Communication. What's that?

Dinner prep last night was a weird time at our house.

~ I wondered why Rob was seasoning the chicken with tabasco and cumin.
~ He wondered why I was making plain white rice.
~ I wondered why he wanted me to add red and green peppers to the green onions I was chopping.
~ He wondered why I was heating up the wok instead of the grill pan.

With all this 'wondering' floating around, neither of us piped up and said anything though...we just kept right on doing what we were doing, all the while thinking the other was bonkers.

Turns out we were on two totally different pages. For what is still an unknown reason, he thought we were making chicken fajitas and I thought we were making orange chicken stir fry.

Needless to say, we didn't really have either of those...it was more of a southwest orange stir fry in a tortilla.

Whatever.

Fall Stuff

Some weekend mid-October we trekked all the way out to Stocker Farms to conquer the corn maze and give their haunted house a try.

I think this was the first time it hit us that it was starting to get cold out. We weren't dressed warm enough for the weather, but luckily Rob had a few extra sweatshirts and pairs of gloves in the car!

We got there too late to hit their pumpkin patch, but were not much for pumpkin carving anyways. With an hour or so of daylight left we took on the corn maze. They offered us a map as we beginning, but we passed and entered the maze with nothing but our superior navigating skills.

There were all these CornText check points throughout the maze, but we didn't give in. We were certain we'd make our way through without any help.

Turns out we sorta suck. We ended up coming back out of the maze without any problems...only we came back out the entrance, not the exit. So technically we didn't do the whole maze, but I thought we did pretty good.

The haunted house was awesome! It wasn't really scary, but there were definitely some parts where I was startled. We met some fun people in line and went through it with them, which made it even more entertaining.

On the way home we tried to ignore the fact that our shoes and pants were all muddy and stopped PF Chang's for dinner. I think we got a weird look or two, but pretended not to notice!

I think we can scratch corn mazes and haunted houses off our list for a few years.

Click, flash!

A few weeks back we had our photos taken at Gasworks Park. We didn't get too many couples proofs back from the photographer to choose from {big bummer}, but I think we'll end up getting the few below.

She took a lot of individual shots, which we weren't really looking for, but may snag one of each of us...just to put on our desks at work. Not of ourselves, you know...of each other.

We're not in love with any of them, but like them well enough. Rob thought it would have been funner {or is it more fun?} to have our pets in the pictures with us. I vetoed it without even considering it. Maybe next time. ☺

Be nice.

As we were continuing our house hunt over the weekend one of the realtors made a comment about how we must be newlyweds.

I told him that we were going on 10 years together and asked him why he got newlyweds from us. His response really surprised me...he thought we were newlyweds 'because we are just so nice to each other' and that 'he doesn't see that too often when showing homes to couples'.

Surprising, isn't it!?! I figure it's easy to be nice to someone who you not only love but really like, right?

It was good to know that it's not just Rob who can tell how much I love him. Hope we don't ever become one of 'those' couples that guys is used to seeing!

Rob, I promise to always be nice to you. ☺

Cruisin'

Last night we boarded the Emerald Star for a Chef's Select Dinner Cruise around Lake Washington and Lake Union. It was quite the lovely site, but we hadn't quite mastered the settings on our camera...hence to super fuzzy blurred up pics...

I did finally manage to find the night landscape setting, but sadly by that time there was not much of a landscape to capture because the cruise was ending. Luckily Rob was still around and more than willing to pose for a pic or two...on the right setting. Handsome, isn't he. ☺

It wasn't the best of the dinner cruises we've been on (Argosy is!), but it was a great night weather-wise and we had loads of of fun together (naturally!) and that's all that matters, right?!

Day of Love

Our Valentine's Day started out with a heart themed breakfast, courtesy of yours truly. It got rave reviews. Naturally.

Jackson even got in on it a little...dogs can eat turkey bacon and heart shaped eggs, right?

Following breakfast we lounged around and watched episode after episode of Millionaire Matchmaker...does anything say 'true love' more?!? We then felt way too casual to follow through with our initial romantic date plans, so we threw on jeans and sweatshirts then headed to trusty ol' Burgermaster for a delightful Valentine's meal, shakes included.

Next up we visited a favorite area pet store to snag some goodies for the furry little loves in our lives. We wrapped the glorious day up with a viewing of Valentine's Day at our local theater. It was better than expected..full of laughs.

So there ya have it...V-Day 2010. Until next year...

Lethal Weapons

This weekend one of Rob's colleagues invited us to attended a Combat Hapkido Clinic. We've talked about taking Hapkido lessons for some time, but just never actually did it.

There is a martial arts studio near our home that was hosting a well know Hapkido master for the weekend, so we thought this would be a great opportunity to get started.

It was really fun, and a work out different to anything we have done before. Especially when Rob punched me in the face. Seriously.

The master reminded us that it was a 'training accident' (that stays on the mat and doesn't follow us home), and that I should have been blocking him anyways. True.

