Let Them Eat Cake

See here a picture. It's the last friggin piece of wedding cake that we have. Thank God!! Normally we'd be over joyed to be showing your our last piece of wedding cake. But the truth is finally it's gone. Hurray!!!!

See this is the one left over that you're supposed to eat on your first anniversary, which we did. Now I should note one of our friends made the cake and it was to die for. So moist and soft, and full of gooey goodness. It was a delicious cake. It just wasn't really delicious after sitting in the freezer for a year and then getting defrosted.

We ate some of it during our anniversary and I thought, we'd throw away the rest. Boy was I wrong. Here's Mix Tape Girl's thinking. "We should eat every last piece of this cake. It's special." Me: "I don't think it'll take to being re-frozen again." MTG: "Sure it will". Me: "But it's all dry and icky now." MTG: "What you don't like our wedding cake?" Me: "Yeah it was great when it was fresh and less than a year old". MTG: "But it's ours. It has history we have to eat it." Me: "No we don't" MTG: mad stare... Me: "Uh...." MTG: "WE HAVE TO EAT IT....ALL". Me: "Give me the Saran Wrap."

So thusly we have been munching on this cake since our anniversary a few months ago. And now we are both overjoyed to be done with the thing. This final piece has been sitting in the fridge for about a week since last being thawed out for the....oh..I'd say 7th time. Needless to say it was hard and cruchie and the frosting was atrocious. But, here it is folks for you're viewing pleasure. This last damn piece of cake. Naturally as any loving husband, I let Mix Tape Girl have the last piece of this horrid 7 times defrosted cake.


FYI: Mix Tape Girl's response after eatting the last piece. "That tasted like crap. Why didn't we toss?"

I told you so. ^_^

Fixing a hole

It's 11 pm, Mix Tape Girl has gone to sleep. I wait for the pear cobbler that she put in before she went to bed to finish. The timer she has ticks away, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. I go into our bedroom to grab something. MTG is sound asleep. I stand and watch her sleep for a minute. She looks so tired.

The days seem to drag by. It's been so long since I posted. Things changed, circumstances different. I'm at a new job now after trying to start my own work. That didn't work out as planned. Too much overhead to get a clean start. We've both had lost our jobs, and looked together for employment. We found a job at the same company, just different departments. Doing things that I thought I'd never be part of.

I listen to people all day, tell me their sob stories. Some are genuine some are not. I foreclose peoples houses now. I have say whether they stay or they go. I hear every story that comes in, most are frightened to be close to being homeless and with just cause but some want to fight. Rarely anyone does, only rarely do you get a fighter. I see the front lines of what's happening to a good part of America. But it doesn't make sense. It's not the banks fault per say, it's not the mortgage broker or the borrowers. It's everyone's fault. I sit and listen on the phone all day story after story. Most people are preyed upon, the unintelligent, the elderly, the just plain stupid. Same story, I can't pay my loan. I look at the loan they're set on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage. That's all there is. "It's a bad loan" I'm told time and again. I agree with them, things like this should have never been allowed to come into existence. But then again no one made them sign the loan papers. Ultimately the responsiblity is the person who signed the loan papers. People just don't want to own up to the fact that being an adult means that you take responsibility for your mistakes. I have to put on a stoic face and pretend that it doesn't bother me though it does. I look at their loans day after day. I hear the same thing. "Give me a fixed rate". I retort, "Why? You have an ARM loan, your payments are $500 a month, you aren't even paying the full interest and you can't afford that, and you're accruing negative amortization. Here's how it works if you want a fixed rate. Your mortgage is $150k. One a fixed rate besides paying the interest just the principal alone is going to be at least $1500 going on what is normal rate of 1% of your principal balance. And that's not including your interest. If you can't afford to pay $500 monthly how are you going to pay $1500 plus?" That usually slaps them with a dose of reality. I don't like to do it but that's my job. You get to stay but you on the other hand don't. It's all numbers just business. And everyting is Obama says.

