For the benefit of my husband's vocabulary.

Last night, I was folding Nick's laundry while he laid in bed and watched, while grumbling about me NOT going to bed.  Well, the reason I wasn't going to bed was that I was folding his white clothes - namely stained t-shirts, underwear and socks.  He prefers his socks to be in "sock balls" rather than stacked up. Personally, I think sock balls stretch the top of the socks out and are generally annoying, so I don't do this with my own stuff, but he likes it, so I deal.  I'm also officially off of my laundry strike because he cleaned and vacuumed the upstairs and downstairs.

Here's where the vocabulary comes into play:  as I'm folding sock balls and NOT getting ready for bed because I'm folding sock balls (see the vicious circle).  So because he was grumbling and I was folding his laundry - I tossed - lightly, mind you - a sock ball in the region of "man land".  So this increased the grumbling and he told me how "NOT NICE" it was that I did that.  Well its not  like I whipped it, it was literally a toss.  He proceeds to say something about not throwing things at his 'nads.  So I say to him, "its not my fault that his 'nads are just hanging out there and an easy target for sock balls....perhaps his 'nads should be nicely tucked away and protected like mine.".  So he says, "women have nads?!?"  and I say..."yes, they do" {{long pause}} I can tell that he's pondering here...so I say "wait, do you think that 'nads is a slang word for BALLS?!?!"  He said yes - so then I explained to him what "nads" are really... and to clear up any additional confusion, here is the official definition from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonad):

The gonad is the organ that makes gametes.  The gonands in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries.  The product, gametes, are haploid germ cells.  For example, spermatozoon and egg cells are gametes.  Although medically, the gonad term can refer to either male gonads (testicles) or female gonads (ovaries), the vernacular, or slang use of "gonads" (or "nads") usually refers to the testicles.

Anyways, looks like that we're both right.  I learned a new slang term to add to my ever-expanding list...since, technically nads IS a slang word for Balls, and I doubt that I'll ever refer to my ovaries as "nads", but at least he knows now that we both have a "pair".

Pure Happiness

On Sunday, Nick, Chino and I headed out to visit the grandparents in New Lex.  Car rides are one of Chino's favorite things, because cars typically take him out for ice cream, to the park, to the grandparents' house or to daycare.  As always, he was excited as soon as we said "Chino, do you want to go for a ride?"  In typical Chino (DRAMA) fashion and as is typical when a ride is involved, he started crying and plastered himself to my leg, just incase we were kidding and were going to try to leave without him.  We get in the car, he jumps in the backseat, long enough for me to sit down and put my seat belt on - and then he proceeds to relocate himself into "his seat", which also happens to be MY LAP.

For those who don't know Chino, he is our two year old lab mix.  He also weighs about 70lbs, so he's far from a lap dog.  The whole lap thing started because when he was a puppy, he was petrified of the car and had to be comforted and calmed down by me, on my lap.  We never thought much of this and it seemed like he went from cute, cuddly puppy to giant cuddly dog - OVERNIGHT!  Needless to say, when he rides on my lap, he gets quite a few double takes and smiles.  Nick and I tend to think this is normal - so when people look at us like we're crazy when I say that Chino is a lap dog - it takes us a minute to remember that we really are.

We are very lucky because Chino is a great car dog - he can sit for hours and for trips to Pittsburgh, just curls up on his bed and naps the ride away.  His favorite spot is my lap, and although I have the seasonal bruises and scratches from his paws and claws, I wouldn't have it any other way.  

I snapped this picture with my phone yesterday on our way home from the grandparents house. If anyone knows Chino, you know that he isn't easily posed for pictures - this picture is pure happiness, him in the car, obeying the rules (no standing and hanging out the window), taking it all in and enjoying his time with us.

Adding to the list of why I married my husband...

For those who know my husband, Nick - you know he's one of my heros, in part because he made the conscious choice to deal with me forever.  To top that all off - this promise of forever came with two sparkly rings that I get to wear all the time!  BONUS.  I have a running list of why I'm happy to be married, and a little dish he cooked up last night, just made it on there. 

