Gray Skies & Groupon: Dangerous Business

Whatever the reason, I find myself far from motivated these days--school, home and gym included. I pinpointed one problem. In Colorado, the sun comes out at least one time each week. In Loveland, it’s a pretty big deal for snow to stick around for more than a few days. With that being said, I blame my lethargy on the determined-to-never melt dirty Wisconsin snow covered by weeks of gray sky.

I have had copious amounts of time to further ponder this dilemma as I do little to no work these days. I decided to focus on my home-time with Adam as well as our time at the gym. I found a FANTASTIC deal for a couple’s massage. I purchased it, but immediately encountered buyer’s remorse…which faded quickly as I bought two more Groupon deals …and read my friend Courtney’s blog about her coming travel adventures.

Now, what to do with these great deals… I could just enjoy each deal with my husband but that does not solve the problem of the seemingly mythical gym that takes money out of my account each month, not to mention the lack of pants that actually fit my derriere. Reminded by the PBS incentive philosophy (Positive Behavior Support, [basically bribery, which I fully support and we can debate the philosophical evils later]) I realized that I need some enticing in my own life. Adam and I agreed to each drop five pounds before we use the couple’s massage-which is rather brilliant because Groupons have expiration dates thereby putting a time limit on our personal endeavors.

As for my other two impromptu purchases: Both involve copious amounts of time with my husband, away from our tiny town of Verona. I have not decided whether we should continue our weight loss incentive program or if I should give these two pretty great Groupons to Adam for his birthday in March.  I would love to share the contents of each in order to foster informed decisions, but on the slight chance that Adam read my blog post, I don’t want to blow my really great finds.

Rewind: 2012

January

I had a plan in my head, leading me to honestly believe that we would receive multiple offers and a decision about Adam’s doctoral program during the month of January. HA! During the year 2012, I provided our Lord with a tremendous amount of comic relief.  I will admit that during the month of January, I struggled to look past the perceived lack of divine intervention. Jesus knows I love to plan.  

February

I wish I could say that we had a romantic first Valentine’s Day, but I remember spending the evening at 14-year-old volleyball practice and Adam had high school musical rehearsal until 10:00. Honestly, I do not remember much of January, February, or March-other than my desperation to know God’s plan. I do remember Adam spent the better part of February and March trying to convince me that we needed another dog.

March

March was much more exciting. My friend’s husband came home safely from over a year in Afghanistan. With incredible calm and confidence, my teaching partner performed the Heimlich on a seventh grader. Adam turned 27 and we celebrated with couple’s massages and sushi in Denver.

April

April was a big month. Adam decided on Wisconsin. I would love to be the humble, submissive wife, but in this case, submissive is all we are going to get. Adam received offers from Wisconsin and Nebraska. Wisconsin ties the culture of the city, the beauty of the country, and the romance of the Midwest into a thirty-minute drive. Nebraska is eight hours away from Loveland. From my parent’s front porch, Nebraska clearly wins.  But I submitted. Holy Moses did I submit. Jesus rewarded us as Wisconsin is tremendous. Adam is part of a distinguished program, I have a wonderful job, and we own a condo with, as my Dad would say, “a water view.”

Adam, Mickey, and I went on our first road trip. We celebrated my cousin’s marriage and were able to spend time with family we had not seen since our wedding. While we were in Michigan, Noah, the cutest kid on the planet, made his entrance.

May

I actually got to meet my nephew and I feel in love. I remember my astonishment at how tiny he was when I first held him in the airport.

On a sad note, I said goodbye to the greatest group of 7^th and 8^th grade students. I am sure that my feelings were directly related to the fact that I got to teach great material and I finally felt like I had my act together with four years of teaching tools, but I really loved that group and it was tremendously difficult to say goodbye. Never had I felt so loved by a group of kids.

June

I remember packing. I remember applying for jobs. I remember cleaning on a daily basis to keep up with the showings.

July

Adam and I made our second trip to Madison and made an offer on a horrible decision. On a whim, I dropped my resume off at what would be my new high school. I embraced the idea of Madison and we went sightseeing at the Madison Conservatory and the Madison Botanical Gardens.

Adam and I celebrated our first year of marriage by going to On the Border. We both ordered fancy drinks and reminisced about our rehearsal dinner.

My gracious Mom and I drove out to Wisconsin for my interview. I was offered the job that day. I’m pretty sure that I smiled for the rest of July.

August

On August 10, we spent our last night in our first house. Since everything was packed except our furniture, we enjoyed a bottle of wine in plastic cups with carry-out Chinese.

On August 13 we officially sold 707, making us semi-homeless. On August 15 we became genuinely homeless when we pulled our offer on the horrible decision.  The shining point of August is due to our new Wisconsin friends, their baby girl, and their two pups. God bless our Wisconsin friends.

September

Adam and I started our new jobs from a hotel room. We closed on our new, Jesus-saved-our-unwise tails house. Our parents arrived with a yellow Penske truck filled with our belongings which we unload in less than two hours in 75% humidity. That night my parents, my in-laws, my husband, and I enjoyed our first Wisconsin fish fry.

October

Adam and I carved pumpkins in our new house. We had our pictures taken by another one of our new Wisconsin friends. Adam still wanted another dog.

Fall photos taken in downtown Madison

November

Our dating anniversary (19^th) and my birthday (20^th) fell on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving break and Adam nailed it this year. We went to a restaurant down the street from the house (perfect as I was exhausted from the high schoolers) where the waitress brought the both of us free birthday shots tasting very much like grownup caramel ice cream. My birthday present consisted of a 150 year old book that Adam tracked down about President Lincoln, my most recent historical interest. We then rented Disney’s “Brave” which we watched from our bed because let’s face it, the ice cream shot just about did me in.

