15 years annoying the same person

Today is mine & B-rads 15(!) year wedding anniversary.  Ya'll - 15 years is a long time.  We dated for 5 years before that (we did break up a couple of times) so we have officially been together for over half our lives.  And we have both lived to tell the tale...

In true Jaime Mac style - I don't do mushy...I do funny.  So I wanted to take you through a journey of old(er) pictures to make you laugh at how young & weird looking we used to be & all the fun things we've done together.

Our wedding day June 12, 1999.  It was the era before digital photography so you get a picture of a picture from a thick, white leather book...

I LOVED my dress.  It had flowers embroidered on the skirt.

While looking through actual pictures I found one single ribbon left from the day.  Mom & I painstakingly tied these on what felt like 9,000 little packets of Hershey kisses in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

This was right after we started dating.  We met in July 1994 & this was at B-rad's family reunion in the fall.  I had just graduated high school in May.  I am wearing a white t-shirt under my sweatshirt.  Yes, I was.   & I was skinny.  Dang.

1995

B-rad graduated high school. 

We went on a cruise on the Belle Of Louisville with his parents to celebrate his graduation.

 I'm guessing this was 1997 because Brady is a baby (he will be 18 in August...).  Check out my attire - white t-shirt under the sweatshirt...  A GUESS sweatshirt to be exact - all the rage in 1997.

I got a fancy new technologically advanced digital camera for my birthday that came with a timer.  B-rad & I had to make sure this newly invented creation worked.  I know this is 1998 because the pic had a nifty date stamp on it...

This was right after B-rad's brother & sister in law built their house.  I think it's also circa 1998.  Check little Erin Ashley giving me bunny ears...

One of our many trips to Florida.  This was before we were married, but I'm not sure the year.  B-rad looks thrilled, huh?  It's probably my cut off shorts & scrunchy on the wrist making him cringe.  He's cool dressed in all black...

This is one of my favorite pictures of us...because I look really pretty.   Mar. 1999 according to the nifty date stamp from my new technologically advanced digital camera.  We were in his parents semi at the truck show in Louisville.  I'm wearing a gold necklace he bought me. (and AGAIN- a white t-shirt under a sweatshirt...)

Ah, the wedding day.  He hadn't worn glasses long & I TOLD him to take them off before the wedding.  See how well he listened to me-even back then?

Not sure when this was.  I know we were at Doe Run Inn w/ his parents & grandparents.  I'm holding on to him pretty tightly so I'm guessing we weren't married yet or had just gotten hitched. ...

There is a gap in pictures from the late 90's until here.  I couldn't even find actual photos from this time.  I assure you we were still together, but there is no photographical proof of that...

2004.  I wasn't ready to let the 't-shirt under the sweatshirt' go...

This is also when you'll notice B-rad's facial hair taking on a personality all its own.  I think he has changed it more over the years than I have my hair style...

Our first trip to Vegas in 2005.  We went to the Grand Canyon & stood near the edge for this pic.  I had a death grip on him so he couldn't push me over w/out causing peril to himself...

Going out to dinner for a friends birthday in 2006.

2007 at Derik's 8th grade graduation.  B-rad still has that shirt - the clothes I'm wearing are long gone...

At the wedding of a friend of Erin's in Jul 2009.

One of my other favorite pictures of us because I look pretty.  This was at a Journey concert in the summer of 2009.  We missed Heart because we were stuck in traffic...I'll never forget how pissed I was it.

Again, B-rad still has (& wears) that shirt, mine is gone...

Cole's preschool graduation in 2009.

Halloween at the Groves' 2009.  I am the only thing I know how to be...a witch.

We got some friends together for bowling in 2010 for B-rad's birthday... Please notice I graduated from wearing a white t-shirt under a sweatshirt...

Fourth of July weekend 2010.  I have NO makeup on & I am surprisingly ok w/ this picture...

