Marital Bliss, my Ass

“That married couples can live together day after day is a miracle that the Vatican has overlooked”
-Bill Cosby

There has been a bit of discord in my house the last couple of days. So much so that neither Rob nor I are too keen about being there. Fortunately, it’s been super busy at both of our offices, so hanging out at home is not really a necessity. Unfortunately, that means that we can keep putting off the resolving of our differences.

However, I can’t stand to live like that for very long. I’m the type who gets really upset when I get frustrated, blows up at him, sulks (and cries) a bit, and then by the time for bed, I’m ready to cuddle and move on. Pretty much regardless of the issue.

Rob, on the other hand, plays all cool when I’m blowing up. And then as soon as I get fed up and storm off, he realizes that he’s mad, too. He is so stubborn and can give me the silent treatment for days. And we live in the same apartment!!

I always wonder if he feels as discombobulated as I do. I can’t sleep at night, watching every time the light in the hallway goes on or off. Every time I hear him walking around, I hope that he’s coming to apologize. Plus this has been a really tough week at work—all I really want to do is come home and relax with my husband.

During these stressful times, I struggle: should I continue to do the chores and other things that I normally do for both of us? Or should I just leave him out to dry? Last night I chose to do the laundry and fold our clothes, but decided that he could deal with the dirty dishes that are piling up in the sink. For heaven’s sake, that’s his job anyway.

If I close my eyes tight enough, maybe I’ll wake up and it will be all over.

Loving them In-Laws

If marriage were outlawed, only outlaws would have in-laws.
-Author Unknown

This holiday season Rob and I have gained a lot of insight about each other’s families. Although we dated for right at five years before our wedding and had met each other’s families on numerous occasions, there is a new sense of appreciation. We always say that our families look a lot alike on paper, but in reality, they couldn’t be more different. Let’s just say, there has always been a lot of anxiety about getting together.

That’s when I really miss my dad and grandmother. Each of their fun-loving, easy-going, patient spirits would have made the transition to “son-in-law” so much easier for Rob and my whole family.

However, both our visit to Florida for Thanksgiving and our trip to Louisiana for Christmas were extremely enjoyable. It seemed that we achieved the right amount of balance between family time and couple time, and approached most things from a united front. Plus, I think our parents gave us more respect than in the past.

Another note about in-laws… Rob’s grandfather stopped through Atlanta the other day on his way down to Florida. I have met him several times, but for the first time I got the chance to sit down with him one on one. Grandpa arrived at our apartment while Rob was still dodging traffic on his commute home. I just really enjoyed our conversation. Rob always tells stories about how strict and demanding Grandpa is, how he and his sister would drop everything to do what he told them to do. But the other night, I got to experience a totally different side of his personality. We chatted about cars, jobs, Rob’s and my wedding, our families, and our dreams. I see a lot of Rob in him: the quick temper and the feistiness, yet also the thoughtfulness and the determination.

