Spring Has Sprung!

10Apr

Categories: Around the House, Changes, Marriage, Marriage Confessions, New Haven

It is officially Spring. Sam Adam’s Summer Ale is out! Now I’m not a big beer drinker (I’m actually not a big drinker period), but I do love a good cold Summer Ale, and I wait all year to enjoy it. I came home from work and lo’ and behold, Chris had brought a case home. Spring has officially sprung!

Days like today are the reason that I love living in New England. It was 65 degrees, crystal clear blue skies, no wind, no humidity. Just perfect. It was the kind of day that makes you understand the word “frolic.” It was a frolicking day. (NOTE: I am choosing to ignore that I spent 80% of today inside, chained to my desk.)

There are lots of reasons that I love this time of year in New England. First, of course, is the weather. But I also love it because everything starts to bloom. (NOTE: I am choosing to ignore the fact that my allergies are celebrating Spring like the coming of the second Messiah.) We have these two gorgeous trees in our backyard that hang over our back deck. In the fall they turn these amazing shades of orange and bright red. (NOTE: I am choosing to ignore the fact that the vibrant colors last approximately two weeks and then all those gorgeous leaves fall into our backyard where Chris has to rake them all up. I am also ignoring that this usually results in a Fall Fight about how I don’t contribute to the care of the yard.) In the spring though these two trees start to bud with fuzzy pink flowers. I love it. So does Molly.

(My two favorite trees.)

Another thing I love about spring are the outdoor festivals and markets. In downtown New Haven on Wednesdays there is a fresh market with local vendors. You can find fresh veggies, fruits, herbs, flowers – anything that you want. I love it. I take my lunch break and just stroll down the line of stands. Its so funny because the market sits in the middle of the sidewalk in the business section of town, so you have these Suits walking by and buying a bag of green beans on their way to court or the bank. Also this time of year the orchards start to wake up from their winter naps. I can spend hours in the orchard markets, smelling fresh picked fruit and flowers. I even think the hot dog vendors that sit outside the markets feel organic this time of year!

So, it is officially spring for me. (NOTE: I am choosing to ignore that tomorrow it is supposed to be rainy and back down to 50 degrees.) I think I’ll change out of my work clothes and enjoy a beer outside with Chris and the dogs. Cause that’s just what you do on days like this.

0  comments   |   posted in Around the House, Changes, Marriage, Marriage Confessions, New Haven   |   tags: beer, dogs, Marriage, spring

It's Almost That Time…

16Mar

Categories: Changes, Marriage, Marriage Confessions, New Haven, Yale

Last night Chris and I had a few friends over for Game Night. Traditionally, I have always been against any kind of “couples themed” get-togethers. While I love my husband, I hate it when people lump us together just because we are married. Invite us over because you like us, not because we’re a matching set. We do have lots of friends that are married or living together, but I’d say we have just as many friends who are single and fantastic and when we have people over or we go out, we try to get a healthy mix of both.

Last night though we gave in to the “matching set” scenario out of necessity – couples just make games easier to play! I’m sorry, Single People! We had our two friends Lisa and Justin over. If there were such thing as twin relationships, then these guys would be our twins. Although, I think they’d be the cooler, more popular twin. We had our friends Amy and Chris over, too. We don’t get to hang out with them as much, but there’s nothing like fighting over whether “Really Annoying” is a character trait in a good game of Scattergories to bring you closer. And we had our friend Steve, who was single last night because his wife is out of town. And except for taking too long to pass the Catch Phrase thingy/remote/controller he was a lot of fun!

As the night got later and later and the beers flowed, I have to admit that I got a little sentimental. For three years, these guys have been My People! When Chris brought home that 500 pound card catalog from the Yale library, we called them to help us move it. When we had too much to drink and missed our train home from New York, we called them to let our dogs out. When we couldn’t afford to fly home for Thanksgiving or Easter, we called them to bake a ham and stuff a turkey with us. To say I’m going to be sad to see everyone move away after graduation is an understatement.

In honor of all our friends here in New Haven, I give you the first Brown Top Five List:

THE TOP 5 THINGS I’LL MISS ABOUT

THE 3RD YEAR YSD TD&P GROUP:

1. Poker night – how else and I going to make my lunch money for the rest of the week?

2. Beers on Friday nights at the theater – although we rarely go anymore, its just a comforting thought to know that its there if we wanted.

3. The TD&P Offspring – you just can’t resist toddlers walking around in Tonka Toolbelts (DISCLAIMER: This does not mean I am ready for a Tonka Toddler myself, Mother.)

4. Boomer McDaniel - Justin and Lisa’s crazy dog who has alleged “aggression issues” walking around parties with his Hannibal Lecter muzzle on. The only person I have seen him have issues with is Steve, and who can blame him? I mean, that’s just a dog’s sixth sense (sorry, Steve…).

5. BBQ’s - there’s no better feeling than seeing two or three pick up trucks pull into our driveway with a couple grills in each one. I don’t think I remember how to have a BBQ with only one grill anymore!

As much as I am going to miss these things and, especially, these great people, there’s no time for sadness! We’ve got 2 and a half months left! Break out the boxed red wine and fire up the grills! I think I’ve still got a few “dancing on the bar” nights left in me…

Chris, Justin, and Steve at Sea Shanties in Essex

img_3619.jpg

Lisa with the claymation Beaver during an intense game of Cranium (*Note the flat beaver-like tail…)

1  comments   |   posted in Changes, Marriage, Marriage Confessions, New Haven, Yale   |   tags: Changes, Cranium, Friendship, Game Night, Marriage, Moving On, Personal, Relationships, Scattergories

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