Our Love Story Begins Today

My Em seemed to enjoy her time in Venice so far. It’s a little dirtier and different than Rome, but I’m gonna try to keep an open mind about it. Fortunately/unfortunately, we’re only here for a few days. Hopefully the tour will be good and the rain won’t be too wet. TTQD!

It’s time to bid farewell to Rome, but at least we did it in style. Got a lot done today and didn’t really start the day too early. So it goes to show that it’s not always about the amount of time you spend on something… It’s supposed to rain for the next few days, but I hope that doesn’t dampen the spirit. It’ll be difficult, but I hope Milan and Venice continue to the experience of the trip so far. TLG!!!

It’s cold waiting for the train and I need to pee, but I should be okay. You’re learning about the aqueducts. Cool. I did forget to take Mr. Crab out while in Orvieto, but at least he got to check out the train ride there. It was a nice day. Got some things done and spent enough time here but not too much. Good food. Good photos. Got to send out a letter to my wife. And now we’re gonna get some drugs and have dinner. Pretty productive day. Woohoo 🥳 TTQD!!!

I think today was the first day we’ve had (3) proper meals. Nothing was perfect, but there was something good about each meal. I guess life is the same way. Hopefully tomorrow will continue the trend as we make our way to another city. Hopefully the gelato will be as good too. TLG!!

I just flew in from Lourdes and boy are my arms tired. 🥁 but seriously, I’m pretty tired. Hope to get some good rest tonight. Glad everything worked out for the flights. Weather looks promising so I’m hoping for a great few days in Rome. Looks like you’re enjoying yourshelf too. TTQD!!

It’s time to say good bye to Lourdes and Bernadette. It looks like Em had a great time. It’s been a spontaneous adventure with having to improvise and be flexible. Not ideal, but it seems to have worked out. Just praying the airport and flight issues resolve themselves. As of this post, I don’t think I found the religious experience/awakening, but maybe it’ll come on later. If we go to confession, hopefully I’ll leave France sin-free. 

Day 1 in Lourdes has reminded me that Em and I have different priorities. It’s something I know I have to get used to, but it’s just difficult. In an ideal world, we’d share that, but I guess it’s only natural that one person loves the other person more… I guess I figured out what I can pray for while I’m here. Although, that’s a little selfish. Anyhow, I asked God today for some guidance on what I should pray for 😂. Maybe this can be a pilgrimage for me too. ATEN!

It may seem like I’m mad, but really I’m just sad. Right now I’m in the bathroom and I’m wiping the tears from my eyes. I’m don’t cry often, but I can’t sleep. I know you think about me and that the things you do are for me. But do you ever think about what I want? Not what you think I want?  You know the reason I tell you it’s up to you? Because I want you to have want you want. You make it seem like when I want something, it’s a big hassle. I really hope I don’t make you feel that way when you want something. Cause it’s a pretty shitty way to feel. I just read your blog. Do you ever ask yourself why I’m mad or annoyed? Am I a horrible person and I make you feel that way? Do you have any responsibilities for how I feel and how you feel? I don’t think I ask for much from you, but it always seems like the stuff I do ask is too much. I ask you to do what you say you’re going to do and your response is to do less. I mean really? How about just doing what you say you’re gonna do? I ask...

Man the bugs here are big. Got a giant flying bug. Giant bug under my shirt. Giant ant in my backpack. Makes me a little worried about what other bugs there are… I stepped in poop today. So that kinda sucked. Food wasn’t great today. Also I don’t drink this kind of coffee outside my Viet style so I think I’m gonna be coffee less since there’s no Starbucks here apparently. Hopefully tomorrow is better. TLG!!

Let me begin by saying that you are not a victim in our relationship, so please stop pretending to be one. I’m also not a victim and so I won’t pretend to be one. Also note that we both gave up things to be with each other, that’s just the way it is. So let it go. Lastly, when I say “I’m poor”, let me remind you again that I know I’m not poor, but what I mean is that I don’t have enough money to do all the things I want to do. We have different priorities on how we spend our money. I’m reminded of how you tried to make it a contest about how poor you were in college versus how poor I was. Can we please stop living in the past? Thanks. With that out of the way. First day in Rome I started off wrong, but it’s moving in the right direction. Sorry, one last thing, it shouldn’t need to be said, but while we’re doing all this praying, we may want to pray that we become better people, rather than other people becoming better for us. Look inward and at the things we can control/change. That’s ...

Just kidding. We’re still on the plane. It’s almost boarding time so I gotta make sure I post before I get on board. International on plane WiFi is sketchy. After all the testing and temperature checks we’re on our way. See you on the other side pal. Other side being Rome, not heaven. But I’ll hopefully see you there when that time comes too. Cause if you’re not there, it wouldn’t be heaven ❤️ Should I still tell you cheesy stuff like that? Alright. TTQD!!! 