We saw Jeff Dunham w/ another couple at the Kentucky State Fair in 2010.

With the Groves' at Halloween in 2010.

This is another favorite because A) I look pretty & B) all of our nephews are with us.  Christmas 2010.

Our first cruise in December 2010.  Saltwater is murder on my hair.

When you're on a cruise, you can have professional pics taken.  This still sits in our entertainment center.  I can't bring myself to part with it even though it's 4 years old because, well - you guessed it - I look pretty.

Derik's high school graduation in 2011.  I'm really sad I couldn't find a pic of us with Erin when she graduated in 2005.  It was a simplier time & you didn't keep all your pictures on a computer for easy retrieval...

(But GOD BLESS digital picture storing on a computer!)

Our second trip to Vegas in 2011.  We went to the new & improved Hoover Dam.  This is also when my hubby agreed to go see Celine Dion w/ me & pay a ridiculous amount of money for tickets to sit on the 13th row.  I mean - that's LOVE, people. 

Ironman 2011 with Butterfly & Rhonda.

Our trip to Hawaii w/ my family in 2011.  That is Kilauea erupting behind us.

Our THIRD trip to Vegas in 2012.  This is when my hubby agreed to go see Faith Hill w/ me & pay a ridiculous amount of money to sit on the 3rd row.  He MUST love me...

Halloween at the Groves' in 2012.

Chicago trip to see Jason Aldean at Wrigley Field in 2013.  It poured down rain during the concert.  

This is also B-rad's 'strike against facial hair' stage.

Halloween at the Groves' in 2013.  Another favorite.  I'll let you figure out why...

B-rad made me a heart w/ our wedding date & names on it out of metal.  That's what he does at work.  He drew it up & had the laser guy write the program for it then he cut it w/ the laser machine thingie.  He said he triple checked that my name was spelled right.  THAT'S my man!

Not that you asked, but I think the 'secret' to staying together 15 years & not killing each other  is to not take anything too seriously.  Yes, there are times that are stressful, scary & infuriating but you have to take them all in stride.  YES we fight (oh my we had a good one just the other night) but we don't stay mad long & most the time get over things pretty quickly.  We bicker about lots of things, but mainly money & sex.  Doesn't everyone?  He always wants more (of both) & I want him to not spend so much money & to leave me alone.   Of course we don't have tiny humans to take care of to add that extra stress level to our marriage, but we have the farm.  I think that totally counts. 

We have different personalities but we deal w/ the differences the best way we can.  If we were the exact same how boring would that be?  Getting mad at him is the best cardio I get!  

Difference #1:  

I hate that I have to pick up after him.  

He hates that I pick up after him & he can't find any of his 'stuff'.  I can't tell you HOW many times I've heard, "I can't find xxxx.  YOU were in here cleaning & put it up somewhere where I can't find it."

Difference #2:

I hate he always make me late.  

He hates I always wanna be early.  Usually he's getting ready after I have been ready at least 15 minutes before am done & I hover like an annoying fly because I think it's magically gonna make him go faster.  He will say, "Don't rush me." or "I KNOW what you're doing." 

Difference #3:

He hates that I side seat drive.  

I hate that he just doesn't let ME drive.  He also hates that I 'follow too close' to other cars.  

Difference #4:

He hates that I watch so many tv shows that our living room dvr is always taping something when he wants to watch tv. 

 I hate that even though he has 5,000 'Ridiculousness' shows taking up space on MY dvr on the dvr he chooses to watch "Friends" episodes that he's seen a million times. 

Difference #5:

He hates I won't add the "sportsman channel" to our programming.  

I hate that he wants the sportsman channel.  

Difference #6:

I have no hobbies.  

He has had many hobbies over the years.  Sometimes he finds new ones & sometimes he'll pick one from the past back up again.  I always tell him, "You're never happy with what you have - you always want something else.  I'm surprised you have kept me around all these years."  

