i had this crazy dream

...that John was blowing up at me because I kept wanting the wedding pictures. He was trying to keep it a secret for a surprise, but then finally gave up and just exploded. Keep in mind John doesn't have anything to do with the pictures, but he , for some reason, was the guy in charge of them. I guess it's because of my bottled frustrations with our wedding photographer. He's an awesome guy, but some of the promise dates to see our pictures kept falling through. We have them... now we need to get one of the pictures off to the Sherman newspaper, and we need our CD full of every single photograph he took, and we need to select the pictures for the album. This feels like it's going to take... a while.

Meantime poker night was last night. We had an apartment full of people: Rachel, Todd, Mikey, Anna, Amy (Mayerhoff) Roch, her husband Paul, Rachael Lacina, Janette, Veronica, Misty, Sarah, Barker/Hailey, and me. It was fun. Half way through I kind of got sidetracked with other goings-on, so Misty picked up my hand and played until I was out completely. I hadn't been doing that well to begin with, so when she bet all in, I wasn't surprised. We were playing together for a while and deciding what to do as a team.

I ended up going to bed about 12:45; the game was still going on, the living room gang was still chattering, but I just had to sleep because I needed to get up for work. I don't feel like the host I used to be. In Missouri when people came over it was different, somewhat. I think maybe the living space has a lot to do with it. We had a duplex in Joplin, which was very roomy. Plus, most of the parties and get-togethers centered around summer time weather, so people migrated to the patio, where we had the chiminea going, along with the music, etc. Halloween was ALWAYS at our place. And while we weren't outside mostly during the costume parties, we were inside, everyone was up on their feet getting around the living room, kitchen and dining room, talking it up. It was great. Also, I'm older. I mean I'm not like 45 or anything, but I'm not 22 like I was in Joplin. I'll be 27 this year, and I think a lot of the party guy in me at 22 has left the building. When I say party guy, I'm talking about the shot-gunning, drinking-to-get-drunk party guy. I just don't do that. I couldn't even drink 3 whole beers last night. I switched over to wine, and had 2 glasses. Then switched to Thai tea.

It is nice to have a room full of people that I know are all my friends. And not just friends...but close friends. It's very cool. I wish John and Mica could have been there. We got on the topic of talking about Mike P. and Nadia Reese's baby, Sophia. Also, Lucas and Sarah's baby... I'm not sure what their baby's name is. None of us have children yet, but it's such a crazy thought to think about kids, and even crazier to think people we know have them. Babies are probably a distant thought for a lot of us still. Sarah and I would like to wait two to three years. I want to enjoy her right now, and enjoy the newness of our marriage. Mike's wedding is right around the corner. And our ONE MONTH anniversary is tomorrow, July 3rd. A whole month... is crazy! LOL. I was talking to someone recently about marriage... and how this person thinks marriage is so restrictive and "settled down" too much. I think marriage is not restrictive at all, in the sense that I have someone to share my life with. How's that restrictive? I like being settled down. Again, I'm not 45, or 75. I'm not "settled." We still have a lifetime to live! And if anyone thinks this is the last stop for us, or only jobs, or last move, or we're done traveling, vacationing, or LIVING... well IT IS NOT! How can that be settled?

Let's keep it real.