Guess who I caught. Fail. Winners don’t sleep. Just kidding. Anyhow, it’s time to go. May our journey be safe and fun and trouble free. 🙏🏽  I’ve been so busy today I almost forgot to post. Would have been womp womp womp. Anyhow, it might take a little time to get into the vacation mode, but I’m looking forward to it. There is a little fear and worry, but it is what it is. ATEN!!!

To move on. Sometimes I see or think of things I want to blog about, but I forget because I didn’t do it right away. Today I tried to work on that. Kids have easy lives, but they’re risky because many of their experiences are extreme because it’s often the first time they’ve experienced them. Today Avery told me he’s Sonic the hedgehog and I’m too slow to catch him. I’ll catch him tomorrow, but then he said he’d hit me. 🤦‍♂️ that’s my story for today. TTQD!!!

Another day. Another day worrying about flies. Only a few today. 3 dying or dead by window so maybe the spray helped, although it was made for ants and roaches. Unfortunately, pest guy says his spray doesn’t really help with flies and he didn’t have any ideas beyond what I googled. Nothing against him, but will probably suspend contract after year is up, please remind me. I think we can spray ourselves. Pretty obvious what’s been in my mind the last few days. Maybe vacation will do us good and really get our heads off things and maybe things will work themselves out. 😂 ATEN!!!

No flies in the arch today, but there were still flies. It’s been a hectic month and last few days. The next few days won’t be any better likely. Hopefully the vacation will take our minds off things. Hopefully we’ll be able to relax. Hopefully the problems will solve themselves. Anyhow, although many of the problems are important, if we’ve done all we can, then there’s no point worrying about it. Unfortunately, that’s often easier said than done. Let us pray 🤲. ATEN!!

Hi God, I know you only give me what I can handle, but currently it’s a lot. And my wife is struggling too. So if you could dial it back a little, we’d both appreciate it. I love my Em and I just want her to be happy. So thanks for any help you can provide. Em, you’re tute and I Thuong you a lot! TTQD!!!

Stupid ass flies, messed up my day, but hopefully not  my life. Must have killed dozens today. Anyhow, let us hope that they’re gone.  You already saw the other picture. So this is of me clearing all the windows. I didn’t clean. The flies seem to be found by the slider and front door windows. A few windows were unlocked. I finished my job description. Pray it’s okay. I wuv you. TTQD!!

I’m not allowed to text and blog so I probably won’t be able to blog much today. It’s been very busy so I will tell you I Thuong you very nhieu nhattest. Peter is having trouble pumping gas now. I’m scared to drive his car home. Vietnamese people don’t correct orders, they try to tell you you’re order is correct. Peter was looking forward to this drink and it was wrong and he asked them and they said it was right. But it was wrong (no longan) so he left it undrank. ATEN!

Is it possible to love someone a lot all the time? Like earlier today I was like man, I love Em a lot. But then I didn’t love Em as much later. And now I love Em okay. We’ve been really good about not talking about money to where it causes problems. Which is good. I am feeling a little sad, but I’ll be okay in the morning. That’s gonna be my new thing. I’m gonna work on letting things go faster. But I’m also gonna work on communicating how I feel sooner so it doesn’t bottle up. Anyhow I still wuv you Em. And I’m thankful for you. TTQD!!! PS, Peter was fascinated by these oil things on our detour…

I just realized that I can never really finish packing until I wake up and wash up. I wonder if I should just invest in additional things (or use additional items) to make sure I don’t need to do anything in the morning. Like I have extra loofahs, but I’m gonna pack it tomorrow after it dries… Felicia sent this to me and it’s pretty insightful. Anyhow, it’s counting down to our trip. There seems like there’s so much to do between now and then, but maybe it’s just mental. I thought I had a lot to do for my work trip and it got done pretty fast. I get I’m not going for very long. Wish me luck. I’ll need to make sure I work on work, retirement class stuff, and a little life stuff before next week. Wish me luck there too. TTQD!!!

I just heard a podcast about how actions in the past can affect your future and how uncontrolled outbursts can have lasting effects on yourself and others. Just a thought…anyhow, we’re getting things done. This was gone when I got home. I also cleared out some boxes and recycled some things and started a pile for donations. Slowly but surely things are leaving. It’s not much, but it’s forward motion. Woohoo. TTQD!!!

I never used that word that much before, but it seems like such an accurate word to describe a lot of things and experiences. It was bittersweet to leave the beach house this weekend. But we have to get back to real life. I’m just glad that it was a generally good weekend. It’s really difficult to know how much time we’ll have left on this earth together. But time was well spent this weekend. Life is short, make it sweet. ATEN!!!

