Together

It must be Spring, as I am now semi-furiously writing a post before another storm hits us, potentially taking out out power.  More 70mph winds on the way - and a temp drop from 81 to an expected 42. 

Today marks my sister's 40th anniversary. 

While the numbers I publish here regarding 710 being together "longer", she was dating her now husband for longer than 710 and I have been together. They just have those hetero-norm dating / anniversary timelines. We didn't get that luxury. 

Though 710 and I were together at this time, he wasn't my +1. Actually, I'm not sure I got a +1. 

710 was in Austria with his best friend. I'm not 100% sure that he had met my family at this point. Brining your gay bf to a family wedding for the first meet-and-greet seems ill advised. I say that now - and for a while now - but at the ripe age of 22 (?) I was a little put out. 

This was the first wedding I was in. Hell, it was the first wedding I attended. 

I remember absolutely nothing about it.  

That is not an exaggeration. Nothing.

And - I might add - I was not drunk. Or high. I don't remember the ceremony. I barely remember the reception  - no food, no speeches, no hijinx. No garter. No bouquet toss. Nothing. 

I'm sure there was food. As for the rest of it - maybe none of that was part of the day. 

Save one other picture at my sister's house, if there are other photos from the wedding (besides the one atop) I have never seen them. 

If you must look closely, save the woman on the far left, the others women are my sisters. Yes. Multiple. Here, when I talk about my sister ever (Bailey's keeper), she's the one in the wedding dress. 

The guys in the photo?  I met them the day before the wedding to get out tuxes. If there was a bachelor party, I was thankfully spared an invitation. Those three other guys (and the groom) were at our table at my niece's wedding 39 years later. 

I take it back, I did see two of them a year or so earlier than this pic, when they were all drunk, found me in Columbus and they crashed on the floor of my efficiency.  .....a story I made sure to bring up at the reception dinner table this last November.

40 years later, between the bride and groom they have a new rotator cuff each and 3 of their 4 knees have been replaced. The rest of them is pretty much intact. And after 40 years, that ain't nothing. 

Song by: Michigander

39

Laurie Anderson once spoke: "days go by.....endlessly.....endlessly pulling you........into the future....days go by...". 

She's not wrong. 

As an unconscious (subconscious?) rule, I think I don't delve into the past too too much here. There are somethings I dredge up as anecdotes to tie other, more current things together. 

With that said, now and then I throw a few things in from long ago. Though this older thing still ties in a current one. 

39. 

As the title states.  That is how long Mr. 710 and I have been together in some capacity or other. 

39 years today.

We'd known each other a little longer than that, from work. We both were on the 3p-11p shift and a number of the people at work would go out afterwards now and then. But I, nor he, counted those as "dates".  We weren't even 100% sure the other was gay, let alone interested. I was. We were. 

Even this first date was mired in havoc - my '71 Maverick breaking down on the way to his place. Him coming to rescue me as my car got towed to some unknown mechanic. And all in the days before cellphones. How that all came to be is still cloudy to me. 

Today is the date we have etched into our rings. Though with 1985 on the end. 

I won't lie. 39 years isn't easy. Well, the first 15 weren't. I mean, how emotionally and mentally equipped can a 21 and 24 year old be? Ones with little life experience too. So we weathered it all together - as the vows would eventually say: for better or for worse. 

There isn't a lot of 'worse' anymore. Yes, normal life changes - birth, school, work, death, as the Godfathers might sing. We are stable, mature and strong enough to deal with it all. That wasn't always the case - mostly in my case.

It helps that 710 has the patience of a saint (whatever that actually means). I do not, Maybe Paula Abdul is correct with opposites attracting. 

It doesn't seem like 39. And 50 seems a long way off.........considering our age(s). Time is a funny thing.

As I've said before, January is a sucky time to have an anniversary. Maybe we'll go out for dinner, but the weather has been sub-zero when the wind if factored into the equation. We are not ones for the big hoopla, so, it might just be home cooking tonight. 

Maybe we will celebrate at 40. 

the title image is from 1988 (?). Our hair was darker. Our hair existed. We were thinner. That duplex is now a single house residence. I don't even know who took that picture. Clearly Ted Lasso stole his look from 710. 

Song by: the Cure

Leather & Lace

This day 13 years ago, 710, Rebecca and myself were making our way to the Smithsonian Castle for a wedding. 

