25 things

I've been tagged on Facebook with the task of listing 25 things about me. For some reason, I don't want to list that many things on Facebook, and what's more, I especially don't want to list 25 things about me. I've been so cross and contrary lately that I'm getting tired of myself. But, I'm not tired of my husband, and I always like to think about him, so here we go with 25 things about Jan Michael:

1. Besides Calvin and Hobbes, his favorite comics are Asterix and Obelix, Tin Tin and Donald Duck. I love to hear him laugh out loud while he reads them, and I love that he reads the funniest ones to me.

2. He drinks a ton of milk – at least two gallons a week.

3. And he’s never broken a bone.

4. He’s never had a cavity, either.

5. He’s been skydiving three times, and you would not have to twist him arm get him to try it again.

6. He can’t always remember how old he is. Last year he thought he was 36; he felt better when I reminded him that he was only 32.

7. He paces and paces in a circle around the living and dining room when he talks on the phone.

8. He loves our family fiercely.

9. He has wonderful memories from growing up, and he tells stories from when he was little with such detail that I feel like I was there.

10. He likes to play basketball, but doesn’t like to watch it (because watching makes him wish he could play instead).

11. He's a natural runner. He can take a break for months and then go out and run for miles without thinking twice.

12. He’s very fond of his pillow. It’s the longest, flattest, hardest pillow I’ve ever seen, but he remains loyal to it still.

13. His smile lights up our whole house.

14. He can't stand to see someone else embarrassed.

15. He has incredible hand-eye coordination.

16. He has crazy Rock Band skills. I have fun watching him play.

17. Sometimes he gets a twinkle in his eye and a certain look on his face, and I know that mischief is about to be made.

18. He makes up little songs all the time and the hearing of them makes me laugh and laugh and laugh.

19. The more tired he grows, the sillier he becomes.

20. He has a tender heart.

21. When he decides he wants to accomplish something, he will get it done, and no bones about it.

22. He calls taking a nap "resting my eyes."

23. He likes driving in the snow.

24. He says the funniest things in his sleep. One night he said, "My feet are big...But they're not made of wood!"

25. He is easy to love.

Into the twilight, endlessly grousing

This is my car. It is frozen shut, probably because it's 25 degrees outside, which is also probably a vast improvement from the early morning, very dark hours. My car is frozen shut, and I am stuck.
But wait! All is not lost, because this is the sun (I identify it because if you live in Washington, you may have forgotten what it looks like) and all I have to do now is wait patiently for my car to thaw out, and I'll be on my merry way. Of course, I may have to wait until 4:00 this afternoon for the rays of the sun to actually reach my car, at which point the sun will begin to set, thereby re-enforcing the ice on my doors, thereby forcing me to wait until tomorrow to do things such as go to work and replenish our toothpaste supply.

January has been a trying month for me.

After!

It's the coziest thing to be snuggled up to my husband on our new couch while he reads to me from Calvin & Hobbes. And our guests will appreciate something other than folding chairs, too, I bet :)

Before

When you haven't had furniture for months on end, it's handy to have a vivid imagination & just pretend.

One last thing about the flood.

And that's it. No more after this, because besides being tired of snow, we are also tired of water.

I think I will make a belated New Year's resolution to put on something cute once in awhile.

Down came the rain

As of early this morning, we can boast of living on island property - we are surrounded by water & all roads leading to our little town are closed. Of course, we're safe & dry & in no danger of flooding ourselves (and we're together, the most important thing!), which is much more than what most people can say - my heart just aches for everyone whose houses have been invaded by rivers & who've had to evacuate. We're thinking anxiously of my parents & sister, whose houses are right in the line of fire. They've spent yesterday & today moving belongings to higher ground & sandbagging where they're able; the only thing left to do is wait & hope. Sigh.

No 4 mile walk for us today! The trail was officially closed about 2 minutes after we took this picture.
No playing in the park either!

In a little while, if it stops raining, I think we'll venture out to take more pictures. For now, we're happy to be inside & out of the downpour.

A little bit of us, live-action style

I've been meaning to post these videos for ages, and finally, here they are. Of course, they wouldn't be here at all without Jan Michael, who knows a thing or two about editing & uploading & embedding videos. Honestly, without him, I'd be able to check my email & that's about it. Anyhoo, on with the show...

It's hard to see because it's so dark, but this is Jan Michael on the night of our spectacular double date with Derek & Sara, zipping down the path on the Ghost Rider. When we watched this the other day, he said, "Oh, this was when we thought the snow was fun," and I laughed & laughed & laughed, because at this point, we DO NOT THINK THE SNOW IS FUN.

I may have said this before, but we strongly suggest inviting yourselves over to Derek & Sara's & demanding a ride on their tandem. Sailing along with your love, bundled to the hilt, will make you smile until your face aches :)

This is from our trip in November to visit cousins Gary, Merrilee & their girls. Whenever we visit, Gary takes us on a shooting expedition, and we have heaps of fun (but some of us have better aim than others, ahem...).

And here we have a clip of the biggest & fastest & craziest roller coaster we rode all week in Florida back in September. I'm adding this mostly to impress you with our immense daring & pluck :)

2009 already?!

We rang in the new year with the usual suspects - a handful of our very dear friends, piles & piles of food (Bill even barbequed in the snow - we will not be beaten by rotten weather!) & really fun games. A very happy way to end a very happy year :)