My life has been a basket of busy-ness the past several weeks. I'm pretty sure this has been the busiest time of my life! So much has been going on. Work has been hectic but good, the kids all started back to school, Jimmy and I helped my sister Elizabeth move into her dorm for her freshman year of college, and we celebrated our one year anniversary! And that's not even all, but to list everything would take days!
A few weeks ago Jimmy and I went to church with his Mamaw in Camden. Jimmy's great-grandpa mortgaged his home to pay for the first Cullendale Assembly of God, and they just recently were able to build a new facility to house their congregation. I think the old church burned down. It was so neat to go in that church and see everyone recognize my sweet boyfriend from 15 years ago. That's how long its been since he's been to that church! Also, it'd been a few years since I've sat through a church service and I immediately realized that church puts me to sleep.
Sometimes I feel like all I do is laundry. I sometimes wish I didn't have so much to do (doesn't everyone?) but then I realize that doing less laundry would mean wearing less clothing. If I wear something one time, there's an 80% chance that I will need to wash it before I wear it again. Not because it's dirty, but because I am just crazy about that type of thing.
I have a friend, Robert, who entered into the following conversation with me a while back:


Andrea: Robert, those jeans are awesome!
Robert: Thanks, I love them too.

----two weeks later---

A: I just love those jeans, they always look so good on you.
R: Ya I feel that way too. I never even wash them! I just wear them over and over, probably three times a week, and they just get better!
A: Wait, you for real don't wash those?
R: Nope. Remember the first time I wore them? Well I haven't washed them yet! In fact, I didn't even wash them before I wore them!
A: Strange...


I just couldn't get this situation out of my mind. At the time, Robert and I were great buddies, doing everything together. Working out, playing, going out downtown to one particular piano bar that had an endless supply of cigarette smoke (seeping into every thread on those never-washed jeans...gross), double dating, talking about whatever was on our minds. Basically a great friendship. I began noticing that he would wear those jeans EVERYWHERE, even when he had a lot of other jeans he could wear. He just loved the worn in, dirty feel of those pants. Funny, though, they never smelled bad. I think he Febreez'd them.
Well time has passed and since those wild days Robert and I have both grown up a little, both moved and moved on from those times of constant togetherness. He got married to the beautiful Amber and moved to Oklahoma, and I haven't seen him in quite some time.
Until...three weeks ago Jimmy and I took his brothers to that same piano bar (my fave, actually) for their 21st birthday. Imagine my surprise when I see my friend Robert there! He and Amber were down for the day and decided to visit downtown. And he was wearing...those same jeans! I didn't bother to even ask, because I knew the answer. Those jeans still have not been washed (unless Amber ambushed him and did it). My friend is not dirty, but he wears dirty clothes sometimes.
I, on the other hand, must wear clean clothes. I will wear certain things multiple times. Such as jackets, business suits, and a tank top here or there. I know, I could cut down a lot of laundry time if I would just wear my jeans a couple of times, but I can't do it. They just don't feel the same! I love the feel of clean, crisp (I hang my jeans, no dryer allowed for those!) blue jeans on my body. Sounds like a cheesy country song...Blue Jeans on my Body.

Intrusiveness

I've always thought it was weird when I'd hear people inquire to a couple about when they're going to get married or have kids. I've never been the person asking those questions, because I think it's completely intrusive and inappropriate. I mean, if someone was going to get married or have a baby, and you're close enough to that person, don't you think you'd eventually find out? I just don't understand people's compulsion to be nosy with those things. I am, by nature, a nosy person, as I'm sure many of you are as well. But I think there are certain things that shouldn't be asked to certain people.
For example: Jimmy and I have been together just over 1 year (yay!). He is the sunshine in my day, the stars in my night, the brown sugar in my oatmeal. And my boyfriend. BOYFRIEND! Not husband, not father of my children (dad to my dog, yes). So why, I wonder, do people think it's OK to ask me about our plans for marriage or a baby? Maybe we don't want to get married. Maybe we've both seen the effects of an unhappy marriage and don't want to be the people who are married and faking the happiness. Our happiness is real even though we're not married. I'm not one of those people who will say 'a piece of paper doesn't make us committed' or 'we'll get married only when all people who love each other are legally able to get married'. I'm just the type of person who says 'I'm in love. Leave me alone and quit asking questions that aren't your business!'. And the baby thing. We're already entrusted with the lives of three very precious little souls, Kaylee, Tristan and Makenzie. Maybe three is enough for us!! Maybe one cheerleader, one break-dancer and one little girl who will do anything (I mean anything!) her older siblings do is all we need.
And then, maybe, sometime in the future, when everyone is done asking questions and prying into our personal lives, we'll decide that we are the type of people to get married and perhaps even have a baby. But until then...Just let us be us! A happy, non-married, non-procreating couple.

The Tagging!

Four Places that I go over and over:
1. The lake
2. Walgreens
3. Home
4. Anywhere my boyfriend is
Four people who email me regularly:
1. James C. Graham
2. outontherock.com
3. Dear Prudence (advice on manners...I'm crazy about good manners!)
4. BCBG
Four of my favorite places to eat:
1. Gibson's in Chicago
2. Dizzy's Grill
3. Capriccio at the Peabody
4. IHOP
Four Places I would rather be:
1. With my love
2. In bed sleeping
3. Chicago at the Drake Hotel with my love
4. At at tattoo parlor. Kidding!!
Four TV shows that I watch:

Not too big on TV...but...
1. Anything on E!
2. Gossip Girl if I'm home
3. The news
4. Reality TV. I love it!!

In my own tradition, I tag no one!