Hipzy

So I have a tendency to use the phrase, "I know, right?" on a semi-regular basis. One of my co-workers asked what on earth that was supposed to mean (thereby implying that it was a silly thing to say), so in an attempt to defend myself, I looked it up in the Urban Dictionary. If you click the link above, you'll see a variety of definitions, ranging from

• expression of corroboration; much cooler than "i told you so" or "yes."

to

• A way to express the concept of "yes" if you are not quite articulate enough to say that mighty imposing word.

Instead of feeling validated, I started to wonder if my frequent use of this apparently controversial phrase makes me hip, or just ditzy. Perhaps, as my co-worker suggests, it makes me HIPZY. I'm OK with that.

A little slack, please

A recently added benefit at my place of employment is free emotional counseling. Maybe the announcement schedule had something to do with the economy (or if not on purpose, it's pretty dang good timing).

Anyway, what with the economy, the prevalence of the winter blues and the whole holiday season (which unfortunately is not always joyful for everyone), I support this measure. I think free counseling is a great thing, and probably more people should have access to stuff like this - so please don't misconstrue what I'm about to say.

To spread the word about this new service, there is now a poster in the HR office advertising counseling resources. It's pretty much the most depressing picture of a distraught woman I've ever seen, and if you're not depressed already, you will be after walking past the poster. But whatever, maybe people can really relate to that. Fine. What gets me is, on this poster, in the middle of a large HR office, are tear-off mini fliers you can take for more information.

Now come on. How many people are going to tear one of those off as they walk by on their way for a coffee break? "Hey, hang on a second Frank - I could really use a little help right now, lemme just grab a counseling flier real quick." (But seriously - props if you would. That's guts.) I mean, can't they provide an easy to remember Web address for folks to check out later in the privacy of their own home or cubicle?

All I'm sayin' is, there's still a full stack of fliers there, and I am not surprised. Miss Hane-nah, can I get a "Smatchoo?"

This feeling is not unique to the holiday season

I was feeling quite pleased with myself because it's still 10 days before Christmas and our gifts are neatly wrapped and under the tree (well, most of them at least). The feeling of accomplishment never lasts long, though. About 1.5 seconds after I finished cleaning up the wrapping paper, I realized that thanks to me spending Saturday finishing up the shopping and wrapping, the rest of my house did not get cleaned or organized.

It's like I have to pick and choose what gets done - and none of it will ever be finished at the same time. I can't be the only one to feel like this. . . . Right?

Merciless? Who, me?

I don't do cutthroat very well. By that, I mean I generally enjoy things (at least slightly) less when I know someone else had to suffer for me to get what I wanted. (This does not apply to situations involving couch covers. I have no problem being content with mine even if it causes my husband mild trauma.) I feel guilty bumping people back to Start in games like Sorry and Trouble, so it naturally follows that I am TERRIBLE at Monopoly.

Don't get me wrong - I like to win. I just feel guilty taking away other people's accomplishments (or money). Scrabble, for example, is ideal. You don't delete anyone's words or kick their letters off the board and everyone gets to stay in the game; someone just has a higher score at the end.

Anywho, my first experience playing Monopoly with Steve was on a double date with a friend of his. I lost all my money and what little (if any, I don't honestly remember) property I had managed to accumulate in what must have been a record amount of time. Apparently, our relationship comfort level had not yet reached the point where Steve could mock me for my miserable effort, so he quietly tried to give me some of his property and money to help me save face and stay in the game. He didn't make that mistake again. Pity Monopoly money? Please.

Since our initial Monopoly adventure, we have purchased the Speed Die version to make the slaughterings less drawn-out and painful, but the rest of our Monopoly experiences have been similar...(dramatic pause)...until last night.

That's right folks. On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, for quite possibly the first time ever, I WON Monopoly (I won at Monopoly? I'm not really sure what the grammatically correct way to say that is). In a game of four players, I managed to heartlessly take everyone's cash, force them to mortgage everything they owned, and then ridiculously overcharge them for vacations on Pennsylvania Avenue. And I loved every minute of it. In fact, there may or may not have been a bit of sass on my part as I took my husband's last $20 bill.

Oh and hun? Remember how you stopped playing Scrabble with me after you beat me one game? I think I understand now. And I just might be done with Monopoly - I think I'll quit while I'm ahead ;)

Warning: may contain sappiness

So as Steve pointed out, I have teased him a bit in this blog. And no fair only calling out the quirks, right? Plus, he is pretty much the most thoughtful guy I know, so he deserves some public recognition. (Kudos to me on landing the sweetest one out there.)

Ten of the sweetest things Steve does/has done for me (I can't rank them, so no top ten):

• Egg nog and snickerdoodles. Before we started dating, Steve showed up at work (where we met) one day with egg nog and snickerdoodles. He left them in the breakroom to share with everyone, but he brought a glass of nog and a napkin of cookies over to my desk. He later confessed that the breakroom was a cover - he really just wanted an excuse to bring me a treat. Does it get any cuter? I waited a few months before I confessed I was lactose intolerant and had only pretended to drink the egg nog.
  
• Homemade valentines. Last year, he learned to make chocolate covered strawberries and filled a heart-shaped box for me (which he also made). He also learned to make chicken cordon-bleu for the same occasion. (If you're not impressed, read the kitchen post and you will be.)
  
