Once Upon a Time

I almost ruined my proposal!  In my previous post, I documented how I nearly fell victim to asking too many questions in order to not miss the Sister Hazel concert.  Well… I guess I'll never learn.

So, here's the background leading into the story.  Craig and I got into a really dumb argument earlier in the week… mainly due to my grumpiness after being woke up abruptly from a nap on Sunday.  The argument literally lasted all of 5 minutes because I quickly went back to sleep and was over it.  I did jokingly bring it up later, reminding him that I hadn't forgot about it, but we were clearly joking.

Fast forward to Wednesday night.  After completing some quick and final Christmas shopping, I went to his house because I hadn't been there in a while… he's been graciously coming over to my house usually because he works at his house during the day, so it's not that terrible for him to leave his house after work since he's been there all day.  But that night, he said he had a lot to do, so I agreed to go there for dinner and gift wrapping.  He asked how long I thought I'd be out and I told him I should be to his house by 7, and he said he'd just take care of dinner.  Business as usual.

I get to his house and walk in to his house, which was filled with yummy smells of pork loin, mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans and a dozen red roses.  He's a great cook, so the yummy smells didn't really shock me, but the flowers… "ok what's this for?"

He told me it was because he was sorry for the argument on Sunday.  I automatically thought that it wasn't a huge deal and wondered why he was making up for it because I hadn't really thought about it since it happened... but I was rather enjoying it.  :) So, I just said "awww" and gave him a kiss.

We eat and talk - same as always.  And then I'm ready to start wrapping gifts because there were TONS.  Before we do that though, Craig goes to the steps and lingers around where his formal living room is & turns the lights on in that room.. and then walks back in the kitchen.  I immediately ask him what he's doing and he just says "nothing".  Then I ask him why he turned the lights on and left the room (I know how anal he is about leaving lights on in rooms when you're not in them anymore).  He just says "It's Christmas."  Do what??  Then he keeps on.. "All the candles in the windows are on.. look I'll turn this one on too (which was the light in the foyer).."  Immediately, I said "What???  Turn that light off (weirdo)."  I just shake my head and head to the family room where the stack of gifts are.

On top of one of the boxes was an envelope, which I thought was Casey & Leslie's so I gave it to him to put aside.  Then I go through some bags and I actually found Casey & Leslie's… so then I turn around and asked what the other envelope was that I gave him.  He says "Oh, this is your's.." and he proceeds to open it.  Which leads me to ask "Uh, well if it's mine - why are you opening it??"  He then tells me to read the card itself and give the card back to him and he'll read what he wrote on the side.  So I frantically read the card, and quickly skimmed the left side through his little passage and look for keywords (like "marry"), and found nothing.  So I obliged and gave it back to him and listened to him as he read and it was a playful little poem about how sometimes he's wrong, sometimes I'm right, etc., etc… and basically the last line is about loving me for eternity.  And then he hands it back.

So… puzzled, I ask him why I couldn't have read that myself.  He said that it was because I didn't know the last line.  Still confused, I said that I'm looking at the last line and I can read that just fine.  He just politely said "No", got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him!  Surprised?  Yes!  And of course, I said yes.  Probably the most surprising part is that I didn't cry like a baby… I think it's because he went the playful route and didn't go on a mushy rampage because I am a BIG baby when it comes to sentiment.  I was really so proud of myself for just gushing and laughing.  It was a very happy moment for both of us.

Side note:  the mysterious light on in the formal living room was to provide lighting for the video camera he had set up.  Although, I haven't watched it… I imagine it's boring because I'm not sure how much you can hear and I didn't have a crazy reaction - just happy and surprised!

He filled me in that he went to see my dad earlier that day at his office and asked his permission, so he was in the loop, as well as his parents.  He had also mentioned it to my mom as well so she was in on it too.  I was on the phone for the next 2 hours calling family and my bestie (Brookes).  And now, the insanity has ensued… feeling a little stressed to get the ball rolling, but with it being the holidays, I'm a bit stalled.  I'm sure it will begin to come together soon… hoping for a Fall wedding, so we'll see how it goes!  Here's a good quote that was on my desk calendar a couple months ago that I thought was pretty profound and I kept it to remind me:

"Success in marriage depends on being able, when you get over being in love, to really love…"  - Eleanor Roosevelt

What a smart lady. :)

Not Easily Surprised

The other night Craig attempted to surprise me with the Sister Hazel concert that I had been nagging asking him about since mid-November.  Rather than cleverly making something up like "Ah, I'll be out of town for work that night" (totally believable because he travels almost every week & shoots stuff down all the time because of it), or "I have a work dinner", or ANYTHING that indicates that he considered it at some point, and that he was sad he was going to miss it (the last part is important)… instead, he just pretended like I never even said it. I even brought it up in person once and he completely ignored me, and somehow I missed the opportunity to pout about it.  I don't know how he distracted me from the subject, come to think of it.

