My Wife & Me

To do yours: Copy and paste to your notes/new note. Highlight these answers and replace with your own.

♥ What are your middle names?
Wesley and Denise

♥ How long have you been together?
32 years, 30 Married

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
About a month.

♥ Who asked who out?
I eventually worked up the courage to ask her.

♥ How old are each of you?
52 and 51

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most?
We see my sister and her family regularly and Dawn's brother regularly.

♥ Do you have any children together?
Yes, a matched set. 1 daughter with her husband, and 1 son.

♥ What about pets?
Two designer dogs my wife rescued.

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Uhm, I do not know. Let's focus on the positive.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Not the same high school. But we both went to Fresno State together.

♥ Are you from the same home town?
No. I grew up all over the world as an Air Force brat. Dawn grew up in Merced.

♥ Who is the smartest?
I think we compliment each other.

♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Probably Dawn.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We loved Fugazzi's, but they fled town. So now we frequent Chipotle.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
We cruised the Volga River in Russia for 11 days.

♥ Who has the Craziest ex's?
Neither of us have X’s

♥ Who has the worst temper?
That is probably me, Arrgh!

♥ Who does the cooking?
Dawn is our master chef!

♥ Who is more social?
We both know our way around a conversation. I probably interact with new people more easily while she is better at deeper friendships.

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Me, unless she is expecting guests.
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♥ Who is the more stubborn?
Me, " I want it my way." Although she wins more arguments.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
Share and share alike, but she is the space taker.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Normally me.

♥ Where was your first date?
After an difficult time asking her out, we went to a scary movie in Merced. At the time conventional 19 year old wisdom said a girl will hold your hand at a scary movie.

♥ Who has the bigger family?
My family is larger.

♥ Do you get flowers often?
I like to get Costco flowers occasionally.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
Her brother, our kids, and the two of us go to see my sister's family in Northern California.

♥ Who is more jealous?
Neither of us are…but probably me

♥ What is "your song"?
“Wild Thing” or " Hey, Good Lookin'"

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
I knew I wanted to marry her after two dates. It took awhile to bring her around.

♥ Who eats more?
Me. Cookie!

♥ Who does/did the laundry?
Usually me, but she feels free to assist or take over.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
I teach that stuff.

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Me. I do not make a good passenger.

THINGS I HAVE DONE DURING MY LIFETIME:

By Larry (read the bottom, it is unique)
( ) Gone on a blind date
(X ) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep-
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't.
(X) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain-naked
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
(X ) Driven across the United States
(X) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
(X) Lived in more than one country
(X) Lain down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
(X) Been on a cruise
(X) Traveled by train
(X) Traveled by motorcycle
(X) Been horse back riding
(X) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(X) Been to Disneyland
(X)Been to Disneyworld
(X) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(X) Been in a rain forest
(X) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( )Swam with whale sharks
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
(X) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(X) Been water-skiing
(X) Been snow-skiing
(X) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(X) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
(X) Taken a ballet class
(X) Visited Normandy
(X) Experienced love
(X) Been amazed by my children
(X) Hiked in a national park
(X) Cried while watching my kids accomplish something

Valentine's Day

Dawn started the day with a CAbi show in our home at 1. So we cleaned the house in preparation this morning. Then I went to the gym. Eric ran errands with me after he visited Dr. D. He has a sinus infection. So does Jessica. Both are now on meds. I think I will be visiting the good doctor on Monday. I think I have an infection also. They do run in our family.

Eric visited the hardware store with me. Then we had a nice lunch at Wendy's. I like their chili. Eric goes for the spicy chicken sandwich combo. Then we toured the grocery store. The nice man in the meat department at Vons cut a special portion of New York strip steak for me when I asked a question. I think I am beginning to like Vons more. Anyway, Valentine's Day was a reason for me to prepare a special meal for Dawn. I got a recipe from Men's Health.com It has a nice spinach salad with home made dressing and pistachios. Then the steak in a reduction sauce with broiled fingerling potatoes and french style green beans. It took about an hour to prepare. It was fun. I served dinner with a nice Cabernet wine. Dawn said she loved it. This was a nice way to express my love for my Valentine, Dawn. Later there will be a rum, banana, and ice cream dessert.

