Top o' the mornin' to ya. HAPPY ST. PATTY'S!
I'll take a short break from the wedding stories to wish you a happy St. Patrick's day.
To my siblings and their families: did you know that we are Irish? We really are. At least I think we are. I know that my brother and I both remember "Granny Fanny" (I remember her quite fondly) who died when we were about four years old. She was our great-grandmother--our paternal grandmother's mother. She was born Rebecca Frances McClennahan, daughter of Bevely Harrison McClennahan who was the son of Beverly McClennahan.
I believe that McClennahan is more commonly spelled McClenahan and is the Irish derivative of the Scottish McClanahan. The extra n may have been an Americanization.
Clearly, I know little about genealogy except that I'm Irish. I think I'll head to the pub for a Guinness. Oh, it's almost 10:00 AM. I'm late.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
listening, number 2
I told you in an earlier post about my listening skills and how they've been developed over the years out of necessity. I didn't start so attentive, though.
In fact, when the future Mrs. kcrazorback and I were dating, we were at a Christian college with an 11 PM curfew in the dorms. So, she'd frequently call me after 11. Then she'd start talking.
After handset-to-ear fatigue became just too unbearable, I would pass the phone off to my roommate Dan. The two of them would have many long (mostly) one-sided conversations late at night.
I am extremely grateful for Dan's sharing of the burden. And I like to think he enjoyed the conversations--they gave him something to do while he chilled to his favorite Pink Floyd album almost loud enough to not hear the phone--hey, I think I know how he survived the calls.
In fact, when the future Mrs. kcrazorback and I were dating, we were at a Christian college with an 11 PM curfew in the dorms. So, she'd frequently call me after 11. Then she'd start talking.
After handset-to-ear fatigue became just too unbearable, I would pass the phone off to my roommate Dan. The two of them would have many long (mostly) one-sided conversations late at night.
I am extremely grateful for Dan's sharing of the burden. And I like to think he enjoyed the conversations--they gave him something to do while he chilled to his favorite Pink Floyd album almost loud enough to not hear the phone--hey, I think I know how he survived the calls.
Monday, March 9, 2009
hoops
Yeah, it's college basketball tournament time. KC is a great place to live during the tournaments. It seems like there's always something going on. The NAIA tournament, for example, plays about 713 games in a weekend in Municipal Auditorium. It's fun.
Kcrazorback, of course, is a hoops fan. He liked to play, too. He wasn't very good, but that's not the point.
We decided to take all of our wedding pictures before the ceremony. Good idea. Of course, the groom is involved in roughly 8% of those photos.
Finding a little extra time and a gymnasium next door, I decided to shoot hoops for a while. The tux made it a little difficult but I persevered. Of course, the photographer hunted me down and took a couple of shots (pictures, not baskets). I'm pretty sure we did not buy the photographic evidence that I was thinking of anything other than my young bride.
Kcrazorback, of course, is a hoops fan. He liked to play, too. He wasn't very good, but that's not the point.
We decided to take all of our wedding pictures before the ceremony. Good idea. Of course, the groom is involved in roughly 8% of those photos.
Finding a little extra time and a gymnasium next door, I decided to shoot hoops for a while. The tux made it a little difficult but I persevered. Of course, the photographer hunted me down and took a couple of shots (pictures, not baskets). I'm pretty sure we did not buy the photographic evidence that I was thinking of anything other than my young bride.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
fish stir fry? nah, how about mr. burger
A couple of months before the wedding, future-wife decided to try to prepare a dinner for me. She shopped for groceries at Food-4-Less. She decided on a fish and vegetable stir fry dinner. She cooked.
It was awful. I mean it was really bad. Even she thought it was bad. It was so bad that we threw it all out and went to Mr. Burger.
If I was going to marry the young lady, it would not be for her cooking. I did. It wasn't. It's been wonderful.
Mrs. kcrazorback is actually a pretty decent cook today. However, it is way down on the list of things she does well. I still wouldn't marry her for her cooking, though. Fortunately, all the other stuff is even better today.
It was awful. I mean it was really bad. Even she thought it was bad. It was so bad that we threw it all out and went to Mr. Burger.
