daddy

New uses for old Things: Part duex

August 23rd, 2010 • advice, daddy, home+garden • No comments

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Car wax, unclogging drains, and how to get your husband to do more work around the house. I can’t seem to get that last one to work right for me. I’m going to try the daily routine chart on him. It works for the kids, so I’m crossing my fingers.

Source: I don’t remember for all of the pieces, but judging by the fonts and kerning, I’m going to say it’s another case of Real Simple Magazine. They really put out a great product – one of my favs

Happy First-Date-iversary

August 5th, 2009 • daddy, memories, mommy • 1 comment

What are your middle names?
My middle name is Elizabeth; his is Robert. We’re both Irish-Italian Americans, like 99% of this state.

How long have you been together?
We’ve been married now one year and 2 months. We’ve been together for about four years – sometimes it feels like forever.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We met at club hell about a week before we started dating, but found out that I summered in the same neighborhood that he grew up, and we’d probably seen each other a whole bunch before. As a matter of fact, my best summer girlfriend dated him at one point, and I’m pretty sure that was the summer we didn’t hang out as much because she was so into boys.

Who asked whom out?
He asked me on our first date. On a cliff by the ocean under a full moon (our first date – perfect timing honey), he asked me to be his Valentine (it was August 22nd), and I told him that he was a few days late because I really wanted my anniversary on the 19th. I only wish the proposal was as romantic…but I’d be willing to settle on a do-over (hint, hint).

How old are each of you?
I’m 24, he’s 23. Our birthdays are within 2 weeks of each other, but I’m a Sagittarius and he’s a Scorpio – perfect match.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
One of his younger twin brothers just moved in with us, so I see him every night. Mine moved to NC, so I don’t get to see them but a few times a year.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Getting him to do his honey do list? I mean, there’s 4 things on it right now because I’ve done all the stuff I can physically reach. My mother cleaned the kitty litter when she came to visit yesterday, and I cleaned it out before that…which is his chore. I’ve also been taking out the garbage. So….other than work like 10 hours a day and play on the computer another 2, and mow the lawn once a month, what does he do around here?

Did you go to the same school?
I went to three different high schools, to none of which he went. Surprisingly enough, I would have loved him in high school. He’s always been perfect for me.

Are you from the same home town?
We were born on opposite sides of the country, but I summered a couple of houses down from his. We went to the same beach, hung out with the same crowd, but didn’t met until 4 years ago. Boy, did the fireworks go off.

Who is smarter?
I think we’re both smart. I play a know it all because I retain useless knowledge…but he’s…well…stunning.

Who is the most sensitive?
I agree with Jen on this one. I get my feelings hurt more but I can be more insensitive than him sometimes. It’s the summer here, and muggy as all hell – which means that he comes home from work sweaty and sticky. So, gradually I started to be less affectionate, without even noticing. He totally called me out on being insensitive and unaffectionate…which hit me like a wrecking ball in the side of the head.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Probably Olive Garden. It’s the easiest with two kids. Immediate bread sticks and great service are a plus. When it’s just the two of us, we usually end up at Trinity Brewhouse. Now that Phil is living with us, I think we might make it out a little more after the kids are asleep.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
North Carolina? Really? So, we haven’t been very far. I’d like to change that. I like to travel – though our hometown has a whole lot to offer too.

Who has the craziest exes?
Yikes. He’s had the crazies. I’ve had a few, but I think he takes the cake with knife wielding, 

Who has the worst temper?
I think both of us are pretty mellow.

Who does the cooking?
I do, or we order in, or I do.

Who is the neat-freak?
Me – and it annoys me to no end that I have to pick up after him all the time. Clothes go in the hamper. Your pocket belongings go on the nightstand. Nothing goes on the dresser (though I’m guilty of a stack of magazines there right now). Shoes belong in the shoe pile. 

Who is more stubborn?
We’re both pretty stubborn. I’d rather be right than be happy – which some people say reflects my age, but I see it as everlasting.

Who hogs the bed?
ME. I like to sleep on the diagonal

Who wakes up earlier?
He does to get ready for work, but I’ve been waking up with him to help.

Where was your first date?
Our first date was a weekend long bonding experience. We started off eating disgusting food, ended the night on a cliff by the ocean under a full moon, slept on the baseball field, spent the next day at his friend’s house, slept at his place to wake up in time for a baby shower. Wicked foreboding.

Who is more jealous?
Probably me, I am a woman.

How long did it take to get serious?
He (and all his friends) moved in with me after a week. A couple of months later, I found out I was preggers. It got pretty serious real quick.

Who eats more?
He does, and I don’t know where he puts it.

Who does the laundry?
Me – Though he often helps fold it, which is a huge help.

Who’s better with the computer?
Me. It’s in my profession

Who drives when you are together?
He does – isn’t it the manly thing to do?

Anyway, happy anniversary darling – it’s been a wonderful year of marriage!

Our Anniversary & Father’s Day

June 23rd, 2009 • daddy, memories, mommy, tattoo • 1 comment

For our anniversary, we went out to dinner at Joe’s American Bar & Grill, took a salsa dancing lesson in financial plaza, walked around waterfire, saw a comedian, saw the first part of a terrible movie, left the movie early and hung out downtown. For Father’s Day, I took Alex to get a tattoo from Nate, and then out to eat at Trinity Brewhouse.

Joe’s American Bar & Grill is a neighborhood staple for traditional American cuisine. I had an amazing plate of BBQ Beef Ribs, and Alex had the Reuben. We typically have an awesome experience, but it seemed like a bunch of n00bs were working. I wouldn’t rave about the service, but I can’t complain about anything either.

WaterFire is a popular environmental art installation consisting of a series of up to 100 bonfires that blaze just above the surface of the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence in Waterplace Park (the Woonasquatucket, Moshassuck, and Providence rivers), with accompanying world and classical music, sometimes with
live performances.

Comedian Jon Lincoln finds a way to bring out the funny in almost anything. A relative newcomer to the highly competitive Boston comedy scene he has quickly made a long-lasting impression on the industry. I’d see him again any day. I just hope he mixes up his material a little bit and I don’t have to sit through the poop-pants bit again.

The movie, Shanked, is an independent film that satirizes reality television. Seven strangers are duped into living in a run-down apartment as part of a reality TV show. They are not permitted to leave and are harassed by the show’s producer, who is secretly among them.

Trinity Brewhouse is the place to go when you have a monster appetite and crave a good time. Alex got Buffalo Chicken Nachos, and I got a brownie sundae. What the hell was I thinking? Beer and brownies? The nachos were splendid, but the waitress should have talked me down from ordering a Klosch and sundae.

Ted.com Video of Mike Rowe

March 5th, 2009 • daddy, jobby • No comments

Mike Rowe the host of “Dirty Jobs,” tells some compelling (and horrifying) real-life job stories. Listen for his insights and observations about the nature of hard work, and how it?s been unjustifiably degraded in society today.

via: (Mike Rowe celebrates dirty jobs | Video on TED.com)

Second Children

February 3rd, 2009 • baby, daddy, mommy • 1 comment

This is very true. keep this in mind kottke and anyone else that has just one right now. I just went through 6 months of ‘oh-my-god-this-is-torture’ to finally realizing that my second daughter is just as wonderful as my first.

When you have your first child a secret door in your heart is ripped open. When your second child is born, the door is already open???no ripping required. Instead, this new baby begins slowly filling that place up with more love?expanding and increasing the size of this secret place.

via: (What They Don’t Tell You About Having A Second Child | Blissfully Domestic)