No - we're not a throuple, but I wouldn't rule it out. 

It was just 710 and myself. Rebecca was our witness and honour attendant.......and entertainment, as she did read a poem as well. 

This is where our original and marriage anniversaries don't match up. But we wanted to get hitched during our 25th year together (yes, by all means, do the math!).  And no one wants to go to a wedding in January, so we held off till later in the year. 

We had spent a few days prior in NYC and then took the Acela down to DC. 710 is a train dude, so I got to surprise him with that part of the trip. 

I mean, I also surprised him with the marriage license, as I had taken his passport on a work trip when I went to DC and applied for said license.......without telling him. 

The man got roped into this marriage. 

We did not get married in the castle, but behind it. People eating lunch watched and clapped, and went back to their ham salad sandwiches. 

Jordan, the MFA candidate from American University is clearly getting his degree in sculpture, because his pictures were just mediocre to horrible. He got ONE good picture (you'll have to scroll down), so in a way it was worth it. 

I mean, look at the staging of the above picture. First, that isn't the place we got married, just a horrible posed pic with the leaf debris of Autumn. 

We've weathered three plus decades. 13 married. Less than that if you count how long Ohio has been recognizing same sex weddings. 

It is unclear if I will be grilling steaks for dinner tonight, or if we venture out. Anymore, I'm a homebody, but I could be talked into going somewhere......maybe. 

The traditional 13th anniversary is lace.  No one it tatting anything. Heck, no one is exchanging presents at all. We're not those guys.   Leather however.......................

Song by: Stevie Nicks & Don Henley

Anniversary

When I blogged about Spring and Indictments the other day (only one has happened so far, btw....) it wasn't until after hitting "publish" did I remember that March 20th equals by blogaversary. 

I started this thing back in 2003! I think last year I said I was 20. Or starting 20? I dunno. I'm old. Me me, and blog me. 

6,660 posts. Including this one.  18,501 comments. Not including the ones of praise you leave for me today. 

I kid. I kid. 

You can leave those anytime. It doesn't have to be today.   

I was gonna write other stuff, but then realized I said it in the vlog. One in which I did in one take - right or wrong. But probably mostly wrong. I find it best not to overthink these things. One and done. Much like a trick. 

We're (well, I am) already into three days of another year. Maybe this year, I'll make this thing interesting. 

.....but probably not. 

Song by: Duran Duran

37

Today marks 37 years with the man I married a little over 11 years ago.  

Scratch your noggins while you attempt to figure that one out. 

But this date, in 1985, is the one that is inscribed on the inside of our rings. 

When I stop to think about it:  it is a fuck of a long time. When I really stop to think about it, I just feel old. I don't normally think I look old, but I did catch myself in the mirror the other day and went: "well. fuck!".  ....but not in a good way. 

Of course, my body feels old most days. 

Here is a weird truth of this being together this long: I feel weird / guilty about saying it. 

Yeah yeah - I get it should be a proud moment, and it is, but I see people mentally calculating in their heads any number of scenarios and starting to carry the 1, while also trying to do Chisanbop to figure out current age, then subtracting to find out what ages we were........and the invariable: "wow. that's a long time", to which I think I internally process a "fuck you" to them, while keeping a smile. 

Yes, gay men aren't always known for their longevity. Allegedly! And even we have struggled. Well not "even we", like we are some sort of super-beings. We are not. 

I do say we've been together 37 years - and we have and we haven't. We "dated" and then we dated, then we lived together, then we didn't. But we were young-ish and had a lot of growing up to do. It could be argued, I still do.

Still, even in that "break" we saw each other almost every single day. Every night on his way home from work, 710 would key into my place and we'd recap our days before I went to bed (or out!) and he went home. We'd still go out to dinner. We'd still go on vacations. And then we moved back in together........for the next 117 years. 

It is possible to be together apart. We made it work and even after that, it was still a lot of work to where I actually did mature. Well........kind of. 

There were times when it seemed like the relationship was all work. "New" city. New house. New jobs. New responsibilities for which one can't always be prepared. I wish I had realized when all that working on the relationship finally found it's forever groove. It's been good for a long long time. Not carefree, but still...we are older and wiser. Mostly older. 

But with all that above is why we cried at our own wedding. The 'for better or worse, sickness / health, richer / poorer' thing really of meant something - because we did live all of that before tying the knot. For those marrying in their 20's it is a 'sure..........we'll do that, should it ever happen' pseudo-promise.  