If I was going to marry the young lady, it would not be for her cooking. I did. It wasn't. It's been wonderful.
Mrs. kcrazorback is actually a pretty decent cook today. However, it is way down on the list of things she does well. I still wouldn't marry her for her cooking, though. Fortunately, all the other stuff is even better today.
Monday, March 2, 2009
the counseling must have worked
Disclaimer: I believe all young couples should get premarital counseling--especially if it is consistent with their faith and if it will equip them with the tools they need to survive the difficulties of married life.
That was NOT our experience. Counseling was one of the worst experiences of our lives. Counseling, for us, was an excruciating experience where a university counselor/psychological quack tried to destroy our relationship.
The man started out by trying to attack and destroy one of us while being buddy-buddy with the other. This approach might have worked. However, the guy made a very wrong choice in which of the engaged to attack. You see, my soon-to-be bride had the stronger character. She was capable of withstanding the attack.
This experience made us both angry for a time. It's a big part of the reason I've never been charitably inclined toward my alma mater. I probably won't push my kid to go there and I really want her to have a high-quality Christian education--yes, this happened at a fantastic Christian university.
Ironically, his chief point of argument with me was "You won't make it 20 years." Maybe he was right. But we don't have to make it 20 years--just another two months. I've been with her for 20 years because she's the love of my life and I adore her now more than ever. If we happen to prove one quack wrong along the way, fine. He'll never even know anyway.
If, perhaps, the man had uttered one encouraging word or given us at least one tool with which to develop a marriage relationship it might have been so much more beneficial to all parties involved.
That was NOT our experience. Counseling was one of the worst experiences of our lives. Counseling, for us, was an excruciating experience where a university counselor/psychological quack tried to destroy our relationship.
The man started out by trying to attack and destroy one of us while being buddy-buddy with the other. This approach might have worked. However, the guy made a very wrong choice in which of the engaged to attack. You see, my soon-to-be bride had the stronger character. She was capable of withstanding the attack.
This experience made us both angry for a time. It's a big part of the reason I've never been charitably inclined toward my alma mater. I probably won't push my kid to go there and I really want her to have a high-quality Christian education--yes, this happened at a fantastic Christian university.
Ironically, his chief point of argument with me was "You won't make it 20 years." Maybe he was right. But we don't have to make it 20 years--just another two months. I've been with her for 20 years because she's the love of my life and I adore her now more than ever. If we happen to prove one quack wrong along the way, fine. He'll never even know anyway.
If, perhaps, the man had uttered one encouraging word or given us at least one tool with which to develop a marriage relationship it might have been so much more beneficial to all parties involved.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
facing the music
Mrs. kcrazorback and I are two months shy of our 20th anniversary. So I'm blogging lots of stories related to those 20 years in this space between now and then. Keep reading.
Facing the audience: in a fit of premarital insanity, bride and groom decided to face the audience the whole ceremony. I guess we'd been to enough weddings where you show up, look at the backs of the people you came to see and then go home.
What we learned is they do that for a reason. Or maybe several. Anyway, I have mine.
Never combine these three ingredients: standing facing the audience, uncomfortable shoes and a preacher that will talk for a very long time. This perfect storm occurred at our wedding.
The length of the wedding sermon is worthy of its own blog post and I may get to that, but I'll just say it was way longer than necessary. However, it did accomplish its purpose and we were married by the end.
If we ever repeat our vows in front of an audience, I'll want to see you but I can't face you.
Facing the audience: in a fit of premarital insanity, bride and groom decided to face the audience the whole ceremony. I guess we'd been to enough weddings where you show up, look at the backs of the people you came to see and then go home.
What we learned is they do that for a reason. Or maybe several. Anyway, I have mine.
Never combine these three ingredients: standing facing the audience, uncomfortable shoes and a preacher that will talk for a very long time. This perfect storm occurred at our wedding.
The length of the wedding sermon is worthy of its own blog post and I may get to that, but I'll just say it was way longer than necessary. However, it did accomplish its purpose and we were married by the end.
If we ever repeat our vows in front of an audience, I'll want to see you but I can't face you.
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