Emma’s Fantabulous Blog

4 years ago I was having my hair done and putting on my wedding dress.

Right now, I’m sitting in the office of OUR HOME, next to my man. Drinking a warm cup of espresso.  Devon is working, unfortunately, but I think his day started out on the right foot, with me bringing him breakfast in bed…… It is our anniversary after all. The traditional 4th anniversary gift is fruit and flowers, so it works out well that his breakfast tray had a flower from our yard and cut up fruit.

The 4th anniversary is supposedly supposed to celebrate ideas and symbols, and the flowers symbolize the blossoming partnership of a couple. I’ve noticed that a lot recently. Our relationship growing and evolving into something slightly different. Not bad by any means, just something different. And the more care, love and attention you put into it, the more beautiful it grows. Maybe less flashy, but more true. I’m still ever so in love, and learning more about Devon every day. What makes him tick, and what makes him happy. How to read his face and body language.   And he has learned that sometimes all I need is chocolate and an hour of watching “Oprah”.

I love you, Devon. I promise to be the best gardener possible.

There’s been a whirlwind of craziness around this house. Devon’s server broke, so all of our websites were down for a while, as well as email. My email is somewhat working now, although all of my old e-mail is gone from the server as well as my current laptop. Luckily it should be saved on my old laptop, but it’s gonna take a while to get it all moved over.

I dunno why, but it’s really nerve wracking that all of my old emails from the past 10 years could be lost. Emails from old friends and ex’s regarding situations long past. The first emails that D and I ever exchanged. Emails from dear friends that remind me why I love them. Really happy stories that are sometimes forgotten, as well as poignant words that helped me get through some of my darkest hours. I’m sure that I’ll be able to recover the data from my old laptop, but I just have so many conversations that I want to keep. It sounds somewhat rediculous, but I’d certainly end up going through a period of mourning if it was all lost.

It’s moments like these that make me want to start soley communicating via the mighty pen.

Happy Muh-thah’s day to my MAH!

I have an awesome time hanging out with you, you give fantastic advice, you have exquisite taste and I get my extraordinary good looks from you. Oh, and you birthed me.  (Thanks for that, btw!)

I hope you have a wonderful day! I luv ya!

Image from Graphicshunt.com

It must be that time of the year again. Valentine’s Day. It’s a great day, especially now that I’m married & have a permanent date for it, of course. Although I usually liked it, even when I didn’t. When else do you have a day dedicated to flowers, chocolates & stuffed animals? A day when you can wear red, pink & white together and people won’t think that you’re “that” big of a freak. Perhaps I’m just a romantic.  But I dig the idea of a day that’s all about pampering other people, as well as being pampered yourself. It’s the I love Love day!

Anyways. I was at the grocery store today, and as usual on the day before Valentine’s day, the flower department was a mad house. Totally jam packed full of dudes, with wide-eyed stares. Think a deer looking into the headlights of a Mack truck and cross that with a gaggle of panicked zombies who just ran out of brains to nom on. It’s kinda crazy. Looking like they’ve never seen a flower, or been inside a grocery store before.

Really guys, come on. Chicksaurs like flowers, all flowers. It’s really hard to be doing something wrong if you have flowers in hand for your woman… (unless said woman is allergic… then you should consider chocolates instead, hehe.).  Any normal chick will be stoked to get anything that shows that you were thinking of her. Really. You could pick up a piece of gravel, and say “I thought this nub of rock was unique & beautiful & it reminded me of you.” and most girls will totally swoon all over it, and you, and keep said piece of gravel proudly on display… Seriously. We’re easy to please. Me? I just want some snuggle time with my man… And perhaps something of the chocolate flavored variety….

I don’t know if I have a point here, or anything….. Maybe it’s just a piece of advice to guys. Chillax. It’s cool. You will get through this day. Good luck & get out there & show some love.  Over and out.

So….. It’s its a pretty serious situation here in New England. Last night was a terrible ice storm and we lost power at our house in Chelmsford around 11pm last night. This morning, we (along with 1 million others) woke up to a freezing cold house with no heat or electricity.

We had heard the cracks of breaking branches last night & were somewhat worried, but never thought that such a huge area would be affected. Devon got a great roaring fire going in our fireplace & we put Fifi right in front of it, to warm her up a bit, since none of her heating elements were working. Since we have an electric cooktop, we couldnt even boil water. Also since the fridge was off, we didn’t want to open it up to get anything out. So breakfast consisted of a room temperature apple with the option of some stale dry cereal. Good times. After talking with our electric company, they didn’t really know the extent of the damage yet & told us to call back in a few hours if we still didn’t have power. 4 hours later, we still didn’t have power….. Have I mentioned we have a generator hook up in our new house, but haven’t gotten around to buying & installing one yet…. Doh!

