Shifting Priorities

As Adam and I freewheel in our second year of marriage, our priorities are changing and shifting. I suppose it's only natural. I remember when I was so bored and frustrated in Columbus, but I am wondering how much of that was a "home is where the heart is" type of situation. Adam wasn't there, so I was unhappy. But now, I'm finding myself missing it very much.

Over the past several months, we've dealt with a few low blows, but they were more than counteracted with highs. We've met new friends. Adam's book I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It is getting rave reviews and he's selling foreign rights like crazy! Things work out just the way they're supposed to.

Even thought I grew up in Cleveland OH, a big city, I am not used to the intensity of a big city. I'd spent 13 years in Columbus, which is a mid-sized city in central OH. I miss Columbus, even with all its Ohio State insanity. I miss not having to pay sales tax on groceries. I miss cheaper groceries (oh Marc's) and not being scared to drive without being honked at. I miss my friends and I really miss being close to Aidan. I'm pretty homesick. And for the love of God, I need to see lots of green grass and trees and flowers and stars at night.

We've been weighing our options. I went on Craigslist yesterday and compared housing prices there with housing prices here. The difference is astounding. Book checks would stretch SO MUCH farther there. And there is Aidan. He's there. I should be. And again, the fees and prices and nickel and diming here is outrageous. 10.25% sales tax. 13.25% for pop (which is part of the reason I stopped drinking it). Parking tickets. Parking in general. The fact that they make it SO inconvenient to own a car, yet threaten to shut down the CTA every six months. The competitiveness in the job market. Hoops, hoops, hoops. Having to jump through so many hoops for and during interviews. Taking 25 minutes to go three miles because there are so many traffic lights, cars, cyclists, and pedestrians on the road. People on top of people because dwellings are so close together. Schools aren't great. Crime's not great (I really am tired of people breaking out my car windows). Rush hour happens at any given time. You just never know around here.

And yet, I know that if I leave Chicago, I'll miss it. I like knowing I can hop on the Blue Line and go shopping on State Street. I like having the American Girl store be a 15 minute bus ride from the apartment. I can walk to the bank, to the CVS, to Subway, to the Italian grocer on the corner for a good sandwich (provided the line's not out the door, as it tends to get at lunchtime). I would miss the friends I've made here, and the opportunities for networking as an author are amazing. The downtown is beautiful, especially in the spring. There's the lake. I can walk to the yoga studio. It's not unusual to randomly see a celebrity walking down the street (this is more Adam's thing than mine, with his early morning walks and all). That kind of stuff is really, really cool. And I'd miss that.

So I'm really torn. I am scared that I'll go back to Columbus and get bored and frustrated again, but I am frustrated here as well. Adam and I weigh the pros and cons all the time. Of course, the family wants us in Ohio. It'd make sense financially. It's familiar (to me). Well, it used to be. I read old journal entries and I get sad because well, I don't remember those streets anymore although I used to travel them all the time. Finding freelance proofreading work there would be quite a challenge, as the market's already pretty saturated.

Once upon a time, Adam used to say he'd ALWAYS want to live in the city. But now, he's changing. And I change all the time. I think the best thing to do is to be open at what the Universe has in store for us. No matter what, it'll be what's meant to happen.

:)

Things very good.

I'm back to being a house husband for a while, as Ronni is back in the office (the GOOD one - there are so many horror stories of companies who have their heads in their butts). Cooking, cleaning, the whole bit. Still working as a tour guide and writer myself, and probably teaching a class out in the burbs in November.

Ronni is a kick-ass proofreader.

One Year!

Adam and I made it one year! And it was a fantastic year. He put up with my moodiness, my many "voices," my obsession with Disney and American Girl dolls. He makes me dinner. He does the dishes and the laundry. He surprises me with donuts. He supports me. He has my back. He cares about me. He loves me. I love him.

For our anniversary, he bought me an American Girl doll. I got him Punch Out for Wii, and boxing gloves to go with it.

He's a keeper. I'm going to keep him.

It's Been A While!

Adam and I are still settling nicely into married life. I can't believe that our anniversary is in less than two months! The year (even the everlastingly long winter!) seems to have sped by!

Adam takes really good care of me. He does most of the cooking, and he keeps the kitchen fairly clean. He also handles a great deal of the laundry. I love that he helps so much around the house. But that kind of stuff aside, he is just an incredibly supportive person. He's on my side, you know? And it's nice to know that someone will always be in my corner. After all, that's what being married is about. Having that partner. That commitment. Working to build a wonderful life together.

Since I last updated here, Adam and I went to Columbus to visit Aidan for Christmas, which was a lot of fun. Within that visit, we drove to Cleveland to see my mom and to see Andy. Aidan got loads of stuff. His dad was able to throw out all of Aidan's old clothes and replace them with all new things, that's how much he got. It was overwhelming!

Shortly after that, Adam and I went to Los Angeles to visit friends and family. We got to hang out with Eli and Melissa, Amy, and Tasha. I got to visit a lot of places--the Disney Studios, Griffith Observatory, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles--and Melissa and Eli took us to Disneyland! Visiting L.A. in winter is nice, I'm not going to lie. But coming back to cold Chicago was hard!

Aidan's come to visit twice, and both times he was a complete joy. He'll be here for the whole summer on June 20th. At the end of the summer, we're taking a family trip to Disney World! I figure I should do it now while I can, and before he decides he's too cool for such things.

I'm looking forward to the summer. I hope to hit the beach more and generally do more stuff outside.

And I'll try to update more here! I promise! 'Til next time!

Marriage Survey

1. What is your spous​e'​s name?
Adam <3

2. How long have you been marri​ed?​
142 days

3. How long were you toget​her befor​e you got marri​ed?​
Just over two years.

4. Where​ did you get marri​ed?​
Edgewater Beach, Lake Michigan (Chicago)

5. Where​ did you propo​se or were propo​sed to?
Margie's Candies

6. Have you ever been marri​ed befor​e your curre​nt marri​age?​
Yes

7. Who "​wears​ the pants​"​ in the house​?​
We share the pants.

8. Who is the "​bread​-​winne​r"​?​
We take turns.

9. Do you have any child​ren?​
Not together. I have little Aidan from my first marriage.

10. Do you have any pets?​
Two cats. One is currently sitting on my lap, purring, and putting his cold, wet nose on my hand.

11. How many times​ a week do just the two of you go out?
We don't go out a lot, we hang out at home mostly.

12. Do you have separ​ate check​ing accou​nts?​
Yes.

13. What side of the bed do you sleep​ on?
Right

14. Who does the laund​ry?​
He does most of it.

15. Who cooks​?​
He does most of it. :)

16. Who clean​s?​
I do most of it, but he cleans the kitchen.

17. Do you share​ a vehic​le or each have your own?
We share one, but most of the time we walk, or take the train or bus.

18. Do you get along​ with your in-​laws?​
Definitely. I love them!

19. Do you argue​ with your spous​e?​
Not really.

20. Are you good at pampe​ring?​
Not so much. :O

21. What is your favor​ite physi​cal featu​re of your spous​e?​
His hair, his face, his lips, his butt, his stomach, his voice... oh man, he's cute. :)

22. Name one thing​ you would​ chang​e about​ your spous​e?​
*shrug*

23. Name a movie​ that will alway​s remin​d you of your spous​e?​
Hmm. Juno. We saw it together in NYC just over a year ago, the first movie we ever saw at a theatre together. Wait, no it wasn't. Hairspray was. But still. Juno.

24. Do you own a home or rent a place​?​
We rent a cool place close to downtown Chicago.

25. What is your weddi​ng date?​
July 27, 2008