• Morning carpool. I ride to work with a few other people, so 3 or 4 days a week I have to get my butt a quarter mile down the road while it's still dark outside. Most people would probably tell me to buck up and walk (I would), but Steve gets up early to give me a ride. EVERY DAY. Did I mention he's not a morning person?
• Angel food cake. My aunt was in town and I had a specific dessert I wanted to try, involving angel food cake. Steve knew by the time I got home from work, it was going to be a stretch to just get dinner ready and I was stressed about everything being nice. So he braved the kitchen (once again) to make the cake for me. He didn't quite follow the directions, and it turned out wrong, so he made a second one, which also turned out not quite right. So he made THREE angel food cakes to make my night easier. Who does that? Seriously. I am super lucky.
• Dishes. One week I was particularly stressed about all the things on my plate. I feel like there's never enough time to get the things done around the house I want to. I should specify that Steve's least favorite chore is washing dishes, but he knows what a difference it makes to me when I come home to a clean kitchen. So now he washes the dishes on weekdays - all of them - so I don't have to stress.
• Carmel apples. Autumn is my favorite season and at least once a year I like to indulge in a rich, chocolate-y, candy-coated carmel apple. This year, I came home on my birthday (which is in October) to find a plate full of hand-dipped carmel apples with assorted candy bar coatings. Best carmel apples I've ever had.
• Breakfast in bed. The birthday before we got married, Steve snuck in and surprised me with breakfast in bed (chocolate chip waffles with raspberries - my favorite). When I got to work (he was at a new job by then), I found a rose for every year old I was on my desk. Sly little surprise. Maybe he was just trying to butter me up to marry him, I don't know. (It worked though.)
• Nicknames. Steve is a master at coming up with funny, endearing terms for me. I won't embarrass myself by listing them (you're welcome).
  
• Doors. We've been married for more than a year now, and he still opens doors for me (including the car door at the crack of dawn when he drives me to carpool).
• Foot rubs every night for 30 minutes. OK, I made that one up (come on, this is my real life, not the Hollywood version).

It's funny - I know Steve thinks I value the "big ticket" romantic stuff more - like 2 dozen roses and breakfast in bed (don't get me wrong - I love that stuff as much as the next girl, maybe more). But really, it's the little things, like opening my door every time we go somewhere, remembering little details from stories I've told him and just being happy to see me at the end of the day that make me feel like the lucky wife I am.

My husband vs. the kitchen

I begged Steve to let me post this chat. He said no one else would think it was funny, but I disagree. You be the judge. Also, if you have stories like this (about, I don't know, a husband or someone...), share the wealth!

So without further ado, I give you Steve (makes a mean omelet but is not quite Emeril) vs. the Kitchen.

(Also, I promised to post 10 sweet things about Steve to make up for teasing him just a little. Coming soon.)

2:49 PM Steve: miss you

ps - i can make rice just like spaghetti, right?

2:50 PM me: huh?

Steve: boil the water, leave it in until it sticks on the wall

or do i have to use the rice cooker?

2:52 PM me: you don't have to use the rice cooker

but don't throw rice at the wall

and you use way less water

if you cook 1 cup of rice, use 2 cups of water

bring it to a boil, then put the temperature on low and leave it alone for 1/2 hour

2:53 PM Steve: ok, thanks love

that long?

9 minutes

3:02 PM me: yeah

3:03 PM Steve: ok little one

all the water disappeared so i put a bunch more in

i didn't want the top ones to be crispy

3:05 PM me: that's why you turn it on low

it just steams for a while

3:06 PM some people turn the stove off after it boils. that works too.

3:07 PM Steve: ok :) should i drain it?

should i have put a lid on it?

3:08 PM me: ... yes... sorry - I guess I should have specified.

lid = necessary

draining = no. the water should all be absorbed into the rice

3:09 PM Steve: and if i have too much water and haven't used a lid?

like making spaghetti?

3:10 PM me: yeah, then I guess you'd want to drain it

let me know how it turns out

Steve: sure love

its been going half hour so far

11 minutes

3:22 PM Steve: soggy...

3:23 PM me: yeah...I thought probably.

Steve: o well, it's ok

me: I'm sorry love. Maybe you should stick to the rice cooker next time

...

can I blog this chat?

I'm sticking with twinkle lights and homemade mangers

We bought a Christmas tree last night (note the festive green text). A REAL one. This is one decorating event Steve and I agree on - except for the ribbon, which he says is silly and I think is a nice finishing touch. But now our house smells nice and pine-y. Mmmm...

Christmas was our first EVENT together in the married world. We got married in November last year, so one of the first things we did after the honeymoon was pick out a nice, fragrant tree for the living room (with a red skirt and everything), and then decorate our new little home for the holiday. It's a memory I'm more than happy to re-create :)

This year I have added some outdoor snowflake lights to our decor (last year the decorating was an indoor affair only). I love living somewhere I can actually decorate for the holiday (as much as I loved the 3' plastic tree I carted from apartment to apartment in college). But don't worry, I won't go crazy. And for the record, I do not condone large blow-up lawn ornaments. There's just something a little ridiculous about the nativity scene depicted in 5' inflatable nylon, agreed?