What's New? Don't Know. You tell me!!!

Not much to write about, so life is either good, steady, boring or I can't come up with anything clever to say. SO... instead... I thought I'd post some recent pictures I've taken to show-off my photo-taking skills (not clever, right?). Those (the two people who read my blog) interested in seeing my full set of photos can view them at www.flickr.com/photos/agphotos. Enjoy!

YEAR Number 2! Happy Anniversary

YEAR number 2 is here...and so am I. I've survived the terrible two's and am looking forward to 25! All is good and I wanted to pass on some insights:
first; been really busy being a husband... so no time to blog
second; been really busy being a husband... so no new ideas
third; been really busy being a husband... so no need to say more
except... YEA to me and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to US!
Love and Kisses...

OH---and

BTW----In case you forgot:

OH-YEA....

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR...

I met a lady named "MONA".....

Just got back from a week in Paris and it was 'magnifique'. Researched the area extensively and arrived prepared with proficiency in both language and cultural deferences. Forget what you hear from others about bad experiences in Paris. All you need to have a memorable time is command of some basic phrases and respect for the french culture. Don't forget a good map and the best walking shoes money can buy. Oh..Yea...bring a pretty girl (or guy). Enjoy...





Just a quick pic of me... getting out of the shower...









Excuse me Madam, can you point me to the restroom?








Now, what was I thinking about? Oh yea..the restroom.







So... If I put a bunch of color blotches together and view it from a distance..... I get..... MONET!






Look for the lights....and YOU THERE!

More pictures will be posted on my Flickr site, available by clicking on the link on this site.

Merci...Au Revoir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made it to ONE (after this first slice)...And...here's what I have learned (so far).

So it is now official (as of this morning), YEAR ONE is over. I made it to my first wedding anniversary. Still waking up every morning to find the 'same' woman lying next to me (every morning). Year one was pretty good. I learned that:

-- She's there, every morning, same woman (Oh yea, I mentioned that already)
-- I'm there, every morning, too!
-- Marriage is cool
-- Being married to your best friend is VERY COOL!
-- Single people are in trouble
-- Single people, not dating their best friend, are in REAL TROUBLE!
-- Talking is fun
-- Communicating thoughts, ideas, feelings is "funtastic"
-- Having someone there for you is security
-- Having 'the one' there for you is sanctuary

By now your getting the idea (or your in real trouble). This first year has turned out to be better than expected. I learned that (this is really important, so pay attention): Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
I pursue it and pursue it and pursue it, with my partner, through the in's and out's, good times/bad times, health/sickness, etc. (you know the rest) and I find that as long as I continue to pursue it, with 'HER', I AM HAPPY!

Happy Belated..........

I'm back after a small hiatus due to...well....due to having a life. Since my last posting, I've neglected the two or three people who regularly read my blog and owe them the following:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
(This one is for all my non-Christian followers: HAPPY 'fill in your preferred Holiday event' and of course to all the atheist: HAPPY YOU!)

Life as a married man is continuing smoothly, with all of the expected twist and turns (aka- good times and "Oh my God, what have I done to my life" times). Not much has occurred out of the ordinary cycle of 'I'm still on the honeymoon stage' in marriage. My bride has continued to be consistent in her manner and temperment with regards to her treatment of yours' truly. I thought by now I would have loads of situations to write down for my avid followers to read, chuckle, and provide profound advise. All I can say is, Hey! things are good.

One thought entered my mind last night as the Mrs. and I were watching a TV show that asked the question; "What annoys you about me?" I thought is was the proper time (8 months of blissful matrimony) to field that question. What I got back was: "While there are some things, it is not the right time to discuss them? I will reserved that for a later date!" HUH? Some things? Reserved for later? HUH? Ladies...I need an explanation. Please respond, as I am left in the perverbal limbs of the unknown. Is it time to call a lawyer or a therapist? As for those annoying things my wife engenders, I can start with her saying things like SOME THINGS...and...RESERVED FOR LATER. Also, she has a nasty habit of...

CHAMPS!

We are the CHAMPIONS....of the world (that's BASEBALL, of course). For those who missed it...CHICAGO...CHAMPS! (that's WHITE SOX, of course). 88 years and now what? Repeat? Or... How about a CUB win? I'll go either way (that's baseball, OF COURSE!).

Settling....In

Four months into it...and there I am, on the right, flourishing under the sun. Do I look happy? Content? Healthy? Well, ask the babe on the left.
Part of settling in after nuptials is finding your space, settling in...to your homeland. Its been an interesting experience. Sometimes the land under your feet, around you, is too small to settle your feet. Other times, it feels like you can't miss the ground, no matter where you land. And, I have BIG feet. Wait a minute...Is that grass growing under my feet?

....the same...every month!