To more reasons why I'm happy to be married to a bug killing, trash taking, recycling, toilet plunging, snow shoveling man:

1.  Weird taco shells

2.  Leftover weird taco shells

Nick introduced this meal to me several months ago.  He was talking about these taco pasta shells that his friend's mom used to make.  I'm thinking - seriously?!  Taco shells - as in those giant pasta shells turned into a Mexican dish.  Ok, I'm up for it because he embraces all of my strange Pittsburgh-type meals (noodles and toast, anyone?).  So he whips it up....all I have to say is O M G.  This stuff is fantastic.  I love all things Mexican and could eat it at every meal - but wow.  This is crave-able.  He made it for  me last night and I had to do everything I could not to eat until I couldn't breathe and until the only thing that would or could contain me would be elastic.  The only thing that kept me under control was the promise of having it for lunch today and dinner tonight.  I just finished my container and wow...that stuff just gets better after spending the night in a fun Ziploc container.  I told him that the next time he travels for work - for more than two days - he has to leave me with a whole pan of that stuff.  It would totally be a consolation prize.  I'd go as far to say that it would work well as ring #1 of the three ring circus that I normally require to be properly entertained.

Some important background info:

After reading a friend's blog - I realized that it might be important - for the sake of prosperity - to add some important background information - here it goes:

How Nick and I met (the real story):

We actually started talking in May of 2001 using AOL instant messenger.  I was home sick for a week with mono and somehow we ended up chatting with each other on the computer.  It was probably one of those "find a friend" things where you looked people up who live in OH.  The entire summer of 2001 while we were both working as interns, we chatted over email about everything, including relationship issues - giving and asking for advice.  We eventually progressed to talking on the phone, sometime in the fall of 2001.  At first it was mostly after a night of partying and then it became more regular and then close to daily.  We finally met face-to-face during the winter of 2002 at a bar on campus--called The Roxy (now called the Nuthouse).  Nick was in Columbus to visit a friend and I was helping with a social function ($1 bottles of Budweiser, so you know why he was really there).  We hung out that night and it was like we had known each other forever.  This was also the night of our first kiss.

We continued talking and chatting after that night and I agreed to visit him at UD for St. Patrick's Day.  Alisa went with me for moral support and we had a great time drinking green beer.  I didn't see him again until the 4th of July 2002 at a party at Andy's house.  We went on our first date shortly after that.  We became "official" on August 4, 2002 after Zach asked Nick, "so are you two boyfriend and girlfriend or what?"  Thanks Zach--this wouldn't have happened without you.

How Nick and I got engaged:

I was really mad at Nick that day because I didn't think he was taking our relationship seriously - it had been 3 1/2 years!!!  I got home from work and called him to apologize for being mean and when he answered, he said that he was at my house.  I let him in and he told me that he had a surprise for me and that I had to go back upstairs so he could get it ready.  I thought my surprise was protein bars to save me a trip back out to Wal-Mart to pick them up.  I came downstairs and found a trail of pink tulips that led out to my garage.  On each flower was a different verse of a beautiful poem that he had written for me.  The last line of the last piece said "Will you marry me?".  I opened the door to the garage and he was there on one knee with my ring.  Of course, I said yes - crying and breaking out into hives.  It turns out that he had asked my dad for permission in November, and that he had kept it a complete secret as to when he was actually going to pop the question.  I was the first person, other than him and the jeweler to see my ring!!!  

If you think I'm crazy...read below:

Every morning, Nick sends me a morning email.  This has been a tradition since before we were even officially together.  Its one of my favorite things - knowing that when I get into work, I'll have something waiting for  me.  Anyway, this morning, my email was a couple of short stories that he heard from two co-workers this morning.  I think he needs to revisit these stories once a month, preferably during that time when I'm acting irrational and nuts - and realize that he's married to a lunatic, but it could be worse.

I love you too.

Married Guy #1:

Wife is a stay at home mom, so long story short-he lives about 1.25 hours away so he gets home and deals with the baby, obviously.  So while doing that, his wife goes out with her friend for a 1.5 hour walk or whatever.  Well - he says he gets the baby a bath and starts putting the baby to bed and it's like 9:45 - well she gets home and starts watching TV.  He asks her if she can watch the baby (assuming he or she is not asleep yet!) so he can do something for 15 minutes.  This turns into a huge argument so he finally gets the baby put down and decides to go to bed.  So, he turns off the TV while she takes a shower.  Once she's out of the shower, she raises hell with him for turning off the TV.  He said "you weren't even watching it!!" - then she bounced the checking account yesterday as well.  I have to side with Mommy on the having some "her" time as she probably needed it after a day with the baby.  However, I'm not sure what idiot women these guys marry as they have no clue about money management if you hear it from them.  The end.

Married Guy #2

He has been working late hours and lives in Chillicothe with an insecure wife.  Ryan is 22 years old, is married and has a little girl...not sure how he does it but he does.  In any case, it was about 7:30 or 8:00 last night and he was just getting on 23 south when he gets a call from his wife.  She bitched at him because she thought he was out drinking and cheating on her and so on and so forth.  To piss him off, she goes out and goes on a $100 shopping spree with the credit card.  She also threatened to leave him and also leave him in financial shambles.  She also routinely overdraws their checking account.  However, she has started working so hopefully their financial woes ease up a little.  The end.