January is a sucky time for an anniversary. Even without Covid, the chance of going out were slim. Now they are nil. That it's scheduled to be single digits outside wouldn't have helped matters either.  I don't know what we'll do tonight, but hopefully something meaningful - not that 37 is some magical number. It's just a big one. 

....and yes, that's what she said. 

Song by: Devo

Eighteen

It's not that I forgot yesterday was my 18th blogging anniversary, it's just that I had a doggy and kitty to show you. 

Song by: Alice Cooper

Shake

Just another Saturday with pet pix.  

Honestly, what am I going to do with all my free time now that I'm not BLOTUS Bitching? 

Sophie has taken to the leather chair lately. She's very adorable there. 

Wintertime lake walk shake.

String. 

710 will regret pulling this out, as there is no 'off time' with Sophie. 

Someone was informing 710 that it was 16:30 and almost time for a walk. 

I got a text asking of my ETA, so we could walk as a family. I left work immediately. 

the lady of the house. 

We had our 36th anniversary on Thursday. 

This pic was taken at 05:45 that morning. Best present ever. 

Song by: the Gap Band

Tin Man

We made it to 10.  

Well.....plus 25.5. 

But a decade ago today, 710 and I married in Washington DC. 

Oh, back then, the marriage was only legal in five states and the District. I won't say it was only ceremonial but it didn't mean much other than to ourselves once we were firmly back in Ohio. 

Unlike other states who came around to same-sex marriage, Ohio had to be be taken there kicking and screaming and by a SCOTUS decision. 

Months before the wedding - before 710 even knew of a wedding - I borrowed his passport and got our marriage license when I was on a business trip to DC.  Of course, we had discussed marriage, but had, at that time, made no arrangements. I took care of that. 

It was a great day, except for the pictures. 

Becky took this one, but it was set up by our poorly chosen wedding photog. I mean - c'mon.....the pile of leaves in the corner? Was there no stager? No stylist?  As I've said before, the guy charged $60 - and I got what I paid for. Honestly, we got 2-3 good shots.........and I'm being generous. 

It's been a good 10 years.  Plus 25.5.  

Some years have been better than others, but that's true of all of us. We've seen more good than bad. Honestly, Covid could probably push any couple over the brink - and we've kind of been good this whole time. We have gotten along with each other's family - and what few times ours have gotten together has always been pleasant. 

So, 10 is tin.  ....and I got nothing. And I can guarantee you he's got nothing. We have never done anniversary gifts, nor do I expect to start now.  Since there The Covid going on, there will be no eating out either. I suspect I will make salmon. There might be a cake - which is better than any present anyways. It'll just be him, myself and the always ever present Shep and Sophie (we are a pack!). 

That's the best celebration a guy could ever have. 

.....and just for shits and giggles........when we were in DC in September, we walked to where we got married. I did a short video when I thought I'd do a vacation video. 

Song by: America

I Was Married

My, how 9/10ths of a decade flies by.

Today is our 9th anniversary - of marriage.

For a bit, I thought it would fall on a date while we were away. That would have been great. Last year, we spent it in London, but that was kind of an accident. Anyhoo, this did not happen on this trip, but that's because I wasn't really paying attention or actually remembering the date we tied the knot.

This two anniversary dates thing is bullshit.

As is such, we have nothing planned. Nothing bought - though to be fair, we never do. We will be happy to get out on a hike with the dog and try not to freeze our faces off like we did yesterday.

Doubtful we will even go out for dinner, as we've been away and are kind of tired of eating out, and we like being home with Sophie and Shep after not being here.

It's been a good nine year run........plus that additional 25. I got no complaints, but don't tell 710....I gotta keep him on his toes.


Song by: Tegan & Sara

At Seventeen

Vlog time.  Save the Europe 2018 one, I cannot remember last time I did one.  Enjoy??






Song by: Janis Ian

Pottery's Gay

Truth be told, I have no song titles with the word 'pottery' or 'bronze' in them, so I'm sort of faking the title / artist thing today.  Though - who couldn't love the name 'Anal Cunt' as a band?

You're probably wondering why I care about bronze or pottery...........and the short answer is, "I don't".

The longer answer is, these are the traditional items for an eighth anniversary, and I needed a tie in for a post that it is our eighth anniversary.   ......plus 25 years.....plus 10 months.