"SO...Have you heard about the new edition of PLAYBOY for married men?
It has the same centerfold every month"

Well...its been almost two months since the nuptials and already I've started with the married jokes. The shame!

It's Done!...I mean I'm DONE!

There I am, on the right, with my beautiful bride on the left, celebrating our union. It all came together on July 3. My "Camino Real" has ended, or is it just beginning. Thanks to all of you who have shared my journey and a special thanks to those of you who took the time to share with me on this BLOG! We look good, heh? Like a couple of puppets on a pedestal. Ready to bend at each others will. Is that right?

NOW, my journey continues. The next stage of this blog will be dedicated to the FIRST YEAR together, as man and wife. I'll be looking for advise on how to survive year one. I'll tell you what happens and how I deal with it. You tell me how wrong I am! DING...DING...DING... Time to kiss the bride.

P.S. Happy Birthday....Stud!

I'm back! - Thanks SBC (not)

Ok. So Murphy's Law says all things that can go wrong, WILL! How about this:
-Moved from one building to another, about 500 feet to a larger place (because...read the earlier post) and went without a phone for 1 week (thanks SBC, not) because their promise due date was off by 7 DAYS
-Ordered new DSL service and was promised a service date of 5/6. Got the new service, yesterday, 5/27, 21 DAYS off (thanks SBC, not). Why? Well because they attached the service to the old address, that no longer has phone service. It took 3 weeks to fit and 3 hours to connect. But I'm back.
-Ordered furniture that was delivered in pieces over a 2 week period (not SBC's fault, but hey why not!)
-Guess what, the furniture is too BIG! Got to be returned. Bought new furniture for an extra $1500. Will be delivered in 4 WEEKS. Just before the wedding. Wonderful.
-Moved my clothes into the walk-in closet. Hung them up on the cute wire-mesh set-up. Next day, clothes on the floor. Maintenance came and re-enforced the wires. Hung up the clothes. 2 days later, clothes on the floor. Call friend, contractor. Bolted the mesh onto the studs....Today....Still holding, but bending!
Have I told you that the fiancee is moving in today, and their is not a lot of closet space left. She has 3 closets in the old place, one just for shoes.
Thanks, SBC...at least now I can bitch about to....!

Furniture...Do we need it?

It's down to 91 days (please read the earlier post to figure it out) and now the BIG decisions. Furniture! How are (we) going to decorate the new dig? What colors? Fabrics? Room arrangements? HEADACHE. What can a man who has been living out of cardboard dressers, a futon and big TV say about furniture? To me, one word, COMFORT. To her, one word, ITS WHAT I WANT! So the struggles begin. I like everything she hates and, well, you can figure out the rest. So on we go from one store to the next. I look west, she looks east. I like black, she, red. Does anyone have an answer? I know that compromise is the answer, but what can be reached from a cardboard man and a fashion princess?
If I follow Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's advise:
"I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose."
I guess its going to be RED!

Not tonight, Sweetie. I'm the one with a headache.

Men's libido are on the decline. Woman are noticing. Or at least I've finally found someome who agrees with me. When your in a committed relationship (as I am, and getting more committed by the day) there is always a decline in the number of times you bellow into the open air with a discharge of relief (get it!). I mean, you start at twice a day for months, to twice a week, then dwindle down to a comfortable pace. As comfortable as the relationship gets content. Woman have usually been blamed for the decline. But it seems that more men are the ones going to sleep first. Does that mean there is no more desire? Or are we (those headed towards the altar) feeling strangled and looking for an out? Or are we (Men) maturing and realizing the consequences of judging our self-worth by the number of times and the number of panties we can throw on the floor?
A recent article in Gentlemens Quarterly (Feb. 2005), points out that men (that is, some, matured) are no longer obsessed with conquest or running up the number of times they pop (although you should be maintaining your annual average of at least 111 times. P.S I'm ahead of schedule). It seems many are TIRED of SEX. I can relate. That is, to the idea that a great relationship maintains many other areas of life, including sex. When I was thirteen, it was all about sex. At 21, I would spend everything, listen to anything, and almost do anything for it. Now, I get. (in all ways). With the advent of pills, ads, and even the Internet, we are made to feel small. We either conquer for our worth, or be left to surfing for the unattainable. (Special notice to all those TV ads. Yeah, I'm not whole without your pill.)
So ladies, If your man seems like he is slowing down or losing interest, be sensitive to what's happening in his world. He's got a job, bills, and a mother-in-law. And, maybe he's just falling in love (with you). As for me, well, I'm looking to be the dog who gets fed, get's to lay down and hopefully get rubbed, often. Here kitty, kitty.

The Ring

HeRing
Originally uploaded by AGPhotos.

