This morning I was walking in to the kitchen to get something before I left for work.  Right as you are entering our kitchen, there is a piece of wood hanging on your left, that has my vows to Andrea  burnt into it.  This morning I stopped, and read them.  To be honest, I haven’t really thought about them since our wedding.  I don’t know if that’s common or if I’m hanging my self out to be the worlds worst husband here, but this morning it hit me hard.  I was overcome with a sense of love.  I was overcome with a sense of reality.  I was overcome with everything.  Every word I read, I realized more and more how much I love my wife.

The vows I wrote don’t express my love for her, and I don’t think words can.  I pray every night that I am able to be half the man that she deserves.  If you don’t know my wife, A) you’re missing out.  B) you should know that she is a woman that has lived an amazing life, and has a passion for people that you can’t even imagine.  This weekend I had a chance to hear her share her passions with some people, and I was amazed.  I fall in love with her more and more every day.  Every morning I wake up and thank God for another day with her.  I truly am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.  This morning it hit me, those vows weren’t just wedding vows.  They were life vows.  They are the promises I made that I am going to live by every day for the rest of my life.

All this to say, Andrea, if you’re reading this, I love you.

I know some of you have to watch 24.  I’m not going to spoil anything so don’t worry about that.  I do have a question though.  Why on earth can’t these guys get some cars that are a little more incognito?  Seriously, these guys are running some seriously covert missions, and they are driving around in a bright blue van or a bright yellow paddy-wagon looking truck. It doesn’t make sense to me.  Hopefully there will be a reason for that written in to the plot soon.  Hopefully.

On another note, Andrea and I had a great night out in Atlanta.  We came across some really cheap tickets to go see Stomp 2.0 at the Fox Theatre.  I don’t know what it is about that place but when I go there, I feel all special.  Anyway, Andrea and I made a trip of it.  We decided we would go eat at the Varsity and then head to the Fox.  It was great fun.  We actually ended up eating at the Varsity, going to Starbucks, and then going to the Fox.  She (re) taught me about different kind of sentences, and I told her a little about work.  Sometimes we just sat there in silence, what she doesn’t know, when we are sitting there in silence, I’m staring at her, in utter amazement.

No matter how many days I wake up with her, I will never fully be able to believe that she is my wife.  It’s too good to be true.  You know?  Man. I am just too lucky.

When we got to the Fox our seats were really awesome. 26 rows back and in the center.  The people in front of us were a little taller, or just had really big hair, and moved alot, so there wasn’t really avoiding them getting in the way a little bit.  We still enjoyed it all and all, just a little frustrating at times… but that’s life.

So.. There is our night.  Somehow, my life has turned into something pretty cool, even through all of the funk that has been my life.  It looks like things are starting to come together.  It’s nice.

So, yesterday I turned 26 years old.  Let me say that I went to bed the night before anything but excited.  I’m not big on (my) birthdays.  It’s not that they aren’t cool, and… who doesn’t like the attention.  It’s just that in the last 26 years, I only have good memories of a handful of them.  So, I don’t ever really have high expectations.  Let me say, even if I did have high expectations, yesterday would have blown them out of the water.  So, here is my recap.

I woke up around 6:30 am to the sound of my wife’s voice. I was very confused, I guess I was in a deep deep sleep.  When I opened my eyes, Andrea is standing there with eggs, Sausage, french toast and a side of syrup. (morning gravy)   Wow.  Off to a great start.  I ate it quickly, still wondering if I was dreaming, got up to  kiss my wife, and she left for work.  I hopped in the shower and did my morning routine to head in to work.

Work was good.  Only one person said happy birthday, which is fine by me.  I like being low key, and I don’t expect every person to memorize the day I was born as something special.  It’s silly to think co-workers would do that anyway.  At work, I’m really busy, and I start to fall behind on several projects I have going.  One of them is one of the few I have with a deadline.  I plugged in my iPod.  Turned on Jack Johnson and hacked away.  And before I knew it, I was ahead of schedule!  That pretty much rocked.

