The dude abides

Hubs and I have decided that henceforth, Thursday night is officially Bowling Night. One might assume that since we have committed so enthusiastically to Bowling Night that we are avid bowlers, perhaps members of a league who own our own shoes and monogrammed balls. That assumption, however, would be completely wrong. In fact, I kind of suck at it, and Aaron is about average. But we have fond memories from way back in our early days of dating, of partaking in $2 a game bowling night at the slightly seedier of the two alleys in town. And in our effort to come out of IF-induced hibernation (at least on my part), we thought it was a good idea to create a fun, active routine. And they still do $2 night, so my frugal sensibilities tell me to go for it.

So last night we met up with two other couples at the ol' Bowling Center and played a couple games. As usual I did terrible on the first game, but I almost beat everyone on the second. I scored 123 and then one of our friends came out from behind and beat me by ONE stinkin' point! Oh well! I'm still proud of me for breaking 100!

Of course as we played we'd quote The Bi.g Le.bo.wsk.i, and at one point someone bought everyone a round of White Russians. YUMMY! I hadn't had one since my 21st birthday, when my big brother took me out and bought me one of just about everything, and I forgot how good they are! We decided that we'll order a round of them every Bowling Night, in honor of the Dude.

Hmm... I guess this begs the question: What do you do to keep your mind off IF?

The first first date

Yesterday (or possibly last Tuesday) was the 7th anniversary of hubs' and my first first date! We never celebrate it so we can never remember what day it's on, and actually it didn't even occur to either of us until I thought about it today.

So in honor of this occasion, I give you Our Story (and by default also the explanation behind "first first date").

Aaron and I have technically known each other since I was 5 and he was 6. We went to the same elementary, middle and high schools, and furthermore our younger brothers were BFFs in elementary school. But did we ever speak to each other, even one time, in those 13 years? NOPE. That was fine by me because I thought he was a punk, and he thought I was weird. Well, turns out we were both right, but that's neither here nor there. ;)

One fine evening when I was 22 years old I was out with some friends (at a bar, naturally) and in walks Aaron, his right arm in a cast. Just the way I remembered him from school! That kid had more broken bones than anyone I know, and the one he walked into the bar with was the 5th for that arm. He pointed at me from the doorway and said, "I know you!" Yep, that was his sexy pickup line, and I was hooked. He couldn't remember my name, but he knew who I was and he was hot, so that was enough for me! We went on our first first date one week later - a movie and drinks. ...And some making out. Yeah, I know I'm classy.

Although neither of us was looking for a relationship we found one anyway. Unfortunately, Aaron wasn't quite over the damage his long-term ex GF left him with and after a year of dating we broke up. He still wanted to see me "casually" and I said NO WAY. I considered us over and I moved on, dated someone else for a while, and never looked back.

At least, not until the day we ran into each other in a department store almost a year later. I remember immediately breaking into a cold sweat and thinking, "Damn, he's still cute!" We chatted awkwardly about who knows what for a few minutes and then parted ways. I was still dating the other guy at the time, though things were beginning to get rocky.

Then Aaron started sending me emails from time to time. Nothing much, usually just funny jokes and pictures. We worked up to exchanging short notes every couple of weeks or so. Then he asked me out to lunch, as "friends." Little did I know he was getting advice from a female friend on how to win me back! So I agreed, thinking it was harmless, and we went out to lunch a couple times. The second time being just days after breaking up with the other guy. As soon as I told him the other guy was out of the picture, Aaron jumped at the chance and asked if he could see me again. Our second first date was on May 23rd, 2005. He took me to a Dodger game, and we got on the JumboTron!

And we now have a total of three aniversaries: The first first date, the second first date, and the wedding. So in case we forget one or two, we always have a backup any given year ;)

Farewell, wicked witch!

AF's reign of terror has ended, for this month anyway. Hooray!! Although she started out with a vengeance, she tapered off pretty quickly. And, remember how I mentioned my period lasts 7 days every month, but the past few months I stop bleeding on CD4, only for it to pick up again on CD5? Well this month there was no "pause." Not sure if that's due to the raspberry leaf tea or the exercise I've been making sure I put in every other day, but either way, I'm happy! "Normal" is a good thing.

So the BD fest has started once again. I think I'll do OPKs this month so I can determine when to cut back on the raspberry leaf tea. I'm not really afraid it's that bad for pregnancy, not to mention I'm not particularly hopeful that I'll even get pregnant, but I guess you can't be too careful right?