Re Entry

Randy arrived home this week after a month long tour of the United States. While I am elated to have him back in our house, there is a period after his arrival that we call "Re Entry" & currently we are in the thick of it.

"Re Entry" is a time in which I am adjusting to sharing my space again & he is adjusting to not being on the road. We bicker, we kiss, we bicker more, I roll my eyes often & he sighs. It is a little more intense this time around & I am not sure if it's because it was such a short tour or because I seem to grow sassier everyday (this is another post in itself). Whatever the reason, I am grateful that we talk about it, laugh it off & are comfortable enough to make fun in the company of others.

Wish us luck.

xoxx

Thirty Two

As I write this I will confess that I am indeed mildly hungover.

I had too much wine last night as I enjoyed our new porch & the fact that I have nothing major to do except to sit, laugh & tell stories alongside my handsome husband and our great next door neighbors.

Oh, and it was my birthday. Thirty Two.

However, a birthday on the heels of an amazing & beautiful wedding reception is really pretty anti-climactic. So we just bummed around all day, hosted National Night Out & then drank entirely too much wine & giggled until about 3am.

What an idealic day, pure bliss.

There is a part of me that feels the need to write a list of some sort to commemorate the new year of my life. A to do list of sorts, or a list of Hopes & Dreams for year 32 of my life. But I start to write it & there are very few things to jot down. This is because at this moment in my life, everything seems absolutely stunningly fine. I live in a fantastic house with an amazing man who I am married to. We both have jobs we enjoy, great friends, and amazing family. I love our life.

And with that, Happy Birthday to me.

xoxx

Back to Earth.

What a crazy thing getting married is.

Amazing, but crazy.

I have finally landed back on planet earth after 2 weeks of floating around on cloud nine, giggling at the introduction of my husband, Randy and his introduction of his wife, Dahli. Our glimmering left ring fingers...it's been really quite lovely.

Other than our titles, rings & change in insurance rates, our lives have not changed very much. This is a great thing, as we were both completely happy with our lives previous to our nuptials.

And so life has gone on.

Handsome Randy has embarked on a tour to Australia and New Zealand for a little less than 3 weeks and I am granted the amazing gift of having our house to myself.

Perhaps all this time to myself will produce many enlightening & inspiring writes on this blog. We will see.

xoxx

married.

A few months ago, Randy & I were talking about, well I don't remember what we were talking about, but as we were talking it occurred to me that I should tell him something. So I did.

"Just so you know, I am ready to get married whenever you are."

He stared at me with what I think was curiosity (he may beg to differ), and I went on to articulate exactly what I meant and how I hoped we could go about doing things, when he too was ready, of course.

And so the ball started to roll. We talked often about our impending nuptials, marriage, being married, being a spouse and we talked about our hypothetical wedding. Somehow we seemed to agree on almost everything pertinent to the matter at hand.

And then he was ready. Just like that. As simply as had I told him the month before, he said to me one night, "I'm ready, we should figure all of this out soon."

And the plotting began.

Yesterday morning I woke up and sat at our dining room table listening to the day begin with such intensity. It was snowing outside. My favorite kind of snow, light & fluffy but full bodied flakes. This was the kind of snow that enticed my grandmother to love snowy days. And so on my wedding day, this kind of snow falling down calmed me a little bit & I took it as a little sign that grandma Bette was smiling on me & wishing me a lovely, perfect day.

And I did have a perfect day. I was a little anxious, of course so I kept myself busy with Lunch with one of my oldest friends (Natalie) and the most incredible massage ever at Spot Spa. I gussied myself up a little bit & then drank tea at a coffee house & looked over my vows and reflected on this crazy, new chapter I was about to open. I arrived home with enough tim to giggle with Randy before our small wedding cast arrived.

