Married & Loving it

The world lost a great man

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:03:00 +0000

(This picture is taken from his Facebook page...a picture is worth a thousand words and this one shows just how much humor this guy always had)

This past Saturday, the world lost a great man. Kevin Denny, a family friend, lost his battle with colon cancer after a brave fight. In mine and in so many others minds, he will always be remembered for his sense of humor, his love of his family and his incredible caring and generous personality.

I first met Kevin when my family moved to Dublin in 1987. Kevin, his wife Connie, and their 3 children lived across the street. I went to elementary school with his oldest son. Our families hung out all the time, because the Denny's were such a great family to be around. As Kevin might say, they were (and still are) as much fun as a barrel of monkeys. Throw in a lot of humor, a lot of love for the ordinary and simple things in life, and a little bit of disfunction...and that's why we loved being togther. As the years have gone on we've shared plenty; birthdays, job promotions, babies being born, graduations, even my wedding. Despite my family moving away for almost 5 years, we all still kept in touch. Through it all Kevin and Connie have been people we could always count on, whether it was to borrow a cup of sugar, to listen, or to just make us laugh. I remember when Kevin used to work at Wyandot Lake (a now defunct water park) and he'd beg us to come down and enjoy the rides. He loved seeing us all have a good time. The first time I saw the movie Beetlejuice I was floating in an intertube in the wave pool at Wyandot Lake.

When I was 15 years old I (like many my age) was looking for a part time job in the summer. Kevin, who had worked in the hospitality/entertainment industry for decades, took a chance on me and hired me to work in the concession stand at Sports Ohio. It's a decision I can never repay him for. Not only did I have a great boss, a fun job and a paycheck coming in...but I ended up meeting the man who would become my husband almost 10 years later. Those 3 summers I spent working there are some of the best highlights of my teenage years. No matter what kind of day you were having, seeing Kevin ALWAYS made it better. He was the kind of boss who everyone loved, the one who realized that you didn't have to be a tyrant to manage people...instead you had to just treat them how you wanted to be treated.

Some of my favorite memories of Kevin:

*listening to him singing along to the Spice Girls cd that he'd play ALL the time at Sports Ohio, many times with a broom in his hand as a microphone.

*he was the only manager at work who actually joined us when we used to race go-karts late at night after the park closed....and he often won.

*his impression of the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz was priceless....especially when he also used it to impersonate the "lounge singer" that used to sing at Christmas mass every year.

*Our families used to get together on Christmas Eve for dinner, and the year I turned 21 we went to TGI Friday's. My mom, Connie and myself ordered these HUGE margaritas...and Kevin spent the entire night making us laugh so hard we almost wet our pants. (didn't help that we were all toasted)

*Throughout all of these years I remember how much he cared about his wife. He and Connie had been married for more than 30 years, and I just remember how much you could tell that they loved each other. The amount of laughter in that marriage is something we should all strive for.

*My final memory of Kevin was earlier this year, when his youngest daughter graduated from high school. We went to her graduation party, and despite him being in pain from battling this evil cancer, he still had a smile on his face the entire time, and was so genuinly happy to see everyone.

To Kevin, I know you are in a better place, and that your suffering has finally come to an end. You are missed more than you know, and your presence will live on in so many people. Thank you for caring, thank you for sharing your humor and your laughter, and most of all, thank you for being such a great man to so many people.

Transformation almost complete!

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:36:00 +0000

The transformation of this house is almost complete! Today the fridge and microwave were installed...now we can eat at the house and not have to order food out all the time!

Boxes are mostly moved...the furniture goes this Saturday!! :-) Can't wait to get rid of the apartment.

What I won't miss

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:15:00 +0000

File this under "Things I won't miss about our apartment" To you, it looks like a picture of our front door and our back door.

To us...it's a picture of the ghetto ventilation system we have to use in order to stop the smoke detectors from going off every time the stove is on above 375 degrees

The New House

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Well...it's official. We are homeowners. Friday (my birthday) we closed and got the keys, then spent the rest of the weekend cleaning! I'm completely tired and sore...but it's so worth it! It really does look better just by cleaning the windows, siding on the front porch, and the garage. Even the cobwebs are gone in the corners! Now it's on to painting....stay tuned for an update on that.

(This picture is old...those aren't our cars and the landscaping doesn't look quite like this anymore only because it's dead...but you get the idea!)

Happy Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Happy 2nd Anniversary to us! :-)
We decided to celebrate by going to Martini and having what turned out to be an AWESOME dinner! I would recommend it to anyone. I of course had salmon, and Scott had filet. Yum.
The entire night I swear all I wanted to do was lick my plate. (but didn't of course)
The rest of the night was pretty low key, we're trying not to spend a lot of money because we've got this house to pay for!

