I Should Be Sleeping...

Tyler tagged me. Go check out her blog! (I believe most of you already do. Blog-land makes Kevin Bacon look weak--only 2 or 3 degrees of separation here. I can't decide if that's cool or very, very sad.)

If you could be in any TV show when you were a kid, what would it be?
Age 5: Today’s Special.
Age 10: Saved by the Bell. I remember thinking (if I were on the show) I’d be able to steal Zach away from Kelly. Obviously I thought very highly of myself at that age.

What was your favorite Christmas gift as a child?
Teddy Ruxpin (& Grubby). I adored this duo.... until the tape player messed up and I watched Teddy die a slow and horrible death. “Heeeeey everybooooodyy-y-y-y.” (Silence)

What actress would you want to play you if your life was made into a movie?
This question was so much harder than I thought. I spent my entire drive home from work trying to think of someone and all I could think of was who it would not be. That list would include (but is not limited to):
Miley Cyrus
Paris Hilton
Jessica Alba
Cameron Diaz
Drew Barrymore

Shall I continue? I shan't. I asked Michael to name an actress and within 12 seconds he'd named three: Rachel McAdams, Charlize Theron, and Kate Bosworth. Don't think I agree with him but what a smart guy for choosing such pretty ladies. :)

What decade fad do you wish would come back?
Mid to late 60s – Short skirts, shift dresses, awesome hair.



What song describes your life?
I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

(Have you seen this movie? If not, I beg you to watch it. So good.)

What was your favorite subject in school?
Math (my all-time favorite was Algebra II) and English.

If you could have a dream job for a day, what would it be?
Normally I’d say “author” but there’s no way I could write an entire book in one day and I’d feel sheepish the next day when I'm back at my real job and have only written 20 pages. So I’ll say one of those people on the travel channel that visits amazing hotels in fabulous places and tells the viewer about their glorious experiences. My dad says I remind him of Samantha Brown and I think that means I should take her job (ironically, I find her quite annoying so I'm not sure what that says about me).

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
I realize I’m turning my back on the ostrich and manatee by not picking either (hellooooo pea-sized brain and endangered species—no thanks!), so I think I’d say a thinner version of Thumbs Magee: good food, good parents, no responsibilities, no competition.

I don't know the official rules so I am going to tag two people. I know, I'm such an overachiever.

Trish

Erin

Good night everyone!

Eerily Similar

Someone just forwarded this to me and I can't stop laughing. Why?

1) It's damn funny.

2) It is my husband. The humor, the thoughts, everything about it. I think anyone who knows him (or has read some of his posts on here) would agree.

I know this went around a year or so ago but it still makes me laugh. Happy Tuesday!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu-Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

The Honeymoon Is Over

Want proof?

As we were about to fall asleep last night, I rested my head on Michael's shoulder and thanked him again for the sweet letter and wonderful anniversary. I pulled back to look at him (which was nearly impossible since it was so dark) just as he started to say, "I love you very much." Unfortunately, he wasn't able to finish the sweet statement because his retainer popped out and a large amount of spit landed right on my cheek.

That, my friends, is marriage.

(And I wouldn't trade it for anything.)

(But I think I'll put a box of tissues on my side table.)

And One From Michael

Michael and I planned on writing separate anniversary posts but never mentioned what they would be about. Turns out we both wrote letters to one another. I apologize for so much sappiness in one day. No, I take that back. No apologies.... (ps. The Chipotle story is in no way true. Ahem....)

Dear Meredith,

I wanted to let you know that you've made all the cliches come true. I know we're definitely not newlyweds anymore on our 3rd anniversary, but I still get excited when I see you for the first time each day and when we get to do our favorite things together whether that be eating sushi or heading to bed on a cold night. When times have been tough, you've been my rock. You're always there to support me and make sure I don't get down on myself, but you also won't let me give up and you'll let me know when I need to change my attitude. You miraculously hold up to my sarcastic humor, less the humor, and always let me know when I've done something warranting the big dumb animal title. We're happy even when we're not because we've always got each other. We can come home from work, complain to each other, and then make everything melt away by putting on our comfy clothes and crawling in bed with some orange rolls. We both love traveling, but I would be happy with you if we couldn't take another trip the rest of our days. We plan who gets which bathroom on the way home from Chipotle. We know what petting the crusty means (Thumbs!). People watching. They say to always include praises with our prayers and I know I always have at least one. At Steve and Kait's rehearsal dinner, Steve's dad asked which one I was with and I pointed to you. He looked over, then looked back to me and asked how I managed that. I told him I had no idea, but that I had you trapped now and wasn't letting go. I'm so lucky to have you in my life, and I love you more every day. Thanks for putting up with the awkward package that is me and being so wonderful. I love you Meredith Wee.