Randy's witness, Steve, an old friend, arrived first. Then came Dave, our friend & Wedding Officiant. Next it was Annie, my witness and friend since age six. Our friends Skye & Sarah arrived with camera equipment in tow. Soon it was time to dial up The Dads on Skype in Kansas City & Oaxaca, Mexico. Now we only had to wait for The Moms to arrive. They are the most exiting part in this because they had no idea.

Our moms thought they were coming over for a look at our bathroom and to offer advice before a dinner reservation. When each arrived we told them. We cried a lot and hugged each other tightly.

Our ceremony was short and took place in our dining room in front of our fireplace. When Dave started the ceremony I remember reaching into my pockets & squeezing my hands open & closed a few times to make sure it was really happening. I could hardly believe it.

Randy's vows made me cry, I think mine watered him up a little bit too. Everyone applauded when we were announced as married, we corked a bottle of champagne, signed the license and had a few photos taken.

Dinner was amazing. It was just us and The Moms. We were treated like royalty and there were all sorts of crazy presents waiting for us at the table...wine, champagne, Peonies...it was lovely.

A wedding more perfect couldn't have been imagined. I am so lucky and in love with such a great man. And with that, I am confident we have many years of wedded bliss ahead.

xoxx

coming to a mailbox near you...

oh the trials & tribulaltions of putting together a holiday card. Christmas or New Year? Photo or not? By the skin of our teeth we went with New Year and a photo in a very chilly Minnesota vein. It turned out well, if I do say so myself.

Happy New Year to You!

xoxx

He Made It.

In the period of time Handsome Randy & I have been together I have developed a few rituals to keep me sane upon his tour arrival & departures. Mainly this involves cleaning & food. On both occasions, I clean our house top to bottom and go to grocery store and splurge on things I typically don't such as Fruity Pebbles & Jell-O Pudding.

This morning at a little bit past 8am he phoned to let me know he was outside. I had only gone to bed an hour before as I spent the night cleaning. It was not all that grueling, I kept getting distracted by things on television such as General Hospital, Law & Order, & Roseanne. This arrival home had a little more weight to it than usual. He left on tour a mere 2 weeks after we purchased our house. I had an incessant need for everything to be perfect. Thus the night was not only spent cleaning, but hanging pictures and finally putting those boxes away in the laundry room.

And he's home. We both can't stop smiling at each other & I can't wait to share a whiskey tonight before we retire to our treehouse bedroom.

xoxx

Road Trip.

Los Angeles to Minneapolis via the beautiful Southwest. Yesterday we pulled out of Needles, California around 11am stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona for coffee and a walk around 3ish, and ended our day in Santa Fe, New Mexico around midnight. Along the way we drooled a the amazing scenery, laughed at each other while playing very intense and competitive versions of The Roadtrip Alphabet and sang old country songs acapella and a few by Queen and The Who too. More to come.
xoxx

Getting in Focus.

Today is Thursday yet it seems like maybe it should be Tuesday. The last few days have been a blur as I have been so sick with some stupid virus that for two whole days left me sleeping in our bed or on the bathroom floor because it required me to be in there so often. Yes, it was that kind of virus. Good times.

And now I am left thirsty (a little dehydrated yet), hungry (a little skiddish to eat my regular stuff) and trying to get that blur into a focused picture. Handsome Randy is leaving today for a month long tour. The last few days of his homestay were not spent in the usual nor ideal ways. I was cranky, critical & crabby which probably made it quite hard to want buy me much needed Gatorade. But he smiled, kissed my forehead, took me to the doctor and brought me Gatorade and bananas despite his very real work deadlines and crabby ladyfriend.

Yesterday when I came to and it hit me that he was leaving in less than 24 hours I wanted to cry. Actually I did cry for a good solid minute and I felt such dispair for having been so out of it and so sick and so crabby that I think it made me feel worse rather than better.