Anyway, so I finally asked him again last week as the date kept creeping closer, because normally he at least rejects it.  Ignoring me was completely new.  In case you haven't caught on to that yet.  I asked him via text because (guess what) he was out of town for work.  And then (guess what) he IGNORES me.  So then, I'm irritated.  Inside, my mind goes something like "What the FRACK??  I'm totally losing my touch."  After I push again, he says "Let me check my schedule - I might have to work."  Um.. HELLLLLOOOOO.. I asked him about this almost a month ago!  So, I have a little pow-wow with myself and just chalk it up to "Ok, the boy doesn't want to go.. I've seen them in concert before… same venue…  so it's not a huge deal…………………... But gah, he's just straight up IGNORING me!"

…and back to the happy place…

"Not a big deal."

Fast forward a few days when I ask too many questions and it comes to light that he bought the tickets weeks ago and had even organized a group to go.  Woopsie.  Ok, I'm a jerk but YAY SISTER HAZEL!

PS - I loved it. :)

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So, on a more random, yet related note - I was playing one of Sister Hazel's songs called Champagne High to get me in the mood on Tuesday.  Has anyone else really listened to the lyrics of that song and wondered what the hell the dude was doing at that wedding?!  I'm just sayin'.

Giddy & Grateful

For the first time in a long time, I am at absolute peace.  Everything feels perfect.  I love my family, my friends, and my faith… they always pick me up when you least expect it.  I don't really want to air out what, when or why - I just wanted to reflect.  Sweet Serendipity :)

Deep Fried Heaven

So, we went to the NC State Fair on Friday night, and my night was complete after I had my dessert - a deep fried snickers bar.  O. M. G.  Generally, I do not have a sweet tooth and I don't really crave chocolate or anything like it.  BUT, as with any "rule" there is an exception.  Behold, my exception:

Lucky for me, the fair only comes to town once a year, because as with any food obsession comes consequence.  I remember back in college when I had quite the affair with Bojangles.  I really could NOT get enough and I definitely gained about 20 lbs because of it.  AND this was when Bojangles didn't accept credit cards and you had to have cash… can you imagine how much worse it would have been if you could've just swiped a card?!  I have NO doubt that the little piece of heaven pictured above would have the same effect if I had easy access like I did with Bojangles.  At any rate, if you put powdered sugar on anything that's been fried and mounted on a stick, it's bound to be delicious.  Period.

Technologically-Challenged

I love my mom and dad to death.  I really do.  They are absolutely hilarious with all of their naive ways, and my dad is one of those people that if he thinks the task is too complicated, he's just not going to do it.  He'll find a much simpler way of just not doing it.  Don't get me wrong, my dad is one of the hardest workers I've ever met - deeply motivated and dedicated.  And I have to admit, Dad is a lot more savvy with certain tasks than I'd expect, knowing how "let's-keep-it-simple" he is.  Here are a couple examples of how my dad keeps it real...

1.  My dad is the guy that after he and my step-mom set up a joint account on facebook, he calls me one afternoon while I'm at work.  I was busy so I couldn't answer and he leaves me this voicemail that goes something like this:
"Haley, it's your dad (like I don't know his voice after 26 years… love him).  Look, I'm on this facebook thing and these things keep comin' up on my screen and I just want to get rid of 'em.  Stuff like people wanting me to get them some animals, and then something else about a farm, and all this other daggum stuff and I just don't want to do it.  I need you to talk to Liz and get this straightened out.  Love you, babe."

2.  My dad is also the guy you call back, and on HIS voicemail greeting, he says something like this:
"Hey, this is Hal.  Call me back."
… Not "leave your name and number", or "Sorry I missed you - I'll be sure to return your call"… he just doesn't even want to check his voicemail.  Call the man back!

