'mores ingredients saying "we need s'more volunteers like you!"  Yes, incredibly cheesy, but dammit, I'm doing this.  And I wouldn't have been inspired without Pinterest.  
So yes, that is what I'm thankful for today.  Oh, Pinterest...we have a love-hate relationship, and for that, I am grateful.

Thankful for those who serve

Today is a special day, so today I'm thankful for the veterans I know and love who have given so much to their country.  I know some very special men and women who have fought in our country's wars but also have served in noncombat as well.  Both of my grandfathers, as well T's grandfathers, fought in World War II on the Pacific front.  My father's dad was in the Army, while my mother's dad was in the Navy.  Both of T's grandfathers were in the Navy, as well.  I have the best picture of my father as a young man in his uniform posing in front of one of his ships, but no scanner ability so....I can't share.  Sorry! I would list the other friends I know whose spouses or friends themselves who have served and still do serve, but I'm afraid that I would miss someone, and then I'd look awful.  So just know that you all are in my thoughts today, and I say thank you for all that you do.  Because it's selfless and well, pretty awesome if you ask me.   I think I've told this story before, but I love it so I will tell it again.  My Grandpa George told this to me after my Mom found a picture of my Grandmother and had it blown up to an 8x10 so he could have it in his house.  He kept it in his room up until he passed, and he always pointed it out to us saying "she was quite the dandy, wasn't she?"  He said he was out to sea, and he kept this picture of my Grandma next to his bed.  They had to abandon ship at some point as the Japanese army was close to invading their ship.  I believe they did and took various items from the ship and after my Grandfather was allowed to get back, that picture was gone.  So someone must have thought my Grandma was pretty, as well, because they have her picture.  He was so excited my Mom found a copy. I never met my Dad's father, my Grandpa Robert, but I was told that while he was in basic training he married my Grandma.  She came out to where he was stationed and they were married.  He did not want to leave her just yet so despite the fact he was to join his group after the one day, he skipped one more day to spend more time with her before he returned.  Upon his returned he was ordered to punishment of peeling potatoes for the kitchen staff, but it was well worth the punishment. Such sweet stories.  I love hearing about them.  I'm so proud to have grandfathers who served, and it was so touching at my Grandpa George's funeral two years ago to have the salute by the local VFW.  He was so brave to serve and because of his service he was able to put himself through school at Rose Hulman Institute.  Very proud granddaughter. Thank you to all of you Veterans - those I know and those I don't.  

Thankful for home sweet home

Today's thankfulness item?  I am thankful beyond repair for my house.  I searched high and low for a picture of it; however, due to crashing my computer awhile ago and losing files, this was the best I could come up from old blog posts.   Oh, Nain...anyway, I am extremely blessed that we have a home to call our own.  And I'm thankful that it happened to be exactly the right timing when we built it.  Things just fell into place.  Otherwise I'm not sure we'd otherwise be able to pay for it, but things just kind of happened.  We got to pick everything we wanted for the home and build it just the way we envisioned our dream home to be.  It's a home where we will grow as a family and hopefully stay in for the long haul.  
I don't really take the time I should to step back and say "you know, I am lucky."  It's something I take for granted because we have been in here for a few years, but when I asked T the other day for an idea for a post, this was one of the first things he said.  I take pride in my home, as does he.  So today, I'm thankful to have somewhere we can call home sweet home.

Thankful for my church

Today's post is about something that means an awful lot to me.  Growing up I always went to church with my parents, choosing the actual parish because of where we lived and because that was where they went, but as an adult, I've had the liberty to choose somewhere I can call my church "home."  I never really had that with previous churches in college or law school.  When I moved to Columbus, I did for a short period of time but after the firm down-sizing and needing to move up to Indy, I never really found that right fit.  It wasn't until T and I started dating and I went to church with him at Our Lady of the Greenwood that I felt at home.  It was one of the reasons I decided to move down to Greenwood six months into our relationship.  Something about it just felt....right.
I've been a part of the parish since 2009, and we try our best to be active though have a little one can be tough.  We both participated in the Christ Renews His Parish retreats for women and men in the church and then stayed on to throw the next one for the new group.  I learned a lot about myself along the way and came to terms with some things that have been there for awhile.  I was a part of the MOMS group this last year, and we go regularly to marriage ministry events.  T now is a lector at church and I am a Eucharistic Minister.  I love that we're active.  I love that this is the church where we were married, had Aubrey baptized and hopefully will watch her grow up and go to school.  
We've met so many wonderful people that we call friends through church.  One of my closest friends was introduced to us through our very own marriage sponsor couple.  I love that we walk into church and are not just random people in a large group of others but we know people and feel at home.
I wouldn't say we are devout Catholics by any means.  We regularly go to mass and give of our time and talent, but we do have more liberal views outside of the church teachings (though this new pope is more my kind of guy.)
Our church has welcomed me into a community that was completely foreign to me, and it is one of the things I love the most about where we live.  So today I am thankful for finally finding the right fit for me and my family.