But this happens everytime I am sick. When I come out of it it's almost as if I mourn the time I've lost from being ill. Everything feels out of whack as I haven't been to work, the house is a mess and I never once watered my plants. The feeling of neglect toward my life is overhwhelming. So I do what comes best to me, I cry. Then I wipe my nose, water my plants and slowly put my routine back in motion. It all gets better that way.

While HR was home we definitely accomplished our mission and bought a house, one we both love and can hardly wait to make our own. I, gleefully, have been granted full license to choose colors and what we do with our extra bedrooms as he is just happy to have a "comfy house". In the midst of my virus, we had our house inspected. While it is all kind of a blur to me, it was nice to just be there for two hours. We sat around talking and it was so comfortable and filled with nice energy. Fillmore Street will be a great place for us. We can hardly wait.

So here's to being virus free, lucky enough to have a partner who is not only Handsome but very patient and forgiving of his sick lady and to our upcoming and very happy home.

xoxx

Four Years.

Four years ago today I went to Heart of the Beast Theatre's annual May Day Celebration at Powderhorn Park. I can still remember where I stood to watch the parade that year (27th & Bloomington) & I can still remember what I was wearing (my NE Junior High hoodie and red gingham skirt). After the parade I went to a party at someone's house across the street from the park. All the while I had a very handsome man on my mind: Randy Hawkins.

He was just arriving home from a three month road tour and the final show of the tour was that night at First Avenue. The tour was preceded by a month or so of lingering drinks at 2-4-1 Tuesdays at The Triple Rock followed by a few dates in the days he was getting ready to go on the road.

In those very early days of courtship between us I was preoccupied: my grandmother was terminally ill and I was trying to spend every moment I had free with her. But I'd get these phone calls asking if I wanted to meet at Nye's for a glass of wine or take the new Light Rail to the Mall of America on a Sunday. I wanted to & I did, but I didn't pay much attention to what was really happening. I was falling in love.

While Randy was on the road we talked on the phone nearly every night. I looked forward to when my day was over so I could hear his voice. I relished making him laugh (I still do) & I could listen to his stories of tour and travel all night if he felt like talking that long.

A lot took place during those phone conversations. I don't think we will ever know just how much.

Randy was the first person I called when I left my family the night my grandma died. He happened to be in town for a show the night of her funeral. He tried so hard to get me to go, when I refused he came to my apartment as soon as he could after the show and just held me for two hours while I talked and cried. I'll never forget how it was snowing that night, and I remember walking him to the door of the building and then rushing back to my apartment to watch him walk until he was out of sight. I can still see that image.

So I go to this show on May 1st with the sole purpose of seeing Randy. I'm nervous. The friend I brought along as my +1 asked me what I was so nervous about and I distintively remember responding, "I just feel like it could work out with him." And it has.

That night I think I drank 4 or 5 Black Russians (all booze, only vodka + Kahlua). This is amazing as I am the lightest of light weights and really shouldn't be doing anything after two cocktails let alone 5. But I needed an elixer.

The show ended and I ordered another drink. I remember spying Randy on stage taking things apart. I ran to the foot of the stage & yelled his name. He smiled and came over pulling me to an embrace and suggested we meet upstairs in the VIP lounge after a while.

When he arrived we clasped hands & I don't think I let go until the next day. Through the last four years we have learned so very much about each other and each day I think we fit together more perfectly. And through it all our hands have been clasped together and I think they always will be.

xoxx

A tip.

When you have a partner who is on the fence about having kids, do not go shopping downtown on brink of the Hollidazzle parade starting; it just might keep them on the other side of the fence.
xoxx

We did the Hukilau.

Once upon a time, Handsome Randy & I boarded a jet plane & flew to Hawaii.
It was an amazingly beautiful trip & much fun was had. We spent time on the islands of Oahu & Kaua'i & became mildly obsessed with Niihau. We went to a luau, hiked around Waimea Canyon, the Kalalau Trail and swam at 'Anini Beach. We a lot of great food, but the best was an Ahi Sandwich from The Shark's Cove Grill in Haliewa on the north shore of Oahu. Here are a few photos highlighting our Hawaiian Holiday.

