Tuesday, August 31, 2004

To My Husband of Two Years

Happy Anniversary, my love. Every day that goes by is another that God has given me to celebrate with you. You make me laugh, you make me cry, you make my world a better place. Every day with you is one more day I sing. I love you!

Monday, August 30, 2004

In Honor of Our Second Anniversary, Part 2

We never did set a date to get married. The following summer, I had taken an internship in northcentral Kansas at a newspaper. I came back just about every weekend to spend time with Ron. Oh, and my family, too. But by this time, I was having trouble being around my family too much. I just didn't feel like I fit in with them anymore. I'd had a taste of freedom from them, and I started getting sick in my stomach when I thought of moving back in with them at the end of the summer.

I still couldn't find work in or around Wichita, so I couldn't afford to move out on my own. But I couldn't stand the thought of moving back with my parents. So one warm evening at the end of July, Ron and I were talking on the phone about my situation. He said, "We still haven't set a date for our wedding. Why don't we just get married?" It made sense. We were ready. He had a great job and was making enough money to support both of us. "We'll do it over Labor Day weekend," we decided.

On July 31, Ron called me and said, "Okay, I've talked to Pastor Hoger and reserved the church. We're getting married on August 31."

"But that only gives us 31 days to plan the wedding!"

"That's Labor Day weekend," he said.

I called my best friends and asked them to be my bridesmaids. I called my grandma and asked her to make my dress. Ron's youngest sister, Josie, decided that she would make our wedding cake as a gift for our wedding, and bring the layers down in crates from Wisconsin.

The month flew by. Ron and I made our own invitations and all the arrangements, and I put all of the bouquets and corsages together in five hours while sitting on the floor of my parents' living room. My grandma had my dress sewn together in one week! All I had to do was visit her for a final fitting.

Ron and I paid for everything. My mom was really upset that she didn't get to do much with me to plan the wedding, and that we didn't have much time to do a lot together. I wish we could have, but I knew that if I gave my parents the opportunity to do much, they would insist on doing things more their way than ours.

My sister, two girlfriends and my mom and I all went to the mall on the east side of town looking for the perfect bridesmaids dresses. We got the best deal we could have ever gotten. Von Maur had just opened. It's a very classy department store where almost everything is overpriced. But downstairs, we found one dress that was just the perfect color and style for my wedding. But there was only one. My sister and two bridesmaids tried it on, and it looked great! The sales lady called a couple of stores in other states, found the same dress at each, and had the dresses sent to my bridesmaids' doors for nothing. The best part: the dresses were originally about $160, but were on sale for $38 apiece! It was meant to be!

The wedding was beautiful. My dress was gorgeous; Grandma did a wonderful job. We even had everyone lined up on the steps outside the church after the wedding, and they blew bubbles at us as Ron and I stepped down to the truck. Everyone was so very happy for us, and we were so very extremely happy.

And even though Ron was laid off from his wonderful-paying job six months after we got married, we've managed to remain happy together, in spite of financial difficulty.

Two years have gone by since we got married. Some have asked when we're going to start a family. We just tell them that this is not the right time to start a family; we need to be able to take care of us first, get a place to live where we would actually have room for more than just one of us, be able to buy clothes once in a while, etc. (The apartment we live in is meant for just one person, not two.)

We have the rest of our lives together, and when it's the right time, God will allow us to conceive and give life to a new generation of Olsons. Until then, we're giving thanks to God for giving us the years he has and for all the years he will give us together in the future.

Saturday, August 28, 2004

In Honor of Our Second Anniversary, Part 1

I have decided to share with all of you the story of how Ron and I started our relationship. It's a really interesting story, considering how long we knew each other before we started dating and what we thought of each other prior to our first date. Our second wedding anniversary is Tuesday, August 31.

Ron and I had both started attending the University Lutheran Center's Sunday night Bible studies in the summer of 1999, although he was there a couple of months before me. He was the peer minister, in charge of organizing Bible studies, delivering them, and talking to those who attended regularly about events that were happening at the LCMS churches in town.

In the first part of March, 2000, we went with others from the Kansas District LSF (Lutheran Student Fellowship - a group of college students) to a retreat center in northern Kansas. The guy I and one other person had ridden with was the campus missionary, and he had to leave to come back early. (I think it was to meet up with his girlfriend.)

While we were there, I got really sick. One of the pastors there took me to the hospital in the closest town. It didn't do any good; no doctors or nurses ever helped me in the four hours I was there. It took them two hours to get me into a room, and I waited in the room for two hours before walking out on my own.

I was feeling well enough to return to the group at the retreat, but still had a sensitive stomach. Since my ride was gone, I had to travel back with someone else. Ron graciously allowed me to ride back with him. The whole trip, he said he was thinking, "Please don't throw up in my truck." I was thinking, "Please don't throw up in his truck." Finally, we made it back to my parents' house without incident.

Then in October of the same year (2000), Ron called my house to ask me something that I thought he was calling to ask everyone else since he was the Peer Minister. He said that Holy Cross Lutheran was going to be having a Reformation Banquet at the end of the month and he was wondering if I'd be interested in going.

"Hmmm..., " I thought. "I've never been to a Reformation Banquet before. It could be fun. Sure," I said. "When and where are we meeting?" Because, like I said before, I was certain he was calling everyone.

"Well, can I ... pick you up?" he said.

I paused for a while. "Yeah, sure. I guess so." I mean, he already knew where I lived.

On October 28, Ron showed up at my parents' front door wearing a dress shirt, a tie and dress pants, and carrying a small bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. Ding! The bell in my blonde head finally rang! He had asked me out on a date and I hadn't realized that that's what I had agreed to. Oh, well, I thought. Why not?

We travelled across town to Holy Cross, talking all the way, and when we got there, we sang silly German songs, ate German food, and visited with lots of people. We had a great time. We talked more on the way back to my parents' house, realizing that we had a lot in common with one another and also that we could learn a lot from one another.

Before this date, Ron and I were merely acquaintances. I thought he was way too serious, and he (told me months later that he) thought I was just another ditzy blonde. But while on our date, I realized that he could actually relax and be fun, and he realized that there was a lot more to this blonde woman than he had previously thought. We were both pleasantly surprised.

After he dropped me off at home, we talked a while longer, and said good night. He didn't get far from the door before he came back and asked me out on a second date! Wow! This turned out better than I had imagined.

We kept going out on dates, and about one month later, I was sitting down with my mom in the living room, talking about Ron, and I told my mom, "Don't freak out, but I have a feeling that eventually, Ron's going to ask me to marry him." It stopped my mom in her tracks. She asked me how I knew, but I wasn't sure. I just "knew".

Ron and I dated for a year, after having known each other for a year before that, when he proposed. He put my engagement ring in a bowl of tappioca pudding, and I almost ate it! When I pulled it out of my mouth, he knelt down beside me and told me how much I meant to him and how he never wanted to know life without me by his side. I cried a little, and he put the ring on my finger. That was on October 27, 2001, one day short of our one year dating anniversary.

Thursday, August 26, 2004

Schizophrenic Public

It was an amazing breakthrough during a class discussion tonight. Even though a great number of people believe that the media are biased in their approach to reporting the news, they still depend on the media for their news and infrequently triangulate the information they receive to make sure it's accurate.

It is possible for people to check a number of different sources to make sure that the information they receive is accurate and covers all the angles, but what are the chances they will actually do that? Not good.

This is why we as the media strive to give an unbiased view of the news we report. Although not always very easy, especially in the midst of controversy, it is necessary to do the best we can to give a balanced view of the news we report.

Even editors struggle with this: We are given a piece of literature to edit for content and must be sure to correct spelling, grammar and punctuation errors, but we must also be on the lookout for news that appears unbalanced. If it appears that a reporter's biases are revealed in the article submitted, we, as copy editors, must find the truth and correct the article to reflect that truth. Sometimes this must come at the expense of the pride of the author, but constructive criticism is good for people. I know I appreciate it.

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Not that you really care...

I just got the pins taken out of my big toe this morning, and it didn't hurt! There were two of them, and they used a pliers to first twist them and then pull them out. Since there aren't any nerve endings in the bones, I barely felt anything besides a little something gliding across my skin.

I had to have another non-weightbearing cast put on. This cast should last four weeks, but after two, I can start putting weight on it like a walking cast. Then, I'll have one final cast (another walking cast, of course) and then an aircast, or walking boot. Long story short: I've got another six weeks in a cast; it's already been four weeks since my surgery.

The company my doctor's office gets its cast supplies from has changed the colors somewhat. I asked for pink because (1) I haven't had that color since fifth grade and (2) because I figured it would be a cool way to advertize my Mary Kay business. The GREAT thing about this cast is that it's not neon pink, but soft, baby pink or Mary Kay pink! It won't stand out so much and I can wear it with more clothes without a major clash (as if they existed anymore). (I'm also using it as an ice-breaker by having written "I'm YOUR Mary Kay Lady! Call me!" on the bottom of the foot of the cast. Hey, why not?)

I've already gotten a few compliments on the nice color today. I went with my mom to Dillons so she could get a few grocery items, and a young girl and a middle-aged man both said they liked the color! How 'bout that!

I'm also starting my job search again since I don't have to have my foot elevated so much anymore. If you know of anything in the Wichita, KS, area, let me know! (Nothing that requires standing on your feet; in other words, desk work. Full-time, great benefits and pay a major plus.)

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Interesting Grad School Topic

I just started my second semester of graduate school at Wichita State University and am taking just one class: COMM 770: The Audience. According to the course description, "This course examines the emerging field of interactive audience studies..." One thing we're going to be talking about is BLOGGING!!

When my professor asked if anyone had ever heard of a blog, I confidently rose my hand as the only one in the class to say "Yes, and I even have a blog."

"You do?"

"Yes. Actually, it's my second one."

Everyone else just looked at me like, "You not only know what a blog is, but you have one, too? Who are you?"

Yeah, I may look younger than everyone else in my class; I may actually even be younger, but I feel like I already have a good handle on where we're headed because I've been in the blogosphere for a little while and know what it's about.

Thank you, also, to all those who showed me what blogging was all about and how much fun it could be. You know who you are because you're on my blogroll.

Thank you, all you wonderful people! I love my public!

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

New Federal Overtime Law Bites

Apparently when I do find full-time work, I'll have to abide by this new law. That is, if I make more than $23,000 per year. Right now, it looks like I'll be lucky to find something that pays that much unless I am able to really get down to business with my Mary Kay business.

According to the new law, "Whether or not you will be eligible for overtime depends on what you do and how much money you make. If you make more than $23,000 a year but less than $100,000 a year and your job is considered administrative, professional or executive in nature, you are no longer eligible by law to earn overtime pay." (This according to the local ABC station.)

I am a journalist. More specifically, a freelance journalist wanting to be a full-time copy editor. That would fall into the categories listed above. If I'm able to be hired as a full-time copy editor, the chances of me earning more than $23,000 per year is pretty good, even to start. (But it's not going to happen in Wichita.)

Most of you probably don't know this, but copy editors sometimes put in a lot of hours. Depending on the publication, we could be at work all day and then some. Comp time would only be available if there was someone who could take your place, and that usually is a luxury.

I'm not exactly sure how this will affect me once I do find work, but I sure don't want to be putting in time that I won't get paid for. Unions wouldn't help me, anyway, because they couldn't prevent a copy editor from being classified in the categories listed above; that's what a copy editor IS classified as.

This all goes into effect next week. Good luck to all of you out there who will have to struggle with this one.

Sunday, August 15, 2004

Just had to take this quiz, man!

I AM 22% HIPPIE!
22% HIPPIE
What? Am I a Republican? Why did I even bother taken this test?! I guess I’ll back to my George W. Bush fan club and tell them I just wasted 10 minutes of my life. At least I don’t stink, man.

Friday, August 13, 2004

Why so many surgeries on my feet?

Josh was kind enough to ask (not many are) why I have had to have so many surgeries on my feet. Here's the long and short of it:

I was born with clubbed feet (a.k.a. pidgeon-toed). For the first six months of my life, I was put into a series of corrective casts to turn my feet out straight. When children are still infants, their bones are maleable, so corrective casting usually helps a problem like mine. However, when I was six months old, my parents and I moved and I was taken to a different doctor until just before my fourth birthday.

This doctor didn't know exactly what he was doing. He tried to correct my feet too quickly with too much correction in each cast, and then in shoes and braces. By the time my parents realized that what he was doing was crippling me, I was already walking on the insides of my ankles. And that doctor said my feet were corrected.

Mostly because of that doctor, I had to undergo a number of surgeries (15) at the Shriner's Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, MO. My doctor and surgeon there was the Chief of Staff, Dr. Perry Schoenecker (pronounced sheh-nek-er). I didn't know until just before they released me, but Dr. Shoenecker told the head of the orthotics department (where they make braces, inserts, artificial limbs, etc.) that I had the worst "skew" feet he had ever seen. Keep in mind that he had been COS for about 15 years by the time I became his patient.

Most of the first surgeries I had were meant to reallign my bones. In order to do that, my doctor had to cut through a lot of bones, put pins in my foot, lengthen my very short heel cords, and put implants in the sides of my feet just to keep my ankles from sliding off. I also had to have staples put in the growth plates of my ankles to keep them from forcing my ankles toward the insides of my feet.

I underwent 15 surgeries between the ages of 4 and 11. I was released just before my 21st birthday. The Shriner's Hospitals are just for children. Usually, they only treat children up to the age of 18, but I had an extensive history there; my chart was at least four inches thick. Dr. Shoenecker referred me to the best doctor he knew from Wichita. Dr. Steven Howell of the Kansas Orthopaedic Center had spent a portion of his residency years working under Dr. Shoenecker (as have a number of doctors at KOC). I was assured he was the best -- and he is.

I went 12 years without having to have foot surgery. I thought I was in the clear. But gradually, the pain in my feet got worse. Inserts didn't work, so they made braces for me. They stopped working so they made bigger ones to try to take the weight off of my feet. They stopped working. Dr. Howell said that the only other option we had was surgery. My feet were still very disfigured in spite of the surgeries the Shriner's had done; their goal was simply to provide a way for me to walk when otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to.

The surgeries I had on my feet in these past few months were to basically restructure my feet. My heels had been on the outsides of my feet while my ankles were still on the insides, but stable. I had tremendous pain on the insides of my feet after standing for longer than 10 minutes. By repositioning my heels directly under my ankles, lengthening my heel cords a little more, and doing some bone lengthening and grafting, my feet should be better able to handle standing and walking for longer periods of time.

Yeah, I've been through a lot, but had it not been for the surgeries I've had, I would have been permanently bound to a wheelchair, and I may have lost my feet altogether. Even though I've endured the excruciating pain of surgery numerous times, it's been worth it to be able to walk, dance, skip, and live like a "normal" person. I wouldn't have had that otherwise.

I know this is a long post, but Josh, can you see why I couldn't answer you in a short comment on a previous post? By the way, I'm writing a book about my experiences. Look for it in the next year or so.

Living Life Without Regrets

The other day, my friend Christine came over and watched "13 Going on 30" with me. (Ron was in the other room watching "Hellboy" on my computer's DVD player.)

After watching that movie, I got to thinking, "I wonder what other people would be like if they could see themselves from the perspective they had at 13." In the movie, Jenna went from being blindfolded at her 13th birthday party to waking up as a 30-year-old single woman living with her boyfriend. She found out that she (as if she hadn't skipped all those years) was the kind of person who slept around, screwed people out of great opportunities and didn't seem to care who she hurt. Coming from her 13-year-old perspective, she decided that wasn't the kind of person she wanted to be.

Fortunately, she got a chance to go back to being 13 and live her life knowing what to avoid. It's too bad some of the rest of us couldn't go back and change things.

I had a boss one time who conspired with a coworker of mine to get me fired. Of course, I didn't know that until after I left, but I knew there was a lot going on behind my back. I wonder if my boss would still have done that if she could have seen herself like that as a 13-year-old girl. I think she would have been horrified! But she didn't. (I did find out, though, that both my former boss and that former coworker were later fired.)

I think it would be healthy if we could all stop for a while and really ponder what we would think of ourselves now if we were looking at our lives as if we were still 13. Would we be disgusted with what kind of people we turned out to be?

Hopefully, we can all live our lives with the perspective of how we wanted to be perceived by others when we were younger. Live without regrets. Were you the kind of boy/girl who was well-respected and who cared about others? Are you still? I am, but I've had a lot of opportunities to grow as a person because of being hospitalized a lot as a kid. I saw things that would make other people cringe with pain. I realized that people need caring people, and that being a jerk never helps anyone.

I'm not writing this to any one particular person; I'm writing based on a deep thought. But if it gives you a wake-up call, pay attention to it.

Thursday, August 12, 2004

Set your eyes on Higher Things (magazine)

Ron and I got a complimentary issue of the new Lutheran magazine "Higher Things: Dare to be Lutheran" in the mail today. I'll tell you what, this is a stellar magazine for Lutherans! I think it's target is the younger generations because of a couple of the articles, but the topics are really thought-provolking. For example: "Clothed with Christ -- Through Holy Baptism you have been clothed with Christ. Will you dress like a wise virgin or a belly dancer?" Here's another: "The (scratched out 40) Six Days of Purpose: It's ALL about You! -- What is God's purpose for your life? Some would suggest that we are here to worship God or to serve Him through our works. Is that how God sees it?" It also has an article about teens and mental illness and one about reality shows.

Here's one of interest: "The Catechism: Vocation: Fighting against the Devil". In this article, the kingdoms of the right and the left are distinguished, and the gift of families is discussed. I like this portion of the article: "Whatever you do or don't do, whatever you choose, God uses you in these places to preserve his creation. Your service to neighbor is God's service and defeats the devil... ... You are forgiven and redeemed. This war is already won. Soon the struggle will end.

The magazine comes out of Fort Wayne, IN, our "Mecca," if you will.Their web site is located at: www.higherthings.org. Check it out! (...I wonder if they need another copy editor... ... ...)

I'll take the hint...

...and not create a beauty blog. It's been four days and I've gotten more than 50 hits on my site since I posted my interest-generating post, and I didn't get one comment. Let me know if you just didn't get a chance to comment on it.

I finally have a cast on my left foot. Purple. It's cool having all these colors to choose from. When I was a kid, all I got were these plain white plaster casts. It wasn't until the fifth grade (when I had my 15th surgery) that I finally got to choose a cast color. I chose hot pink. And believe me, there is no soft pink.

So now, my foot is more comfortable. Pins will remain in for another two weeks, then I'll have another non-weightbearing cast put on for two more weeks. After that, I'll have a walking cast for about a month, then a cam-walker (air boot). Geez, I hope this is the last time I have to have surgery.

I told my doctor that if I ever have to have surgery again on my feet that I want both feet and ankles replaced. I was being sarcastic, but he said that they're working on perfecting that kind of surgery, and I'd be an excellent candidate! WOW!!! Can you believe that? I just hope it doesn't come to that. But if it does, maybe I'l be able to run again for the first time since I was about 10.

Sunday, August 08, 2004

Trying to gauge interest

My husband thinks I know enough about beauty and skin care (since I'm an Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant) and that I'm so good at it (because of all the women at church who are excited about their new looks that I helped them achieve) that he also thinks that I should create a new blog dedicated to skin care and makeup.

My question is this: Is there any interest out there amongst anyone who reads this blog (or do you know someone) who would be interested in reading and commenting or asking questions on a blog related to skin care and beauty?

If I don't get any comments on this post, I guess I'll know that there's no interest.

And, by the way, please don't ask questions if you're not serious. This means you, Josh. For everyone else, complete confidentiality will be maintained so my husband can't make fun of you if you're a guy.

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

A few adjustments have been made

Okay, so I got my hubby to help me on this. So what? I only know what I need to about computers.

I've added a link to a Lutheran couple who blog together as Love and Blunder. Their names are Rob and Devona, and they're expecting a baby! How wonderful!! She's a waitress, and I'm not sure yet what he does because he hasn't blogged about it yet. Devona sees her growing belly as a different kind of new creation: her body becoming comparable to that of a turtle, her belly being the shell. Check out the cool picture she created with her head at the top on their website! Gotta love it.

Also, since I'm a Mary Kay consultant (for four years this month, actually), I asked my wonderful husband to create a few links in that honor. One goes straight to my Mary Kay website where you can look around for yourself or for a gift for someone else (male or female) (and Josh, no more joke e-mails), and if you're so inclined, shop online. I've got a full inventory of just about everything you'll find on the website, and am willing to answer questions related to skin care or color cosmetics needs. If you decide to buy something, I can ship it to you. AND, if you buy $20-worth of products or more, you get a free gift! So, take advantage!

Related to the website are links that allow you to e-mail me directly from my blog. One goes to my Mary Kay e-mail address, and the other goes to the e-mail address that Ron and I share.

I've also added a couple of links to sites run by a friend of mine named Katy Towell. She and I graduated from high school together, and somehow she ended up in California doing web design. She has her own business building web sites for people, and she also started a way cool e-zine (online magazine) for women. The main features are about rock stars from the 80s who still seem to have spunk and flair with modern crowds. She tries to publish every month, but it doesn't always happen. That's okay. But when she does publish, I usually know it because I'm her copy editor. Go Katy!

Speaking of copy editing, if you know of anyone who will be needing a copy editor for their newspaper in or around mid-September and they're anywhere near Wichita, Kansas, let me know. I'd love a full-time editing job, but I have to wait until I'm released to go back to work. Stupid feet having to be reconstructed so they don't hurt all the time! Grrrr!! (You'd think that 15 surgeries would be enough, but I had to have two more this summer!)

Okay, I'm super hyper and I think I'd better stop now. So enjoy my new links!

Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Smoking Ban in Public Places

I recently signed up for a newsletter from the best news station in Wichita. Coincidentally, I worked for this station shortly after graduating from high school, but hated it. I turned from broadcast media to print, and still love it, even though, as my husband would say, print media is going the way of the dinosaurs.

One little item in the news recently has me all fired up. Those of you who know me know that I'm allergic to cigarrette smoke, so I am naturally attracted to the idea that smoking could be banned in public places, including restaraunts and bars. I've never been able to go to bars with friends because I can't be around the smoke that permeates the air.

Tonight, the Tobacco Free Wichita Coalition is supposed to speak during the public forum at tonight's city council meeting. The benefit to this is that the word will get out that people want Wichita establishments to go smoke-free. The bad part is that during a public forum, no decisions can be made by the council.

A web poll on KAKE.com asked people if they would be in favor of such a ban. When I cast my vote, I saw that more than 75 percent of responders were also in favor of the ban. I hope that's a good indicator that a ban would pass.

Restaraunt owners are afraid that they might lose business if they bend to such a ban, but I think that they might actually gain business that they otherwise might not have. I mean, how many people (nonsmokers) like to come home smelling so bad that their kids won't even hug them? The odor stays in clothing, in your hair, and is difficult to get out unless you wash your clothes thorougly and take a shower. It's especially bad for pregnant women both to smoke and to be around second-hand smoke. The effects on the unborn child can be devestating. Even after they're born, children whose lungs are still developing will suffer greatly if they're exposed to cigarette smoke. They're more likely to have allergies and asthma, too.

A few years ago, I worked as an intern in the Community Education department of our local Health Department. The west wing of the department had a doctor's office where people could go if they didn't have the money or insurance to go to a regular doctor. I absolutely sickened me when I saw pregnant women trying to finish their cigarettes outside the clinic before going in for a check up. I wanted to go up to them and say, "Do you even care that you could be killing your unborn child?" Personally, I believe that pregnant smokers are very selfish for putting themselves before the health and livlihood of their children. The same goes for parents who smoke around their children. If they truly loved their children, they would make every effort to quit and they would refrain from exposing the children to their nasty habit.

The world would be much healthier if cigarettes had never been invented. They don't make anyone look "cool" and they certainly aren't attractive to anyone with class.

Sunday, August 01, 2004

Okay, slipping off the media track for a while...

If you're looking for something newsy here, you're not going to get it this time. I'll get back to it sooner or later, but first, there's something I need to do.

My husband has been bearing a burden larger than he ever imagined he would have to bear, and it's all because he chose to marry me. Since April, he has been a great help to me in many ways. For two months, I was unable to do housework or care for myself very well. And now, I'm back in that position. He has graciously taken on my duties by doing the housework and has also done for me what I cannot do for myself. He took a week off from work so he could be with me after my surgery. I've needed him and have been able to rely on him no matter what; he's the one person I can trust to help me when I need it and not give excuses or be twenty minutes late doing it.

Ron, for your self-sacrifice and for all you've done and continue to do for me in my time of need, I want to say thank you, and I want all those who visit my blog to know it. When God paired us together, neither of us could have imagined how much we would mean to each other. And in 30 days, we'll celebrate two years of marriage. I only wish I could do more to show you my appreciation.

You may have a reputation as "The Terrible Swede," but you're anything but "terrible" when you're with me.