Here's to more great years ahead....can't wait to see what the future holds.

Happy Birthday Scott!

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:42:00 +0000

It's my husband's 30th birthday!!! At the last minute I decided to get him an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen since all of my cake decorating supplies are packed. Yummy! He loved the pirate theme...it was quite a hit.

Free night

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Got a great letter in the mail today! After we stayed at the Best Western in Zanesville for my brother's high school graduation, I put my business card in their bowl at the desk. They did some kind of raffle...and I won a free night's stay sometime between now and next September! :-) That's about a $75 discount! Too bad it's right down the street from my parents house...cause we always stay with them. oh well...it will be nice to use!!

The House

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:13:00 +0000

After months of searching...this is it...our new house!!

Granted...it's not officially ours yet, but it will be!

We are currently waiting on the title to be transferred, and then closing, and then and only then will the keys be ours!!

The waiting is killing me....good thing I've got a ton of things to pack! (anyone have boxes? I could use them!!)

More furloughs

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Hmmm....what to do with my 5 additional days that I have to take off?? oh yeah...I don't get paid for them.

We have a lilly!

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:54:00 +0000

A few weeks ago we went to the zoo...and I forgot to post about it. Scott and I decided to become members of the zoo...something we really wanted to do for some time. It just makes sense to be honest. We love going there, and now we can get in whenever we like!

More layoffs

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:02:00 +0000

How much more can we handle?
My patience with this economy and this business is certainly waining.

Change the time, things are way different

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:27:00 +0000

Oh how things are different when it's late at night. I've been working on the 11 this week...and I love it :-) It's so quiet in the newsroom. Wish it could be like this all the time.

R.I.P. First at 4

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:01:00 +0000

First at 4 is no more.

Wednesday July 1 was the final show.

We started this groundbreaking show on June 9th, 2008. I was lucky enough to be named the producer of the show. It launched in our downtown studio on Broad & High and was a full hour long show. At the beginning we were completely swamped...with ideas and things we really wanted to do. Of course we finally found our groove, and I think Ellie and I certainly had things the way we wanted them after only a few weeks time. It was always hard to come up with segments for the show, since we didn't really have that much help, but that was the fun part of it actually! I loved how much creative control I had over the show, which is something every producer always wants (but sometimes doesn't get)

I'm very proud of the show we put together, and that it lasted as long as it did. Thanks to it being launched...I was able to leave the vampire world that is the morning show and finally work during the day!!!

Thanks to everyone who ever watched, and certainly those who ever sent us their answer to the question of the day! We really appreciated all the support. Maybe someday we'll be able to bring it back.

Dog filled weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:07:00 +0000

It was a dog filled weekend! Summit really enjoyed splashing in the pool...which seemed like such a great way to cool off on a hot and sticky day.
Tobey has gotten so big! This was one of the FEW times she actually sat down on Sunday. What a cutie!

Here's Bentley & Barkely...2 dogs who belong to some of my co-workers. The dogs spent some time at our house while my co-workers were away on vacation. What fun it was to have these guys around. They are soooo good and such a fun duo to have around. (not to mention they are super cute!)

One more thing...Here's a short clip of Tobey and Summit splashing around in their pool...very funny!

Lyrics I love

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Well everybody got an opinion now don’t they
But it ain’t no thing to me
It really don’t make any difference now to me
If you don’t like what you see
I pay no mind to the negative kind
Cause that’s just no way to be
I don’t stop to please someone else’s needs
Gonna live my life for me

I’m gonna keep on I’m a do my own thing
we all got a song that we’re meant to sing
and no matter what people say or might think
I ain’t goin’ no place no I’m here to stay
Gonna keep on doing my thing
Cause whether they love or they hating on me
I’ll still be the same girl I used to be
Cause I ain’t going no place no I’m here to stay

I’ve never been the type to be shy
I know that some would say I’m too headstrong
But I’d rather be a woman who voices her mind
Whether you think I’m right or wrong
And I know some people wanna criticize
Makes em feel better about themselves
So say what you will time will reveal
In the end that I will be here still

Going to get up
Keep my head up
Gonna keep on turnin' it up
Never let up
If I keep steppin' it up
Imma prove that I ain't never gonna be stopped
Like it or not

No matter the pressures that face me
I believe they will see
I’ll never let anyone break me
All your doubt can do now is strengthen me
And life it ain’t always that easy
Gotta fight to see past the boundaries
Crossing the lines I will define every time that forever is mine

-Here to Stay by Christina Aguilera

Another great one to share

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Got this in an email....had to share This was taken in front of the Gardendale, Alabama Wal-Mart, where the young lady was shopping at the Flea market. Look at it closely. Now I ask you...Who stands and looks at a pair of men's briefs and says hummmm...I can make me a nice summer top from these!! On the other hand...$6 for a three pack is a good price!! But what if they weren't bought new? That's redneck recycling at its best. Don't throw out yer feller's drawers when the skidmarks don't wash out no more. Just cut the crotch out and wear 'em. How very Green! Al Gore would be proud.