Around 11:30 (A total guess)  I was working away and I hear someone approaching my cubicle.  That’s pretty normal, so I turn down my music, and look to see who is coming.  Who else walks around the corner but Andrea! (Who is supposed to be at work)  I was shocked, confused and surprised.  The last person I expected to see at that moment was her.

She informed me that I was being kidnapped for the day and we were playing hookie.  Sweet!  So, I packed up my stuff, and hopped in her car, not knowing what to expect next, or where we were going.  Our first destination was an Indian restaurant, with an all you can eat lunch buffet! I should go ahead and say, my favorite style of food is Indian so this was AWESOME to me!   I ate until my pants didn’t fit, and off we went….. slowly.   Then we went to Dave and Busters.  There is always a little kid in me who wants to see how many tickets I can win.  I know it’s a little weird, but I love winning tickets.  I love it.  And, what better way/time to win tickets than with your lovely wife, on a day you should be at the office working?

We played silly gimmicky games, and “Deal or No Deal” several times, along with ski ball, basketball, trivia, and air hockey. And, for the first time in Andy/Andrea history, Andrea beat me at air-hockey.  I would like to say that I have several excuses for why she beat me, but the fact is, she won.  Fair and square.

After that, we headed home.  (I was tired)  When we got home, I smell nothing but the suh-weet aroma of homemade chili.  Let me say, I am a chili expert.  I eat chili as often as possible (Ask anyone) and my wife makes the absolute best chili in the world.  It was only about 3:15, so we didn’t eat.  Instead, we turned on the T.V. and sat on the floor and played Super Mario 3 on my nintendo.  We did that for about 30 minutes then hopped up on to the couch and dozed off for an hour or so.  What a relaxing/fun afternoon.

around 6, I woke up, we ate the chili, and let me say, it was the best of the best.  Man.  I don’t know how she sneaks all of that flavor into one little crock pot, but, MAN, is it good.

After that, we hung out, watched Wheel of Fortune and jeopardy.  Decided we wanted coffee so to Starbucks we went.  (I had a gift card, and we didn’t have cream, so we decided to not make the coffee)  When we got home from Starbucks, we watched what was left of Ugly Betty.  Then we watched Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and snuggled up in the bed.

I’ll leave my super sweet 26, right there.  But, all in all it was a full, fantastic awesome birthday.  By far the best birthday I have ever had.  And it’s all thanks to my beautiful wife.  Head over to her site, and give her some love.. (Oh, and congratulate her on her air hockey victory… I don’t anticipate her winning again.)

I have been married for what 12 days now?  I realized I can’t post “Rules of Engagement” anymore.  Which is kind of sad.  I thought they were fun.  Then I realized, I can post a final thoughts. (like Jerry Springer)

Being engaged is pretty cool, but can be stressful.  Through everything, I realized it’s worth it.  We had some arguments.  I had some struggles.  I found it hard at times to get in touch with my groomsmen, and she found it hard at times to sit down and relax.  We butted heads a few times, but in the end, the wedding happened.  It happened beautifully.  I realized that I had NO CLUE how much went into a wedding.

I have the utmost respect for my wife, as she put the whole thing together, with the help of some awesome volunteers.  She was a little overwhelmed at times, but man it was sooo worth it.

So guys, remember, it’s worth it.  That was the happiest day of my life, and I am SOOOO glad that Andrea took the time and thought to make it as perfect as she did. Pictures coming soon!

I’ve been married for one week, and one day.  I think I got the hang of this. hehe.

For anyone who cares, the wedding went beautifully.  Aside from the power outage at the church earlier in the day, which caused a bunch of stress, and the fact that one of my groomsmen (I won’t name names) left my fireplace gas on the previous night and caused a ‘gas scare’. But all of that junk got cleared up before the wedding.  It was insanely scary, and when we get some pics, you’ll see how nervous I actually was.  (If you ask me, I was cooler than a polar bears toe nails.)

The honeymoon went well.  We had a great time in Orlando, and didn’t wait more than 15 minutes for any ride.  I am a happy happy husband.  Thank you all for your prayers, and blessings, and everything.  You all rock.  I am happily married, and happily in love.

Did anything disasterous, or almost disasterous happen at your wedding?  Tell me here.