18May
1. Kate is a shoe-flinger. Her shoes are never side by side. She just kicks them off as she walks somehow.
2. Gracie yells a lot. Maybe just is going to be a singer?
3. Bean said Holy shit. Hope he doesn’t end up with my potty mouth.
4. Our computer is dying a slow, painful death. I should fix it.
5. I had steak for dinner last night. It was delicious.
6. I think Touch, that new show, is stupid.
7. I think The New Girl is the funniest TV show in a while.
8. I love and hate doing dishes.
9. I did 3 loads of laundry and left them in baskets to fold. They are still sitting there.
10. I need to cut my grass.
11. I need to vacuum out the pool.
12. The pool is amazing right now. Refreshing and cool.
13. Someone hit my friggin mailbox yesterday with their car.
14. When I got home yesterday my mailbox and all my mail was in the front yard. WTF?
15. We had a torrential downpour at work yesterday and I had to dig a trench outside so the roof could drain.
16. I’m feeling really good about work right now. Things are going well.
17. I had board members back me up the other day and that felt great.
18. We are going to Atlanta next weekend.
19. We are going to a Braves game.
20. I love the NY Rangers. Ever since I was little.
21. The Rangers are in the Eastern Conference Finals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Awesome)
22. Kate is tired of watching Hockey every night.
25. One of our TV’s is broke.
26. Come to think of it, I need to get that fixed.
27. We painting Bean’s room blue. He loves it.
28. Bean said Holy Shit. Hahaha.
29. I love Morgan Freeman commercials.
30. Gracie is so stinking cute with her hair in pigtails.
31. I miss my boys in the NYC.
32. Heading to Gulf Breeze (our home town) the weekend after next.
33. Beans birthday is two weeks away! He wants a Lighting McQueen birthday cake.
34. Kate likes to go into every room and turn the lights and fan on and then leave. I hate that.
35. Kate has been running lately and she looks amazing, so proud of her!
(you see how I did that) 
Life is good.
Lots happening.
Happy Friday!
Thanks for letting me brain dump on you.
Peace. Love.
C
Hi there, it is me again, its been a while eh?
Sorry about that.
Today we are going to talk about something real. Something serious. Something looming. We are talking Valentines Day. The big V. V-Day, one of the most critical days of the year. One of the few days of the year that lets you sleep in the bed, or on the couch.
(FYI Ladies- This would be the part when you would call your man to come and read…)
There are two types of Valentiners. Ones that absolutely go over the moon for it, and ones that despise it. I happen to be somewhere in between those two. The day does not completely annoy me, however I’m not much for the random holiday thing. I not here to tell you which one you are. That is your business. But I will say regardless of which one you are. This year do something nice for your lady. She deserves it. Here is you guide:
Valentines Day does not have to be all-fancy-like with roses and dinner and makin’ babies. You don’t have to get all dressed up and go dancing. Don’t get me wrong all of that is fantastic and a wonderful evening. But to me, that is not what Valentines Day is about. Valentines Day is like Mother’s Day, without church. It is a time for you to tell your lady that you love her. It is her day. And it can be simple, and it can be romantic, and it can be knock your socks off fun all at the same time. Just be sure to make it your own. Don’t be typical.
You know your significant other better than anyone. Get her something that she really wants. Get her something that makes her feel pretty. Get her something that takes care of her. Get her something that tells her you appreciate everything she does. Get her something to tell her that she is perfect.
I’m sure you get her red flowers EVERY year, right? Well this year change it up. If you always give her red long-stem roses that you got on the side of the road for five dollars, change it up and get her white, pink, and red tulips. If you always give them to her when you come home from work, it will always seem like a last minute thought. Change it up this year and have them waiting in the bathroom for when she wakes up that morning instead. If you always have them in the morning, change it up this year, and send them to her office and surprise her there with flowers. That will make her feel good all day.
If you typically give her chocolates, change it up this year and bring home chocolates, a bottle of wine and make fondue.
If you typically give her jewelry, change it up this year and find a piece of jewelry that is different. It does not have to be diamonds, or anything expensive. Get her something that fits her style, something that when you see it in a store you can picture her wearing it.
