Marriage Test #2

My marriage was first tested back in 2009 when the Cardinals and the Packers played each other to get to the Super Bowl.  My team won and I had a very sad and grumpy husband.  Luckily we survived and now we just have stories to share about how I'm a traitor and cheered for my home team.  In any case, it was all in good fun and I tease about our marriage struggling.  I think back fondly to my memories of the three games we attended.  Unfortunately, I did cry for the pre-season game (left the tickets at home and we missed the first quarter).  Believe me, I don't think ANYONE will forget that day.  But the other two games were a lot of fun.  Packers won the pre-season game and the regular season game that didn't matter.  The Cardinals won the one game that did matter to get them to the Super Bowl.

Pre-season game.  Great photo... bad memories.

The Game that didn't matter.

The game that DID matter

We had seats with John and Jenn.  You can see the boys are green and gold... the ladies are sporting red.  The ladies win!

Why am I bringing up memories of rivalry?  Well.... post season baseball is about to start.  For anyone keeping up, both the Diamondbacks and the Brewers have clinched their divisions and are both vying for home field advantage.  If the Brewers win then they get home field advantage.  If the Diamondbacks win AND the Brewers lose then the DBacks get home field advantage.  There is also a chance that the Diamondbacks and the Brewers could play EACH OTHER!!!!  Oh man... my heart is racing just thinking about that.  If the St. Louis Cardinals can beat the Braves in the Wildcard standings then they're in and they will play Philly which means Brewers and Diamondbacks face off in round one.  Heart palpitations have already started.  Skipping out on boot camp tonight so we can watch both games together.  Wish us luck!

To top it all off, I start my new job on Friday.  I need my Hubby to be supportive... not yelling profanities at my baseball team!

NFL Football is BACK baby!

If you didn't already know, football is back.  My fantasy football team has been chosen, and my husband has been counting down the months, days, hours, and minutes until the Packers kicked off on opening day.  I just wanted you all to get a true realization of what I live through almost every Sunday.  I knew that the first touchdown by the Packers was going to be a big one in my house.  I decided to capture it on videotape and it is posted below.  It got a little tricky in the 3rd and 4th quarter because the Saints were making a comeback, but luckily the Packers prevailed.  This will be my life through next February.  Wish me luck!

I Learned A LOT Just By Attending 2 Pool Parties

What a weekend.  This weekend I witnessed some horrible parenting, drunkiness, and overall merriment with good friends and family.  Thanks to the horrible parenting fiasco, I learned what kind of father my husband will be.  A GOOD ONE!  To make a long story short, I saw an acquaintence (not a friend.... not then and especially not now) teach his 3-year old daughter how to yell and scream at a 2-year old girl.  He had her yell things like "get away from me" and "no!  don't come closer".  When I say yell, I mean he shouted these things at his daughter and in turn his daughter was screaming, crying, and shouting at a 2-year old.  (By the way, the 2-year old was just trying to play with the 3-year old, but ended up bursting into tears.)  To make matters even worse, this "Dad" pushed the two-year old away.  He didn't push her so she fell over. He took his index and middle fingers and forced them into the 2-year olds chest until she was pushed back.  What the $%&! is up with that!?  At this point I overcame my shock of what I was seeing, and took the 2-year old to her Mother.  The next day my husband told me he was so mad at himself for not kicking this guy and his soon to be bitch of a daughter out of the party.  The good news is the "dad" his daughter, wife, and son didn't stay very long.  Probably because of the chatter and looks they were getting.  Horrible horrible horrible.  

In addition to these shenanigans the Packers played their first pre-season game against the Cleveland Browns.  The first-string was in for almost the entire first quarter, so needless to say the game did not matter.  It didn't stop my hubby from recording it and then analyzing it.  Packers ended up losing but, again, I thank my lucky stars that the game didn't count and wasn't an example of things to come.

On to some good news.  Husband and I have been playing with my best friend's kids for the last week.  They're great practice for when we do decide that we want to have our own.  These two are the cutest and nicest kids ever.  The boy is 4 and the girl is 3.  The girl immediately attached herself to my husband.  They were having a blast in the pool.  They dove off the diving board together, made waves in the pool, were sharks and fish getting everyone else... it was adorable.  Husband has been pretty funny saying that he "doesn't know what to do with girls" and that "they scare" him.  I'm pretty sure he can't say those things anymore.  He was so great with her.  The 4-year old is incredible sweet and he was loving the pool.  Once he was brave enough to jump off the diving board there was no stopping him!  On Saturday I took a photography class with my girlfriend (she takes some amazing photos so make sure you check out her website - http://jenniferhalenphotography.blogspot.com/).  We learned how to use the light we have available to take photos.  I learned I need a flash, a cone to cover my flash, and a 50mm lens to really get my photography going.  I was just happy that with the equipment that I have I could take these photos:

Husband throwing the 3-year old into the air.  I think she's having fun!

No Photoshop work needed.  The water is blue and he looks spectacular!

Diamondbacks win series 4-3

A month ago the Diamondbacks were in Milwaukee and won the series 2-1.  The Milwaukee Brewers were in Phoenix for a four-game series and ended up tying 2-2.  Overall, the Diamondbacks are the big winners and the Brewers are the big losers.  Husband... do you hear me?  DIAMONDBACKS ROCK!

Waiting... I hate waiting....

So I applied for a position that I am DYING to get.  It is in my field of concentration... marketing... it is a company that does philanthropic work (not a must but a plus).... and it's a company where there is room for learning, growth and movement (a serious must).  But now, I wait.  I applied, I talked to a contact I have at the company... but I can't do anything else but wait.  Patiently.  Did I mention I'm not very patient?  If I can't be in some sort of control then I am not happy.  Right now.... not happy.  I'm doing everything I can to keep my mind off of it but it's really hard.  All I'm thinking about is this potential career move.  Sigh... so now I sit here and wait.

Love the one you're with

This past weekend my entire family went to Palo Alto, CA to visit my Grandmother.  She turned 89 in June and we went out to celebrate.  The thing I love about visiting my Grandmother is just being with her.  We go at least once a year to visit, but it never seems like enough.  She's definitely losing it, but she has many moments of clarity and brilliance.  I can't tell you how many times I heard her say "back in my day, you wouldn't catch nice young men visiting old bags in an old folks home.  But today they are so nice and they want to talk to you!"  My husband just laughed and kept explaining that he was happy to be there and hang out.  My Dad on the other hand wasn't always happy to be there.  He remembers Grandma in her prime where she would kick ass and take names.  I think he misses that women and hates having to be the one in charge.  But he's doing good at it and I hope he loves every minute he gets to spend with her.  Right now my Sister has my point-and-shoot camera which has photos with Grandma, but the ones I can post now are ones I took with my fancy camera.

At the Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos

My husband is pretending to mash grapes into wine.

A photo of my husband, sister, and the boyfriend in the airport before boarding.

A B&W version of the same photo.

Palo Alto is where my heart really belongs

The family is off to Palo Alto to visit my Grandmother.  My parents, my sister, sister's boyfriend, my husband, and I are all venturing to Palo Alto, CA to enjoy some cooler weather and to celebrate my Grandmother turning 89.  Should be a lot of fun.  Lots of photos to come.  Have a great weekend!  xoxo