3 Wonderful Years - A to Z

Tomorrow is my third wedding anniversary. In honor of this milestone, I present the A to Zs of our marriage: memories of the most exciting, fun, challenging, love-filled, blessed years of my life.

A - Air Force
I had no personal knowledge of the military before I married my husband. Soon after I was thrown into a crazy world of impossibly long acronyms, foreign customs and rules of etiquette, and frequent cross-country moves. Despite the quirks of this life, I am so proud of my husband's service, and to be a part of such a diverse and interesting military community.

B - Basement
Our first home as a married couple was a basement apartment on Dayton Avenue in St. Paul near school (University of St. Thomas). The rent was cheap and the location was ideal, so we tried to ignore the reality of the place. It was more like a cave than an apartment. There was exposed plumbing and wiring draping all around the door frame, making for some classy decor. Our windows were alley level, which meant every time the local "Can-Man" rifled through our recycling at 3 in the morning, I thought a serial killer was coming to kill me. The heating unit gave out in mid-January, which meant it was frequently 55 degrees or less at night. It was a unique urban living experience, for sure - but it will be a good story to tell the kids someday, right?

C - Caribbean cruise
Our honeymoon was a cruise of the Eastern Caribbean. It was the trip of a lifetime. I have never been so relaxed, and tan. My favorite moment was on a catamaran trip around the island of Antigua. The water was so blue, the sands gleaming, and I had my handsome new husband's arms around me. All was right with the world.

D - Dogs
Prior to my marriage, the only pets I had ever had were some pet frogs my college roommates and I made the ill-fated decision to buy. They were no fun, and we must have not cared for them correctly because they eventually resorted to cannibalism. I doubted if I had the patience to commit to a pet. Enter my husband who wanted dogs two seconds after we said "I do." I've posted enough about my dogs on here for you to know what a gift they have been to us. I'm so glad T encouraged me to give pet ownership another try.

E - Easter Sunday
We got engaged April 8, 2007 - Easter Sunday. The ring was in my Easter Basket, in a bunny box that I initially thought contained a chocolate truffle. Turns out it was slightly better than a truffle.

F - Firewall
Our first date was to see the Harrison Ford movie Firewall at the Mall of America. We went to Noodles and Company for dinner beforehand. It was our first date in the technical sense only, as we had already hung out alone a lot and had our first kiss (sorry, Mom). Nevertheless it was a great night, and whenever I hear Harrison Ford snarl "DON'T MESS WITH MY FAMILY," it is always a pleasant memory.

G - Godchildren
We are getting old! In the past few years we have been blessed with two beautiful babies. My brother and his wife had their first, a girl. She is a beautiful niece and goddaughter. In addition, our dear friends from college had a handsome baby son, and T is honored to be his godfather. It's great fun to have little ones around to spoil and play with, and be able to go home and skip the poopy diapers and tantrums.

H - Halloween
We have a mutual dislike for this holiday. Neither of us likes to dress up, pass out candy, or watch scary movies. Sad to say we are sort of hermits on Halloween, and prefer to barricade ourselves in a back bedroom and turn all the lights off.

I - Ice Hockey
This sport is a deep obsession in my family. In Minnesota, a love for hockey is in our blood, a side effect of the long cold winters perhaps. T was born in Wisconsin, our neighbor to the east, so he did not fully appreciate the sport before marrying into our clan. I'm proud to say we converted him, and T probably knows more about hockey now than I do. We're excited to get to see the Minnesota Wild play the LA Kings in LA in a few weeks.

J - John Legend
One of our favorite singers as a couple. We can often be found belting out his smooth R&B songs on long car trips. And it doesn't look ridiculous to passing drivers at all.

K - Kitchen
We have both come along way in the past few years with our culinary skills. There was a lot of Papa John's and grilled cheese in the early days. The other night we made this delicious beef stir fry with organic eggplant, zucchini, carrots, and onion - and it hit me how far we've come. I'm sure our waistlines are thankful.

L - Law and Order SVU
We watched an untold amount of episodes of Law and Order SVU one fateful week in the fall of 2009. Both of us had been struck down with the swine flu at the same time, and were fighting high temperatures, upset stomachs, and excess phlegm. It was an ugly scene, with lots of sweatpants, Jello, and of course Ice-T involved.

M - Migraine
I hesitate to even mention this one, because the last thing I or anyone else wants to do is be defined by an illness. But it is simply fact that my chronic migraines have been a very real part of our lives in the last three years. My husband has been the most amazing support system for me. There have been endless hours in ER waiting rooms, specialist visits, and days upon days where I can't get out of bed. He is always there - to encourage me, give me back massages, and hug me when I just need to cry. I hate that he has to go through all this crap with me sometimes, but I definitely think it has made us stronger as a couple. I am so lucky to have a partner who can weather the hard times with me.