How I Spent 2007

"Each year is a new year."
-Tim Buckley

Rang in the New Year with Rob in Savannah at the Davis’… Observed surgical procedures in the OR in Mobile … Flew to Chapel Hill with Mom to attend Callie’s solo recital … Sold my Sentra and became an SUV driver … Said “yes” when Rob asked me to marry him … Tutored Camille and Daniel in math and science … Day trip to Chicago for the National Housewares Show … Engagement photos with Parker in the mountains of North Georgia … Girl trip to Chapel Hill to try on wedding dresses … Rob and I moved into our first apartment together … Started leading Monday night Bible Study … Rob graduated from Georgia Tech … Designed first website for a client … Premarital counseling with Pastor Lisa … Celebrate Poppy’s 80^th birthday in Shreveport … Played handbells at Oakhurst Baptist Church … Stayed with Camille and Daniel while their parents went out of town … Ate Mexican at Nuevo Laredo for my 23^rd birthday … Watched fireworks at Lenox Mall for the Fourth of July … Trip to Effingham to see Rob’s family … Drove to Shreveport for my Bridal Shower thrown by the ladies at Noel … Cheered on the Braves with Callie and Jordan on their way the NC … Day of pampering before having my bridal portraits taken … Bridal Shower thrown in my honor by the ladies of Epworth … Last minute wedding preparations with my mom … Bridesmaids’ Luncheon at Scrap Chic Boutique … Rehearsal dinner overlooking the GT stadium catered by Qdoba … Bachelorette party thrown in my honor by my bridesmaids … Rob and I were married on October 6, 2007 … Spent a luxurious wedding night at the Georgian Terrace Hotel … First three weeks of marriage were spent apart: Rob in Spartanburg, Jana in Atlanta … Trip to the pumpkin patch … Exchanged wedding gifts and spent our gift cards … Headed up the Operation Christmas Child drive at the church … Drove to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with Rob’s family … All-night Black Friday adventure landed us two cheap GPS units and other good deals on Christmas presents … Callie and Jordan got engaged … Shopped all of the malls in Atlanta to finish up our Christmas shopping … Drove to Shreveport to spend Christmas with the Jamars … Spent one night in our apartment before heading to Blowing Rock, NC for our honeymoon … Conquered the slopes at Appalachian Ski Mountain … Rang in the New Year watching the Ice Parade and fireworks at the ski lodge

Can't wait for what's ahead in 2008!

Swappin'

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect."
-Oren Arnold

And, to a fellow crafter, a lovingly handmade Christmas ornament to hang on her Christmas tree.

On one of the blogs that I check daily, I was introduced to the Holiday Ornament Swap 2006. It sounded fun, so I signed up and forwarded the link to my mom, who I must thank for the crafty blood that runs through my veins. We both got in on the fun. And, today I sent my packages for their journey all over the world!!

This is the note that I sent along with each ornament:
"Hi friends,
Thank you in advance for sending me your beautiful Christmas ornament. These ornaments will adorn my first Christmas tree in my first apartment. I have had so much fun decorating my home for the holidays.
I have always been a crafty person [it's in my genes], but with the free time I now have [sorely missed through my four years of college] I haven't been able to motivate myself to get a project started, much less finished. My apartment was filling with craft supplies, and my time was filling with reading craft blogs, but I just couldn't start. Then this swap came along! Although I can sew and have just learned to knit, I chose to make these ornaments with my favorite craft supplies: patterned paper and a little bit of Mod Podge. Hopefully this project will give me the momentum I need to complete all of the Christmas crafts on my to-do list.
Along with this shabby chic ornament, I'm sending along my blessings for you and your family this Christmas and throughout the New Year!
Merry Christmas! Jana"

The Feast

"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants."
-Kevin James

The holidays have begun!! To start the season: Thanksgiving. I cooked my first feast. Rob and I celebrated Thanksgiving here in town by ourselves this year. Although I missed being home and visiting with all of my family, I was looking forward to celebrating low-key this year. It's funny how quickly low-key becomes not so much. I spent several days poring over my cookbooks and surfing recipe websites, trying to find the best dishes to prepare and serve on the big day. I tried hard to blend both of our traditions, making sure that nothing super important was left out. One last clarification of turkey cooking time, two grocery trips, three hours of cooking, and at least 7 dirty pots and pans later, dinner was ready. And only 25 minutes later than my expected serving time of 3:30!

I was doing so well at the beginning, cleaning the dishes as I went. But then the timer dinged, the water boiled, the gravy needed stirring--all at the same time. I needed like four extra hands and lots more counter space. Rob showed up just as I was transferring it to the table [he had gone to find a newspaper with Black Friday ads!] Just in time to carve the turkey.

The Menu:
Sage Roasted Turkey Breast [a 4.5 pounder takes 75 minutes!]
Mashed Potatoes [with my new Cuisinart stand mixer]
Gravy [gravy takes skill, which I do not have]
Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing [so-so taste, but super easy]
Sauteed Green Beans [my new favorite recipe]
Candied Yams [talk about sugar overload]
Pillsbury crescents [can't beat 'em]
Kroger Bakery pumpkin and pecan pies [a half pie of each, so we could both have our favorite]

Let's just say after we stuffed ourselves, we spent the afternoon scouring the ads, watching a little football, and then going back to bed.