Cardinals in the Super Bowl!

For the first time in over three years, I wrote something at the first blog I ever created: The Book of Mike.

I'm not really happy with how it turned out. My writing is rusty and it's a long winded piece. But I was trying to express why I'm so excited about the Cardinals being in the Super Bowl. It's not just about the success of the team on the field to me. It's mostly about how it makes me feel connected to people, whether they're still in my life (like Laura) or not (like my mother and grandfather).

I apologize in advance for the length, but here's the link again.

Welcome: The First Post

Welcome to our little blog. I am writing this as a "modern" addition to my first anniversary present to Laura. While the anniversary present is still a work in progress (as we haven't been married for a year yet), I wanted to get started on the e-version of the gift.

As you may know, the traditional gift for a first wedding anniversary is paper. A more modern gift is a clock. I'm adapting the traditional gift for an even more modern interpretation: electronic paper. In this case, a blog.

I'm starting before the anniversary itself for a few reasons: 1) I want to write entries for some of the more historic days in our past and 2) I will write from time to time about things going on in our life.

Before I go, let me explain why I'm writing this on a Blogger blog (on the blogspot domain) instead of hosting a blog on a domain that I own: Blogger has been an important part of my life for five years now. In that sense, Blogger means a lot to Laura and I. So I thought it would be fun to have here. And one day, ten or fifteen years from now, if a child or relative of ours finds their way here, I'd like them to know about Blogger, The Book of Mike (its roots at least), and how it was a part of our lives.

We're Engaged

Laura loves to make a big deal out of birthdays. But they're really not my thing. I like to celebrate them for other people. But I don't like to make a big deal out of my own.

To come up with a way to celebrate on my birthday without focusing on me, I proposed marriage to Laura today. We were back aboard the ship and on our way to dinner. As we stopped for some photos with a ship's photographer, I got down on one knee and proposed.

Laura always said she wanted a public proposal and she got a crowd and a photographer tonight. Hopefully the photos will come out well and they'll give us something to remember years from now when we look back at the day we got engaged.

St. Pat's in Savannah

Laura and I spent the day in Savannah celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Sarah's fiance Edrick. We had a lot of fun -- and had a lot to drink. We started out with some pre-gaming at home before we headed out to River Street for a few drinks and an early lunch. After walking around through the street party for awhile we headed home for a little break.

Then we headed out to dinner at Applebee's, which was a little scary as Laura spotted some rather large cockroaches around our table. Luckily we were all still in a good mood from the partying. After dinner we headed back out to River Street (courtesy of a cab - like we did all day) and met up with some of Laura's Sand Gnats co-workers. Eventually we ended up at the Marriott at the end of River Street where we capped off a very fun St. Patrick's Day by watching some of the NCAA basketball tournament.

She Left!

Laura moved to Savannah today. It's a sad day on a number of levels.

First, we're kind of up in the air about where we are at this point. We're not a couple. We're not dating. But there's definitely interest on both sides.

Second, we went to dinner last night at The Melting Pot -- Laura's favorite restaurant. Before we went there we stopped at Best Buy to get Laura a laptop and computer related things to take with to Savannah. Unfortunately, while we were having dinner, someone broke into my car and stole Laura's new laptop (but left everything else). Sadly, the car is practically brand new - only three days old. And now it's in the shop getting a window replaced. In addition to replacing her laptop, I'll be out about $600 to fix the window.

Today is not my happiest day.

The Second New Year's Eve

Even though we've barely known each other for one year, Laura and I are spending our second New Year's eve together tonight.

Last year we went to a club on South Beach (Opium) on New Year's Eve and watched the Canes play FSU in the Orange Bowl the following day.

This year the Canes didn't earn a New Year's day bowl game, so we're with the team in Atlanta for the Peach Bowl. It's been a nice trip here in Atlanta. We've been the Varsity and to the High Art Museum. Now it's off to the game and the New Year's eve festivities.

The First Date

Laura and I had our first date last night and it was great. Little did I know, but it almost didn't happen. I blew Laura off a few times and it sounds like she was ready to give up on me completely if I pushed our date back one last time.

Ironically, last night would have been my best excuse to cancel our date. But I knew better than to cancel it. I had been at work since midnight, working on the implementation of a major project. Things didn't go so smoothly, so I was in the office well into the afternoon - leaving me with barely enough time to get home and get cleaned up before our date (there was definitely no time for a nap).

We met at Marino's in Sunset Place for dinner. After that we went to campus to watch the Canes basketball team beat FIU. We wound up the night by going to Purdy Lounge on South Beach, where we ended up running into a bunch of people that I know. Laura seemed a little taken back by the experience at first, I think because a few people kept telling her that I was a nice guy. I think she thought that it was some sort of a set up.

The most unusual thing about our date was that it was very cold last night. I talked about how cold I was, but Laura said that the weather didn't bother her. For Miami it was a cold night.