I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day, too.

Larry

Jury Duty & Fly Away

I am sure the people behind the planning of jury duty have a system that works for the courts, but wow does that system seem wasteful from this side. I was summoned to Fresno County Superior Court today for said duty. I arrived on time, after ensuring that my substitute teacher was ready to go at school. I was seated in the Jury Assembly room for the clerk to go over instructions at 8:30. She said her piece, explaining the process and paper work. Next, she took roll. Then she said we could have a twenty minute break.

After a twenty minute break, I read a few chapter in Of Mice and Men, we were instructed to watch a video about jury duty. I read a few more chapters. Shortly after the movie ended, they announced that any one who had their name called is dismissed and has fulfilled their civic duty. Mine was the first name called. I was finished with Jury Duty by 9:35. I did meet some nice people inn the assembly room and walking to the Civil Court. Reyna and Ray were citizens trying to be responsible members of society, too. It was nice to meet them and visit a little. Other than that Jury Duty was a bust!

I did get to have a brief meeting with two administrators at my school when I got back. That was a nice benefit. I also had time to see my wife off at the airport as she left on her first great CAbi adventure in Nashville, Tennessee. I hope she has a good time and learns a great deal. Eric and I will put the house back together before she gets home.

Larry

The Weekend

It was a long week back to work. Meetings, planning, grading, assisting students, purchasing materials, supporting student efforts; it was all exhausting. Plus Dawn was busy with her social calendar every night. It was one of those crazy weeks. Friday night was finally time for a breather. We had time alone together for the evening. (Eric worked a late shift.) I enjoyed trying take out from a new Pizza Fusion restaurant in our neighborhood. We took a short walk; had an adult beverage; watched a television program; enjoyed conversation, and each others company. It was a stay at home romantic evening and get away. Life is good.

Tonight we get to join 5 other couples to play bunko. We always have a good time at couples bunko.

Are you planning anything fun this weekend?

Larry

First 2009 Day of School

Today was a good first day back to work day. My students were pleasant and easy going, though a little sleepy early in the day. We all need to get up very early to make it to school by 7:30. I feel tired from the day, especially since I talked more today than I did in a week during vacation. My throat is sore and I have a bit of a headache.

After school I went straight to the gym. After 20 minutes on the stationary bike, my trainer put me through his paces for 60 minutes. I will be sore. Then I got home, took a quick shower, and my wonderful wife had home made dinner ready. Jessica and David joined us for a nice meal. Dawn made some dishes from scratch that included a tasty coleslaw and pork chops. This was a real treat for a weeknight. Then David took the lead on doing the dishes. I only needed to help him. Wow, I have a great family. Life is good!

Did you have a good day?

Larry

A FInal Saturday of Freedom

Today is the final Saturday of our Winter Vacation. I started the day by going to GB 3 for a workout. I am trying to follow one of the poster workouts from Men's Health magazine. I have a goal to meet with my trainer two days per week, do two days of cardio, and one day of this twelve station workout. Mike, the trainer, tells me that if I achieve that goal and push myself a little, it will be body changing. One week down so far and I went to the gym 5 days. It will be a little tougher to manage when work starts back next week.

Today is my dad's 73rd birthday. I wish I could spend the day with him, but he live in Arizona. I called him this evening. He sounds like he is in good spirits. I told him to look for the UPS truck on Monday. Happy Birthday, Papa.

Eric and I went to see a matinee of the Clint Eastwood film, Gran Torino. It was a good flick. It seemed like typical Eastwood fare, until the surprise ending. It is a film worth paying the matinee price at the theater. Dawn used today as a school work day to see some of her students. Then she did a few hours of shopping.