The view we woke up to every morning...


Waimea Canyon...



At the Luau...



On the Kalalau Trail...




Sadly, we eventually did have to come home to our frozen city, however, we were still singing & dancing the Hukilau upon our arrival & probably will be for a very long time.
xoxx

Partner on Tour Survival Tool #39

Video Chat.
Handsome Randy & I have been pretty lucky with the tour he is currently on. He is gone for approximately 10 weeks & when all is said & done we will have not gone longer than 18 days without seeing one another. This is pretty amazing & has made the tour quite pleasant. But I have moments when stomp around because I'm a little lonely or feeling a little neglected. While my outlook and attitude is ideal for our situation (I don't mind having the house to myself) my morale has been known to falter.
The other night I was just about to go to bed & I get a text from HR that reads, "Turn on your iChat!" I do, we connect & video chat for an hour giggling and hanging out even though he's in Ohio & I'm in Minnesota. We sign off & I feel like I've seen him in person (sort of) & my morale is flying high.
xoxx

rescued sunglasses.

This weekend Handsome Randy & I embarked on a journey to Seattle & Victoria. He was working, I was tagging along. It was great and entailed a few ferry rides, a customs search, 2 rap shows, lots of donuts and a pair of rescued sunglasses.

I LOVE my sunglasses. While they were a mere $8 at my favorite vintage shop, rewind I regard them as though they are gold. And they are, to me.

So morning #2 of our journey we head to the Victoria/Port Angeles Ferry 2 hours early to make certain we have space on the ferry. We arrive securing our place on the ferry and we have time to get breakfast. Our 4 traveling companions go off for food and as HR secures the van I realize that I have left my beloved sunglasses in the hotel.

"AAH!" I yell. I assume they are gone for good, after all, HR has many things to worry about for he is working. But no.

"Should we take a cab back to the hotel and get them?" he says.

"Sure, if you think it's worth it."

"You love them, it's totally worth it."

And so we cabbed it. With our French taxi driver and I making polite conversation along the way & me clutching my treasured sunglasses all the way back to the ferry,

What a fantastic man I have.

I will say that while I would do the same for him, I think if I were traveling alone I would have chalked the loss and thought about the lost sunglasses every time I bought a new pair. I once left a fantastic belt in DC never to get it back, and still think about it wishing I still had it to pair with various pieces.

xoxx

enthusiastic about cycling.

I remember so clearly my first bicycle. It was a Strawberry Shortcake number with training wheels. I received it for my 5th birthday from my dad & stepmom. I was so excited! I road it up & down the block over and over. A few years later I had a royal blue Schwinn with a silver sparkly banana seat. I was on two wheels now & elated. This is the bicycle of my childhood. It was beautiful. So cool. My heart broke when I road it to school the one & only time as I was grossly made fun of for having a "hoopty" bike. It just didn't measure up to the shiny new Huffys everyone else had. While I was still proud of my Schwinn, I never rode it to school again.
My sparkly Schwinn was stolen out of our garage & was later replaced by a yellow Scwhinn just like it only the banana seat had pink flowers on it. (A lot like this one only yellow.) It did the trick, but I never stopped longing for my blue one.

I lost interest in bike riding after I grew out of the Schwinn. I had a scooter, graduated to a 10 speed but never really rode as much as I did in my elementary school years. That is until I met Handsome Randy.

I like to think of Handsome Randy a Cycling Enthusiast. A few months after HR & I met I was setting out to walk somewhere & he offered me a ride. I had no idea he had a car. This is because he rides his bike everywhere year round. He has 6 or 7 bikes in our basement to show for this.

It's slightly contagious.

Within months of HR & I getting together I was revisiting my lost cycling enthusiasm of my youth. A friend gave me an old Sears brand bright green cruiser. Handsome Randy tuned it up for me, I bought a helmut & off I went. Some of my favorite moments of the first Randy & Dahli summer are late night riding home on The Trail.

