One Date was all it Took

Layne called to ask me out on our first date. I think he said something like, "Hey, I'm sorry it took me so long to call. I know that you must have had you phone by your side day and night just waiting to hear from me." Unaccustomed as I was to humor at that point (thanks again to my ex who I think never once told a joke I found amusing), I responded with complete silence. Layne pressed on, and asked me if I would like to go out with him that weekend, and I agreed.

When our first date dawned, I wasn't particularly looking forward to it. I had gone to the temple earlier that day, and while that usually makes any day pretty great, that day I locked my keys in my car. I shivered in the dwindling light of a late February afternoon, waiting for my dad to drive down so I could use his AAA card, my wet hair trickling down my neck and making the day even colder. By the time he arrived and I was back in my car, all I could think about was getting warm. I rushed into my apartment and barely had time to slip into my warmest, and unfortuately for Layne, largest, and most unflattering sweater before there was a knock on my door.

Layne swaggered in with all the confidence he had displayed the first time we met. Upon spying my roommate free for the night, he invited her along for a friend of his and our double date became a triple. We all piled into the car, and almost instantly Layne and I were in our own world. I remember that The Postal Service was playing, and we both talked about how "This Place is a Prison" reminds us of the sound of crumpling snow. His stock was slowing rising in my book...

We went to a Thai restaurant called Bangkok Grill, and after a year with a guy who was a routine patron of Applebee's, I was excited for something new. I ordered Pad Thai, while Layne got curry. I have no idea what anyone else got, because I was entirely wrapped up in our conversation, despite the fact that my roommate was right there and her date was not going so swell, and I was also friends with the other couple on the date. Because I know Layne so well now, I guarantee he asked the table their Top 5 Favorite Movies/Books/Bands, etc., his go to questions when he first meets someone. I think we did bands and movies that night, and I must have passed the test.

After dinner, we went to a comedy club where they did improv. I remember laughing just as much at the performers as I did at Layne's little asides to me, and that for some reason they had oversold and we were one chair short, so we kind of squished on to one together and I didn't totally hate having to be so close. At one point my roommate and I were in the bathroom together, and she said to me "You seem to be having a really good time!" I was startled for a second, trying to remember the last time I had had such a good time and been so happy, and then gushed back "I know!"

Later, as Layne was walking me to the door, he casually grabbed my hand and I gently pulled it away. Completely unfazed and undeterred, he simply swung his arm up across my shoulder. Who was this guy?! I didn't know yet, but I was certainly looking forward to figuring it out.

Why We Work

In honor of Valentine's Day (and my "friends" Bonnie and Taylor, both of whom I have been stalking for months), I thought I would join my first ever link up! The topic is "Why We Work." Taylor actually did this a few weeks ago. Or possibly a few months ago - I really have no sense of time. In any case, I thought it was really cute and instantly wanted to copy her and now I have an excuse to.

At my sister's wedding this past summer.

We work because even though 9 times out of 10 I am the most awkward person on the planet, Layne loves me anyway and rarely makes fun of me for being such a weirdy. And when he does make fun of me, he does this little laugh that is almost a giggle that always makes my face split into a grin and I can't even care about how lame I am. We work because he always notices when I make an extra effort to look pretty. We work because he is the funniest man on the face of the planet, and I love to laugh. We work because we fundamentally agree on almost everything, and when we don't, we are both passionate people who fight like we really mean it. And then as the fight subsides, we both rush to be the first to say sorry and restore our usual balance of goofiness and quiet contentment. We work because he encourages me to paint and craft and write and do what makes me happy, and I push him towards his dreams every chance I get.

We work because at the end of every day, when my stomach is fluttering with butterflies and my heart is pounding with how much I love the guy sitting next to me on the couch, he lets me sink into his arms and while away the world.

Join the link up!

It was Kind of, Almost Love at First Sight

Layne and I met four years ago today.

Ah... what bliss.

I was just getting out of a relationship that was horribly and completely wrong for me, a fact I was largely oblivious to at the time. I was so caught up on my ex that when Layne started talking to me, I completely and rudely ignored him.

Admittedly, I was taken aback by the handsome, preppy guy in the Cougar Eat whose first words to me were "Hey, you're attractive." But having been recently heartbroken, I was in no rush to start handing out the fractured pieces.

Still, I hung around, talking to mutual friends while Layne's more and more outrageous comments steadily intrigued me as I steadfastly blocked out his every attempt to get to know me. He was not deterred in the least. The confidence on this guy was off the charts! And confidence is reeeeeaaaaallly sexy, no matter how gun shy you might be in the romance department. So when he asked for my number, I doled it out with minute hesitation.

I had no idea what I was getting myself in to.

(Stay tuned for details on our first date...)

I Want to Talk About my Love Life

It's really no fair that people don't celebrate my love life anymore. People are so excited to hear all the details of your budding romance, and your break ups, and all the rest of the drama drama drama of dating when you're out there. But once you're married, that ship has sailed. Which is really unfair, because marriage is an incredibly beautiful thing. Far more beautiful than any screwed up relationship I was ever in.

But still. Nobody wants to listen to me wax romantic about the man I have chosen to share my life with. Why can't people still be super excited that I am in love, like they were when we first got engaged and started dating? I'm still super excited about it!

So this year- too bad! You are getting the whole story. Layne and I met in February 2010, so prepare yourself for the journey as I try to stick as closely as I can to the timeline of our relationship. I am going to relish telling you all about falling in love with him, and I hope you can find some enjoyment in it, too.