Skip to main content

the REAL story

A few months ago I said that I met my husband through a psychic Oreo - which was a lie, you know. So I thought you'd like to hear the real story. I actually have it all written out anyways. And today I'm feeling dull - but I also feel like posting something. The two feelings cannot successfully go together. Unless, of course, you already have it all written out. But it's really long. So you'll probably get it in parts. Maybe a sentence at a time. I'm not really sure. Let's just play this by ear, shall we?



How I Met my Husband: PART 1

After two whopping years of college I was ready to take a break. Because, TWO whopping years. Whew. Hard work.

But I felt like my break should be for a reason – so, you know, I didn’t look overly lazy for having only completed 2 years of college. (If it counts I did get an Associates Degree – I’m not totally useless in the education department.)

I was also a good little Mormon girl so I knew that to take a socially worthwhile break I only had a couple of options. Because there are only two things that would stop a good little Mormon girl from attending college: Marriage or a Mission. Otherwise, you’d be in college looking for someone to marry… or maybe just to get an education. It really depends on the school, and if you live in Utah (or Rexburg.)

Marriage was totally out of the question. I was an active, attractive enough, 20 year old and there were SO many things I would have rather done than get married. Right then. Maybe later. But totally not then.

That left me the Mission option. Which sounded good. Living in a 3rd world country for awhile, learning some hard language and eating raw fish heads or dog meat and putting up with some other chick for 24 hours a day…. Ok, so maybe not. But there is that whole serving the Lord thing that helped. Plus, it wasn’t marriage. So a mission it would be.

Of course that also meant that I would have to come up with a bucket full of cash (a large-ish bucket.) And I had 6 months until my 21st birthday, so that gave me a chance to fill that bucket –if only somewhat. At least I was going to try. Plus, I liked money, so getting a good job was totally in the plan. (You’ll notice the past tense “liked.” It’s not that I don’t still like money, it’s just that I NEVER SEE ANY. And a long distance relationship is hard. Especially when the money that I love is distantly in someone else’s wallet….)

Back then I was working part-time in the accounting department of an internet service provider. Not that I studied anything in school that made me at all qualified to work in an accounting department. But there I was. Really there was a lot of filing and not so much to do with accounting. Plus the hours weren’t plentiful and the pay wasn’t great so I was looking for a bit something more.

I had mentioned this grand plan to an older friend of mine and guess what? It just so happened that her husband, who worked for the Forest Service, was taking applications for their summer crews – which paid a whole lot more and had awesome government benefits (like sick days……I had never before been paid to be sick and this was looking naively fabulous.)

Who cares if the job was with the Forest Service and I completely loathe being outside. Especially the kind of outside that is in the mountains with things like dirt, bugs, allergen filled plants and the major one - - NO BATHROOMS. But showers, Claritin and my exceptional pre-baby bladder holding abilities = MOOOOOOOONEY. So I applied.

But it’s a long process – you know how the government works. You have to fill out 520 papers and then wait for them to be processed through about 37 channels of people? So I filled it all out and waited until the semester was over.

During my wait, I had a splendid last few months of college. Because, PARTEEE, no more school. And during my juvenile merrymaking I met a guy. He was really funny and had cool shoes and a scooter – what’s not to like? But he wasn’t a “hey, let’s settle down and start a nice life together” type of guy. Mainly because, PARTEEEE and then pack up and move - - because, did I mention, this new job was in a completely different state? Plus, if you hadn’t already caught on – I wasn’t exactly in the “hey, let’s settle down and start a nice life together” mood back then either.

Also, during this waiting/partying period, my boss offered me a raise and more hours. (Because I must have been really good at filing.) And I also applied for a position at the local newspaper doing graphic design. Because that’s what I had been studying in school and mostly I just wanted to see if I was good enough to get the job. It turns out the newspaper interviewer lady had even heard of me and my designing prowess. (In passing, from a fellow classmate, in the form of a “hey, I know her, she’s not bad.”) So I had the job. If I had wanted it, that is.

Then I heard back from the Forest Service and my older friend offering me the job and free room and board if I helped with their kids on occasion.

I was in a pickle.


to be continued...

Comments

Barbaloot said…
Yikes! That is quite the pickle. I'm pretty anxious to see the next installment.

PS-if it were me, I probly wouldn't have done the forest thing...just sayin is all.
J. Baxter said…
I totally would have done the forest thing. I'm from the Northwest, I love the forest thing.

And now you have me wondering - how long until the next installment? Do we have to wait like five days? Or are you going to be kind? Just wondering...
Wonder Woman said…
I love pickles.

Anxious to see the rest of the story. Please don't make us wait 5 days. That would be quite heartless, and I know you are not without a heart.
Miranda said…
Oh, don't leave me hangin'!!!
Wow this is a lot longer version than I tell how you two met. lol

Popular posts from this blog

GIVEAWAY (of the photo Christmas card variety)

I think I just creeped out my four year old. I pulled out the, "You'd better go to bed because Santa's Elves are watching you to make sure you're being good!" routine. His eyes got big, and round, and scared. And he said, "Why would they do that?!" Also, our church building burned down yesterday. No wait, it didn't. But the alarm went off, and the entire ward just sat there in the chapel (and gym, because we have an enormous ward.) I sat there too. I don't know what everyone else was thinking, but the thought going through my head was, "Can somebody please get that alarm turned off, it is WAY TOO LOUD!!!!" Seriously, I think our ward is now 37% deafer after that. Oh, and there was no actual fire. And the first fire truck to show up was driven by one of our ward members who was on duty that day. Good times. And now, that GIVEAWAY: For procrastinators everywhere (that would include me) I'm giving away one free photo Christmas card d

The Barrel giveaway : SNIS Handmade Leather Goods

As seen in this month's issue of The Barrel I'm giving away one leather keychain or bracelet from SNIS . Their keychains crack me up.  In a really good way.  Like, if I was to ever have a grumpy day (like every day) and I see something like that on my keychain, then I doubt I'll be able to scream at my kids as well. Also, good news!  Even those of you who don't win can get 15% off everything in their shop!  Just enter the code: THEBARREL to get the discount. If you win this giveaway you get to choose the bracelet or keychain out of SNIS's etsy shop (and they have a bunch to choose from): All giveaways associated with The Barrel end on March 15th at 11:59 PM MT. Here's how to enter: 1- For ONE entry: visit SNIS's etsy shop then leave a comment on this post about which is your favorite product. 2- For another ONE entry you can "heart" SNIS's etsy shop. (Leave a separate comment telling me that you "hearted" them.)

little pieces of my heart will be for sale at D.I.

I have this thing about my kids clothes. The thing is, I LIKE BUYING THEM CLOTHES. I get in trouble frequently for this. It's just that the old ones get so boring after awhile. And I hate it when the really cheap clothes look like poop after washing them a couple of times. Luckily, I live in a city that has outlet stores. I love outlet stores (and Ebay!) Alot of the time you can find higher quality clothes for Walmart prices so how could I NOT buy them? It would be like wasting money for me NOT to get a couple $4 shirts at OshKosh. Right? RIGHT?!! The problem is - we have tiny closets. Miniature, puny, ridiculous, TINY closets. The other problem is - I have saved EVERYTHING. Not only are the kids' closets chuck full of stuff, but we have multiple rubbermaid bins in our garage full of baby clothes they've all grown out of. Also, we may not be having any more children. And I say "may not" because if I say "for sure not" someone will have to co