The Nursery (My Old Office) by Mr. G

Mr. G writing this evening. Oh, how times have changed.  One of my favorite rooms of our drafty home is my old office which will soon be the nursery for our little girl come July.  As of the weekend the walls were painted a grayish color and the ceiling painted pink.  White trim and white base boards.  New energy efficient windows will come in a week and a half replacing the old ones that really didn't keep out winter whatsoever.  (Pretty much welcomed the cold wind with open arms and let it gain entry into our home with a handshake.)  Curtains have been purchased from a store I had never step foot in before, Pottery Barn for Kids.

This room used to be my old office when I was a bachelor. A place where my computer was and I would sit and eat a frozen pizza and drink beer while playing video games. There were duck pictures on the wall if I remember correctly.  Or maybe a picture about hockey. Very neutral colors were on the walls and ceiling.  I fondly remember freezing cold winter nights in MN staying home on a Saturday night, looking out the drafty windows on my alley in the back. We have one of the only two stories on the block so I would look out and see the lights of my neighbors flicker down below.  The wind would howl and the snow would fly. It was comforting. There was a jazz program that would play on NPR on Saturday nights and I would listen to it on a clock radio that I had in the adjacent bathroom, the only one in the old house.  It was quiet, warm and relaxing. It was wonderful.

And now, all that has and will change some more. It's forming into a room made for a little girl. A beautiful little girl. A pink ceiling, curtains with pink stripes will soon go up. Gone are the neutral manly colors and my desk has been replaced with a changing table. There's a Pooh bear wearing a tutu that was a gift.  Never would I ever have dreamed that this room would look like this.  Never would I have ever have dreamed all these changes are coming. 

And you know what?  I can't wait!  As much as I will miss my old office, it's but a fleeting thought as the joy that is to come into my life of my little baby daughter who's room has a pink ceiling and a Pooh bear in a tutu.

I hope she likes jazz.  :)

With Love,

Mr G

Weekend up Nort'

Well, the summer has officially come to an end, actually awhile ago, and Autumn seems to be fighting off winter unsuccessfully here in the North.  Mrs G and I are headed up to the family cabin one last time this coming weekend with lows in the low 30's and highs barely hitting 40.  I love the cabin and love to spend time up there however during the Fall and Winter months the number of activities that can be done up there is very limited.  Sure, I can always go do work around there which I love to do however Mrs G can only read so many books and watch so many movies. (As seen in a recent post, we don't see many movies.)

Anyway, Mrs G has graciously agreed to head up there with me.  My folks and my brother's family will be there also.  We're hoping for decent weather however we're working on coming up with ideas for time indoors as it could be nasty.  We're thinking of board games, maybe some cooking etc.  Movies are another idea.

So, why did I write this post?  Basically to thank my lovely Wife for going up Nort' (as we say up here.)  I know it's not her favorite thing to do this time of year but I appreciate it!

Love,

Mr. G

Bombardment

One thing I have learned in our short time being married is not to bombard my wife with random information as soon as she gets up or as soon as she gets home.  To clarify, I'm up super early and usually scour my phone for news and current events while my wife likes to sleep.   And by news I mean I go to headlines, sports, entertainment and random Wikipedia pages just for S&G's.*

While I feel my wife and I share similar interests, it turns out that not everything I feel is interesting is going to matter at all to her.  For instance, I was reading about an island off of Sweden called Aland this morning.  While I find this fascinating, she and about 99.9% of the population outside of the people living on this stupid island would care.  My point is, as soon as she opens her eyes from hopefully I good night's slumber, not to be right in her face about the island of Aland.  (And maybe not mention it all actually.)  Also, if I read about something that is of similar interest that both of us would enjoy like, Kanye West's rant about Jimmy Kimmel, I should wait to bombard her with this info until later in the morning.  She, like everyone else in this world, needs time to wipe the sleep out of their eyes and wake up on their own without some idiot talking about God knows what.

I feel this goes upon her arrival home from work and what could be a nasty commute.  For instance, our neighbor pisses us both off.  She's a hoarder, a bitty, etc etc and won't stay out of our business.  Pretty much harmless for a 77 year old woman other than being annoying.  It's best not to bombard my beloved with a story about our neighbor complaining to me that the branches on our tree or overlapping her lot as soon as she walks in the door. (I will not cut those branches!!!!  Unless or course my wife tells me to.)  Again, people need time to come home decompress for awhile, let the frustration go from work and the commute.  If I bombard her with random stories it's just going to annoy her.  The same if she did it to me and I think this goes for everyone.

While thinking about this post, I was reminded of something I read long ago from the 50's called The Good Wife's Guide.  Please be clear, I am not in agreement with this article however there is a part that mentions not bombarding your husband (and in this case, your spouse)  with complaints from the day.  Once again, I don't agree with this post, however apparently I share a similar opinion yet maybe not so sexist.

(BTW, I don't think my wife would like the part about "Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.")

Love,

Mr. G

*Shits and Giggles

The Big Question

Now that Mrs. G and I are married we were just waiting for the BIG QUESTION to start banging on our door.  The big question is of course, when are we going to start having kids????  I even thought that someone in one of their speeches at the reception would bring it up.  Unfortunately, I was rather militant about this and even remember saying to Mrs. G (when she was Ms. S) prior to the wedding "I'm going to bepissed if someone brings that up.  It's none of their business!"