Mistakes aren’t too bad if you learn from them. Priorities are only good if they’re the right ones. Important things are usually difficult, but they’re worth it. You’re important and sometimes we can be difficult. But you’re worth it. I’m sorry about the huge fight. I want you to know that harming yourself is unacceptable. Beyond that, I’m gonna work hard to not repeat mistakes. I’ll also work to make you know you’re my priority. ATEN!!!

I’m not sure what’s going on, but if you don’t plan on sharing the bed, let me know. I can sleep in the middle and not expect you to come later on. It’s not a big deal, but it would be nice to know.  I’m really tired of being sick and tired. And honestly, I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to forget what you did yesterday. And it better never happen again.  I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know what how it ends up is solely up to us. So that brings me back to the beginning reason for this post. I’m awake and annoyed. But if this is the new normal, I’ll work on getting used to it. I only sleep in this room for your sake. If you’re not going to sleep with me then let me know where you’re going to sleep so I can pick another room. Maybe you were trying to be considerate and not wake me. If that’s the case, thanks. But that also means you should never sleep with me again because you’ll always wake me. Now I’m rambling and I need to get some sleep. 144/95/67…

But I forgot it. I feel a little better now, but I was still very not happy this morning. And I had some good thoughts, but I’ve also forgot them. Oh I remember one, it was on my way to work. You always tell me you think we’re meant for each other. I don’t know how I feel about that unless it’s God’s (or the universe) idea that our unhappy moments are supposed to have some long term value. And that’s the problem with religion sometimes. We may never know what that reason is or if it even matters to us… Just like words cannot be put back in my mouth, actions cannot be undone, otherwise life would be perfect. All we can do is try and do better. I realize that I have been doing the same thing with you and expecting different results, so maybe I need to try something different. It’s gonna be a painful process, but I don’t know what else to do. I can’t change you. I can only change me. ASTEN! BONUS: Your blog post didn’t save my comment and you don’t read, but understanding how someone feel...

Hi Em,  Ella is trying to show me a magic trick. She’s not very good. Eric is giving Ben a haircut. I beat Chase at cards and he’s so amazed. I’m sorry some of your coworkers suck. But at least some of them are good. Tham made me milk tea, but it’s really just milk. And Eric is farting up a storm. I’m bringing you home wontons. They were very gingery cause the kids aren’t feeling well. Lots of random stuff, but it’s classic and entertaining and I enjoy it.  Sometimes simple is okay. TTQD!!

Life on the extremes is often easier because you don’t have to think too much. Finding the delicate balance in life is what makes like hard. But it’s also what’s important. I am reluctant to tell people to never settle, but in reality you eventually need to settle so you can be content/happy. The key is figuring out when to. When it comes to learning and growing, the same argument could be made, but I think it’s okay to error on the extreme and say that we should never stop growing and learning. Mistakes are okay to make as long as they are a source of growth. Making the same mistakes over and over again is not really growth when you think about it. So I’m gonna work on that. ATEN!!!

There’s always so much to do. Do you notice that the blog post always starts with a space you have to delete it. You’ve been busy blogging I see. Nice how you kissed me in the picture, but dissed me at church 😩. Anyhow I was thinking today that I can’t criticize since I’m not perfect either so I should work on being more perfect. But then I thought I probably shouldn’t criticize in general. It’s not my business so I’ll work on that too… Hopefully we won the lottery from the store that JoAnn and Map talked about by The Porrines. At the end of the day, we want the best for people, but the people have to want it too. I had some other stuff, but I forgot. Need to remember to refill Dad’s prescriptions. ATEN!!

I love you. I always try my best to make sure you’re happy. Sometimes it’s just frustrating though. It always seems like you prioritize your family. You are annoyed with Anna, but then you forget and invite her to the beach house and put me on the spot. Sometimes I just wish you would think about it first.  You don’t like me putting you on the spot, so I wish you would pay me the same courtesy. I’m just glad it happened at the end of the trip, but I was just thinking in church about it potentially happened, I just tried to give you the benefit. Anyhow, it is what it is. You got to go see your sister and E on the trip, so at least there’s that. I figured I better post now while I’m waiting in line rather than while I drive, but I’ll probably forget about this by then, so maybe I should wait. TLG!

The reason we came down. Mission accomplished. Now everything else is gravy. We still have another half day to enjoy the company. It’s gonna be a long day tomorrow so I really got to make sure I rest well tonight. Anyhow, hope you had a good day today. You still have some time tomorrow too. TTQD!!!

I’ll likely be driving through the night so I’m gonna go ahead and post now. Been a productive and lazy day. Did what I had to do, but also got some random stuff done.  I forgot to take a picture of the lamb, but it wasn’t as good as before. Remember when bought me these not so great cookies? You know what both have in common? They come from love. Which is good. Thanks. TTQD bruh!!!