This is sometimes common among those that weren't raised in the computer and internet era… aka my mom.  Now she's actually pretty good with a computer, but beyond that.. I'm always scared to get her things for Christmas that requires her to be the operator of anything else electronic.  I'm pretty sure she still has no idea how to use the MP3 player my brother got her 2 years ago.  I found a pretty basic GPS for her last year, and I think she's used it once.  She told me that was the trip where they set it to moo (yes, like a cow) every time they passed an exit with a gas station and that was the most fun they had the whole trip… and I'm pretty sure she was serious.

Guard Dog

For those that know my dog, knows she can be very protective when she wants to be, but she's mostly very (overly) friendly.  For some reason, however, when I'm by myself - she is this insane guard dog that barks at the smallest noises.  I have to say that it scares the absolute bajesus out of me when I'm sitting there, watching TV or reading while she's sleeping, and then out of nowhere she FREAKS and goes ballistic.  So not only is my heart racing at that point, but I'm left wondering if someone (or something) is really there.  You'd think she'd have lost her credibility by now with all of the false alarms, but I get spooked just about every time (I say "just about" because I can easily shake it off during the day).  Ugh.. it gives me the heebie jeebies sometimes.

She doesn't do this when Craig is around, so I'm guessing that she is attempting to resume the alpha role in his absence.  And somehow, I got skipped over for the part..?

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This is more of an after thought because I'm editing after I originally posted, but.. do not confuse the last couple of lines in the last two sentences above.  Craig is the "alpha" as far as Jovi is concerned, but not in our relationship.  I know he reads this so I can't just give him that title.  Especially not in writing.  Psh.  ;)

Happy Pain

I don't normally blog more than once a week... I'm actually lucky to blog once every two to three weeks here lately.  Not really because I don't want to, but mainly due to being too lazy to be witty or proof read more than once.  Eh, it happens.

Anyway, so I was stalking glancing over my home page on Facebook, and I came across this link that my cousin posted (thanks, Michelle!).  Along with the link/video was a little blurb about betting you wouldn't be able to watch it without crying.  Even knowing what a big baby I usually am (I am that person who cries during episodes of "Full House"), I accepted the challenge and began watching.  OH. EM. GEE.  It was that snorting, snotty type of cry that you try to stifle.  And I was only trying to stifle because I couldn't see the video.  Anyway, it was a montage of soldiers who are returning home to their loved ones and surprising them.  Some of the toddlers' and kids' reactions were so heart-wrenching, you just couldn't help but cry.

But the reason for this blog was more to reflect on something I experienced as a child and it was SUCH a happy time for me.  Completely unexpected.  When I was in middle school, I frequently went to church with my BFF Jessica.  One week, they had a father/daughter night, which if you don't know me, you probably don't know that my parents divorced when I was six and my dad moved to Greensboro, while I remained with my mom in Wilmington, NC.  My dad and I really only saw each other 3 times a year - Christmas, Spring Break, and summer because those were the times I could get away from school.  The father/daughter event was during the week, so I pretty much expected to just borrow Jessica's dad for the night (to clarify - we were going to share.. no intention of stealing him from Jessica).  :)

So, they did this thing where we were all out in the hallway while the fathers were helping set up in the gym (or something) and they were going to let us know when we could come in.  They finally call us in and they make us close our eyes (I can't really remember the reasoning they gave us but I was completely oblivious to anything going on and happily complied).  So I'm in my place, my eyes are closed and they told me to open them and turn around.  And there was my dad standing there with a rose in hand, just smiling!  I remember screaming, hugging, then crying into his chest.  Obviously, I was happy and very surprised!  Seeing these snippets of kids and babies that are seeing their dads after being apart for months or years at a time brought back this memory that I hadn't thought of in quite some time.

Now, granted I know my situation was different.  I had the "luxury" of knowing that my dad was just 3.5 hours away in a house or office and not in danger of losing his life at any given time.  I never left him over the summer or at Christmas, thinking I may never see him again because he could lose his life fighting for our country.  I just always knew a few months would go by, and I'd be right back with him.  I never worried - he's my dad and that's just how it was.  So that's how it's different.  But that may be the only way that it's different, because that scream and those tears were the exact same kind that those kids in the video felt when they unexpectedly saw their dad suddenly standing before them.  It was the kind of surprise that surges through your entire body like when someone jumps out and scares you and it's almost painful.  It felt like that but in this case, it was a "happy pain".  And it still makes me smile all these years later...

In the event you have facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=455621345922&ref=mf