A Letter To my Husband

10.20.2010

Dear Michael,
We've been married three years! Can you believe it? I'm sure you can since I've mentioned it every day for the last few weeks. I guess that gives you an idea of how happy I am to be your wife.

I, Meredith, take you, Michael, to be my wedded husband...

The other day I said I was so proud of you and you asked me why. Michael, I'm proud of you for so many things. For your quiet grace. For your humbleness. For your optimism. For your constant patience. For your love of our family and friends. For not only forgiving my quirks but loving them. For knowing when to laugh. For knowing when to say absolutely nothing. For simply being you.

And I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful wife…

Recently you asked if I pray every day and I told you I do. You didn’t ask what I pray for but the answer is you. Always you. I pray for your present, I pray for your future, and I thank God for our past. It is my greatest joy to be Mrs. Haynes.

In plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow,
in sickness and in health…

2009 was a year of ups and downs so we declared 2010 to be the year of simplicity and ease. I think we’ve both learned that trying to plan our own life makes the big guy upstairs laugh. 2010 has had its own challenges, but we’ve managed to get through each and every bump with a shrug and a laugh. I know more bumps are on the horizon and call me crazy but I’m almost looking forward to them. Every struggle, every misstep we conquer together is valid proof that you and I were meant for one another. My prayer is that we never take the plenty, the joy, and the health for granted.

As long as we both shall live.

Since we started dating I’ve been cursed with a few wrinkles and you’ve been blessed with a few grey hairs (let’s be honest: grey hair is hot, wrinkles are not). This is not to say we need a cane and walker, but as long as we’re around one another every wrinkle and grey hair is the result of a precious life well-lived together. And for that reason I will cherish these smile lines because I know why they’re here.

I can’t wait to grow old with you, Michael Haynes.

Happy Anniversary! Love love. Merdi

But there is not enough time
And there is no song I could sing
And there is no combination of words I could say
But I will still tell you one thing
We're better together… -JJ

Fur Is The Only Thing They Have In Common

For the past few months, Michael and I have had back-to-back weekends that made us feel like this furry fella...


Unfortunately, I have the energy of this furry fella....


(For those of you who asked about it, Thumbs is posing with my Ebay handbag!)


Thumbs, it's mine. You can't have it.

That's it for now. Should have a weekend(s) recap soon. Hope yours was wonderful!

Regret

By now I’m sure you’ve heard about Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers student who committed suicide after being the victim of a terrible prank. This incident has caused an onslaught of anti-bullying campaigns, news stories, etc. I was listening to the radio on my way to work and they asked each other who was the bully and who was bullied (as kids). Most said they were one or the other. I started thinking about myself as a kiddo and realized something.

I was both.

I’ve mentioned junior high a few times on here. I typically avoid the topic because holy hell those days sucked. There were teeny tiny wonderful moments for every three or four terrible moments. I cried. A lot. I complained. A lot. I remember days when my mom would sit next to me on my bed, hold my hand and say, “You’ll get through this. You will.” Between hiccups and cries I’d tell her she didn’t understand. Later I found out she understood completely--she went through the same torment. That’s the thing, bullying isn’t new. My mom and I were made fun of for the exact same issues by the exact same type of people. Both of us knew what it was like to want to disappear, and we’d been made to feel small enough that disappearing didn’t seem that impossible.

I was “lucky” in the sense that I was only bullied for a few years. Once I went to high school, all was good. I’m sure I was still made fun of (weren’t we all?) but no one said it to my face. Perhaps it was because I was no longer 4’11” and flat-chested. I was never picked on for my personality, my intelligence, or my morals. Just my looks. But when you’re 12 that feels like everything.