I love how "they" can't just have one item for this year. Bronze or pottery. They are pretty much mutually exclusive, unless you come in third at the state fair pottery making contest.

Technically, the anniversary was yesterday. But I know how you all get up in arms if there is no Sophie or Shep. And then there'd be pitchforks and torches......and what the hell people, I don't even live in Charlottesville!

So I delayed the post for a day.

We are celebrating, but more on that in another post.

Eight years is nothing to sneeze at - nor is almost 34. Truth be told, I'm amazed the man has stuck around this long. Granted for the last seven or so, it's been for Petey or Shep. Without either, I wouldn't have a prayer in the world.

I kid of course.

No one is getting bronze or pottery today.  I'm happy with a good meal and a bottle of wine.



(the image today is from our 'reception' after the wedding. I couldn't imagine taking that pic with the current administration being in that residence.)


Song by: Anal Cunt

Iron Man

Six.

That's the number of years we've been "married".

I'm not sure I want to do an annual anniversary post - even though I've done one each year since our DC wedding.

A friend of mine, and ex-roommate of 710, had posted on Facebook that he and his husband were celebrating their third anniversary and probably the last one that would legally recognized.

I'm not so sure of that.

I know Dump said on 60 Minutes that same-sex marriage is "settled law", but is it? I mean - what does that even fucking mean?

Prohibition was settled law until it wasn't, then was, then was again. Wade v Roe is "settled law"that 43 years later some are still trying to overturn. Nothing is certain.

Factions outside of Dump are hoping to bend his ear on this - be it the Liberty Council, NOM or Family Research Council - trying to get him to reverse Obergefell,

The thing is - overturning it is doable, but not easy. And Dump cannot do it. It would be back to the Supreme Court. It would be him picking a justice that could sway the court (not that Scalia had that power). It would take having a case against same-sex marriage making it's way through the lower courts, appeals and circuit ones.....and then to the Supreme Court.

I never take 710's and my marriage for granted. While we've been together for far longer than our six years of marriage, it is somewhat nice to be recognized in the eyes of the law.

The weather today will be close to the DC day we had. Sun, clear skies and 60 degrees. The internets say it is our Iron anniversary - though one site said it was Candy.

Give the choice, I'd go with the latter.  I'm no fool.  But I'll be damned if I was going to call this post 'Candy Man'.



Song by: the Cardigans

Would You Believe

....that it has been five years since 710 and I got married?

Sure, you can tack on another 25 to that since we had been together, but today marks our fifth anniversary since getting hitched in DC.

Of course, now everyone can get married anywhere in the U.S. - save maybe one county in Kentucky if all of the other clerks are on PTO.

#5 is Wood.

Yes, the jokes just seem to write themselves, don't they?

So I'm taking the high road - which Magic Mike always wonders how I found that byway. It is certainly not on any map I own, nor could I ever follow there, as he's only 'read about it'.

Ok, I'll take the imaginary high road and no 'wood' jokes. I'm a properly married man now!

We are experiencing the same weather these last few days that we had back in 2010. Blue skies, temps in the 60s (in November!!!), and sun. And somewhere, someone has all my reception and rehearsal dinner pictures.........the bastards. Five years later, I'm still kicking myself over that one. I suspect I will be for another five as well.

And best yet - we didn't wear pastel tuxedos.  We just had simple sport coats and white shirts.

For any would-be groom or bride - I've said it before and will say it again: spring for a good photographer. Don't get an MFA candidate for $60 and hour.  We got 68 shots - most of them unusable. To be fair to Jordan, I didn't confirm that his MFA wasn't going to be in ceramics - so that one is on me. When you break it down, it's less than a dollar a shot. I totally got what I paid for.

I expect to get an email from Ed, our officiant, tomorrow. I was hoping to do a surprise for 710, but that didn't pan out. So I was going to do a special menu of some kind at home, but he'd like to go out - so that is what we will do.

Anything his heart desires.




Song by: the Mavericks

Spring is Here

Allegedly Spring comes at 12:57 EDT today.

Not that one would truly believe that by looking or stepping outside. At least in Ohio. I can't really speak for the rest of you - but to paraphrase George Harrison - it's been a long, cold lonely Winter.

I guess that's quoting him, and not paraphrasing.

