Thursday, January 20, 2011

10 Things A Guy Should Know....

I am 'writing' (more like copying and pasting) this post because I fell in love with this article (if that's what you would call it).  I know, I know, its corny and cheesy and guess what... I LOVE IT!  I hope someone gets a good little smile out of this because it honestly is so true.  <3

10 Things a Man Should Know About Marriage



The Proposal


You've met the right girl, second- and triple-guessed whether she's the right girl, and decided to butcher your savings. The average engagement ring is just over $4,000; be prepared to go higher, but remember that carat isn't the most important of the four Cs. Take her someplace intimate (read: not a sports stadium), look her in the eyes, and — while she gasps — realize you forgot to ask her father beforehand.


The Bachelor Party


You must placate two opposing constituencies: 1) your buddies, who want tequila and lap dances; 2) your bride, who trusts you but doesn't trust your buddies. Her concern is valid, but assure her that — even if they walk you up to the line — you won't cross it. So, where is the line? It defies description, but you'll know it when you get there. (And so will your buddies, if they're actually trustworthy.)


The Wedding


Snooze through the small decisions (ice sculptures, florists) and roll your eyes at her "wedding porn" (those dozens of bridal magazines on her side of the bed), but get involved for the guest list, location, and date. She won't think it's sexy if you're totally uninvolved. Buy the tux, don't rent; you'll need it again. The big day itself is a blur — you kiss, you dance, you shake hundreds of hands, you take her to bed... and you fall asleep from exhaustion.


The Honeymoon


You've spent the last year drowning in stress — now you can drown in champagne. And other pleasures. Just make sure that her new last name matches her passport, if that's how she's introducing herself to customs officials.


The First House


Maybe not because it seems like the safest investment right now, but because you need to live somewhere — and shouldn't squander money on rent forever. She decorates, you shrug. But you learn to use power tools, and start caring about things like "mulch." You and the wife occasionally bicker, but this, like mulch, is natural and necessary for growth.


The First Kid


Every plant you've owned has died from lack of water. How can you handle a kid? But she wants a baby, so you battle the fear. (And there are scarier things than sex every night.) Finally, she's late — and suddenly you're using those new power tool skills on a crib. Nine months later, you race to the hospital. You make it. You cry. Dad. And when you get home, you remember to water the plant.


Second Kid, First Minivan


Lacrosse practice. School plays. Homework -- You can't remember calculus. And it's been years since you've heard the words "Last Call". A Third, accidental kid. You now see eye-to-eye with Clark Griswold.


The Seven-Year Itch


You realize two things: your bank account is bigger than ever, and there are women everywhere. It wouldn't be hard- you're always on business trips, you can be discreet- but you don't scratch it. Because there's more at stake than your integrity: the kids. So instead you buy and Aston Martin, no matter how silly it look with your graying, thinning locks. Your wife smiles at the sight; she looks beautiful.


The Grandkids


Mission accomplished. The kids leave for college, graduate, wed their sweethearts. You give them hard-earned wisdom about marriage- mistakes you've made, ways to take back those mistakes- which they promptly ignore. Just like you ignored your parents. They have kids but you're not a "grandpa," because grandpas are weak and old and enjoy prune juice.


The Long Goodbyes


Prune juice is kind of delicious, huh? The grandkids get married, but this time you hold back on the advice- they'll learn on their own. You already beat the Seven-Year-Itch, so the Seventy-Year-Itch is no big deal. Semi-assisted living becomes fully assisted living, which becomes hospice. You look at your wife. Know you'd do it all over. Close your eyes. Hold her hand. This is happiness ever after.


I think I want to get this little thing framed or something because I think it is so cute.  Maybe I think its even more cute because Derek loves it just as much as me.  He'll grab it off my fridge and read it at least once every couple of weeks.  If you would like to see the cute old school pictures they show in the article click here.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Poor.Poor.Poor.

If anyone doesn't already know this about me then here I am admitting a fault that I have (among many, I'll just name one).  When I get an idea in my head, and decide that I want it, I have to have it right at that second. Well second, week, month, YEAR.  But we all know I can't wait a year for things to happen.  Example:

8:15am: Mom says, "Ash, we are looking at selling our car, if you are interested we can sell it to you for a very good price."
8:16am: I think very, very hard about it.  How big of a commitment is it? Ah who cares!

8:30am: "Mom, I'll take it!" :)
8:32am: I text Derek, "Oh hey, would you be ok if I bought mom's car?"
Ha ha, just kidding on the Derek part. Of course I asked him before I said yes, but he could never say no to me.  I'd take Chloe from him.

So the other day my mom sat me down and said, "Ash, I think you and Derek need to get into a house soon (after marriage of course).  With the market how it is you can buy a great house for a great price and you have money to put down for a down payment.  Rates for a loan are down low and I can hook you up with a really good title company to save you some costs" (ha).  Well after she said that, I text Derek to tell him.  He said he would really like to do that and thought it would be a good investment.  We've both been living in apartments for 3-4 years now and we are both so sick of it.  I don't even want to think about how much money we have both been payed for rent.  So that afternoon/night we pulled up the mls list for Cache County and started looking.

Needless to say I think I'm going to drive Derek crazy with all my house talk.  Then my step dad throws out that he thinks we should look into doing the Self Help Program with Neighborhood NonProfit which is where he works.  You build your own house and help your neighbors build theirs for 8-12 months.  You have to spend at least 36 hours (I think) working a week but your family members can come to help and count for some of your hours.  We are looking into it because we'd be saving $36,000 on a house.  They are appraised for $187,000 but the loan you take out is only $151,000 - $155,000.  (Except that is a LOT of money for us, ek...)  Well it'd be a ton of work and I'd feel bad watching Derek work his job for 10 hours a day and then work until 10 at night Tuesday-Saturday but who knows, he could like it.

Every time I ask about a house my mom says, "Oh poor Derek, poor poor poor Derek.  I feel bad that he has to put up with you."  Well I blame her, I wouldn't even be really thinking about a house if she hadn't put the idea in my head.  Derek sure is excited about it though, he would love getting a house and fixing it up a little bit.  I do feel bad for him though.  When I'm done running around with my idea's we'll be living on a big piece of land, our car will be a school bus, we'll have a swimming pool and in the backyard will be a doggy day care center.  Oh and did I mention (?) the pool is shaped like a bone and for dogs only.  :) Everyday I tell him that at least he knows all this stuff about me before we get married.

*I got this picture from msnbc.com through their Animal Tracks*
The little article next to this pictures says...
Dogs heading to Totally Dog day care center in Miami, sit in their seats.  Every day, up to 25 dogs board the yellow school bus for their ride to the five-acre, fully-fenced doggy playground, complete with a bone-shaped swimming pool.  Some of the dogs are dropped off by their owners in business parking lots and others are picked up at their homes.  (My dream job)


Well after every thing is said and done on our apartment/house hunting for when we are married, I will be happy with anything.  I'll just be happy to finally be married and living with just Derek and the Moppit.  But it does get me excited to know someday in the near future we will own our own place and no one can tell us we can't have a dog there (stupid landlords).  I can't wait!