MTG has it worse, she's on the collections side, past due accounts. People try to dictate to her what they will pay on the loan. Doesn't work that way. Obama says that I don't have to pay my loan. Obama says you will give me a modification with 2% interest. Obama says that I don't owe anything anymore. Little do they know that Obama's plan is only for government backed loans, which few if any of the customers have. She gets yelled at, threatend and called an awful person all day. "How can you live with yourself you miserable wretch, doing this kind of job" she tells me one lady told her today. She is on the verge of tears when we get into the car. She strong, doesn't cry while at work. But she gets more depressed and bitter everyday. It helps for me to listen while she vents.

I turn on the stereo in the car on the way home. Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way" plays. We listen to it in the background while MTG vents. I tell her about my crazy calls and we find consolation in each other. She clings to my one arm while I drive us home. "This is shit" she says while we enter the highway. "We need to come up with a plan b." I'm working on it in my head, mulling things over. What to do, what to do?

As soon as we get home MTG pounces on me. We make love, and she falls asleep. She always falls asleep first. It's supposed to be the other way around, but I'm used to it now. I get up throw a load of clothes in the washer. I do the dishes while I play Alicia Keys softly in the living room so I don't wake MTG up. A few hours later she emerges groggy hair messy. She's in the mood for something sweet. She cuts up half of a bag of pears I bought and makes a cobbler and puts it in the oven. She gets sleepy before it's done and tells me she's off to bed.

I straighten up the place a little more. I shuffle through some older record albums that I have. I've been in the habit of hanging on the wall in frames as artwork lately, so I pick a few good albums while I wait for the cobbler to hang up. Sgt. Pepper, an Oceanlab mix, Billy Joel 52nd St, and a few others that I have duplicates of and have no problem framing and hanging up. I loose myself in the mindless framing project. The timer goes off that MTG set, it scares the hell out of me cause its loud and sounds awful. I take out the cobbler and set it to cool.

Opening up a cherry 7-up I sit on the couch and stare out the french doors to the patio. It's dark, I see the lime tree swaying a little in the wind. My mind wanders. I try to think of a way to get us out of our work, do something else, but it's just here say. Like MTG tells me, "As much as I hate my job, I hate not having one even more." I tell myself I'll find a way. What to do what to do? I notice a small hole in the weather stripping around the door and stare at it. In my mind the verses come to me. "I"m fixing a hole where the rain gets in, and stops my mind from wandering."

Six Things

Sorry, sorry, this post is so late. We're even more sorry we've been gone for so long. Thanks for not forgetting about us. Details will come later. For now I've been tagged and I accept the challenge for the Six Sexy Ladies Meme.

The Rules

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Though honestly I probably won't tag anyone as almost everyone has already done this.

1. Every time someone says the word "six" as in "six" meme's, or just six in general, I giggle like crazy. Which is because I'm immature and think of the scene in National Lampoon's European Vacation where they go knocking on doors saying, "We're looking for sex. Is this sex." Immature I know. "Dad that's German for six."

2. When eating french fries, I put the ketchup on the fries before eating them. This drives Artful up the walls crazy as he hates it. I immensely love doing it now just to annoy him. he he he

3. Stay away from me in the morning if I haven't had my caffeine. When I'm decaffeinated, it's not a pretty sight.

4. I can make my ankles pop on command. Dunno how I can, but I can.

5. It may be just me, but Asian food rocks.

6. I horde napkins. I have tons of them all over the place. I'm always afraid that I will need them in an emergency. AD was stunned to find the glove compartment of my car completely stuffed with them. So much so that they came out in a big clump shaped like the compartment itself. Yes I know I need to throw the older ones away.

There's a few weird things about me, though there are many many more. Perhaps someday I might be willing to share some more.

Impending Doom and The Big Wicked Online Pageant

Sorry for the lack of posts folks, things have been turbo on this end. Anyways, Monday the head attorney's that I work for shows up unannounced. This is a bad thing as since he's opened our office he's only been there twice and each time only for a few hours. Every time however he lets us know that he's coming so we rush like rabbits to make sure our desks and office looks generally clean and tidy, not that he really cares.

