First Date Revisited

Only this time, the ending SUCKS!

So, in honor of our "anniversary," Jeremiah and I decided to go out to dinner to the same BBQ restaurant we patronized on our first date. We've tried every year to go back on that date but this was the first year we were able to. The first year it burned down, the next year it was closed because there was no one qualified to manage it, one year our anniversary was on a Sunday, and so on. For whatever reason it was either closed or we were unable to make it there. But this. was. the. year.

We should have skipped it.

Why? Well, when we arrived at the restaurant the parking lot was full. But they do have an overflow parking lot so as we approached the alley we had to cross in order to get to said parking lot, our car was struck by another car that was barreling down the alley. And he didn't stop. But right behind him were 2 police cars. The idiot driver made a circle around the block and turned back on to the alleyway headed in the opposite direction before he finally stopped. Turns out he was drunk. And it turns out he doesn't have insurance. And it turns out that the policeman who handled the accident report DIDN'T EVEN FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT! Nope. All that has been filed is the arrest report for the jerk who was driving drunk and evading an officer. As far as the records show, this guy didn't even hit our car. I wonder what happened to the picture the officer took of our smashed in car - and the names we reported to the officer that we collected from the witnesses. Maybe the officer dipped them into his coffee, mistaking them for a donut?

And also, when we finally got in to the restaurant it took 10 more minutes to be seated, they didn't bring us our dinnerware (ever tried eating a salad without a fork?), and it took a long time for our dinner to be served.

Needless to say I don't think I will ever return to that particular restaurant. I think it's luck ran out the door the night of my first date with Jeremiah.

A Random Thought

I wouldn't be sure I had a gag reflex if it weren't for two kids with runny noses.

6 Years Ago...

Today is the 6-year anniversary of my first date with Jeremiah. It was by far the most memorable first date I have ever had. One thing that I remember about the date is how incredibly nervous I was! This was odd for me because I had never been this nervous. Not even on my first date ever. I remember I bought all new clothes and even a ribbon for my hair. I took my toothbrush and toothpaste in my coat pocket and gum in my purse and used them directly after dinner. I even took along a "Thank You" card that I intended to fill out at some point in the evening and leave sitting on the car seat for him to find later. Yes, I felt prepared from all angles.

On that date I had three distinct impressions that this was the man I was going to marry, and the first one came within the first 5 minutes after he picked me up! He told me that he had a hat from a former job as a baker that read "Best Buns In Town" and how he was going to give it to his wife someday. My immediate thought was, "I'm going to have that hat."

Later, while we were bowling I said something about how he bowled like Fred Flintstone, with the twinkle toes and everything. When it was my turn to bowl he encouraged, "Go, Wilma!" and I thought, "I am going to marry him!"

And lastly, as the evening wore on we were all trying to figure out where else we could go. We joked about going to a bar but it would be hard to get me in since I was underage. I was wearing a ring on my left hand and Jeremiah's brother - we were on a double date - said Jeremiah could wear his ring and no one would think twice about me. I pointed out that my ring was a sapphire ring and Jeremiah said, "Just tell them I was cheap! We'll win the perfect honeymoon." (He was referring to a contest that a local jewelry store was holding where you could win a honeymoon to make up for a lousy marriage proposal.) And I remember thinking, "We'll already have the perfect honeymoon."

6 months and 6 days later, we were married. I can honestly say that I knew from our first date that we would be married. I think it was pretty obvious to everyone - although maybe not so quickly. We just clicked. I don't think we rushed it either. We knew enough about each other's beliefs, goals and feelings to know that we would make it - everything else is in the details.

Purely Hypothetical

Hypothetically, would it be so bad if I spilled a bowl's worth of Cheerios on the floor? And, hypothetically, instead of sweeping them up off of my floor, I, hypothetically, swept them into a pile, picked out any dirt that hypothetically existed, and allowed my 1 year old to eat them until her tummy was full?

Because, hypothetically, that could happen.

Teach 'Em While They're Young

I've mentioned before that I taught Isaac about privacy at a very young age. I generally don't mind being shadowed by my children, but I do draw the line when they insist on watching me use the restroom. Now that Isaac has been potty-trained for a while I think he has gained an appreciation for privacy.

This was best evidenced the other night at my mother's house when I told Isaac to use the bathroom after much dancing and grabbing on his part. He reluctantly ran down the hallway - there's lots of fun stuff to do at Gammie's, you know - and finally made it in there to take care of business. He left the door open though, and Kenley found her way to the bathroom as well.

The house was soon filled with Isaac's scream, "GIVE ME PRIVACY KENLEY!"

Kenley's Favorite Pastimes and Games

"What fits in the toilet?"

"Look! I can twirl!"

"Floor Food Find" - often played with the ever-popular "Doesn't taste good, but I can eat it!"

"Clear a bookshelf in 30 seconds"

"I'm gonna getcha!" - She hasn't quite learned that I'm chasing her, she often comes toward me, mouth wide open in her million dollar grin awaiting my tickling fingers.

"I can click my tongue"

"Love music, love to dance" - She's gets quite a rhythm going and dances the instant she hears music.

"Bathtub topple" - This means she pushes anything over the side of the bathtub into the water. If nothing is on the side she adds in the game "What's in the cupboard." Last week she retrieved a can of Manwich from the kitchen for Isaac's bath.

And her all-time favorite - "What's Isaac doing?"

That's the Way it Should Be

Because I am lazy and chose not to work at all ever again outside the home, Jeremiah has been working two jobs and we hardly ever get to see him here. We really miss him, but Isaac seems to be most affected by his absence. But when Jeremiah is home, Isaac pays scrutinous attention to his every move.

When Jeremiah came home from teaching the other day he quickly changed out of his shirt and tie into shorts and a t-shirt. We then sat down to eat together as a family - at about 3 in the afternoon, so I don't really know what meal it was... Anyway, Isaac looked at Jeremiah and noted out loud that Jeremiah had changed his shirt.

Isaac: Dad, did you get into a different shirt?

Jeremiah: Sure did.

Isaac: When you were naked?

(I'm assuming he meant naked in between changing clothes, since Isaac cannot change just his pants, or just his shirt. No, Isaac has to bare it all when he changes clothes...)

Jeremiah: Mm-hmm.

Isaac (looking Jeremiah over thoughtfully): I don't want to see you naked.

(Insert much spraying of food and beverage across the table from the laughter.)