Funny Discussions (Year 1)

October 19, 2014

So before settling onto the blogging futon tonight, Justin and I braved the grocery store. Okay, so it was not that bad. Among our many achievements we tagged in our first year of marriage, our battle plan for grocery shopping is perhaps one of our proudest. First, I not only make the grocery list, but I list the items exactly as they are found in the store. (Ex. Produce, Fruit, Chips, Meat, Dairy, Frozen, etc.) Second, we always go after dinner. (Less foot traffic this way) Third, tell the bagger we will bring the buggy back in so he will not follow us out in awkward conversation. Yep, we are a happy, preplanning couple in this household. :)

With such routines, there does bring a level of comfort I've noticed. Perhaps too much comfort. Tonight as we reached the final item on the list, a disagreement broke out between us. Oh, it wasn't a fight per say, merely the same argument we have shared since the first weeks of our marriage. What is it that could possibly be so important you might ask. Well, please let me tell you. Crest or Colgate. Yes, indeed, while the rest of our country sets out to vote in less than a week on our states speakers and additional amendments, you can bet that we will be in silent agreement on our votes for candidates, but still in strong disagreement of the toothpaste that will ultimately reign in our home. As we stood taking turns throwing facts back and forth to one another, each of us staring longingly at the preference of his and her choice, a bagger who was no more than 16 years old quickly walked passed us. It wasn't until that moment that I realized just what a stranger may have thought of our conversation- a conversation that we have had who knows how many times in the last year. As we unloaded the buggy a couple of minutes later, I couldn't help but consider what had just passed. This is life for us. We had finished our debate and laughed our way to the counter with a temporary choice in the buggy, and no final decision actually made. I also stopped to consider how many other unimportant, and yet vital, disagreements have come into our conversations this last year. Here are the top 10 that we can think of now...  (Pictures provided by husband from our 1st Anniversary!)

1. Nike or Anything Other than Nike- Justin swears by Nike. Anything else is less than worthy of being worn in our family. I believe it was his grandmother who said it perfectly a couple of months ago when she told me "Justin would think he were the mistreated stepchild if he were given anything but Nikes to wear." No joke, ladies. He knows those shoes like I know my favorite Bath and Body Works scents.

Someone was getting silly with the camera...

2. Curly Fries or Tator Tots- Oh, yeah, the first time we decide to treat ourselves to frozen potatoes and it takes 10 seconds for mayhem to occur. Apparently, men can care nothing for potatoes when you serve them hot from the pan, but if you dare to serve them next to a burger in a few weeks the situation becomes critical. (In the end, the sales prices won out and we both got what we wanted.)

3. How to Make Up the Bed- I can be a bit...what's the word...anal when it comes to some things. It is amazing the habits you can have and not realize until you are married. For instance, after I have the covers in place and the pillows stacked neatly on the bed, apparently I make one final venture to each side to straighten the lengths of the comforter on each side. Poor thing thought I didn't know he knew how to make up a bed. Needless to say, I don't do that anymore...I don't think anyway. Justin?

I'm catching on to someone being silly with the camera...

4. How to Swallow a Pill- According to my husband, you have to tilt your head back with a large gulp of water and no one can watch you. Oh, and no conversation with him (or he will choke). For me, you put the pill in your mouth, take a sip of water, and swallow. You can watch, but wouldn't that be boring? :)

5. To Be or Not To Be Animated- Whether or not to watch a favorite childhood cartoon movie or a "real people" movie during dinner has come up only about 500 times or so.

6. Fan in the Bedroom, Anyone?- Why the last homeowners removed the fan from the master bedroom in the south (correction, the most humid state in the south perhaps) is beyond my comprehension. To my husband, this is great since fans are loud and accident-prone. To me, somebody better be installing one soon or I'm waking him up to suffocate with me during the night in the heat. (We settled and bought a fan stand until we feel more confident making electrical installations.)

7. Long Sleeves in Winter- This was actually our first disagreement ever. Crazy? We think so. Nevertheless, last November I went to work upset over it one day. The problem was corrected by lunch though and now I am happy to say we both remind each other to grab our jackets when it gets chilly outside.

8. No Lizards in the House- About a month ago, I walked into the living room to find a baby lizard wriggling by the front door. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Justin!

Justin: Yeah, Love?

Me: COME HERE QUICK. Like RUN.

Justin: Why?

Me: LIZARD. It needs to go. It needs to go NOW.

Justin: I'm putting up the dishes. Would you rather I put these up or get rid of the lizard?

I can't quite describe the look I gave my husband after that. All I know is that a smile broke across his face awfully fast and the lizard was caught and removed quickly. I am also never going to live that moment of panic down.

9. Clean Your Plate- So I grew up with the knowledge that you finished everything Mommy put on your plate. It wasn't hard (unless it was wild rice- Yuck!), but nevertheless I do the same today. About a week ago, Justin informed me that when we go to dinner at his grandparents house such is not the case. That may have been nice to know before I finished the 3 enchiladas, refried beans, and Mexican cornbread Ma had placed on my plate. It was delicious, but 2 hour hours late I was certain that a Sonic sundae was not what I wanted to finish the night. I haven't quite figured out how to handle this situation because I can't let good food go to waste, but at the same time I'm told more may be added to my plate in the future if I keep this up. *Prayers are welcomed.*

10. Holmes Inspection or Rehab Addict- Netflix started this one. While both of us enjoy these shows, Justin has become a Holmes Inspector apprentice of sorts. (I mean, he truly intended to caulk around our kitchen cabinets and seal our bathtub at 9:30 the other night.) I, on the other hand, had to see how Nicole would be refinishing the kitchen in her 1916 home remodel. Solution to this one has been semi-settled though- Holmes on weekends and Rehab on weeknights!

Awww...finally a happy, sweet picture to put in the album. Still glad to catch some fun on camera, though! :)

I am sure some people may read this and say "Seriously?", but come on surely you and your loved ones have some awfully amusing discussions. I mean life can be pretty funny without trying. I may be sneaking Crest into our buggy from now until my dying days, but I wouldn't have it any other way. As long as he still pushes the buggy, and threatens to caulk at midnight, and tries to compromise his way into leaving lizards in the house, and considers frozen potato selections life or death, I will love this man for as long as I live. Truth is, we agree when it counts most. Somehow or another, without laughing or bribing or trickery, when push comes to shove and we have serious decisions to make that can set the path for our future together we always find a way to agree and stand by one another. So, tell me, what funny battles do you catch yourself dueling over these days? :)

P.S. Long live Crest!