To be honest, I thought it would come from Mrs. G's mother for sure.  This will be her first grandchild while my parents already have 3 and since I'm the baby, I think they're more than fine waiting a bit.  Maybe it's a been there done that attitude.  For instance, I remember dropping my older brothers off at college and my folks being emotional.  When it was my turn, I got a hug and a smile and a "talk to ya later."  (Maybe they were happy to be childless for the first time in over 23 years.) Not that they wouldn't be excited for a new baby.  They'd be ecstatic.  Anyway, I got sidetracked.

Mrs. G's mother has not said much at all.  And if at all, more curiosity than anything.  Again, not that she wouldn't be excited but I haven't really heard boo.  My folks haven't said a word.  (Now I'm back on that topic.  Maybe that's a subject for my therapist if I had one.)  There's been a few inquiries from siblings but that's about it.

My biggest surprise is that my guy friends have inquired about it consistently.  Most of my friends have children and I think are excited.  Maybe the thinking is that we can hang out more if I have kids also.  (Don't get to see them much.)  I do have one friend who is single and is very picky about his ladies meaning he's always single.  He was the first to inquire and he has a few times since.  This is a friend of mine who I go and watch football with and drink beer.  Not family planning or future plans!  I saw a male former co worker of mine the other day who in passing asked me how I was.  I enthusiastically told him I got married and pointed to my ring.  (I've noticed my go to move is holding up my hand and pointing to my ring.)  He said to me right away "You need to start having kids right away, don't wait."

I guess my point of this whole post is that I am shocked by who is inquiring.  My thoughts were family members would be asking......nay, hounding us about having kids.  But the truth is, it's my guy friends who are interested.  Which is actually flattering and touching.  It's nice to see them encouraging etc.  Maybe it's because it's something we can share and talk about.  Or maybe, it gives us an excuse to get together on play dates and drink beer.  Either way, it's a good thing.

And to answer the big question........none ya bizness.

Mr. G

Saul:)

As you probably gathered, Mr. G and I recently returned from our honeymoon.  We spent 8 wonderful days in the quiet and quaint town of Pompano Beach, Florida. 

First let me say, we loved it….the town was exactly what we wanted for a honeymoon.  Our resort was located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean; we enjoyed the beach and the pool at our resort as well as caught up on rest and enjoyed our first week as a married couple.

When I say this town was quiet I mean everything shuts down around 9:30pm every single night!  There were about 2 places to go after 9:30pm; one was an old pub and the other was the only nicer restaurant in this town…that was until we found Frank’s Ristorante. (Yes I assure you that is how they spell it)

We stumbled upon Frank’s one night while we were going to check out the pub, when I saw the little tables on the patio, aka the sidewalk, and the cute inside I told Mr. G that we just had to come back!  So the next night we got a little dressed up and headed to Frank’s, an Italian restaurant. 

At first our waiter was Joe, a younger guy that seemed really nice and was very informative about the menu and specials.  Well, about 10 minutes after we arrived Joe informed us that Saul was going to be taking care of us instead because Joe had 3 tables and Saul only had 1.  This should have been my first clue.

Saul shuffled over to our table with the bottle of wine we had chosen earlier; when he spoke to us the first time I almost melted.  He was the cutest little old Italian man that had the most adorable smile and spoke to us in broken English about the menu and let me tell you he could pour wine like no one’s business.  I thought for sure the wine was going to be everywhere seeing as how fast he poured the glasses, he didn’t get a drop on the white table cloth!  This wine lover was impressed, and a bit smitten if I must admit.

We ordered our entrees which we read came with a salad and bread, both of which came quite quickly and were very good.  Our entrees took quite a bit longer, but where did we have to be?  Absolutely nowhere, we were enjoying our honeymoon.

After dinner Mr. G and I had finished the bottle of Chianti and were looking around, Saul was nowhere to be found.  I would get quick glimpses of him inside the restaurant but he never came outside.  We started to talk about how cute this little old man was and how most people would have been upset about the pace of the service, not us though, we began to giggle.  By the time Saul came back to our table we were in a fit of giggles, had texted our entire family telling them about our waiter and how much we liked him.

We decided to order an after dinner drink, I ordered a baileys and coffee while Mr. G stuck with the Chianti.  10 minutes goes by and a young lady brings out my coffee, I asked if she had my Bailey’s and she looked confused.  Moments later Saul shuffled out with my baileys and a big smile on his face.  How could I be mad at that face?

We enjoyed our drinks and continued to giggle and talk about how cute and slow Saul was.  Once our bill was delivered I asked Saul if we could take a picture, he thought I meant of my husband and I.  When I said “No, a picture of you and I.” his response was perfect, “I never say no”.

I’m sure Saul will never read this but just in case….Saul, you provided my new husband and me with an evening we will never forget.  It wasn’t about the food or the speed of the service it was your gentle nature and adorable smile that made our night.  Meeting you was a pleasure and will be a great memory from our honeymoon that we will cherish.

With love,

Mrs. G