We get ahead of the power company again & basically hear “There is absolute mayhem going on & tons of damage. Hope for the best, but plan for not having any power until at least Sunday.” Eek. So we pack up Fifi & head down to my parent’s house in Boston, where my bro lives, & where they only got a little rain last night. Seth is awesome. We were greeted by him and his lady friend with a huge cooked breakfast of strawberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon… AWESOME!!!! Especially considering that I’ve been shivering in a <50 degree house for the past 5 hours, unable to eat or drink anything warm.

Long story short: After calling & driving around to various home stores, we discovered that there are 1 million people in New England without power, none of them had power generators, and all of them beat us to the punch in trying to buy one. You can’t even rent one, or find a busted/used one on craigslist. So basically Fifi, Devon and I are hunkering down here for a little while. Until we either get power, or can figure out how to keep Fifi from turning into a popsicle. Thank goodness that we have family in the area that has power, that we can stay with. I have no idea what we’d do if we couldn’t stay here. We’d have to get a pet-friendly hotel room or something.

But yeah. I’m super glad to be in a cosy home right now. Even if I am being subjected to the Celtics game that Seth is watching.

Blarg. I’ve got to be coming down with something. I’ve been sneezing & coughing & sniffling since yesterday & I feel like I have a tickle in the back of my nose that is driving me absolutely insane. In addition my head feels all foggy.  I’ve been drinking lots of tea and taking it easy, so hopefully this doesn’t turn into a full fledged sickness. Devon! Come home and make me chicken soup!

In the meantime: “Achoo!”

We got hitched 3 years ago, today. We’ve made it through 3 blissful years of marriage & now we’re about to embark on our newest journey together: buying a house. It makes jumping off a cliff together seem like nothing, doesn’t it?

You make me insanely happy & I’m the luckiest woman ever, to find someone who balances me out so perfectly. You’ve put up with my “career woman” endeavors this summer & for that I’m so grateful…. Cuz man, was I a major pain in the ass. With me being either exhausted, depressed or angry every night when I came home. But you took wonderful care of me, like you always do. Cooking me dinner when I was nomb-y & exhausted. Letting me tell you about the day’s horribly depressing events when I needed to get it off my chest, even when I knew you REALLY didn’t want to hear it.

You’re a great man & a great husband & it’s been an amazing 3 years. I’m looking forward to the rest of our lives together. Jumping off more cliffs together & enjoying the ride. I love you, Devon.

So, as of right now my friend Jenny is having her baby! Jenny was my cocktail hour buddy (pre her baby-fied-ness) as well as fellow fan of high end shopping. Her husband, Russell, is a close friend of Devon (they’ve founded a company together) as well as fellow Halo combatants. They are wonderful people, who will make amazing parents! Anyways.. It’s possible that their kiddo might very well be a St. Paddy’s day baby!

Best wishes and lots of strength to Jenny, and lots of love to your whole family!!!! I can’t wait to see your little munchkin!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope everyone gets what they were hoping for… Or that they already have exactly what they want.

I spent the evening noshing on raw oysters, brie and other appetizer-type goodness while watching cheesy Christmas videos from D and I’s childhood and reading holiday stories from Little House on the Prairie.

Life is very good.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

Today was good.

But I can sometimes stick my foot in my mouth without even realizing it until a later point in time. Usually in conversations I either: A.) Overanalize everything and rehearse what to say before I say it, and because of that I’m usually quiet as a mouse. or B.) Talk in an uncensored stream of consciousness where I’ll say the first thing that pops into my head, which either comes out as quick-witted or nonsense.

It’s usually Mode of Operation B that gets me into trouble.

I used to pride myself in not caring if I came across as an a**hole, but now I worry about appearing that way towards people that matter. Maybe I’ve just come to realize that friendships are more precious that I had originally thought.

Other than my verbal ineptitude, today was a pretty pleasant day.

I went to the gym and had a great work out. I went to get coffee at Diva and they were having their winter art show, so I got to look at & buy some really interesting art from some local artists. It snowed. Big plump white snowflakes that soak your face and coat your head in a white halo. It was beautiful. I cooked a big dinner with Devon for 2 of our favorite people.

I wrapped presents for friends and family. I love wrapping presents. There is something about the gift-wrapping process that gives me an overwhelming sense of calm. Covering boxes and oddly shaped items in the right colorful piece of paper. Tying color-coordinated shiny ribbons around the packages. Filling out the “to: & from:” tags with quirky but appropriate faux gift-givers…. I’m a freak. I know.