That said, the arrival of Spring (usually) coincides with my blogging anniversary. Finishing year 11. 3207 posts (including this one). Countless words. Innumerable of them spelled incorrectly. More than a few Far too many dedicated to Mike.  (I just like to get that dig in a little).

With my blogiversary (is there a correct spelling for that word?) I usually do a video piece. Why should 2014 be any different?

It's not.

Sorry about the second half. The wind kicked up and you get that noise in the mic. Such are the problems of an artist working outside of his known medium.

Like the video says, or implies, thanks for sticking with me. So far it's been a fun ride - and not all in the back of police cars.






Song by: Carly Simon

Leather

I have become that absent-minded {post} middle-aged man. Apparently, I'm "that guy" who has to be reminded that today is our anniversary. Queue one episode that has been written for every sitcom ever.

The third anniversary is Leather - dontcha know. Well, I didn't. I had to look it up.

Sure some might like Tin, Silver or Gold more, but eh. Leather is so much more versatile.

What?  I mean, belts, shoes, jackets or ....you know, chaps, harnesses, cockrings and such.  See? Versatile!

Years ago, Morty got me a black leather candle (yes, you read that correctly), that actually smelled well, like black leather. I don't know the occasion. I'm not sure there is an occasion for getting black leather candle.

I moved from Columbus to Cleveland with it. Had it at two separate houses until we moved eight plus years ago. 710 made me toss it. I never lit it. I almost didn't want to, but I liked the smell. I'm sure it was cheaper than buying chaps. I mean, I'm guessing!

But there is no leather that will be exchanged today. Except for dinner somewhere, I'm not sure we are celebrating at all. It's not that the thrill is gone or anything, just life getting in the way.

I'm not even sure that dinner will be our celebration. We made tentative plans to go out with friends, not that they wouldn't celebrate with us, but it is not expected or even discussed.

No celebration takes a back seat to leaf clean-up. Continued clean-up that is, though we're getting close to the end. Yesterday was about taking a stab at getting most of the rest of the leaves off the lawn. There is possibly one more small clean-up to do in a week. Last leaf pick-up by the city is in 11 days.

(feel free to insert clumsy penis metaphor here.  hehehe...I said "insert")

The gas-powered leaf blower is great. I never cared for the electric one, but this one is way more powerful and got me to clear the lawn in a little over an hour's time. ....and I look mega-butch with it, no?  (the question is rhetorical - so keep the lips sealed.)

Yesterday morning, before lawn maintenance, we had our neighborhood 'men's breakfast'. Still serving steel cut oats (meh), but at least the company is fine, though we seem to be in the same invite rotation as the last two. I wouldn't mind us getting in a slightly different mix of men (there are multiple gatherings, but generally you're invited to one per year) - not that there's anything wrong with the gents with which we ate. It can just be interesting changing up the list here and there.

Still, it's a great gesture and one of those things that make our neighborhood a little unique.

So, here we are - year three of official marriage. Sure, there were those pesky 25 years of non-marriage, but we're still not recognized by the state of Ohio. Maybe that will change soon.



Song by:  Tori Amos

One More Year

Monday was our 28th anniversary.

It kind of sucks having a January anniversary.  Not that there is anything wrong with staying in and spending it together, but now and again you'd like to go out.  But when the temperature is half the number of the anniversary date (i.e. 21 ÷ 2),  and the wind chill makes it feel 15 degrees colder than that.

We almost always stay in.

It was cold like that almost three decades ago. I remember it well.

We had a date and the next day I was headed to New York City  - where if I thought Columbus was cold, Manhattan was fucking frigid x 40.  Each avenue was a wind tunnel.  It was a miserable trip. Don't even start me on the post Serendipity visit!  A crosstown bus and pressing intestinal need almost caused city-wide disaster.  But I really couldn't wait to get back to see what date #2 might be like - or if there'd be a date #2.

There was.  Obviously.

I was fine staying in.  We were both fine staying in.

Twenty-eight is nothing to sneeze at, but it doesn't seem like a milestone.

We thought we'd do something special at 25.  Go somewhere special.  We ended up going as far as DC and getting married instead.  That was a milestone.

Now we are thinking about our 30th and where to go.  Though I don't see us heading to Paris in January.  That is not my idea of fun.   Paris - yes.  Winter - no.