The following spring, HR helped me pick out a lovely Trek. This bike is great. Burnt orange and rides like a dream, especially after a summer on the Sears cruiser. I started riding to work and last summer, I started to ride a 15 mile loop at least 4 times a week. By the end of the summer, I wanted to ride faster.

A road bike was the answer. This week I found a great used one thanks to the help of HR & our friends spreading the word of my hopes & size. And here she is.

My new Surly Pacer. So pretty. So fast. I can hardly wait to get out & ride her again tomorrow.
xoxx

intermission over.

I'm back. It's been 2 weeks exactly since I've posted & ideally I post every 2 days.

Lazy me.

But Handsome Randy came home from a month long tour & I've been staying up a lot later while getting up at my usual time so I've been pretty tired. Plus, it's distracting to have this handsome man in my house all the time again. All my thoughts about what to blog about go out the window & we just talk and look at each other.

Well, now I'm used to him being home, so here we go again.

Thanks for checking back. More coming soon.

xoxx

Q U I T C H

Did you know that this is as word? It is.

I know this because last week when Handsome Randy & I were playing Scrabble I had two 'Q's in my hand (Super Scrabble)and was desperate to get rid of at least one.

The word 'itch' had been played, I had a 'u' and it seemed like 'quitch' could be a word. Oh, and the 'Q' also happened to fall upon a quadruple letter score (again, Super Scrabble. So I took a chance & confidently laid down 'Q' & 'U' in front of 'itch'. I ended up with sixty some points and HR challenged the word. I nervously said, "Fine," and he looked it up.

Together we learned that "Quitch" is indeed a word, even in the official Scrabble Dictionary, and is the short word for Quick Grass.

And I won the game. By a long shot.

xoxx

Dallas Frenzy.

This is what Handsome Randy & I look forward at the end of most of our weekdays.

It started as a half witted joke between us one evening when we stumbled upon it. Now it has evolved into something we look forward to & make sure we don't miss.

We're really into it.

We loathe J.R. & Cliff while cheering on Sue Ellen, Bobby & Pam, and we love Miss Ellie. We have even referenced The Official Dallas Website regarding the family tree and back stories.

I grew up watching Dallas with my mom on Friday nights. During the opening credits I would strut in front of our living room mirror flipping my hair and pretending to be Pam or Jenna. So the love was already there on my part - it just needed to be re-tapped.

Tune in if your up, every weekday night/morning at 3am on Soapnet.

xoxx

& he's back.

Handsome Randy arrived early saturday morning cold & a little banged up. But I'm happy to have him home in any form. I've been taking photos of him as if he's about to go out of style & he's reveling in the bask of my flashbulb. yeah right.

xoxx

ny

four oh in phoenix

handsome randy turned 40 on friday, august 10 and he was (& still is) on the road. when we realized that this would be the case a couple of months back, I decided to make a little trip to whereever he would be for the day to surprise him for the big four oh. our friend murs, who is the organizer of the Paid Dues and is on the tour was co-conspirator. he hooked me up with a ride from the airport to the venue & was just overall pretty great in helping me make it happen.
i arrived at the venue shortly after the tour did & murs brought me to randy in the midst of setting everything up. I ran up behind him & said, "Hey, Happy Birthday!". He looked shocked and asked what I was doing, "Well, it's your birthday so I decided to come & wish you a happy one in person." we kissed. we hugged. we kissed again & then I went to the tour bus to hang out while he worked. I hung around & watched the show taking photos and visiting our friends who he's on the road with.
We ended the day with a little birthday song with everyone on the tour and some nice cake from Sarah Jane's Bakery in Northeast Minneapolis. We said goodbye and I took a little nap before jumping on a plane to head back to minneapolis.
a good day was had by all.
xoxx