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This is Baxter's Halloween costume. I know. I bought a Halloween costume for my dog. I'm insane. But he's a little king! With a little crown! I actually wanted to get the Elvis costume, but when you don't buy until the day of Halloween, your choices are limited to bunny rabbit, king, or generic orange sweatshirt/bandanna combo. Baxter didn't mind the little cape part b/c I'm sure it mostly felt like his collar to him. He would only keep the crown on for like two minutes at a time, though. So in this picture, Jim is holding a treat up while I take a picture. There were also little ruffles that went around the paws, but Baxter was having none of that. I'm not sure if he objected to the ruffles in general, or just having something around his paws, but he barely let me get one on him and then ripped it off immediately. So I skipped that part. Anyway, he loved Halloween. He sat in the front window and whenever kids came to the door, he ran over and waited for me to give them candy. It's supposed to snow today and tomorrow, so I can't wait to see how he feels about that. I get the feeling he's going to dig it the most.
In other news, we got a food processor for a wedding gift, so I'm making cheese bread today to go with our chili for dinner. I followed the recipe in the booklet that came with the processor, but I think something went horribly wrong, because it doesn't seem to be rising as it's supposed to be doing right now. I know the yeast was active because A) I bought it yesterday and B) it foamed up and stuff when I combined it with the water. I did use 2% milk (the recipe called for nonfat) and salted instead of unsalted butter, but I didn't think that would affect the rising. I thought it might affect the final texture instead. I think the problem was that it wasn't in a warm enough spot, so I moved it to the top of the dishwasher (which is currently running). My mom always used to put her dough on top of the refrigerator and I have no idea why. Maybe because heat rises and that's the highest spot in the room? I don't know. This is why I prefer cooking to baking -- you can make goofy substitutions and it's not like a giant chemistry experiment where if you mess up one thing, the whole thing goes to crap. Anyway. I hope it's at least edible. And I know the chili will be good, because I'm a champion chili-maker.
So it said on the news last night that we're supposed to get three to seven inches of snow by tomorrow night. That should be interesting. I don't think I'm quite ready for snow yet, but I don't think I get much say in the matter. Plus, it'll all melt next week anyway.
Here are the top three questions I've been getting this week:
How was the honeymoon?
My standard response: Great! It was so beautiful with the leaves and everything.
My internal thought process: How am I supposed to answer that question? Am I the only one who feels like they're asking about my sex life? Now that I'm married, is it okay to admit that we have sex? Because I don't think I'm comfortable with that.
So what's your last name now?
My standard response: Oh, I kept my name so it's still the same!
My internal thought process: Does it really matter? Because you're just going to call me Mrs. Durr anyway. Like the DJ at our wedding. And every service person we encountered on our honeymoon. And the people at the photo shop. And my mother.
How's married life treating you?
My standard response: Oh, it's great! Not that different from before, but still great.
My internal thought process: Again, are you asking about my sex life? Maybe I should just start telling people that it's going terribly and ask if they know of a good divorce lawyer. Which is what Jim did in a meeting at work the other day, and he's not sure that some people knew he was kidding.
Anyway, I know that people mean well, and they want to acknowledge that I got married, and they're just being polite. It's just that after the eight millionth time I get those questions, I start thinking up snarky responses. I can't help it.
Just wait until you get the "So-when-are-you-and-hubby-going-to-give-your-parents-some grandchildren" questions. Those are a LOT of fun! Especially watching their reactions when you tell them, "Want us to let you know so you can come over and watch?"
Posted by: Apryl on November 1, 2002 04:05 PMIf you suspect the questions are about sex, wouldn't it be funny to answer, "how is married life?" with "we're having a lot of hot sex"? LOL!
Posted by: Hayley on November 1, 2002 04:25 PMMy cat got to be a pumpkin for Halloween (I know) so I really got a kick out of your Baxter costume story - what a good looking dog!
Posted by: Jana on November 1, 2002 05:06 PMSee, that's why I asked, "How was your trip?" Because I didn't want to know about the other thing.
Posted by: Wing Chun on November 1, 2002 07:56 PMOh, the name question will be a perennial favorite, especially among peopel who have decided that it's their mission in life to be deeply concerned about how your choice affects any and all unborn children. And look! It's a conversational entree into the whole, "So, when will you two be having kids?" conversation, which is another topic plenty of total strangers will feel free to raise with you. So ... how do you like married life _now_?
Posted by: Lisa on November 1, 2002 09:46 PMIt's not over when you have one, either...because the next question is, "When are you having ANOTHER baby?" I can only assume this keeps going until you've outdone every sitcom ever made.
Posted by: erin on November 3, 2002 01:36 PMWhat a cutie pie. :)
Posted by: Nicole on November 3, 2002 06:03 PMOh, I dunno, I think people expect/"require" you to have two, and then wonder about you if you hit three and aren't a certain religion.