Turns out that I can take decent pictures when I drink:

View of the wildflowers as seen on my way back from the porta potty!

Still obsessed with the same group of flowers...

The farm even has a babbling brook!

Memorial Day weekend!

The three-day weekend was action packed and fun filled.  As usual, we crammed several days worth of fun into a 24 hour period...then spent the next 24 hours recovering.  I think Chino is still recovering as I had to literally yank him out of bed this morning to take a walk.  So here's a run-down of the festivities as they unfolded.

• Friday (5/23) - countdown to the long weekend began, ADD set in around noon for a 4pm departure.  Nick and I headed to Coshocton to visit friends for dinner and drinks.  Being the old farts that we are, we were  both really tired and ended up ready for bed around midnight.
• Saturday (5/24)-  After a delicious breakfast of cinnamon pancakes from Bob Evans, we toured KC's new house - absolutely fabulous.  I need to consult him when we decide to pick out paint colors.  The house totally fits his personality and is turning into quite a home.  He's got such a vision, he could probably do this professionally.   Post-tour, it was time to head to the drive-thru to pick up some libations for the impending camping trip at the Snorgenson Farm...

Before we get out to the property, I have to paint a picture of our trip to pick up some beer and ice.  First we stopped at Wal-mart and found out that this Wal-mart doesn't sell alcohol.  We went to the beverage section and had our hopes of cheap alcohol dashed by shelves of Sam's choice pop.  BUT, the saving grace was the latest flavor - yet to be named - of Doritos and the new Sierra Mist Free, with a touch of orange.  The trip was salvaged after all.

Next stop: a random gas station.  I stare at the cooler longingly looking for that fun thing that would jump out at me.  Nick is getting impatient.  I settle for some Landshark and some Bud Lite with Lime.  We walk to the checkout and find the elusive malt beverage aisle...I quickly return the beer and am happy with my Mojito in one hand and Jamaican Me Crazy in the other. One last stop in the beer coozie aisle and the trip is complete.  My coozie says "Just because I'm not interested, doesn't mean I don't understand"  Nick's says "Somewhere there's a village missing its idiot" - or something like that.

Ok - cooler is packed and we're on the road and on our way to the Farm!!!!

We arrived to quite a set-up.  MJ and SS had created quite the camping wonderland.  This was only my 2nd camping trip ever, but they had a buffet set up, tons of beverages, loaner tents with labels and a campfire burning.  MJ was in her element:  

Also running around the farm were seven, yes seven dogs in various stages of dirtiness.  They were all having such a great time.  The roster of them just made me laugh - here it goes:  Annie, Avery, Moose, Stevie, Sasha, Bart, Bozo and Chino...oh woah, that was 8.  One more showed up later but that was after lots of drinks and too many shots.

The day was a blast - the weather was gorgeous and everyone seemed to have lots of fun.  We ate hot dogs, drank beer and played a crazy game of golf.  I think I was the only person who did not improve.  What I took away from that golf game:  take one bottle of Hershey's syrup and one bottle of peppermint schnapps.  Pour Hershey's syrup in mouth follow with swig of peppermint schnapps - swish and swallow.  Viola...one Thin Mint.  Y U M M Y.

After the crazy golf game, it was time for a game that required a bit more skill.  I'm pleased to say that SY and I haven't lost our flip cup mojo.  We were flippin' fabulous, flippin' queens of the table.  Left side or right side, it didn't matter.  We came, we saw and we flipped.  

We settled around the fire for some s'mores and some more drinking before bed. I tried out my night vision setting on the camera - it didn't come out too bad at all!!!! I'm quite impressed actually and just looking at the picture makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

When it was time to turn in, we all snuggled into our tent and figured out that it was FREEZING.  I sandwiched myself between Nick and Chino and had a rather pleasant night.  Air mattress tally:  Chino - 1/2, Linda 1/4, Nick 1/4.  Poor Nick....sometimes it pays to be the monkey in the middle.

The next morning, we were more than ready to head home.  I bid farewell to the camp after revisiting some of my junk food from the night before, and we took our sleepy dog and headed home.  Despite the warm and beautiful Sunday, our weekend activities forced us to take a long nap and then an early bed time.  I have to say though, that if I were to camp, this is how and where I'd need to do it.  Anything else just isn't acceptable.