journal

Stephanie and I went to Valparaiso for the weekend to attend her 15 year class reunion. As a couple. The only gay couple there. It was like a mini pride celebration all by itself (since we missed the big event downtown). We even slow danced together during the evening. Very fun. No one seemed to have much of an issue. It was cute that several of her class mates asked how we met, went through the list of the gay people they know, and asked how to find other gay people to set up their single gay friends.
One of the interesting things is that one of Stephanie’s fellow graduates of Chesterton High School class of 1990 is Nick Smith, the Press Secretary for Bill Frist. Stephanie would not allow me to cause a scene. But I so wanted to. (I have his e-mail address!!! I’m thinking of selling it.)
We got back yesterday afternoon and still face a monsterous number of tasks. Stephanie’s refrigerator went out last week, and we have to buy a new one. But this evening we’re going to the Bosma protest, and we also have to schedule stuff around her surgery. So we’re both a bit frazzled right now.

In addition to the rally we attended last week, Stephanie landed her loop during her skating lesson on Thursday, which is a major breakthrough and something she’s been working on for a long time. One of her fellow skaters filmed her doing the loop on his digital camera, so I’m hoping to see it soon. So congratulate her when you see her; she’s doing great.
Read on; this is a long update:

Stephanie and I had a busy weekend; we did a lot of shopping and a lot cuddling up at home trying to stay warm. We went to see Finding Neverland, which was a much sadder movie than I expected, and had I known that, I might not have gone to see it. We bought a winter coat for Stephanie at Eddie Bauer, then when it turned out to not be very comfortable, we returned it and got an equally-cool looking but much more functional coat and less expensive one at the gap. I also got a nice wool coat at the gap for more dressy occasions. And we shopped at Target.
And I got the Trivial Pursuit Book Lovers Edition for 1/2 price. I’m really excited about it and want to play.
It’s really cold, and I’d like to note that I did NOT order this weather. Damn it.

On Saturday, Stephanie and I drove to Cincinnati early in the morning for a figure skating competition that Stephanie was competing in. She won a fourth, third and first place medal in her three competitions. I got to meet several members of her former synchro skating team and other friends of hers, which was really cool. She knows some really nice people. On Saturday afternoon, we spend time recovering from the trip (she was worn out, and I’ve been fighting a cold).
On Sunday, we did some work around her house, including cleaning out her garage, hanging all her gardening tools in the garage, weeding, and replacing outdoor lights. We also checked and worked on all her storm windows. We’re pretty close to being done with seasonal work at both our houses. At hers, we need to rake and mow, and put her planting pots away. At my house I have to put away the hose, rake & mow, put stuff in the basement, and do some more insulation work.

So on Friday it rained, so a couple of us from work spent our last summer hours Friday at Union Jacks, drinking. Otherwise I would have mowed the lawn.
Later Stephanie and I went to Target and ate out at Colorado Steakhouse because we had zoo book coupons. I had a really great prime rib there, and the Caesar salad was awesome, too. I like my Caesars to have a lot of the anchovy flavor and lots of cheese, and this had both. The steak was a great cut of meat; thick and juicy even though I had it done medium-well. They had a mild horseradish sauce for dipping that really enhanced the flavor. The complimentary bread there is a very sweet biscuit, and it, too was addictive. Not quite like a Red Lobster cheese biscuit, but close. I’ve had uneven luck eating out at some chain steak house restaurants. At both Lone Star and Texas Roadhouse, I’ve had a really great steak on one visit, and on the next a very tough, stringy or unflavorful mess when ordering the same cut. We’ll see on my next visit to Colorado Steakhouse whether they can duplicate the amazing prime rib.
On Saturday, Stephanie and I ran a ton of errands all day that including dropping off several large pieces of furniture at the Salvation Army and paying bills. On Sunday, we washed my truck and her Honda, dropped off some recycling, and went to see The Notebook at the cinema grill for Stephanie’s friend Aleata’s birthday. It was a nice Hallmark-greeting type movie. Stephanie cried, and then I cried because she did. 🙂
On Monday, we drove up to Ikea in Schaumberg, Illinois. It was basically a day-long adventure, and we both ended up with lots of stuff. Apparently, it was “Everyone go to Ikea on Labor Day” day, because the enormous parking lot was completely full and the place was PACKED. Not just busy, but “crowded gay bar, spill a drink on yourself trying to squeeze through the crowd” type packed. Only not with gay people but also with heterosexual people with strollers and the small children that come with them.
If you know me very well, you know I have serious phobia of crowds. I’m not too concerned about small spaces, but I avoid lke the plague any situation where I’m required to sit/stand closer to people than regular personal space requires. Conseco Fieldhouse doesn’t seem to bother me much, but I can’t go to Deer Creek Music Center (I know I’m supposed to call it by the newer corporate name, but I don’t always remember it) the Hoosier Dome (ditto on the name) or that Indianapolis staple, The Indy 500. That’s the reason why I don’t see many concerts and don’t bother to see who’s coming to town for what show.
I was in full-on panic attack mode all day at Ikea. I couldn’t think; I couldn’t focus on the merchandise because I was so overwhelmed by the people. And the place was loud, too. Everything echoed, so babies crying and people discussing seemed to be at double volume. My heart was racing and I kept feeling dizzy like I was going to pass out. And yet, the prices on stuff were so good, and we had driven so far to get there, that I wasn’t about to leave.
Stephanie had a rug and a chair picked out that she really wanted. I wanted to look at something that would work for a china cabinet, and a TV/multimedia cabinet that would work well when I (someday) get a larger-screen TV. I also wanted to look at curtains. I ended up getting the curtains, but didn’t see anything that would work for the other two items. Stephanie got her chair and rug, and I got a couple of rugs and other assorted cool stuff as well. In all, it was a successful trip, but I think if we go again, it should be on a weekday when most people are at work. That would be pretty cool.