Oddly enough, 28 was fine to sit on the couch with the cat next to me and dog on 710's lap in a chair.  It was uneventful by most people's standards yet intimate - a true family time.  Both dog and cat were snoring.  Ours is a house of one of constant nasal distress.

It was cold inside too - but I think partially it was the howling wind outside that made me feel cold inside.  Or the tv crawlers saying somewhere between 8-20" of snow.  That is quite a gap.

One day, maybe I'll blog about how 710 and I met and all that goes with it. Part of me wants to, part of me wants to not share.  What to do?  What to do?

Either way, I figure I've bought another year or two before I tell that story.  I should get it down though - you know, before dementia sets in.



Song by:  Kasey Chambers

Cotton Alley

Do you know what today is?  I mean besides a month old post trying to guess who just turned 8? (that mystery apparently still isn't solved!)

It turns out, the second anniversary is "cotton".  That is slightly more exciting than paper.

Slightly.

Yes, today is our second wedding anniversary. Two years ago to the day we were married in DC.

Nothing much to rehash from that day. You've either read it before or can read it from the hyperlink.

The title image was Rebecca's mother's pearls.....something borrowed.  We had something new, old and blue as well. We weren't completely non-traditional.

Yet cotton, like love and marriage, is the fabric of our lives (see how I worked that in?).

We have no big plans. Dinner out.  Somewhere new - not that we've picked it yet, so it might be our third or fourth choice if we can't get a reservation somewhere. It's more about just hanging with the husband. Like I said yesterday, I just wanted to be home - being on the road has been exhausting and that red-eye was painful, in oh so many ways.

But the day is about cotton.  Someone is getting new Gold-Toe white athletic socks.  No expense is too much for my man!  Well actually - have you priced socks lately?  The expense might be too much for my man!


Song by:  10,000 Maniacs

Anniversary

Yesterday was my parent's 56th anniversary.

Amazing how time goes. It was only six years ago that we hosted their Golden Anniversary.

I didn't forget their special day, but it did coincide at dinner at my sister's.  So we combined the events.

710 was great enough to pick up a cake to take over.  He was telling me about how they decorated the cake for him:  Happy Anniversary Bob & El.

It made me chuckle.  Kiddingly I said, "so, the cake is from you?"

He looked confused.

I said, "well, the rest of us just call them 'mom & dad'". 

He found it funny too. If my parents noticed, they didn't say a thing. And in reality, all the grand kids call my dad 'Bob'.  It was a lot easier to say for a toddler than "grandpa".

It was low key. Maybe it shouldn't be. 56 years is pretty amazing. Then I started thinking of it, 710 and I have been together half as long as my parents. It's hard to imagine we started seeing each other at their 28th anniversary.

710 is hoping we make it to 56 - I'm not so sure. I mean, I'd love to be with him that long, it is just that I'm not sure I want to live that long. Morbid?  Perhaps.

...and no offense to 710, but the cake wasn't all that good.  If he wants me to stick with him for another quarter century plus, he's got to pick up his game when it comes to selecting dessert.



Song by: Suzanne Vega

Years Could Go By

Oh boy!  It's that time!!!!





Song by: the Devlins

Anniversary

This is the last of the first anniversary posts.  Even I'm a little bored writing about it.

We got a nice card from Rebecca yesterday.  I am so bad about sending stuff out like this.  I remember the days,  just can't get it together to buy something to send out and then get it out the door, let alone on time.  I'm a social retard.

But the card itself - which you can't really read - was funny as hell.  The part you can read (and that does say '710' and not 'Flo') is nice.   The present she references is the lined white paper.

I'll let you think about that one, but it made us both howl.

And yes, we did do dinner.  I am glad we waited till the weekend to do it as opposed to trying to fit it in during the work week.  It was our second trip to Washington Place Bistro.  The space is nice, the service was flawless.  The food?  Eh.  It was nice, but I wasn't as wow'd as we had been the first time.  It was fine.

We each got dessert.  Why that might not seem like big deal for most, we rarely get dessert out when we eat.  That has never been our thing, as I would much rather load up on salad and bread.  710 got a doughnut bread pudding with vanilla ice cream.  I got a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis.  OMG, it was great.  It made me almost forget the average meal.

So the celebration is over.  Year one is over.  Now we just settle into a life of complacency, resentment and regret - just like every other married couple.

Yay us - we're living the dream.



Song by:  Suzanne Vega