N - North Stars Sweatshirt
A few years ago I had a rough week. I think I was overly stressed at work, and probably was having issues with my migraines. T knew I was struggling, and he came home with a green North Stars sweatshirt (Minnesota hockey, dontcha know)that I had been coveting for some time. He had bought it for me as a gift, just because. That is a thoughtful husband, if I ever saw one. Every time I wear it I smile a little bit, just because.

O - Ohio
Our first military assignment was in Dayton, Ohio. It was a great experience, and we miss going to the air show, shopping at Meijer (so much better than Walmart), and green grass (lacking here in the desert). I can do without all the annoying Ohio State Buckeye fans though.

P - Packers
I have a previous post on my husband's family and their undying love for the Green Bay Packers. Before we even went on a honeymoon, we made the requisite pilgrimage to Lambeau Field in Wisconsin to catch a game. Go Pack!

Q - Quirks
Newlyweds, you will soon discover that your partner has plenty of quirks, and vice versa. I've learned that my husband never puts the TP roll on the right way, yet has a disturbing obsession with making sure our bed sheets are always straight and even. T has learned that I am a serial insomniac who makes a lot of noise tossing and turning (good thing he's a deep sleeper), and that I have a penchant for eating large quantities of Sour Patch Kids when I'm stressed.

R - Recycle
Since moving to the land of fruit and nuts, we have taken recycling to a whole new level by starting our own compost pile. We're not really sure what we're doing, we just sort of throw fruit and veggie scraps into the bin, stir it every once and while, and hope that it will magically produce soil that will encourage something other than cactus to grow in our gardens. If anyone has any composting tips, let me know.

S - Superior, as in Lake Superior
Possibly our favorite place in the state of Minnesota. It is so beautiful there, especially in the winter. We took a family trip up to Lutsen Ski Resort once, and I vividly remember us skiing up to an overlook. We had this amazing view of the lake, and the jagged majestic cliffs that border it. Behind us, we noticed a doe and her two fawns exploring the newly formed snowdrifts from the storm the night before. There was this shared sense of awe at nature's beauty. It was a great moment.

T - Trivial Pursuit
When T and I were first introduced, we were playing Trivial Pursuit in a dorm room with some mutual friends. Both of us were dating other people at the time. We wouldn't date each other for almost another year yet. I remember distinctly thinking that he was the sort of man I always saw myself marrying. I passed it off as a ridiculous notion at the time, but I guess everything happens for a reason. And yes, I did trounce him at Trivial Pursuit.

U - Umbrella
I have to say, in three years I don't think we've ever owned an umbrella. It's amazing we made it this long without one, though we hardly find a use for one out here in Cali. We usually think about it every time we see one in a store, yet never buy one. I guess we're just not umbrella people.

V - Valley, as in the Antelope Valley (AV)
Not to be confused with "The Valley" from the movie Clueless, as my friend E will tell you. This is our current home in the California high desert. Whereas in "The Valley" they may have wild parties and chic boutiques, we in the AV have bobcats that eat house pets, ants that swim out of bath tubs, and snakes that crawl out from under refrigerators. Despite the less than pleasing pests, it is always sunny and warm here, and the natural landscape is post-apocalyptic yet undeniably beautiful. We may not want to call the AV home forever, but California as a whole has really lured us in. There is so much to do, and oceans/mountains/forests/deserts are all only a few hours away.

W - Wild River State Park
A state park in Minnesota where T and I attempted our first backpacking trip. Unfortunately the campsite was located in a prairie grassland area, which in early summer in Minnesota is a hotbed for ticks. Soon after setting up camp we started discovering ticks crawling on each other. What followed was a horrific night of picking what felt like hundreds of ticks off each other and waking up at 4am to the sound of cows mooing in a nearby pasture. Oh, the romance...

X - X2
The X2 is a ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain here in California. I posted about it previously. T will tell you it was the best ride he's ever been on. I will tell you it is the closest to a near-death experience I have had to date. Shudder.

Y - Yoga
Little known fact, T took a yoga class with me when we were living in St. Paul. Our instructor whose name was Paul was about five feet tall, ninety pounds, and drove a car plastered with Dennis Kucinich stickers. He burned incense and chanted poetry at the end of each session. T was such a trooper to go with me, and surprisingly he was much better at it than I was.

Z - Ziti
T's favorite dish that I make is a five cheese baked ziti modeled off of the Olive Garden version. It is everything we love in a dinner - pasta, garlic bread, and several tons of cheese. My mouth is watering as I type this. Time for a snack...perhaps some cheese.

Well that's it - A to Z.

T - you are my best friend and I love you very much. Looking forward to many more great years to come. Happy Anniversary!

An Unexpected Gift

I heard from a friend recently that the county animal shelters in our area of California are severely underfunded and overcrowded. When we moved here, I was shocked at the large population of stray dogs and feral cats roaming the neighborhoods. Pet abandonment is one of the sadder products of our struggling economic climate. We are proud owners of two dogs, one of which we adopted. I'd like to share our experience now, because it has been very fulfilling, and hopefully it will inspire someone somewhere to consider adopting a pet in the future.