Wisdom my dad sent in an email

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:56:00 +0000

When I'm feeling down, I like to whistle. It makes the neighbor's dog run to the end of his chain and gag himself.

Prom...oh how it's changed

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:39:00 +0000

My brother went to his senior prom a few weekends ago. He and his girlfriend looked fantastic!
But apparently things are quite different from when I went to prom. It's more than just who you go with, or what you're wearing. It's now about WHAT you're driving!
Case in point...
Yep. That's a monster truck! A girl was driving ...she was dateless I might add. After she jumped out (in her prom dress no less) another woman (I'm assuming her mom) drove it away!

Nevertheless...my husband was more excited to see what people were driving rather than what they were wearing. :-)

Here are some more pictures of my brother and his friends.

Seeing the color pink

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:29:00 +0000

Yep...the girl who has a meltdown anytime something involves her eyes has pink eye. Ick. Eye drops are NO fun! I'm worse than a little kid.

Wouldn't you love to be here right now?

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:38:00 +0000

Dear Walmart

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Dear Walmart,

Given a recent trip to your store, I feel the need to express my irritation towards your operation. Please don't get me wrong, I have been a faithful follower since before I was able to have my own checking account. But lately...you're really pissing me off.

It seems that I spend just as much time standing in line as I do getting all of my groceries. I admit it, I'm a sucker. I fall for those price rollbacks...and it often kills me to go somewhere else knowing I'll end up paying more. But the aggravation of it all is making me wonder whether it's worth it or not.

During my recent trip, I noticed that there were 3 checkout lanes open. 3?!?!?! It was 6:30 at night...prime time for grocery shopping. Now, that doesn't include the self checkout lanes...but since I had a cart full of items, I decided this wasn't the way to go. Or should it have been??

I had 2 people in front of me...and I spent the next 20 minutes waiting. In the middle of it all, the cashiers had to switch out, and apparently we went from dumb to dumber. This is how bad it was: I had enough time to line up all the barcodes on the belt so that she would know where to scan the item. That shouldn't happen! Then, once she started ringing up my items, she went on to comment on almost every one of them. This is what irritated me the most. No, I don't buy Rachel Ray chicken stock because I like Rachel Ray, I bought it because it was on sale this week. And yes, if I'm buying cranberry pomengrante juice, it's because I like it better than regular cranberry juice. And yes, if I tell you I don't want my milk or bottled water in a bag, that isn't a cue for you to ask me "Are you sure?" I would have asked if I wasn't sure. I have too many of those damn plastic bags at home to begin with.

Then, when the total comes up, that isn't a cue for you to say "Wow, you spent a lot". Yeah, I've been on vacation and this was the first time I've been to the store since I got back. Of course I spent a lot. We had no food! I shouldn't have to justify how much I spend at the store!

Ugh.

Perhaps it's the particular store I go to...but I am more irritated than ever when I come home. It's a good thing my husband did the dishes...cause I was on a rampage and unfortunately he might have gotten the brunt of it! :-)

Pet Peeve

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:49:00 +0000

I really hate it when people brown nose their way into things to try and make themselves look important to others.

Your work should speak for itself. If it doesn't, perhaps you should look at your work ethic.

enough said.

Home & Garden Show

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:48:00 +0000

Mike thankfully made it out alive.... :-) Couldn't resist posting this picture.

The wizard changed my oil gauge

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:40:00 +0000

As I posted before, I recently purchased a "new" used car. It's a Saturn Aura XR. Since I got it, I've been reading the manual for the things that I couldn't figure out how to operate. It's amusing to see what's different from a Chevy to a Saturn.

A few days ago I went to get my first oil change after getting the car. I had it done at Walmart (who by the way has raised prices for oil changes by almost double) and they forgot to reset the oil life part of my gauge. I looked in the manual...and after flipping through almost 50 pages, found the one I needed. But to my dismay, it didn't tell me how to reset the system.

So...my loving husband called the Saturn dealership where he used to work to find out how to do it.

This is what I got on the voicemail he left me.

"Turn the key to almost on, then push the gas pedal to the floor three times"

Are you kidding me? Who came up with that idea? Let's click our heels together and all repeat at the same time "there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home"

Nevertheless...it worked. Stupid cars.