Thankful for opportunities

It's Friday, it's Friday!  It's all fun on Friday! Fun, fun, fun, fun! (That's the Rebecca Black song, right?)
Anyway, I am thankful that it's the end of the week....I mean, who isn't?  But that's not my "thankful" thing for the day.  Because I'm thankful of this every weekend.  
Today I'm thankful for opportunities.  I have been blessed lately with opportunities that have opened doors for me for new adventures and a little extra for my family.   I thank Leah at Single Infertile Female with referring me to Modvive.com, because I immensely enjoy writing for them.  Writing for The Examiner has led me to being able to write for Care.com.  Just yesterday my very first story with our local magazine, Center Grove Community Newsletter, was published.  Totally stoked and totally going to find extra copies of this.  And I have others coming up for me, and I couldn't feel more blessed.  
The thing is, these writing opportunities have also been able to let me pay for things for my family.  With the stress brought on by the Mary Kay debt problem, we have had to make sacrifices.  But this writing income has allowed me to purchase tickets for T and I to attend the Transiberian Orchestra concert that comes every year that he loves (2nd row seats, baby!) and more importantly, this money will pay for everything for Christmas.  All presents.  It's funny because I used to say "Oh Mary Kay will pay for my Christmas..." when in fact, no, that made things worse.  But this actually is.  And I'm pretty damn proud of that.
Anyway, I feel incredibly blessed for opportunities - the ones I have now and those to come.  And to share a little of that with you...here's what I've been writing lately!
ModVive: Be careful when driving in New Mexico A brave teen fighting back against her bullies Should it Matter?  How sexual orientation plays into politics
Examiner National Adoption Month raises awareness of children stuck in foster care Indiana Court of Appeals rules in favor of same-sex partner for visitation with child Here's a good way to punish your teens for underage drinking
Care.com Teaching children about other holidays 8 Tips for teaching your children to be thankful

Thankful for my Dad

Today is my Dad's 60th birthday, so in honor of my father, today's thankful post is about him.  He is a wonderful father and an even more wonderful grandfather.  So proud....you can see it in his face, right?

He's one of the smartest men I know.  Growing up, he was my fix-it man.  I never quite understood what engineers did (and don't tell T, but I still don't...), but I knew he was super smart and could figure out anything, including my math homework.  He's been my strength as I've gone through some ups and downs in life, some tough times and some great times.  The poor guy has had to move me in and out of so many different dorms, apartments, etc., it's not even funny.  The guy moved all of my stuff into the dorm sophomore year all by himself because I had mono and could not lift anything.  And then went to the bookstore with me to buy and then carry all of my books up six flights of stairs.  That's a good man, there.  

I get my lack of patience from him, I know, but it does take a patient father to not completely go off when your youngest daughter hits parked car after parked car.  I still laugh thinking of the time I hit my third one and how upset I was, and he just shook his head saying "If you hit another one, I might have to get upset."

I get my sense of humor from him - that sick, dry, twisted sense of humor.  He introduced me to classics like Airplane! and Blazing Saddles at a young age, which I will always be forever grateful.  He's been my biggest cheerleader as I have gone through school, law school, and into the legal world.  He doesn't ever say it outwardly because our relationship isn't like that (no serious talks or anything) but he is proud, and I'm proud to be his daughter.

Before T came along, he was my strong person to lean on.  I took him to all of my scary doctor's appointments and tests.  When T couldn't come to an appointment during my pregnancy, he was there.  He was there when at nine months, my heart rate spiked and the cardiologist called in an emergency test.  He didn't act freaked out.  He just calmly went over to me, kissed me on the forehead and said "oh, I think everything will be just fine."  I could tell he was worried but he didn't want to act that way.

He's the guy who, just minutes before I walked into my c-section made up some excuse about needing to go get coffee so he could leave the room.  He won't admit it but I know that he couldn't bear to watch me go into surgery one more time, having flashbacks to when I was 4 months old.  

I can email him about anything.  He's the only one I let call me Lain.  He's probably the only father who laughs when his youngest daughter says something like "dammit, Dad" in response to a joke.  Hell, I have thought so much of his personality that I basically married someone who is exactly like him.  I do not joke.  Same name, same profession, same personality.  I married my father.  That's how much I admire him.  

He loves his family, especially his grand kids.  This was taken this past weekend at Buca when we celebrated his 60th birthday.  I absolutely love this picture.

He's a good dad, even though I don't tell that to him enough.  And I'm so very thankful to have him in my life.  He doesn't read this blog, but I'll still give a shout out to my pops - Happy birthday, Dad!  Love you!