50 Dates

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from our Valentine's Day Banquet Sunday night. Basically, it is a big ol' pink breakfast, but we like it and it's fun.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK - The Mikie and Belinda Story - Part Three

Yes. Mike was very... hmmm... what's the term? Enamored? Besotted? Crazy about? Anyway, he really, really liked this chick... and I was getting really, really tired of hearing about their dates, etc. So, I kind of backed out of the picture. Not in a bad way. I just went about my business without Mikie.

A month or so later when the relationship ended because (EXCUSE ME) he wasn't dating the person God wanted him to date, we were able to pick up where we left off in our friendship. But, I was no longer happy JUST being Mikie's friend. It was pretty frustrating.

During this "frustrating" time, Mike's best "guy" friend and roommate (who was also a good friend of mine) called me. Kerry had talked to Mike about dating me. It was apparent to all of our friends that Mike and I were supposed to be "together," and Kerry wanted to know what I thought. I agreed. Then Kerry told me some unsettling news. He had already to talked to Mike about asking me out... and Mike had said no. "We are best friends. If something goes wrong, it will mess up everything."

I told Kerry I would handle the situation.

I called Mike and asked him over for Sunday dinner. I cooked a slow cooker pot roast with all the fixings. (I loved my slow cooker even back in my single chick days.) I set the table and had a flower centerpiece. I had candles even though it was in the middle of the day. My presentation was dead on!

This wasn't Mike's first pot roast Sunday dinner at my apartment, but I made sure it had a little extra! As he sat in the den watching the races on TV, I fixed the glasses, etc. and worked up my courage to talk to him. My roommate was due back from church any minute, so what I had to say had to be said quickly and succinctly.

"Mike. Stay on the couch. Do not get up," I yelled from the kitchen.

"Uh. Okay." I could hear the confusion in his voice.

"Why don't you ask me out on a date?" I yelled again.

I heard the couch squeak. A sure sign someone was getting up when he had been told NOT to move.

"Do NOT come in here," I repeated.

The couch squeaked again. He had sat down. "Well. What if it didn't work out? It would ruin everything. It would make everything awkward at church. It would make everything awkward with our friends. It would just be awful."

"You're wasting a lot of time and money dating a bunch of girls you are NOT supposed to be with. If it doesn't work out, we'll deal with it, but we both know we're supposed to be dating each other."

Another squeak. "I'm not telling you again. Sit down! Do not come in here."

And then I put his mind at ease. "I've thought about the church thing. If for some reason we're wrong and we're not supposed to be together, you will have to go to Dawson. They have a good Singles Department and their pastor is wonderful. I know several people who go there, and I will introduce you to them if it gets to that point."

He started laughing then, so I had to add, "I am NOT kidding."

And then he was at the kitchen door. "Okay. You're right. We need to be dating." And he was smiling and looking amused, and instead of feeling happy and triumphant, I was just mad.

"Since you didn't handle this part well, I expect you to take over from here, and I'll be waiting for your call. I'm not supposed to ask you to ask me out. You're going to have to man-up!" (I may not have used that exact term, but you get the idea!)

"So I don't get Sunday lunch?"

"You may have Sunday lunch, but then you must leave and we will never speak of this again."

In walked my roommate, and we sat down to pot roast and fixings and one of the strangest meals I've ever shared with Mike Faulkner.

When I walked him to the door, he smiled and said, "I'll be calling you soon."

To which I replied, "Whatever."

You would think with that auspicious beginning, everything would just fall into place, wouldn't you? We still had to overcome a few bumps in the road, but we'll talk about those tomorrow.

Oh, and the only reason I'm telling this story after I specifically told Mikie we "would never speak of this again" is because... Well, he told everyone!

Blog Linkage - I just have one blog I want you to check out today.

Click on "tara whitney photography" and look carefully at the pictures taken of McKenna and her Dad, Jeff, under "Friday Night" dated February 15. (You'll have to scroll down a little.) Then read what Tara writes about the two of them. It's a beautiful reminder of savoring the "little" things life has to offer. Loved it!

50 Dates

Here are 25 more dates. There has to be something in this list you and your hubby can enjoy together!

26. Go hiking. Bring a picnic lunch or dinner.

27. Go to open houses. You may want to research for some ahead of time.

28. Get disposable cameras and go sight-seeing in your own town.

29. Ride the bus around the nearest large city. (Now that would be an adventure, wouldn't it?)

30. Have a progressive fast food dinner (bread sticks at Pizza Hut, salad at Wendy's, etc.).

31. Donate blood together. (I'm sorry. I just thought this one was funny. When I go on a date, the main objective is not to come home bandaged!)

32. Go to an interesting location like a gazebo, park lake, or parking lot and order a pizza.

33. Ride go-carts. (I love this one. I am AWESOME in a go-cart. And I think that non-bumping rule is for sissies.)

34. Have a Paris theme night. Get a baguette, some non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice, and cheese for dessert.

35. Play board games. (We love backgammon.)

36. Do a volunteer activity together.

37. Take ballroom dancing lessons. (We did this a couple of months after we married. It was so much fun.)

38. Go to the driving range.

39. Go kayaking.

40. Visit the pumpkin patch.

41. Go to a play (local theater or the Broadway series).

42. Visit a place listed in an entertainment book.

43. Visit another nearby city.

44. Go to a college basketball game.

45. Go to a book signing of a favorite author.

46. Visit an animal shelter and pick out a new puppy.

47. Take a trip to the hobby store, and pick out a project to work on together.

48. Take a walk around a lake in the moonlight.

49. Go to an ethnic festival.

50. Visit the zoo. (My favorite. And don't forget to ride the train!)

Have a tremendous Thursday. Tonight we have a band concert at the new school. We are so excited to finally be sitting in nice, comfortable auditorium seats instead of the bleachers. YEA! And, of course, when we get home... Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains! Yes. It's going to be a very good Thursday. I can feel it!

Check back Friday for Weekend Happenings.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda