Friday, December 18, 2009

"It's just backwards right now... one day, I'll be the man again."


Between gasps of air, and overcoming the fear of passing out, I attempted to speak to my fellow "tied-down" buddy Jacob Thomas during our recent racquetball game. School has finally let out here at Utah State University, and this has led to a great list of events that Jake and I have been engulfing ourselves into: Dr. Mario, racquetball, more Dr. Mario, discussions about politics, discussions about our LDS missions, Dr. Mario again, Golden Corral, watching sports... the list has indeed been as splendid as it sounds, but there has been something on my mind throughout the whole time.

"Jake," I panted, then paused waiting for my head to stop pulsing like a dang stereo sub-woofer and for my eyes to regain their purpose of seeing. "I feel like a schmoe. I mean, Em's working full-time and I'm just sittin' around with you all day, hoping that I'll get another advertising job. I don't know about myself, man."

Jake is facing practically the same situation as me, but on a lower level; his girlfriend of two months is working full-time during the break just like Em, with Jake's job with the school taking a halt. With a shrug of his shoulders and a giant swing at the blue racquetball, Jake muttered, "Eh, that's how it goes in a college marriage, man. It'll flip around one day, though, when you're all graduated, bringin' home the bacon. Then she'll be the one at home."

The racquetball bounced off the wall and slapped me right in my marriage-grown stomach. A smile cracked across my face as my mouth vomited out the words that immediately came from my mind: "You're right, brotha! It's just backwards right now... one day, I'll be the man again."

I'm way grateful that Em is working full-time, however. She is tearing it up at Impact Cash Systems, to boot! Not to honk our own horn or anything, but Em is at the top of her team in the collections division. I'm pretty dang proud of her, and grateful she works so hard. The only problem? Well... with school being out and the lack of advertising jobs that I have been invited on, Mondays through Fridays 7 AM to 3 PM are straight up BRUTAL for the Dave, as the above picture shows. Heck, I get so bored I even take strange pictures of our home. I even busted out an old toothbrush and started scrubbing the cracks in the bathroom for heaven's sake. Sure, Jake comes over quite a bit and that helps. After a dozen or so games of Dr. Mario, we finally turn the thing off and try to think logically, typically unsuccessfully, through blood-shot eyes. Em always knows how much "D-Mizzle" (as Jake and I call it) we played that day when she looks into my eyes. Some days I feel pathetic, but other days I'm pretty dang proud to be able to tell her that I was the Dr. Mario King for the day.

On a brighter note, Christmas is almost here! Next week, I'm taking Em down to Salt Lake and we're going to see Temple Square and the lights, stay at the downtown Hilton (thank goodness for priceline!) and then we're off to New Mexico for Christmas. We're pretty dang excited for our first Christmas together, and there's no doubt that it will be the best Christmas ever... even if things are a little "backwards" right now.

Merry Christmas!
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, I gotta admit, (coming from an art major) that picture is actually pretty cool. As my photography teacher would say, it's very dynamic and interesting. Honestly. But ya, I'm sure things will turn around soon enough for ya. Good to hear things are going good for you guys!

December 19, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Sarah said...

I think you are a great writer Dave! Andrew is in a similar situation as you... We both work at the school so we are unemployed right now, but I make more than him AND work more hours, so he feels your pain. See you guys soon!

December 20, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Muir said...

I'm proud of Em too. That's so great. I'm glad she likes her job!

December 21, 2009 at 10:17 AM

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Married!

Married!
May 23, 2009

We're engaged!

Dave and I had mentioned getting married and we knew that's what we wanted however I was not expecting to have him propose until the spring semester had started and to not be getting married until the beginning of the fall semester.
Dave had other ideas.
December 12 was the last day that Dave and I had before I headed back to New Mexico for Winter Break. For my Christmas Present Dave had told me that he was taking me up North to walk around Temple Square with all of its Christmas lights, and to the church history museum, to see the new Joseph Smith movie, and to take me to dinner anywhere I wanted to eat. He also gave me a gift card to one of my favorite stores, Deseret Book which he also planned to let me roam through while we were up North.
Others had mentioned the possibility of him proposing but I brushed it off knowing that he didn't want to get engaged this semester. I knew I was right when the week of the trip, Jake and a date (Emily Dutson), planned to join us for the trip.
The day we had set to leave, I was a stressed out mess. I had packing to do, and a final to finish. Dave, Jake, and Emily all arrived at my apartment while I was still in my Pajamas finishing the last of my work. I very quickly showered and got dressed (thank goodness my roommates had already picked out my clothing for the occasion). We left town and I slowly de-stressed as we continued the drive. By the time we made it to Salt Lake we were all starving. We stopped and got the soup and sandwich at the Nauvoo Cafe, which was absolutely amazing and incredibly delicous. We then found the times for the Joseph Smith Movie and left to walk through the Church History Museum. On the way there Dave and I realized that his camera had no batteries so Jake and Emily walked through the museum and Dave and I went to buy the batteries. We all made it back in time for the beginning of the Joseph Smith Movie. It was a fantastic movie which also had me crying by the end of it. When the movie finished the lights were all on at Temple Square so we decided to walk around. As we walked Dave began tossing his keys in the air. He dropped them and I stopped to wait for him while he picked them up. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was proposing to me! I said yes and he slipped a beautiful ring on my finger.

Engaged!

Engaged!
I know this picture isn't the best quality but this is right after Dave proposed to me and was putting the ring on my finger!

How We Met/First Date

Dave and I first met when he and his best friend Jacob Thomas ( a fellow resident on Castilleja Dorm like myself) decided to decorate Duke Dance's apartment before he returned home from his honeymoon. At the time they claimed that they needed help knowing how to decorate it and therefore were looking for the help of a few girls. They roamed the hallways until they found a room of about 6 girls (including myself). We agreed to help and set up a time for later in the week. Later that week we all met up and made a trip to Walmart to get the needed decorations. While there Dave and I ended up separated from the rest of the group. Dave and I talked while we looked for the right decorations...he asked what brought me to Snow and I answered honestly. "The Lord. This is where he wanted me and there is no other explanation for it." He claims this impressed him...and I think I believe him. The next Friday, I had the apartment to myself for one hour before my next class. I had just succeeded in splattering miracle whip all over after dropping the bottle on the floor when someone knocked on the door. Lo and Behold it was Dave. He came and we talked for the next hour. He invited me and my roommate Marsha to go on a hike the next day. I thought carefully and decided it would be fun. I was almost late for my next class which I just happened to have with Jake. Jake and I started talking and the plans changed so that we ended up turning the night into a double date and doing the hike that night rather than the next day. Sadly enough I am not much of a hiker and I gave a little over halfway through the hike. Dave, ever the gentleman stopped with me and we again talked for the next hour while Jake and Marsha finished the hike and came back to us. The men had brought with the makings for a sandwich which we all ate while watching the sunset. Afterwards we headed back to the car and went back to Duke Dance's apartment to watch the Emperor's New Groove and Mountains of Ephraim (most of you won't know this one..it's a home video Dave and Jake made before their mission) and enjoying a bowl of ice cream. Before ending the night Marsha and I invited them to join us for the rodeo in Manti the next night. They agreed and that concluded our first date!