We moved to Ohio in June of 2009 with our brand new puppy Tess, purchased from a breeder on a farm in Minnesota. Tess was smart, playful, and loving. It was so fun to see her grow. By August on a whim we started thinking that it might be good for her to have a companion, and determined that there was room in our hearts and lives for another dog. After deciding that another puppy would be too overwhelming, we trekked to the local Humane Society in Dayton to look for an older dog to adopt. T walked through the kennels first while I stayed with Tess in the waiting room. I went back next and immediately noticed a yellow lab out of the corner of my eye. "He's such a sweet boy," one of the workers said, following my gaze to the 2 year old lab. "So calm and gentle." I walked up to his cage and put my hand up to the bars. He lazily sauntered over, and gave me a slow kiss on the hand with his giant tongue. He had the most soulful eyes, and a sky blue bandana tied around his neck. There was a pile of doggy puke in the corner, and he looked just plain tuckered out. "He just had his neuter surgery this morning," the woman continued. "He's still a little groggy." As I walked back out to the waiting room, I couldn't help but feel like the decision had just been made for us, and that in that brief moment he had chosen our family. T went back again to see him, and when he returned, I could see on T's face that he felt the same way.

We came back the next day to take the dog, who had been given the name Buster, home. We thought maybe he knew his name (it turns out he would have answered to anything spoken in a friendly high pitched tone), so Buster he remained. It seemed to suit him. Buster jumped into the backseat of my Saturn the minute I opened the door. He settled in next to Tess, and we were off. That's when everything started to go to #$*!. I had left his adoption papers on the top of the car, so seconds later they were strewn all over Hwy 75. Next Tess got carsick and puked all over the backseat and her new brother Buster. Buster, to his credit, did not seem overly ruffled by this. Once home though he got upset when we tried to make him go upstairs (not sure if he wasn't familiar with more than one level, or wasn't allowed upstairs in his old home), and he nervously peed all over the TV stand in our bedroom. He then proceeded to develop a cough, and green phlegm began to leak out of his nose. At the vet's office the next day we discovered Buster had contracted kennel cough in the shelter, and bonus, he also had cataracts in his eyes and bad teeth that would require corrective dental surgery. I began to panic, and wonder what we had gotten ourselves into.

Once Buster's kennel cough cleared up, his true personality started to emerge. He began to befriend Tess. They became instant playmates, trouncing and wrestling throughout the house, and snuggling up together afterwards for naps. We discovered he did not know how to play with toys, or hold treats and bones to chew on. Buster was very afraid of being scolded and ran from loud noises, leading us to believe that he perhaps had suffered abuse in his past. Despite this, he was very affectionate and trusting. From the very beginning, he loved to cuddle. It was like he had a radar for it, and whenever anyone in the house would assume a relaxed seated position, there Buster would be, ready to join in. Within 30 seconds of snuggling, his eyes would begin to close and the foghorn-esque snores would commence. It was hard to be annoyed by it, because he was so cute and soft and comfy.

As the months and years passed, Buster became fiercely loyal and very protective of our family. He guards our house with a ferocious bark, but greets invited guests with a wagging tail and loving licks. Whenever I get a bad migraine (which has been a lot lately), Buster seems to sense it. He stays by my side, often laying by my feet for hours until I feel better. He keeps an eye on his sister Tess at the dog park, making sure none of the other dogs play too roughly with her. If they do, he intervenes. Buster walks out to the garage to say goodbye to T when he leaves for work in the morning, and waits at the door barking excitedly when T's car enters the garage again in the evenings. He is never in a bad mood, and doesn't hold a grudge when I am a bad momma and don't walk him.

It's been such a delight to see him shed his old anxieties and troubles and become a happy and energetic dog. Watching him consume a Busy Bone, or tow his toy gorilla around the backyard, or zoom up and down the dog beach in Santa Barbara, is worth all the vet visits, poop, and puke. Even when he gets into trouble (like frequently eating entire sandwiches left on the coffee table unattended), I just have to laugh. We don't let the dogs sleep in bed with us generally, but lately Buster has been waiting until we are both fast asleep, and then he sneaks up and crawls in between us. If one of us wakes up, notices, and tries to extricate him, he does not cooperate, and since we don't have the energy to kick him off when we're semi-conscious, he usually gets his way.

It's hard to invision what life will be like without Buster someday, and I don't like to think about it too often. He is almost five, so we hopefully have lots of good years left with him - and I plan to enjoy every moment of it. Buster has been an unexpected gift and blessing to our family, and I truly think God gave us to him, and him to us, for a reason. Hopefully I don't sound like too much of a dog freak, I promise I won't end up on an episode of "Animal Hoarders" or anything like that. If you're thinking about getting a dog, I hope you'll consider adopting one. There are so many Busters out there, just waiting for their future families to come and get them.