Grizzly Adams......

I do believe my husband is a modern-day Grizzly Adams. Remember the iconic character from the 80's, the grizzled man who lived in a cabin in the woods and had all sorts of adventures with his pet grizzly bear, Ben? He was a simple man - didn't need much - just a roof over his head, a sharp stick to pick his teeth with, and a cast iron skillet. And that's where my husband comes in.

As of late, Jeff enjoys making himself an egg in the morning for breakfast. But he doesn't "make" an egg. He "sets an egg to fryin'" (his words) in his long-forgotten but newly rediscovered cast iron skillet. While his egg is sizzling, he does his morning routine of feeding the dogs. By the time he returns to the kitchen, his egg is perfecly fried and he consumes it with gusto. But then.........then he leaves the cast iron skillet on the stove, still greasy and speckled with salt and pepper. Because any good mountain man knows you never wash your cast iron skillet. Why, all that leftover grease and grime just adds "flavor" to the next meal cooked in it!

I believe my husband does this because he truly wants to be a mountain man. He's a simple guy, with a love for all things outdoors. In fact, when indoors, he often forgets he's NOT outdoors and behaves as such. Wipe off the counter? We don't do that while camping. Leave a pheasant pelt hanging up to dry on the side of the house? Why not? Well, because we live in suburbia. But Jeff likes to forget that.

I wonder sometimes if I can truly provide the happiness and companionship he needs as a suburban housewife. I mean, Grizzly Adams didn't even have a girlfriend, and seemed perfectly content to cuddle up to his giant bear. We may live in the suburbs, but Jeff's heart is in the wild. He asks me to subscribe him to "The Reel News" and "Outdoor Life". There's a turkey call on my dresser. The bookshelf is filled with Patrick McManus novels praising all things outdoors.

So, what's a woman to do? I happily accompany him fishing, camping, crabbing and clamming (silently thanking God that Jeff decided to splurge on a pop-up camper a few years back, thus saving me from tent camping in the pouring rain). I've yet to accompany him hunting because - well - slogging through a grassy marsh while holding a firearm for the sole purpose of filling a small pheasant full of lead shot just doesn't rank up there with, say, getting a pedicure.

Still. I really think Jeff could be happy growing a beard, not showering for days, eating off  the land and holing up in a dank cabin with a bear. But I'm glad that, for now, he's keeping up his other persona of buttoned-up businessman. Well, perhaps not so buttoned up. He's more of a top button opened, t-shirt showing, slightly wrinkly businessman. But I love him just the same, especially when I hear him knocking around the kitchen, settin' his egg to fryin' before he heads off to the hang with the suits - perhaps with a pheasant feather stuck to his shoe.......

Jeff wins again!

Up early on a Saturday for the Cottage Lake Triathlon.......

Making some final adjustments to the wetsuit.......

Thank God for westuits on a cold morning!

Getting in the water........brrrr............

Coming in from the swim...........

Way to represent for the company!

Transition to bike...........

Coming back from the bike ride.......

Heading out on the run, taking time to wave to his biggest fan!

Still smiling after swimming and biking.........

Passing a competitor at the finish!

Finisher's medal!

Happy camper!

Jeff won third place in his age group! YAY! 

Run of the Mill 5K

Ran into some fellow running friends at the start of the run - Scott Sypher and Scott Bickhaus...

Jeff ready to start the run.........

Starting line...

Jeff starting the race...

Jeff did the Run of the Mill 5K today for the second year in a row. He finished in about 30 minutes, which wasn't bad considering he's injured (nerve impingement!). In true form, I got up early to support him (haha) and took pictures. I waited the ENTIRE time at the finish line to get a finish photo of him but somehow I missed him! He said it's because he was so fast he went by in a flash! LOL! Afterward we walked around the booths, and visited the coolest store, Musings, that has tons of stuff I love and everything Jeff hates (crafty, girly things). It was a beautiful morning!

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

Jeff's 42nd birthday passed with little fanfare as we drove to Boise that day, but we still did the birthday morning where he had this amazing chocolate "cake" - really a chocolate "box" filled with fancy chocolates. I tried to write on it to make it more personal, but my cake decorating skills leave a lot to be desired. He got a wine aerator from his dad, a t-shirt and Costco card from his mom, lots of new music from me, cards from the kids. I'm sure he would have spent his day in any number of ways instead of driving 10 hours, but he was such a good sport about it, and always such a faithful driver on these long road trips. Just another reason why we love him so much. Happy Birthday Jeff!

Cottage Lake Triathlon

Jeff stretches before the race...

Dock dog! A new yoga pose.

Coming in from swim...

Finishing the race...

Winner!

Accepting a medal for second place in his age group!! Go Jeff!!!

Citizen on Patrol!

In response to our recent burglary, Jeff has decided to take it upon himself to perform his own "citizen patrol" in the hopes that he will catch him a crook! Now, this involves setting his alarm to go off at 1 a.m. on a Monday morning (waking sleeping wife, much to her displeasure). He then dons dark clothing and mounts his bicycle to wheel stealthily through the neighborhoods, silent crusader on a mission! He inspects driveways, doorways, dark dungeons of despair! If only he wore a cape! Once he is satisfied that all is well in the 'hood, he will return to his comfortable abode, waking sleeping wife once again, and report his findings (a garage door was open! ooohhh!). Now, I ask you, what will this accomplish? What if he stumbles, I mean, pedals, upon some dastardly deed in action? Will he shout "Stop! Or I'll pedal!" Will he rush the criminal and tackle him to the ground, thereby risking his own safety? Or will he just call 911 to report the crime to the local sherrif, who will arrive long after said crime is committed and turn his attention to the creepy guy riding his bike at 1 a.m.? Tune in next week to find out...........

