Archive for the ‘Rules Of Engagement/Marriage’ Category

Posted on February 16, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

Vows.

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.

Posted on January 28, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

I have a question….

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.

Posted on January 23, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

My Super Sweet…… 26….!!??!!

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.)

Posted on November 13, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Rules of Engagement -Final Thoughts-

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!

Posted on November 9, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

One week. (and one day)

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.

Posted on November 1, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Tips and tricks?

So.  I will be married in less than 12 hours…

What do you think is the most important thing to remember?

What makes your marriage work?

Go!

Posted on October 16, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Rules of Engagement #6

Wow.  What a crazy crazy few months.  Let me start off by saying I love my fiance, and bride to be more than I have loved any single person on this Earth. Ever. Period. No Questions.  I have been doing my rules of engagment thing for some time now.  Check out some older ones. And if you have any rules of engagement that you have learned in your experience, or just general questions.  Help a brother out.

I know I haven’t had much input into this wedding.  Not necessarily because I don’t care, but because I don’t know. I honestly thought going into this that all I had to do was pop the question, and show up a little while later, kiss the girl, and live happily ever after.  I was wrong.

I don’t have the slightest clue how Andrea does it, and remembers every thing.  Some people might say my memory isn’t 20/20 anyway, and now throwing all of this into the mix.  Let’s just say I am not performing well.  So. On to rules of engagement number 6.

Give some input.  Make suggestions.  Handle it well when (if, but really when) your suggestions are shot down.

Like I said before, Andrea is awesome at this kind of thing.  Baby showers, parties, house get togethers, and now add weddings to her resume. She just gets it. (And she is gifted in bargain shopping, I think she gets it from her mother.) Normally when she comes to me asking a question, I don’t give much input.  That’s my flaw.  Let me say though.  You need to give input.

Women don’t think, “He’s not giving input about my (our, but really my) wedding.” (From what I gather about women.) Women’s minds don’t work like that.  At least not from my perspective.

A woman is going to be thinking,“He can’t even give me a suggestion about something as simple as centerpieces, what is he going to be like when we are choosing our first baby outfit, or if we are choosing a bed.  I can’t believe he doesn’t seem interested.  I want him to like it too, if he doesn’t give me input, I’m going to be wondering, does he like it? Does he love it?  Does he hate it?  Could I have done better?  Could I do worse? Do these shoes match my green purse, should I be wearing white?  It’s after labor day, but that’s kind of a thing of the past.  Right? I think so, yeah.  Right.  I wish he’d give me some input. How many calories does this fiber bar have?”

I might not always care about the decor of the wedding, or how centered or straight a picture on the wall is.  It’s not my fault, I’m a male.  What I do care about is that my future wife knows I’m willing to do anything and everything in my power to make sure we communicate, we are both happy, that I do have opinions and, I am going to care about stuff she cares about.

Guys.  A suggestion.  Throw some opinions out there.  It might even be a good one.  I did that with our invitations, and we’ve gotten 90 RSVP’s.  So, it can turn out well.  In my opinion, the worst thing to do is to keep quiet.

Posted on September 18, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Rules Of Engagement #5

I have learned A LOT since being engaged.  A lot of things to do, and more things NOT TO DO.  It’s difficult.  But, I think I am doing a great job, and Andrea is behaving wonderfully!  Especially for a stressed out bride-to-be.

Rule #5.

It looks really good if at any given moment you know how many days until your wedding.  It helps if you choose a day like.. say… November 1st, but nonetheless, people get very impressed.  That wasn’t my intention, I know because I am a countdown type of person, and I do countdowns to things I am pumped about.  I am merely saying.  It looks good to people.

To clear some things up… here is a counter.  No math needed in 2008.

X that.  Apparently Counters don’t work in Wordpress… or I’m a fool. lol

Posted on September 18, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Rules Of Engagement #4

Ok.  I like to think I am pretty good at doing simple things.  You know.  Cleaning up after myself. (Sometimes) and keeping my dirty laundry in an organized mess on the floor.  Even putting the seat down.  But, according to my wonderful fiance, I sometimes fail to put the toilet seat down…. Like last night.

For those of you who don’t know, Due to some circumstances and timing, I crash at Andrea’s mother’s house.  Andrea is so sweet, she sleeps on the couch, and allows me to sleep in a bed.  So, I guess last night before I went to bed I forgot to put the toilet seat down.  (Whoops)

At 4:00 am, Andrea found herself falling into (or almost falling into) a toilet.  (Whoops again)

So.  Rules of Engagement #4.

Remember to put the seat down if you want your wedding to still happen.  Apparently women don’t like falling into the toilet. (who knew?)

Posted on August 15, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Rules Of Engagement #3

Ok.  So I am learning so much about being engaged, and I am sure I will learn TONS more after getting married.  So here it is.  Rules of Engagement part 3.

****Disclaimer****

I do not “get in trouble” for these things I am talking about.  I write only about the cute little quirks, and things I didn’t realize would be so difficult during an engagement, or while planning a wedding.  I want to say Andrea is OVERLY awesome about the whole ordeal, and is very understanding about my cluelessness of planning something like this.

She is your fiance NOT your girlfriend.

Yes, I said it.  She is your fiance.  There is NO excuse for calling her otherwise.  You cannot say, “I’m sorry love, I am still getting used to it”, or “It’s just a habit”  And definitely don’t say something like, “Sometimes, I just forget.”  These are all logical things, that really could happen, even to the best engaged man in the world but remember, to a woman, this is a VERY important step, and something she has waited for her entire life.  (Men have too, we are just more hard headed)

Basically, you made the decision to propose.  You want to spend the rest of your life with her.  Learn to call her your fiance.

As for me, I am sure just as I am getting used to calling her my fiance, we’ll be married, and I pray to God that on our honeymoon, I don’t introduce my new wife as “my fiance”.  Pray with me.