Adam really wanted "official" Wisconsin Cheese Curds

December

Adam, Mickey, and I drove to Colorado for Christmas with our families. It was white, wonderful, but rushed. We were able to witness our nephew’s first moves as a crawler. On the 30^th, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Wisconsin. We celebrated New Year’s Eve by going to sleep at nine. We celebrated New Year’s Day with laundry, which is still better than 2011…sick and in bed at 8:00. 2013-We might make it to midnight.

My Dad and his Grandson

Adam and his Dad

The Remodel

I feel the need to reminisce as Adam and I have been talking about the work we want to do to our new house. While I am thrilled by the idea of fresh paint and new fixtures, there are a few key elements of remodeling that will not be incorporated this time around. 

During the 707 remodel, I found my father and many friends by my side. My Dad never ceases to amaze. He created and leads two marketing businesses but he also knows how to refinish original hardwood floors and install toilets, sinks, light fixtures, and garbage disposals. In the early days of 707 I would come home from work and find him diligently, and unaccompanied, painting my new house.  I could regale you with hundreds of stories about my father’s selflessness, but I am already on the verge of grateful tears. Instead, I will leave you with this-I am 26 years old and I honestly believe my Dad can do anything…Thank you Daddy for being my superhero for almost 27 years now.

Due to many reasons for which I am now thankful (hindsight is 20/20), buying 707 was bittersweet. I was rarely alone during my first few weeks in that house. My friend Christine contributed a massive amount of elbow grease to both my life and my house. Courtney and Steph H. painted entire rooms by themselves. Dear friends, thank you for supporting me through that summer. What a mess my house and I were! 

Dining Room-After & Before

Living Room-Before & After

Guest Bedroom-Before & After

 We took the tub out to find rotting floor board, and by "we" I mean my Dad did all of the work while I watched, searched for the necessary tools, corralled Toby, and held doors open. I wish I had taken more before and after pictures of the bathroom as that is the room that underwent the biggest transformation and, of course, required the greatest amount of work...just picture a great deal of pink. 

I would not have been brave enough to actually paint my walls red without my mom's flawless eye for design. She recently opened Anna's Country Store, referred to by our family as Anna's Attic part II, and the layout of her "new" store is inspiring.



The Leaving Loveland for Madison Bucket List

Adam and I started packing up the house, just small stuff like DVDs and books. While our departure to Madison has been certain for months now, the actual move has been more of a fantasy involving a contract with my ideal job, the purchase of our first home, and Mickey roaming in our lush, magnificently landscaped, Wisconsin backyard. The reality actually involves no job, no house, a dreadfully dry Colorado lawn, and the enormous cost of simply renting a moving truck. In order to make the pending move more bittersweet than just plain sour, Adam and I decided to make a list of outings we would like to enjoy before we load up the pricey U-Haul. Most of the excursions are fond memories comprising our 2 ½ years as a couple while others encompass undiscovered monuments testament only to Northern Colorado. In no particular order, we will be enjoying the following with anyone who would like to join us!

1. Batman in the IMAX

…Because I am married to Adam Mark and well, it’s Batman.

2. Walk around Bear Lake/Day in Estes

…My family made yearly trips to Bear Lake for years and I want Adam to be a part of the tradition as he has never been. Also, Estes has the Estes Brewery, sufficing Adam’s love for local beer and my passion for what I believe to be the best onion rings in the world.

Bear Lake 1988

3. Brewery Tours-Adam’s Choice

...More to come on this outing as the list is consistently amended by my husband.

4. Denver Zoo

…When we were dating, Adam surprised me with “date days.” The Zoo was one of my favorites, but followed closely by our very first date day to see the Genghis Khan exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, followed later by the Aquarium, Pike’s Peak, and numerous trips to various Denver venues.

5. A Stay at Embassy Suites for our 1^st Anniversary

…I have nothing but great memories of Embassy. After our wedding ceremony we headed to the Loveland Embassy for our reception and our 8^th floor honeymoon suite. Our second night as a married couple was spent at the DIA Embassy. From the romanticized wedding memories to the free evening drinks, I love Embassy Suites.

Our First Dance

Loveland's Embassy Suites

DIA Embassy Happy Hour

6. Picnic at Viestenz-Smith Park

…Again, Adam grew up in the Springs. He needs to see this Loveland landmark.

7. Water World

…We enjoyed Water World summer of 2010, our first summer together. Peter, Adam’s best friend (best man at our wedding) joined us and we had a fantastic day.

8. Bike the Loveland Bike Path

…Neither of us have done this. I think we should have a picnic somewhere along the way.

9. Evening in Old-Town Fort Collins-Café Vino and Coffee

…Adam and I enjoyed our first date at Café Vino in Old Town. Adam drank some sort of scotch and he purchased a chocolate martini for me. All of this occurred on November 19, 2009. On November 19, 2010 we went back to our Café for our one year dating anniversary. I honestly believed Adam was going to propose. Needless to say, there was no proposal. Not at Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or New Years. I decided to hold out until Valentine’s Day as Adam also took me to Café Vino on our first Valentine’s Day together…yes, we need to broaden our restaurant repertoire. On Wednesday, January 19 Adam proposed and I had no idea it was coming. Perfect Surprise.

Anniversary Dinner

Coffee After Dinner at Cafe Vino

 10. Date Night at Centerra-On the Border

…Adam’s parents threw us a phenomenal rehearsal dinner at our favorite restaurant in Centerra.

The festivities are scheduled to begin this week. On the Border anyone?!