But Monday, Monday was the day from hell. He walks through the door unannounced, along with the office manager from the head office on the east coast. He goes into our office managers room and stays there talking with our office manager for a good hour. We all sensed the impending doom. There were no smiles when coming in no nothing. Then our manager gets our small motley crew and we gather in the corner office. We're promptly told that our office will be closing, effective immediately for some and others a little bit later. Me being the little bit later group. Sucked the wind right out of all of us.

See our office handles real estate law, for pretty much all 50 states. I basically handle problem cases where there's clouds on the property title. Not many people in the US do this. However with the housing boom going kaput, the main part of the business isn't getting that much money and well you know how it goes. Long story short, I will soon dear friends be out of a job. However knowing that we were heading down the crapper, I did a preemptive strike and started my own business doing what I do. See what I do can't really be done by that many people and well, the company may be going under but I've got more work than I can handle. So I've been away setting up my new business with Mix Tape Girl's help. So we've been like busy bees. So do excuse our lack of posting.

As we've been busy though I haven't had time to go through old photo's of myself or MTG for Beth's online pageant. I think there's a picture of my brother and myself dressed like the Joker that my mom has somewhere. (Though it should be noted it wasn't during Halloween, it was just after the first Batman movie.) But honestly after I was about 10 all photographic record of me ceased to exist as my family was never one for photos. So in light of this I thought I'd do a gratuitous back of the head shot like Beth, with a kick. Had one of my fellow workers take this for me. Oh and by the way, the mask is always at my desk, not just for Halloween.

Be fair

We shuffle down the aisle. People putting carry-ons into overhead compartments. I see AD finding his seat towards the middle of the plane. Sadly I'm in the back, even though I'm with a friend. He smiles and blows me a kiss before I see him almost disappear, only the top of his head visible from the seat. I take my seat by the window. The back of the plane is crowded, but the front doesn't look so much.

We tried to get our tickets together but since AD was able to come with us at last minute that wasn't able to happen. So we traveled separated by a few chairs. The lights dim and the stewards voice comes on. I'm watching our steward, he's an old man, probably in his late 70's, I'm not kidding. He can barely stand, and he doesn't look happy. He mutters out the flight safety instructions that few people ever listen to. He looks like he's in pain as he slowly fastens the display seat belt and then uses his arms to point out the emergency exits. As soon as he's done and the plane taxis down the runway, he takes his seat not to get up again until we level off. I can't help but think that with the economy the way it is, he had to start working again as retirement money just wasn't enough, and I worry about him.

I watch out the window as the plane takes off. The engines whirring and clicking. The televisions mounted in the seat head showing what movies are available and gives you a free 15 minute preview of the Direct TV offered on the plane. I press the brightness button until the TV is turned off. I sit back and watch the land change. From over water to the city, to country, farm land, woods. I see the sun leaving us as day starts to become night. I stare out the window, and then raise myself up a little to check on AD. I see the top of his head so I know he's okay.

It feels like we're climbing forever. I want to get up and check on AD but the seat belt sign is still on. I sigh and rest my head on the head rest. I stare down at my feet and wiggle my toes. Before I know it AD is tapping my shoulder. He tells me his whole row is empty as he makes his way to the bathroom. Asides from the back of the plane the front is mostly empty. I tell him that I'll be up there with him as soon as we level off. He nods and goes to the bathroom. I watch him after he's done and makes his way back to his seat.

It seems like we climb and climb. The pilot never comes on to make the announcement that we can move about. I wait about 20 minutes before I finally just get up. I was to tell my friend I was moving but she's asleep. I hop over her and make my way to AD. There are tons of empty seats. Asides for the lady her child sitting behind AD the rows in front and beside him are all empty. I move up on him, he's asleep. I raise the arm rests and snuggle up with him, putting his arms around me.

AD: Thank you.

Me: For what?

AD: For coming to sit with me. And for being you.