So there it is...Ladies and Gentlemen...THE RING!
I have made the latest journey towards my "real road" and now continue towards 'El Camino Real'. It's for real now. I tried on several thousands (or was it just two or three) and for some reason couldn't find one that fit. Every time I tried one on, my hand would shake violently and wouldn't stop until I took it off. I was told by my fiancee and her newly acquired ally (the salesman) that this condition was psychosomatic and would subside...once I paid for the ring. Alas, they were correct and I now keep it in its box until the day its place on its permanent perch, the hand held steadily by my wife.

Pals

Can a marriage ever turn out two people who can give each other unconditional love and trust like...lets say... a man and his dog? I wonder. After spending the last week 'discussing':'debating' with my fiancee (OK MEL?) about how we each envision our wedding plans should be executed, I find myself looking for a partner who just wags its tail and licks my face. Or maybe I'll be the one to wag. I guess not being able to verbally communicate your thoughts and ideas can lead to some confusion and frustration. I now know how dogs feel about some humans. BUT, as Margaret Gatty once said; "The days are too short even for love; how can there be enough time for quarreling?"

"Micropatronage" ME!

So let me get this straight, there are guys/gals out there who actually start a blog site and then get you readers to help support them by making $donations$ to their cause (huh?). That right folks. I just read an on-line article in Wired News, 'Ouit you job to blog, blog, blog', that outlines how a few entrepreneurs are living their journalistic dreams while asking for your 'micropatronage" (aka CASH). Sweet!

With that in mind, I would like to submit this blog as a preview of a great journey towards the road to marriage, and ask for your 'micropatronage'. OK! Hey, I've got a wedding to pay for and I'm down to 131 days and counting. So those of you who have a penchant for reading great works and contributing to the continuation of such works by said author, please respond to this posting with your contact information. I will advise you where to send the cash. YES? My fiance and I thank you in advance for your generosity. Its money well spent (and may possibility be tax-deductible).

I'm going to pay homage to one of the bold entrepreneurs who quit his job to do just what I described above. I'm not going to send him money, but I hope someone tells him that I linked him at my site so that he can "Micropatronage" ME!

Men's Lessons

First of all; to all those woman who didn't get this on Monday- HAPPY VALENTINES! This message was bought to you by all the Hallmark, Candy and Florist stores in America. OK?

Now, Men; these messages are bought to you by our friends at Men's Health magazine.
-Why are you always horny? Blame the 'Y' chromosome. Lots of great testosterone and a really large...hypothalamus.
-Why a man should NOT marry before age 25? Your brain (PFC) is still incomplete. And maybe so are other parts of you.
-Why do we like Porn? Blame the amygdala. Our eyes keep telling us the chick on the screen wants us.
-Why do we (sometimes, but really rarely) lose our erection? Performance anxiety. Or she really is ugly.
-Why are we the ones who usually get dumped? Woman see the 'bigger picture' faster. Or he really is ugly.
-Why do our eyes wander? Blame vasopressin, a hormone that regulates sex impluses. Women, if you don't want his eye to view the artwork, keep him out of the museum.
-Why does she scream 'Oh God' during an orgasm? It's not about you. The region of the brain responsible for orgasms is called the 'God' area. She's having a spiritual experience.
-Why does size matter? Because she says it does. And you believe her, idiot. (Average male erection measures 6 inches)

So next year, for Valentines, forget the gifts. Teach her a lesson. Just love her.

Getting "Hitch"ed

OK, So I'm one of the first to see and now post about the new Will Smith movie, HITCH. As for my Ebert review, I give it a three (3) thumbs up! It was funny, sensitive, romantic and cynical all rolled up into a Valentine date movie. Gentleman, big mistake. Not a first (or second, third) date movie. It's more for the lonely hearts or the 'already too late to change' couples. Its starts with the typical stereotype male branding, male ineptitude, and male bashing, followed by enlightenment, then cinderella shoe fitting, eventually erupting into the truth about finding your soulmate. :::SPOILER WARNING::: What is the answer? BE YOURSELF! Forget the advise from friends, relatives, therapists, and talking animals. Just follow your foolish heart. Take the plunge!
As for first dates, guys, if you take her to see this movie, your screwed. You will not be able to replicate anything you learned from the movie on her. She'll know where you got it from. You will be left with having to come up with an ORIGINAL idea. And, as we learned from the heroines of this movie, an original idea will only get you "Hitch"ed.

My thoughts!

So I was laying in bed the other day, drained, thinking about how I have 144 days left (for what? read my earlier post, please). My thoughts centered around the planning, cost and eventual execution of that big day. Man, do I feel like digging a hole and hiding in it. Guess it's too late for that, huh? Ever get that empty feeling inside? You know, like what's going to be left over is just...well you know.