If lingerie is in your repertoire each year, this year change it up and get her something different. Regardless of what you may or may not think, women do not want to wear that sexy stuff all the time. This year go for a practical gift like underwear or a nice bra. It will make your lady feel good about herself everyday she wears it. This year don’t buy something that she will wear once in a blue moon, go practical and get her something she can wear once or twice a week.
Now, do we need to talk about buying underwear and lingerie? Shame on you if you have never bought your lady something nice from Victoria’s Secret. Listen, if you are not man enough to go in there and pick out something nice, then your girl needs to move on. Go in. It’s not scary. It’s not confusing. And most of the time, there are attractive sales women everywhere! Go in there and ask, “What is the most popular bra right now? I need an everyday bra that my beautiful wife/fiancé/girlfriend/partner will love.” That will not only make you feel good about doing the right thing, but it will also make the attractive sales women give a you a nice smile and then take really good care of you. And in a last resort, if you just can’t bring yourself to do it, then the online store will have to do. Then you can browse as long as you need to.
If you are a dinner and movie at home kinda guy, change it up this year and YOU cook a nice dinner, or order take-out, or pick something up from her favorite restaurant and bring it home. If you like going out to dinner, take her to her favorite spot. Don’t take her to the sports bar, even if she wants to go. Take her somewhere nice. Get her to put on lipstick and a cute dress and go out to dinner and movie. Don’t take her to something dark or intense or scary (unless that turns her on…) take her to something girly and fun, a romantic comedy or something light-hearted.
Lastly, don’t get her something from the neighborhood drug store. Pay attention, man. Put some thought into her this year. It’s not hard. It’s not expensive. But it’s going to take some thought, and maybe some planning. But take the time to do it. Your girl is worth it. And it’s your responsibility to tell her that. Don’t mess it up this year. Surprise her. Make her smile. Make her laugh. Make her cry. Make her happy. Make her feel pretty. Tell her you love her.
(For the record, I am totally against the lingerie talk in this post. It goes against every modest fiber of my being. But Chris insists that guys need some direction in that department. Whatever. I’m still against it. However, since Chris hasn’t blogged in YEARS, I’m trying not to discourage him. So, this is me. Being encouraging. You’re welcome.)
27Jun
Fifteen years ago, if someone would have asked me if I knew who Kate was I would have said, “that redheaded girl?”
Twelve years ago, if you would have told me that I would begin dating the girl I would eventually marry I would have said, “you’re crazy”.
Ten years ago, if you would have told me that after I married Kate we would pack up and move to Connecticut I would have said, “you are off your rocker”.
Six years ago, on our wedding day, if you would have told me that we would buy a house in Connecticut and have two dogs I might have fainted.
Four years ago, if you would have told me that this would be the house that we would have our Bean in, I would have smiled with fear.
Two years ago, in the middle of a long night, if you would have told me that the little Bean would fill our lives with so much joy, I would have said, “you are too tired to think straight”.
One and a half years ago, if you would have told me that we would soon pack our bags and fly south, I would have said, “it is so hot in Florida”.
One year ago, if you would have told me that our house would be vandalized and we were having a baby girl, I would have said, “now that’s just ridiculous”.
Nine months ago, if you would have told me that we would only be in this house for eleven months, I would have said, “I’m staying here forever”.
Six months ago, if you would have told me that the first three months of having our second baby would be a very long three months, I would have said, “nah, it will be fine!”
Two months ago, if you would have told me that we would be buying a house in July, I would have said, “you are too tired to think straight.”
One month ago, if you would have told me that our little firecracker Gracie would finally settle down, I would have thrown you out.
Twelve years ago, if you would have told me that I would still be able to enjoy a quiet rainy Saturday sitting on the couch watching movies with that same redheaded girl, I would have unknowingly smiled.
Kate,
I stopped wondering what the future will hold many years ago. Our lives change every single day, so I do not even worry about what is next. But I do know that I love my life. I am married to one of the coolest, most beautiful people that I know, and even though every minute isn’t sunshine and rainbows, every day I love you more and more. Kate, twelve years ago we were trying to make it home by curfew and look how far we have come. You have made me a dad, and you have watched me grow into a man and I am so thankful that I have you each and every day. You are an amazing mother, a spectacular wife, and my best friend. There is no one I would rather go through life with, and I cannot even imagine what the next twelve years will bring. But I know that I want you to be by side through all of them.
I love you,
Chris