Unlike his hobbies - it would be WAY more expensive to get rid of me... I make sure he knows that...

Now, I could tell you the things I love about him...but what's the fun in THAT? that would be mushy... & ya'll know how I am about mush.  But to satisfy all you mushy, gross, lovey-dovey romantics (ugh) -  I WILL give B-rad credit for making me brave enough to be able to go all the places we've been.  His family traveled all over when he was young - the furthest my family went was Holiday World or Kings Island.   And because he made me brave, I'm not afraid to go by myself or with friends anywhere... so thank you, Mac for that.  (Happy now?!)

Here's to 15 years of annoying the same person...

The Book of Mormon

After getting home at 2:30am Saturday night/Sunday morning from the Tim McGraw concert, Shauna & I were up bright & early to see the afternoon show of 'The Book of Mormon' at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.  We had these tickets before the concert came up.  It seemed like a good idea at the time to do both things in one weekend back when we bought the tickets....

That morning...not so much...

I wasn't really sure what this was gonna be about.  I knew it was from the creators of the adult cartoon 'South Park' so I expected funny.  I also thought it might be a little on the dirty side.  I did research on it (God Bless the internet) - it has won Tony Awards & gotten rave reviews.  I kinda figured it would be poking a bit of fun at the Mormon religion (because of the aforementioned creators) & who doesn't enjoy a 'bit of poking fun'?  I mean-this thing is a Broadway Musical after all - it should be good.  And when you see something at the Kentucky Center for the Arts you kind of think it's gonna be more on the 'upscale' of things.

We all know what Mormons are, right?  They're with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Their founder was Joseph Smith, sometimes they practice polygamy & they come to your door to share their 'book' (aka Bible) with you.

The premise is there is a graduating class that is getting ready to be assigned their country to be missionaries. One of them is like the model Mormon & he gets paired w/ another guy who is a goof off & hasn't even read the 'book'.  While the other missionaries are being assigned to France & Norway - these 2 are sent to Uganda in Africa.  

Well, the model Mormon is appalled by this unfortunate turn of events (he wanted to go to Orlando...random, I know...)& the goof off guy is excited because he's decided they're now best friends (because rule #72 is that you NEVER leave your assigned partner...only to go to the bathroom...). They go off to Uganda & find a village of people who are fed up with life.  There is an evil War Lord that rules over them making their lives miserable. 

I always say "I am easily embarrassed, not easily offended' & this musical definitely embarrassed me.  It had extremely foul language & no one was safe from being made fun of:  Mormons, Christians, Jews, Black people, gay people, people w/ Aids - you name it.  There were some funny parts (the goofy guy was hilarious!), but mostly I kept my hand over my mouth a lot because I couldn't believe what they were saying.  Shauna & I looked at each other in disbelief (a LOT) & said things like, "What are we doing here?"  "You know we're going to hell, right?"  "WHAT did they just say?"

After the first act Shauna even wondered how many people would come back.  It seemed most people returned to their seats - as did we.  I don't know if we did it because we:

A) wanted to see what they'd say next?

B) paid for those damn tickets & we were gonna watch the show!

C) wanted to see if God would strike tho whole theater with lightning how it would end?  

I ran into the wife of a guy I work with who was there with their 16 year old daughter & that gave me major anxiety.  (She said they had been warned it was bad, but STILL...) I was thinking, "OH MY GAWD that 16 year old is hearing all this!"  I was also never so glad in my WHOLE life that I hadn't asked my mother to go.  I can hear her now, "JAIME DIANE - WHAT have you brought me too?!"  She would've burst into flames...