I stroke his hair and he falls back to sleep, though his arms are tight around me. I feel ashamed that what ever decisions need to be made he always tells me, that let's just do what would be easier for me. He goes out of his way that things are always as easy for me as possible. I know that if I ask something that we need to do he'll respond with "Let's just do what's easier for you." And I accept the option easier for me, and for this I feel ashamed. I tell him that I can't always do what's easier for me, but he always makes it so we wind up doing it that way anyways.

I sit there and watch him, tracing his face with my finger tips. We went to visit friends on the west coast. The entire time AD only knowing one other person besides me, and being kind to my friends. I laughed and talked and caught up and cried with my friends. I didn't realize that the entire week that we were there that I was only with AD for a few hours asides from going to sleep. But I didn't realize this till the night before we left.

We were at a party that some of my friends were having. Sitting on chairs in the back yard of their house. It was just an everybody bring something kind of deal. Before we knew it there were at least a hundred people there in their tiny back yard. Sitting on the grass or wherever. AD got me a drink when we arrived and I immediately turned into the social butterfly that I am and sat down with some friends that I hadn't seen in forever. I caught up with a friend from long ago who just got divorced. We talked, I lost track of time, to my shame I lost track of AD. Fortunately my friend did not, and she reminded me of this.

My Friend: Marriage is something that you have to work at. It's give and take, and you have to be fair. It's can't always be your way. You're going to do things that he's not going to want to do and vice versa. Such as being at a party where he knows no one, even if he does so, so you can be with your friends.

And it hit me. I looked around, I didn't see him. I got panicked. My friend turned my head and I saw him, hidden in a shadow, in the corner of the yard by the fence, leaning against it and sipping his soda and doing his best to smile. I excused myself and worked my way through the crowd to get to him. He had spaced out and didn't even notice when I walked up to him.

Me: Hey

AD: Huh? Oh hey, what's up?

Me: I'm sorry.

AD: (looking confused) For what?

Me: For making you do all these things for me when I know that you'd rather be somewhere else.

AD: Don't worry about it. I want you to have fun with your friends. You only get to see them a couple of times a year anyways.

Me: But I'm not being fair to you. Make me be fair.

AD: You are being fair.

Me: No I'm not, I'm being selfish. We can leave if you want.

AD looks at me for a few moments.

AD: I'd be lying if I said that I wanted to be here and I'd like to leave. I'm not good in really big crowds, they freak me out. And I'm not the people person you are. But I want you to enjoy being with your friends right now. Go be with them, I'll be fine here holding up the fence. When you're ready you know where to get me.

Me: You're too good to me.

AD: No I'm not.

Me: You are.

I kiss him, and he smiles. He tells me to go back and visit with my friends. I sit where I can see him this time and I watch as he walks around some only to make his way back to the empty corner. He does this a few times. I only visit for another 30 minutes before I decide to take him out of here. He reminds me of a flower getting choked out by tall grass, so I have to safe him. I tell everyone goodbye and we leave taking along our two friends that we're staying with.

I wanted to ride back to the hotel to be better, but that didn't happen. One of my friends had a little too much to drink and was acting a fool. He was doing a crazy dance in the back seat to the music, talking very loud and laughing even louder. AD was driving, and I was flipping through the radio stations trying to find music that would be okay with everyone. And I flipped and flipped. After going through the stations about five times you could see a vain pop out on AD's head. He was getting upset, my friend was getting louder. Finally AD reached over and turned the radio off. He pulled into a gas station without saying a word, got out and started filling up the tank. I got out and went to tell him I'm sorry. He forced a smile and said it's ok, that he's not upset with me and just needed some air. I went inside the station to get him a Sprite and some asprin, and we continued on our way, all the way back in silence. Fortunately my friend having passed out by the time we got back in the car.

AD didn't say anything when we got back to the hotel. Just a few answers to my questions here and there. I felt bad for having to make him put up with this, even I was annoyed. The next morning we left back for home, packing etc. We talked but its the average travel we need to get here and there busy talk. And now we were on the plane heading back home.