As for the name thing...amen to that. I don't look forward to inevitably becoming Mrs. Hisname no matter what in the future...
Posted by: Jennifer on November 4, 2002 05:05 PMThat has always been you problem Kiml You think too much! Although you watch enough TV -- your brain should be mushy like mine. It was probably all of those books that you read. I've found that really sarcastic answers delivered with unbridled enthusiasm really scare the heck out people. Like that you and Jim got the dog to spice up your sex life. (no smiling allowed) Then just change the topic. Anyway that is what can happen when you shut your brain off at an early age. You are considered wise beyond your years or just crazy.
Posted by: brother on November 8, 2002 02:45 PMi feel your pain. my husband (i must admit i get a kick out of saying that!) and i got married on the 16th of Nov. and we got back from our honeymoon on Sunday. i thought i was the only one that felt weird re: the sex factor of the honeymoon question! :)
keep on thinking up the snarky comments. that's why we read!!
Hey Kim! When do we get to see the wedding pictures?
Posted by: Alex! on December 6, 2002 03:54 PMWhen my husband (M. Giant) and I got married, we got asked the baby question in the reception line, by a complete stranger (well, to us -- he probably knew one of our parents. I hope.) Anyway, M. Giant grabbed my hand and said "Great idea! We should get started now!) and started to leave the line. It seemed to do the trick.
Posted by: Trash on January 3, 2003 12:38 AMum... pictures?
Posted by: still waiting on January 17, 2003 09:40 PMokay,
a) get some photos on this page!
and
2) i want you and jim to know that your wedding really did give me what i needed to decide i could do it myself. although i'm pretty sure that wasn't the only goal of your wedding, thanks. i expect all the nosy questions after my own hitchin to boil down to the one big one: "so why did you decide to get married at a giant electric mining shovel?" heh. i think i'm going to say it's the first place chris and i ever had sex. see you there.
God, my hubby and I have been married for less than 3 months and we're *already* getting the "when are you having kids" questions from his side of the family! The bad thing is, I can't have kids b/c of medical problems, so there's really no good way for me to answer the damn question without getting into a long drawn-out sympathy fest (we don't really care! we didn't want kids anyway!). But of course that's sacrilege.
And I feel you on the name issue! I'm the proud owner of two last names now, but nobody understands that. They automatically just assume I've taken his last name and completely forgotten mine. I'm constantly correcting people. Of course then they say, "What are you, some kind of feminist?" in the same tone they would use to say, "What is that, some sort of highly contagious, deadly skin disease?". Aaargghh.
Oh, and you have an *adorable* dog!!! And I looove your recaps on TWoP...you're my fave. :)
Posted by: whitney on March 19, 2003 11:19 AMI enjoyed you stolen soup incident. My girlfriend and I were chastised for Jay-Walking by a mustachioed cop. He preceeded to inform us about the new technology called "cross walks" which would allow us to cross streets safely and told us to use them in the future.
Posted by: Jackie E on March 31, 2003 10:45 PMHi Kim,
I just started reading your recaps of The Real World and I sit at my desk and just hoot. I admit that I watch the show even when it is as horrible as the LasVegas one. I hate every character on the show but I like watching it. It was the same thing for me with Beverly Hills 90210. Anyway, my 43 year old sister is the one who turned me on to the Real World and your recaps....I am going to be 36 on Sat. so I am not some young thing either, BUT I have a compulsion to watch these early 20 somethings be such jerks on TV! Actually my sister has about 3 Real World books too. Her husband can't stand the show..Anyway, I should get back to work here, but just wanted to give ya a holla...
Christine
My mother-in-law insisted upon sending us mail to Mr and Mrs Means. Finally I had to get my husband to inform her we would be returning any mail that got our names wrong. Also, I get letters from my alma mater asking for money that have my correct name on the envelope, and my correct name on the inside address, and then say Dear Mr. and Mrs. Means. Aargh. I can't wait until I get my Ph.D. then I'll have a great answer when telemarketers ask if I'm Mrs. Means. Or, well, sympathy and good luck. Plus, your dog? Absolutely adorable. I wonder if mine would let me dress them up?
Posted by: Jenny on April 29, 2003 12:24 AMWow. That CD-making machine is taking a LOOOONG time to get fixed. It's almost May! Give us some pictures!
Posted by: Jaimers on April 29, 2003 02:44 PMWow. That CD-making machine is taking a LOOOONG time to get fixed. It's almost May! Give us some pictures!
Posted by: Jaimers on April 29, 2003 02:45 PMmaybe you'll post some Anniversary pictures instead?
Posted by: bubba on May 15, 2003 10:52 PMMaybe she's just waiting for the Anniversary pics, the new baby pics, the pics of the second baby, the high school graduation pics of the new and second babies and then the retirement party pics so she can post them all at once? Hmmm.
Posted by: Apryl on June 13, 2003 04:24 PM