So when I'm asked, "Hey-what did you think of 'The Book of Mormon'? - I have no idea.  I wouldn't say it was good, but I wouldn't say it was bad either.  It did have some not too dirty or offensive humor in it but I don't think I would go see it again.  I'm all about sattire & having a little fun w/ teasing, etc - but this stomped all over that line & then charged forward. I guess I would classify it as inappropriate.  I always say there's a time & a place for everything - but this stage wasn't it.   I wasn't offended by what they said per se, but I couldn't believe those talented actors & actresses were on stage in costumes w/ a full orchestra singing songs about.... well-I'm not gonna repeat in typed word what they sang about.... (I will say this - if we made a drinking game out of when they said 'F***, Clitoris or Aids' - we would've died from alcohol poisoning in the first act... Are you wondering WHY in the world 'Clitoris' was in a musical about Mormons?  Yea-it was crazy town.)  The performers did an amazing job singing, acting & dancing. It's not their fault the content wasn't for 'me'.

Luckily we went on the final day it was in town so I don't have to worry about recommending or not recommending seeing it.  (But if you're a God fearing kinda person - I would recommend NOT... I'm sure we escaped death by lightning strike because He knew we didn't know exactly what we'd signed up for...)

Summer concert series - Tim McGraw

Saturday night us & the Groves' headed back up to Noblesville to see Tim McGraw's 'Sundown Heaventown' tour at Klipsch Music Center.  

We did a little bickering on the way there, but soon the boys had had enough of our mouths decided to lay their heads back & rest a little.  I mean-they couldn't win against us anyway...

In all fairness, B-rad had been up since 6 am replanting the field of corn that didn't come up & Brian had worked 3rd shift the night before.  

We were fine with them being quiet for a while... and later that night THEY would've been happy if Shauna & I had been quiet...more on that later...

Casadee Pope was the first opening act. 

Kip Moore was up next.

 Of course, Tim McGraw is married to my girl, Faith Hill... & I was HOPING she would make a surprise appearance.  Like I was preparing them all, "Listen - if Faith Hill comes out - I'm gonna die.  Like literally - DIE.  We've had a lot of fun over the years & its been nice knowing you.  Shauna piped in that she wanted all my jewelry...& Sonny.  B-rad was ok w/ the jewelry but he balked a bit about the cat.  I told him to sell his wedding band & buy something nice for his bow.   

And I'm not dead so you tell me if Faith Hill showed up.  NO.  I did find out the next day from stalking her on Twitter that she performed at George Strait's final concert of his 5 million year career.  Really?  Who cares about him?  UGH.

 When we sat down in our seats B-rad was on one end & I was on the other.  I said, "B-rad - do you wanna sit by me?"  He said, "No I'm ok..."  I said, "Ok - I'm ok too....just wanted to check with you..." 
That's what 15 years of marriage will do to ya, people... plus he hasn't much time to visit his buddy, Brian, since he's been locked away in a tractor.  You know - they need male bonding...

My shoes were SUPER cute but they were SUPER painful.   They were from the devil.

 I ended up leaving them off the whole time Tim McGraw sang.  And the flower schrapnel you see - Brian got us both a rose & we broke them off to stick them in our hair.

I have a lovely blister on my toe to prove the pain.

Now - I KNOW you guys love stories of when Jaime Mac drinks.  I'm not sure why that is?  I do remember screaming it several times at Brian later that night, 'BRIAN- WHY DO YOU THINK MY BLOG STALKERS WANT TO READ ABOUT ME BEING DRUNK?'  He had nothin'  - that's why I had to scream at him ask him 50 times. (or if he did have a reason I don't remember what he said...)  I'm choosing to believe it's because you think I'm even funnier than normal AND because it's really entertaining for this control freak to be out of control.  

Get ready to be amused...