Rob was really sorry...although I swear I saw him spit out a chuckle. But so did I. I managed to get it a few good jabs myself too. ☺

We are now toying with the idea of taking the more advanced course on a regular basis...I just don't like the idea of having to wear a gi.

So now we are both I am pretty sore from being thrown on the ground over and over again...but also prepared to fend off a mugging or two. Don't mess with us, we are now lethal!

I never thought I'd see the day...

As hard as it is for me to admit it, I have just got to do it.

I am a proud owner of a Snuggie. Not just any Snuggie, a pink Snuggie.

Yep, gag...that's right...a Snuggie.

The Robster gifted it to me (cuz he ♥'s me), and got himself one in blue. I couldn't bring myself to don it though. I tried to fight it for several days, but Rob kept wearing his and he looked so dang warm, while I was just freezing.

Finally the other day he got sick of hearing me whine about being cold so he pulled my pink Snuggie out of the box and wrapped it around me.

No, surprisingly, my flesh didn't burn at the touch. It actually would have purred if it could. Since that moment we've been nearly inseparable, and I don't see our relationship ending any time soon. I just wish he would've gone with something other than pink. ☺

A night of Science(fiction??)

Earlier this week Rob and I went to check out Bodies...The Exhibition. I was super excited to go, and Rob was a little icked out by the idea of it, but agreed to go anyways.

Since it's right up my field of study, I found the exhibit to be extremely interesting. Rob on the other hand, couldn't wait to get out of there! Since it was still fairly early in the evening, we thought we'd see a movie and grab a quick bite.

I figured since Rob had been such a good sport to tag along with me to see Bodies, I would give in and go see whatever movie he chose...which of course meant that it would be something I probably wouldn't choose on my own. ☺

He didn't let me down. He wanted to see The Fourth Kind. Going into it, I had no idea what it was supposed to be about, so I was completely on edge. It ended up not being as scary as I thought it would be, but it definitely isn't something I'll be seeing again! I am not completely sold on the idea that the story is true, but who am I to say?

Portland and back

On a whim, Friday afternoon my Robster and I packed our bags...and Jackson's 'diaper bag' (Rob's words, not mine), dropped our pup off at the sitter's house and made our way down to Portland for the weekend.

It was a couple days full of doing what we do best...going to the movies, staying up late, eating out, shopping and sleeping in. Oh, and our version of car karaoke.

It was such a great time! Rob went and saw The September Issue without so much as a groan. He also followed me around shopping all Saturday (and half of Sunday!), even carrying my bags. Have I got a winner or what!?!

Our movie night was actually a double. After the first show we decided to stick with the documentary theme and stay around (and out of the cold) to see Capitalism: A Love Story. Great movie, but definitely a different feel from the world of Vogue we'd just visited.

There was a Halloween convention-like thing going on in the hotel during our stay. This big scary guy (I thought was a statue!) caught me off guard and I nearly lost it when he lunged for me. Halloween is weird. ☺

After a great Chinese lunch in the Pearl District and then a few hours and few hundred dollars later at Powell's City of Books we were on our way back to good ol' Washington State. We ♥ us some Portland!

Oh, the games we play

This afternoon we discovered our favorite new thing to do...play racquetball. After our normal workout we thought we'd borrow some racquets from the gym and give it a try.

Turns out it is lots of fun and we happen to be semi good at it...even if we don't know the actual rules. We kind of made up our own rules and they seem to work good enough. :)

Yeah we'll have to learn the real rules eventually, but I think our way will tide us over for the next little while.

We are now off to see Orphan. Definitely not my first choice of a movie, but since Rob took me to see The Ugly Truth last night without me even asking, I guess I can see this one for him.

I FINALLY get it

On a nearly bi-weekly basis for the past eight plus years I have dragged Rob from store to store where I expect him to flip through racks of clothes with me, give his opinion, then critique each and every piece that I try on and carry it for me once it's been purchased. And get this...he says he doesn't really like it. Shocker, I know!

It's taken years for me to catch on, but last night it really sunk in: shopping isn't fun if you aren't the one doing the shopping.

I'd agreed to accompany Rob while he bought some new suits. It was fun for the first seven and a half minutes...maybe, but then I was done. There wasn't any girl clothing to look at, just suits and ties and shirts and dress shoes and cuff links. Boring! After what seemed like days (it was really just a couple of hours) Rob had selected his suits, gotten fitted for them and paid. I thought I was on the verge of death by boredom.

I now have a new appreciation for all the tolerance he shows when we I go shopping and rather than having to reciprocate, I think it's best that we just shop on our own from now on...for the most part, at least. :)

I should point out that it wasn't a total bust...I did get to see His Handsomeness is some mighty sharp suits, and he did buy me some earrings! Of course, in true Rob fashion, we ended the evening with breakfast-for-dinner at IHOP.

Over the Fourth

Day one of our adventure was pretty adventure-less. We browsed the Lloyd Center Mall, got our pictures taken in the photo booth a la Jr. High style and saw Transformers 2. Total waste of two hours if you ask me. The first one was pretty good, but the second one was just plain stupid. It was just a bunch of running around, blowing up and machines zooming all over the place. Not good.