Acorn Squash

You all know by now that my husband is Cheapy McCheapypants. But he really took it too far this past week. While preparing for Thanksgiving, I noticed an acorn squash on the counter. I know I did not purchase an acorn squash in my grocery shopping excursion, and I thought it seemed a strange purchase for Jeff to make on his own, so I eyed it suspiciously, but didn't think much of it as I went about my chores.

At some point, Jeff announced how he "scored" this acorn squash from the PARKING LOT AT SEARS!!! Oh yes, he had been at Sears to procure a tool for his truck when he noticed this acorn squash in the parking lot. Now, I don't know about you, but I would be immediately suspicious of a piece of produce in the parking lot of a department store. Where did it come from? Why was it here? But not Jeff. He just thought......FREE FOOD!

So, he actually brought this discarded produce home with the intention of serving it to his unsuspecting family. He argued that it was fairly impervious, in fairly good shape, and so what harm could come from it? I immediately conjured up images of some sick freak injecting it with poison only so some half-wit like my husband would come along and decide to feed it to his family. Jeff could simply not understand why I insisted on throwing it away. I explained (calmly at first, then growing louder with insistence) that it was on the GROUND, in a parking lot far, far away from any grocery store, and it was GARBAGE!!! Then, I told him "we don't pick up things off the ground and eat them" (perhaps he missed that step when he was four?) and tossed that acorn squash in the garbage!

But I'll bet you ten bucks he fished it out and will try to feed it to us..........I'm not eating anything with acorn squash in it, EVER. I am seriously worried about this man. I believe he needs supervision on future shopping trips. Maybe he even chews the gum stuck to the bottom of tables? Who knows.............

Jeff Catches a Fish

Jeff went camping/clamming/fishing on Copalis Beach and finally caught a surf perch! He tried time and again to do this in Pacific City this summer but to no avail. He was successful here and he ate it for dinner!

Jeff's 1st 1/2!

Jeff, Amy, Theresa
Jeff at the finish!

Still enough energy to wave!

Jeff completed his first 1/2 marathon today, coming in at 2 hrs. 46 min. He was hoping to come in under three hours and he did it! Afterward I asked him if he was going to do another one and he said "why would I?" Guess he checked that off his bucket list! Later, as he was drifting off for a nap, he said "I can't imagine being at the finish line and knowing you had to go 13 more miles for a full marathon!" Apparently 13.1 was enough for him! Which is beyond me. I can't even run more than a mile. Running a half marathon is unbelievable to me, but hey, whatever kicks up your heels! Anyway, congrats to Jeff! Once again, he amazes me with his athletic abilities!

Told Ya So!

So, as I said in my previous post, Jeff is AMAZING at gift-giving. And knowing we are on a tight budget, he managed to do all his shopping at Fred Meyer, and all his research on About.com. So, he researched all the "things" that symbolize a third anniversary and here is what he got me (I'm going to quote from the card he wrote): The traditional anniversary gift for year #3 is leather (leather portfolio journal). Unlike our financial situation, leather represents the durability of our marriage. The modern gift is crystal or glass (glass vase and candle holder). Sorry I couldn't afford crystal because crystal, more than glass, is multifaceted and dazzling which is supposed to be a reminder of how as a couple in a meaningful marriage we can touch the lives of others which is definitely true of us. The gemstone is pearls. I found these darker fresh water pearls (pearl necklace and earrings) appealing because they are cool and look like something you would wear and I can see traces of jade in them. Jade is also the gem and color of the third year of marriage. I found a jade colored candle to put in your vase/candle holder because I couldn't find any fuschias, the 3rd anniversary flower. I love you. Thank you for putting up with me throughout the last 3 years. It will only get better. xoxo Jeff.
I mean, really? Could he be any more awesome?

As for me? Well, I got him a leather bookmark, a leather belt, a jade green workout shirt and black workout pants. Oh, and Godiva truffles. But his favorite gift? I picked out and printed a bunch of photos of different 1968 Ford trucks (his dream car!) and wrote "Jeff's Truck" on it. He loved it and is taking it to work so he can look at it every day and hopefully make that dream a reality soon!

Also, he cooked dinner (amazing pasta dish, potato and green bean dish, focaccia bread) and now we're off to eat Ben and Jerry's ice cream for dessert! What a nice anniversary!

My Husband is so generous!!

I believe I must print a retraction. In light of my post "How cheap is my husband?" I received several comments, mostly favorable. However, my husband actually read this post today and felt I gave him a bum rap (but he also reminded me of some of his other "cheap" habits like recycling clothes - for example, wearing the same pair of biking shorts for two years, yes YEARS, before he realized they could be washed! Read the tag, genius!). Anyway, he pointed out the many ways in which he is also very generous and I promised him I would print a retraction of sorts (actually, I don't "retract" what I said, because it's all true, but perhaps this could be seen as the editorial section?). For example, one Mother's day he gave me a laptop computer! The next Mother's day he gave me my coveted Nikon D60 digital camera. For my 40th birthday he took me to a fancy hotel and spa. For my 39th, to Teatro Zinzanni, a wonderful dinner show. One October weekend he surprised me with a plane ticket and a weekend away to visit my sister and when I got back, he had furnished our room with new furniture, bedding and art! I was led up the stairs on a trail of rose petals and met with a candle-lit, brand-new bedroom! Sounds romantic? You bet your sweet patootie! There are many more of those stories (but I won't bore you with the details, or make you jealous!). So, I guess using that sliver of deodorant that fell on the floor was done with the best of intentions. Maybe he was saving up to buy me a mocha? I love you, Jeff!