So I had a drink before Tim McGraw came on - it was like a huge drink though.  Ya'll know I'm a light weight anyway - but after I finished the first one I felt 'ok'.  Tim McGraw came out from the back of the ampitheater right behind our section.  Shauna said, "Stand on the chair!" so I did.  WELL, it's one of those chairs where the seat parts flips up & we realized he was going to come down the section right next to us.  Apparently all but us & 4 other gals in our row had decided NOT to come to the show so the whole rest of the row was empty.  (I told everyone, 'if no one else shows up we are totally moving down to that end.'  It was close to the middle of the stage but I wanted to wait because not everyone is as psycho as me about being on time. )When I tried to frantically get down off the chair because he was going to walk right down that edge, I picked up my left foot, but my right foot was too far towards the BACK of the seat... & it flipped up w/ me in it.  Uh, yea.  I was stuck.  Shauna was asking if I was ok & I was like, "Yea... but I need you to help me!"  She held the seat down & the guy in the row behind me helped me get my legs out from between the seat & the back.  (When I told my mother this story she laughed like a silly school girl.  I left out the drinking part...) Hell yes I hit my leg & it hurt but I was on a mission to see Tim McGraw.   Sadly I did not get out of my chair prison & run down the row to the end in time to get a picture.  I saw him w/ my eyes, but wasn't quick enough on my camera trigger.  

And you.are.in.luck because Brian got video of the whole thing!  At the bottom right side of the screen you see me fall (with camera in hand).  I get free & haul ass to the end of the row (with camera in hand...) You are welcome.  (Thanks, Brian!)

  During the night the guys phone batteries were going dead.  We don't play around w/ phones, people.  Brian brought his battery charger & he & B-rad were able to charge their phones.

  I mean - these guys crack me up.

 I had another drink during Tim McGraw & all of a sudden it hit me - I was drunk.
  I tried to take a picture of all of us...

 Then I tried again...

 Then B-rad said, "Let someone ELSE hold the camera..."  Good call, Mac.

  I did go stand by B-rad when he sang, "Where the Green Grass Grows".  That's the song that talks about watching his corn pop up in rows.  That's us, baby! 

 If you are not a country fan, shame on ya.  I mean-check this dude out.  He gets better with age, I swear.   

The concert was over & I needed assistance just standing up in those damn shoes.  Please don't misunderstand...I wasn't like so drunk I was incapable of walking or holding my own head up.  I was just not real sure on my feet... I went to the port-a-potty all by myself (the boys held their phone lights up to the vent so I could see.) And I was even able to get my clothes back on properly.  Score! {I made them all check me when I got out...}  B-rad had to go to the bathroom & since HE was the one helping me stand I had to find reinforcements.  I remember putting a death grip on Brian's arm, "Brian-you have to help me stand up!"   Poor Brian...

  I remember bits & pieces of the night.  Brian had to tell us we were 'really loud' a few hundred couple of times.  (Shocking.)  I know we wouldn't shut the hell up in the backseat & the boys were 'hoping' we would pass out.  I said (several times) I was sorry for being so annoying.  Brian was driving & I told him at some point, 'Brian - I won't be mad at you if you stop someplace so we can pee.'  Shauna & I went to the bathroom in a gas station that only had a toilet & a sink - it wasn't like a bunch of stalls.  I went, she went (I washed my hands & said, "I can't feel my hands.") When we walked out Shauna said, "We didn't even lock the door!" which we found extremely hilarious...  Our anniversary is this Thursday & I asked B-rad, "What are we gonna do for our anniversary, Mac?  Ride around in the tractor?! That sounds fun!"  

(I hate it when my filter is gone...)

And because you stalkers are always in the back of my mind I KNEW I had to tell you about my fall injury.  I wanted to take a pic of the knot on my leg, but this was as good as I got in the car, after dark & intoxicated.  

Shauna snatched the camera so SHE could get a good pic for you.  You see how that worked out... 

2 intoxicated picture takers do not a good picture take.  

The pic on the right of Shauna & I - neither of us remember taking it....Sigh...

What a fun night (the parts I remember).  Thanks to the Groves' for going with us & driving! 

'Some day when you're lookin' back on your life & your memories -  this is gonna be one of those nights...'

C'mon, people - it's one of his songs.  I'm gonna make country fans out of ya'll yet!!!