I look out the window past AD. I see some city lights below us as we fly by. The lights sparkle light diamonds on a piece of black velvet. I hold AD's hand while he sleeps, and I whisper in his ear, "Make me be fair." Without warning I grab his head and he opens his eyes. I kiss him. The older gentleman steward walks past us without saying a word, he knows better than to interupt, but he rolls his eyes. It's ok though, two less people to have to cater to. I kiss AD, and I didn't stop till we touched down at home. And when we did, I whispered to him again. "Make me be fair."

I like moose

Pterodactyl Lady: Owww..my arm and shoulder hurts so much!!

Me: Take some Advil or something.

Sane Lady: You're probably getting carpal tunnel.

Pterodactyl Lady: It hurts everytime I move my arm.

Sane Lady: Does it hurt when you're typing?

Pterodactyl Lady: Yes a lot! Especially when I'm using the moose.

All together: The moose??!!! (with a puzzled look on our faces)

Pterodactyl Lady: Yes the moose! See! (picks up the mouse)

The rest of our team busts out laughing.

Me: Yeah, my arm would hurt too if I was moving a moose around all day.

Trouble Me

The night is warm and the air conditioner is blowing cool air on the bed. AD's been knocked out since 6 pm. I watch as he sleeps, his chest slowly rising and falling. I feel guilty because I know its me that has him so exhausted.

I reach over and take off his glasses. He fell asleep with them on and they are making little marks on his face. He slightly moans as I remove them from his face. I can't help but caress his stubble a little and trace the outline of his lips. He somehow smiles though he's sound asleep. Exhausted from taking me to the doctors office weekly and picking up my meds, and taking up all the extra slack that I usually try to do for us.

I feel guilty as I keep him up till past midnight almost every night simply to talk. I get up and grab his cover from the closet and place it over him. He remains motionless, and snores just slightly audible. I decide to head down stairs so not to disturb him, and kiss him before I walk downstairs.

Hunger reaches me as I get to the kitchen. I realize that I really haven't eaten a meal all day. I fix myself some tuna sandwiches and turn on the TV. "On the Waterfont" is playing on AMC and I keep the volume so low that it's hardly even audible. Not really paying attention I concentrate more on eating my sandwiches. The tuna tastes good to me, as I rarely ever eat it.

I think to myself that things are now pretty much back to normal. We went to Florida and had a wonderful time. Then I came back and got sick, and well things happen. But it's all over now. AD going out of his way to make sure that I was okay the entire time. I put the doctors visits and hospital stays out of my mind and stare at the ceiling, the light from the TV flickering and causing shadows.

The movie quickly loses my interests and I turn off the TV and sit in the light of the lamp that's on. I take another bite of my sandwich and chew it slowly, the silence of the room getting to me. Not able to take the silence I turn on the stereo. 10,000 Maniacs plays and I relax on the couch, staring at my half eatten sandwich.

I hear a loud commotion from upstairs. AD is up and rushes downstairs looking upset.

AD: What time is it what day is it?

Me: It's 9.

AD: 9!! 9!! I'm late for work, why didn't you wake me up?!! Crap Crap Crap!!

Me: Uhm...it's 9 PM Weds. It's not tomorrow yet.

AD: Oh....I thought I was running late for work. Sacred myself there for a moment.

Me: Silly boy.

AD sits next to me, his hair a mess.

Me: Can you see?

AD: Huh?

Me: Your glasses?

AD: I didn't even notice, completely forgot them.

Me: They on the dresser on my side. You fell asleep with them on.

AD: Thanks.

We sit on the couch, Trouble Me playing now. AD finishes my sandwhiches. I place my head between his shoulder and neck, smelling his cologne. We listen to the rest of the CD, as I fall asleep on AD's shoulder. I rouse myself when AD finally gets up to turn off the stereo. I smile as he picks up the plate and cup that I used, even though I tried to pick them up first.

Me: Don't spoil me too much. I can turn into a brat.

AD: It's okay.

AD: Thanks for taking care of me.

Me: Uhm...isn't that the other way around?

AD: No I don't think so.

Me: If you say so.

AD: I do.