I can sit here and feel sorry for myself or I can think back to 5th grade when I was the bully. A group of us were horrible to one person. And it wasn’t just her looks. We picked on every single part of who she was. I never did it to her face but I was brutal behind her back and witnessed blatant cruelty dozens of times without saying a word. I was just as bad as the ones who outright bullied her.

Almost twenty years later it still haunts me. How I could be that cruel, that demeaning, that repulsive of a person. I was only 10 but I knew better. For the longest time I’ve wondered about her. Is she happy? Is she married? Is she safe? Is she alive?

I guess this sob-story is to say I imagine most of us have been the victim but most of us have also been the perpetrator. There were a few positives to getting bullied, but that’s because I was (eventually) able to learn from it and move on. Made my skin thicker, eyes wider, and gave me a sarcastic, self-deprecating humor that makes people laugh. I think of those who dealt with torment for many years, or worse, refused to deal with it and instead took their own lives. It breaks my heart.

The thing is… my parents didn’t raise a bully. They raised a good girl who made that terrible decision all by herself and later had a healthy dose given right back to her. There is a simple answer to this problem but it’s obviously not the popular answer. And until we figure out how to make simple and popular synonymous, it’s never going to stop.

What a waste.

My Heart

We've had two gatherings of the photography club and one lesson. I'm (now) all manual all the time so I'm very slow and meticulous with each shot (not because I'm good but because it takes me five minutes to figure out the shutter speed, ISO speed, aperture, etc).

Anyway, I asked Michael to be my male model and he begrudgingly obliged. Here's a few unedited shots from this evening. I'm not in love with them but I am in love with the subject so that counts for something right?

(This is not Michael but Miss Begonia in our front yard.)

What a crotchety old man! :)

Photography fans--any advice? I need all the help I can get!

NYC - Day 5

(Last day, I promise. I'm hoping my NYC posts have convinced you to visit and not made you hate the city, or even worse, hate me....)

Day 5

It felt like the last day of our honeymoon. So happy for the experience, so sad to be going back to the real world. We weren't flying home until that evening so we left our bags with the concierge and hit the pavement one last time.

We stopped at a cheap cafe for breakfast. Right above our booth was a choking instruction poster (of the food variety, not the "I am going to kill you" variety), so I felt very safe while consuming my chocolate croissant and sprinkled cookie. Breakfast of champions.


Today's adventure was visiting the Meatpacking District.

Let's pause for a second, shall we? I've heard people talk about the Meatpacking District dozens of times and I always did one of the following: a) snicker b) gag c) snicker and then gag. It just doesn't sound like a pleasant place whatsoever. But! Several people told us we had to see it and I am so glad we did. I LOVED this area. It felt like a less exposed Soho. The neighborhood was gorgeous--so many streets were filled with trees and eclectic decor. People were out walking their dogs (almost all were French bulldogs) and it had such a cool vibe to it.



We visited Chelsea Market and immediately regretted our decision to stop at the cheap cafe. Chelsea Market had so many great restaurants but we were both so full. We will eat there on our next visit. :) We walked up and down several of the streets (Charles, Bleeker, Hudson and Perry to name a few) and loved the cute neighborhood parks. The Apple store was fantastic, as was Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenburg, and my personal favorite, Theory.

We saw our next "celebrity" at Cynthia Rowley's store. She was in the back of the store meeting with a client and I leaned over to Michael and said, "That's her!" I patiently waited for her to give me a few pieces from her fall collection but that never happened. :)

We had lunch at Corner Bistro, which was a complete DIVE--very dark and mellow. We'd been told they had terrific burgers and I'm so glad we knew a little bit about the place because they did not offer us a menu and the only information we gave the waiter was how to cook the burg. Well worth the initial panic of "Holy cow where ARE we?" because it was great! If you're not a huge burger fan, skip this place because it is not known for its ambiance or friendliness (or plate size). But if you're like the Haynes' family, a great cheeseburger (hamburger for the mister) is one of the quickest way to our hearts.