A yummy Standford's dinner after made up for the lack of cinema excitement and then back to the hotel for some shut eye. I am not a big sleeper, but Rob had to drag me out of bed the next morning because this hotel has the most comfortable beds I have EVER slept in. Seriously. That is why we always stay here in Portland. Not for the amazing location, great nightlife or the charming shops. It's the beds.

Next up was the St. Paul Fair and Rodeo. It wasn't much of a fair, but it sure was a good rodeo! As we parked at the city cemetery and walked into 'town', we passed this chalk art and it made me laugh. Had to take a picture!

Rob thought it would be $10 well spent for me to get a palm reading. I went for it and the whole time she was doing her thing I was thinking 'what a bunch of garbage', but she was SO serious, it was almost funny. Apparently I will be on the receiving end of a promotion within the next 3-4 months, I have a long life line (isn't this the lamest line in the palm reading book!?!), will be married within a year, will have three children (two boys and a girl) and will be financially successful for the rest of my days. OK, so I liked that last part.

At the rodeo the bucking bronco was right up there near the top of the list, followed closely by the bull riding, but my favorite part was when the rodeo clown reenacted every dance step of Beyonce's entire Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) video. It was SO funny!!

We skipped out before the fireworks to avoid the crowd when leaving. Little did we know, this sneaky maneuver led us to hit downtown Portland just as their fireworks were getting out, so we didn't get back to our hotel until 12:30. Genius, we know. We still caught some fireworks along the way.

The next day we grabbed lunch and did some shopping downtown.

Rob fell in serious like with an extendable scrubber at Sur La Table and insisted on carrying it around all day. Next stop, Puma. They had the funniest signs! Here's the Hot Stuff sign with my Hot Stuff underneath it posing with his new friend. This last sign was my favorite...it was in the mirror in the dressing room area.

Good trip. We had lots more planned, but ran out of time. It'll all have to go on our list of things to do on our next trip down.

Here we come

Last minute...yep, that's us.

We've got two and a half days of Utah with our names on it. It only took guilt trips from a few people to get us out there.

It's been a year or so since Rob and I both got to go to Utah together. Too bad we won't have enough time to see everyone and do everything we want to.

And Rob's been asking me for years to take him to Antelope Island. Looks like that will have to wait until next trip out as well. Darn it! :)

Movies, movies and more movies

We took advantage of the long weekend and took a mini vacay down to Portland to attend the Portland International Film Festival. It was really fun!!

And as if that wasn't enough we also saw two non-festival movies: Friday the 13th (not my choice!!) and The International. I tried to drag Rob to Confessions of Shopaholic, but had no luck!

I kept my eyes closed for most of Friday the 13th because it was too gory for me. My eyes were also closed for half of The International, but that was because I was so tired. I am too old to go to the 10:40PM showing...it's WAY past my bedtime! And, it wasn't really THAT great of a movie anyway.

We managed to fit in some shopping, sleeping in and a lot of eating...apparently one HAS to have popcorn in every single movie! We didn't get to see all the films we wanted to, but now we know how to plan better for next time.

So much for the 100th post

For our 100th post I (with some help from Rob) spent an entire week compiling the traditional 100th post list of unique things about us to share with you all. After I finally finished the list and was reading it back to Rob for his official OK he decided that the information was too personal and he didn't want to post it on our blog. Needless to say, I was less than thrilled with his decision, but fine...I won't post it. But now you all know who the wet blanket of the couple is. :)

As I began typing this up he said that I shouldn't post on our blog when I am angry. Good point, but I decided to do it anyways!

I am such a grump.

Who is he?

Last night Rob and I revisited an ongoing issue of ours. We just cannot come up with a conclusion that pleases the both of us.

Dilemma: How do we refer to each other/introduce each other to people?

We are attending a dinner party this weekend where we will not know most of the other guests, so there will be a lot of introducing.

Rob thinks that it is strange that I call him my boyfriend. He feels that title doesn't accurately represent the depth of our relationship. I can kinda see his point. He does seem like more than a boyfriend to me, but what is that called? Now me, I don't care what he calls me. I am fine with girlfriend, but he is insistent on being called something else. So, we ran through our list of options.

There is the simple Boyfriend, but it has already been vetoed by him - too juvenile. OK, Manfriend (a la SATC) - he isn't old enough to be referred to that way. How about Partner? That sounds too same sex relationship for him (although he is clearly a M and I am clearly an F, but whatever!). Next one I suggested was Significant Other. Apparently that just sounds stupid to him. What about Roommate? He didn't think this was funny at all...I did. :) Now I am all out of suggestions.

He has decided that he would like to be referred to as my Lover. When he first mentioned this way back when, I thought he was joking. Turns out he is serious. I informed him that this is definitely a no. He doesn't understand why this is a completely inappropriate way to introduce me to anyone...especially a total stranger. What am I going to do with this guy!?!

I think that I will just call him Rob and say that we have been together going on eight years. Simple...no title needed! I just hope that he follows suit. :)