Michele's new car

Short story: Michele gets mail of rebate offer. We noticed she never got ABS on her current car - ABS needed in snow. Tempted to trade in for 2007 model of her 2005. Didn't like offer with loan, started to sniff out new car with a zero interest loan and a vehicle $1000 cheaper.

ABS - It's must-have in snow and ice conditions. I cannot believe some car makers consider this 'optional'. Optional is for something like coffee - sugar is optional. The very idea of Michele without ABS driving in icy conditions is a bad thought. Anyone without ABS in icy conditions is playing a bit of a gamble. And the very idea of car makers taking away ABS on the base model translates to me this: "We as a car maker know you cannot afford ABS so we'll take it away and let you gamble with your life and increase the chances of an accident."

Come on car makers, exercise some social conscience. If you put more safety features you'll keep more of your customers alive.

I really pushed for this car for Michele because there were too many pros and chiefly is safety. But also it's a zero interest loan AND you'll get a discount on auto insurance for ABS and anti-theft.

So Michele is driving around in a spiffy 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander - a mini SUV. Got great ratings and review from consumers. Built on the reliable Gallant platform.

Why my fiance is beautiful

It just occurred to me like a bolt of lighting as I faced Michele one day while we were chatting: I have a beautiful woman in my life.

There she was in her bathrobe and brushing her teeth: she doesn't need a ton of make-up to look absolutely radiant. I know I'm a little bias, but this here's why my Michele is just so darn gorgeous to me:

* She wore sweats while we went for grocery shopping. She is that beautiful - that inner confidence that her clothes don't make her - it's who she is inside. Very secure with her self image in public. If she did go super-fly dressing up, I think I'd be blown away.

* Doesn't wear alot of make-up. This is more revealing than you can imagine. Her face is beautiful enough she doesn't have to camo her face like some US Marine. I've known some women when they took off the stuff off their face, you can use it to pain a closet door several times over.

* She is undeniably faithful and loyal. I see her heart. and she's a lioness pledging her loyalty to me. She is always concerned with what I think and with that preciousness how can I as a man not do everything to protect, and nurture her in that manner of such a beautiful woman!

Simple discoveries about Love

Well, Michele and I have been together now for over a year now, and we've discovered commonality is a good builder in a relationship. Even more so are the shared interests we've discovered and the joys of it.

I've seen too many couples sit in a restaurant with nothing to talk about, and am determined that we do no such thing. We are determine to keep our relationship growing and thriving: a few highlights we've done as a couple that keeps us fresh...and it doesn't even cost much!

* Getting away to a small town and just walking around and finding shops
* Hiking in the woods and stepping on rustling leaves - Michele loves that childhood activity
* Walking in the neighborhood together talking about anything
* Sending unlimited IMs to each other on phone with phrases like, "Hi Beautiful", "Time to eat my love"
* Kissing and saying "I love you" everyday
* Complimenting each other
* Praying with one another and our families
* Being 'bad', by going out and doing our sweet tooth cheating with a run to the store for Ben and Jerry's New York Super Chocolate Chunk
* Watching cable shows like DISCOVERY CHANNEL LIVE HEART SURGERY together...yah we're both weird in that respect
* Getting a bit too excited about finding a good organic healthy soup
* Keeping our relationship playful with silliness - we post IT notes like crazy with crazy phrases to happy phrases
* Tying ourselves spiritually together
* Taking time to be a couple
* Developing our very own sign language...wouldn't you like to know?!!

Gordon's TIPs for planning your wedding

1) If you go to a cake baker's* 'kitchen' and see dogs that looks and smells like a construction worker who forgot the word 'bath' or 'shower' in their volcabulary; it's probably not a good place to get your wedding cake. (* or whatever they call them - baker, cake engineer...etc)

BONUS HINT: If you're not really all that bright, the additional hint of a cat purring on the kitchen counter, and you find out the baker makes wedding cakes there it's probably not a good idea to buy your cake from that person...unless you have a wedding for your pet. Yes, Michele and I found this out quickly. We finally settled on a very impressive baker who went to Europe for culinary secrets and extolled Belgian chocolates like a sommelier with wine.

2) Be thankful you're a dude, DUDE. For the wedding, I just got to make sure I shower, and look good. My selection is a classic tuxedo and it's either black or white. If you're a girl...oh girl, you got some serious window shopping. What styles! What colors! (At this point guys, you need to supportive by being with your woman and bringing a book). We finally found a bridemaid color! I want my girl to be happy, and she is, but I'm glad I don't have to fret about this. Popping on a dude wedding outfit is as simple as a tee shirt - Do I want black or white? Does it fit? Cool, I'm ready to go!

3) Love your wedding planner. Ours is great...and is Michele's mom! Love her to death! She's so excited. And I'm glad she doesn't talk like Martin Short in FATHER OF THE BRIDE. Much love to her!!!

Summer is gone, Winter blows

**

I looked out today in the throes of the Midwest season to see the myraid colors of oranges, reds, yellows and green leaves decorating the country side. It's breathtaking during a pause from life.

Another part of the year is changing, and time passes by. You know, it's amazing...you don't really notice how magnificent the colors are sometimes because you're too busy, too worried, too pre-occupied. BUT when you pause...the beauty you find even in the leaves falling!

***

Dale S.: Loyal father, loving husband, WW2 soldier, and Michele's grandfather, passed away suddenly today.
Dale never lived like a pre-occupied life. He knew what mattered.

Before Dale passed away, he left the magnificent words "I love you son" to Michele's dad.

It was the finest example of the human experience in the most difficult of times.

I think of God's mercy, and grace on Dale's life and he was a fine man.

In the short time, I got to know Dale - I could tell immediately he was a special man, and one with values. He'd look at you straight into your eyes as he shook your hand. He was calm, he was vocal about his values and full of cordiality. I remembered the day I was engaged to his granddaughter he made a public announcement at the retirement home. He was proud and glad his granddaughter was engaged - I was flattered. And you cannot help, but think with a special warmth when he played cards and talked about diamonds. He was sharp as a tack on cards, nothing got past him. Don't even try to pull a fast one on him. And his voice would boom with excitement talking about diamonds since he use to sell them.

And the caliber of Dale as a father? Look no further than his son, my future father-in-law. A great father and grandfather.

Another of 'The Greatest Generation' is gone.

In God's mercy, I didnt' miss any of the beauty of a new season to come. Not even this one leaf falling, that marked the change of another season as it danced a whirl of beauty into God's hands.