We walked east so we could see the Flat Iron District and then it was time to head to the airport.


Once we got in the cab we noticed Mickey Rourke was in the car next to us. He really is one ugly man. I'm sure he has a stellar personality so that's good.

And so ends our fabulous trip. We weren't in the airport five minutes before I turned to Michael and asked when we could go back. For those who love Manhattan it is an absolute addiction. I recommend it to anyone that is willing to put aside everything they know and open their eyes to something completely different. Each day we felt like we were in a different city so I truly believe there is something for everyone (and in our case, everything for someone).

Thanks for allowing me to reminisce. Now go book your own trip and tell me all about it. :)

My Take On A Popular Nursery Rhyme

This little boy is the brother...

This little couple is grand...

This little couple is aunt & uncle....

This little (big) girl doesn't understand...

And this little couple yelled "wahoo wahoo wahoo!" all the way home!

Baby Besancon due early April, 2011! We are so excited!
Boy or girl? Find out in approx. 28 weeks. :)

NYC - Day 4

Monday was one of my favorite days of our trip. We started the morning by grabbing more coffee and visiting Macy's, which was only a few blocks from our hotel. We quickly learned that it's not really fun to shop when stores are that big. Actually, it's horribly intimidating. I did enjoy the entire floor of shoes--no surprise there.

We continued walking north and made our way to Rockefeller Center. We are both HUGE 30 Rock fans and I looked high and low for Liz Lemmon (Tina Fey). After taking several pictures we wandered in some familiar stores: Banana Republic, Anthropologie, J. Crew and the like.





Even if you're not a fan of Anthropologie, I beg you to visit their stores in Manhattan. It was a great experience. The window decorations are gorgeous and the actual store is set up beautifully. I didn't buy anything due to the size (see paragraph above) but I could have stayed in there for hours discovering the odds and ends of the store.

Enough about that. Dad, still with me? We had lunch at Tri-Tip Grill in Rockefeller Center (not bad!) and then continued walking around the area. We also visited St. Patrick's Cathedral and Radio City Music Hall.

Once we finished looking around Rockefeller Center we made our way to 5th avenue. For 2 hours we went in store after store and were ignored by everyone. I realize our appearance/attire didn't scream "rich rich rich!!!" but I figured someone would acknowledge us. Nope, not one. I blame it on my blonde hair. Regardless, the stores were incredible.

Annie told us to head over to Dylan's Candy Bar (Dylan is Ralph Lauren's daughter) because their store windows were decorated for Fashion Week--dresses made entirely out of candy. Fabulous!


On the way to Dylan's we passed a Diesel store with their latest ad campaign, "Be Stupid." Are you kidding me? I want to punch whoever came up with it. It was so ridiculous that it made me think of Zoolander's Derelicte. ("Let me show you Derelicte. It is a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique.") :)


We also checked out Magnolia Bakery---ohhhhh glory. Those cupcakes were amazing. Definitely worth trying. I had red velvet and Michael had German chocolate.



As we were heading back to the hotel we stopped at Midtown Comics for Michael.
And then, my friends, we went to Mood (if you haven't seen Project Runway this means nothing to you). "Thank you, Mooooood."


We enjoyed the hotel's happy hour one more time and then it was time for Michael's birthday dinner.

We took the subway to Grand Central Terminal/Station (depends on who you ask) and it was gorgeous. I don't know what I was expecting but it blew me away.


I surprised Michael with dinner at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Terminal (very good--not great). Michael is a huge fan of oysters and this place had approx 40 varieties.






Whew, this was a long day! We ended the night at the Empire State Building. The whole sharing an elevator with 5 billion people made me want to vomit but it was definitely worth it. Michael had never been to the top so I was really excited to show him. As soon as we were on the top deck I looked at his face to see his initial reaction. Michael's eyes lit up (good!), he said "Oh wow..." (better!), and continued with, "Is that a lightning bug?!" (FAIL.) I might have hit him. Once he got past the lightning bug that was 87 floors up he was impressed with the view. Not the romantic setting I had in mind but eh, it'd been a long day. We can't all be Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle (although I do know we were MFEO).


It was hard walking back to our hotel knowing this was our last night in NY....