And we didn't even get our money back...

I sure do remember our second night as a married couple in Long Beach. I will never forget it.

Catalina Island. Beautiful place. Getting there is the problem. Why does it have to be an island? That means you have to catch the ferry. Well, we didn't. We got to see it leave though. No problem though, we are in love now, nothing can stand in our way.

I wanted to just head home for the night but Morgan wanted to stay and catch the earliest ferry. We are newlyweds in love so nothing can break our spirits right now, let's stay. We drive around a bit and try to find a place to stay for the night. Circle after circle and driving through the Port of Long Beach at night (very cool at night by the way), we decide to just stay close to the Catalina Express dock. About $100 a night for a motel. I know what that means. Morgan doesn't. And if you don't know, it means, you get a bed, sort of. Fine with me. Morgan is a bit uneasy.

So we get some dinner right across from our motel. Nice little Mexican place. Alright, time to get some sleep. Back in the motel room, we pull back the blanket on our bed. Nasty. Not that bad, but it's bad. So I go down and ask for some new sheets. The guy looks at me like I am crazy. I look at him like I will go crazy if you don't give me some new sheets. I win. We put on the new sheets and sleep in our clothes. Not starting off good. It's just tonight, tomorrow will be better. Well, tomorrow isn't coming soon enough. Can't go to sleep. Morgan somehow falls asleep. I gotta sleep. Finally. Catchin' some Z's.

WHAT WAS THAT!?!? I heard someone. I yell, "Who's there???" I see someone walking in front of our door. A shadow is now cast all across our floor. Hell no. Not in my house. Someone is about to meet their maker. I fly out of bed and head for our bedroom door. I am on a war path and someone is about to die for breaking into our house. Morgan screams! I wake up...again. This isn't our place. Where am I? Motel. That's right. That shadow and voice was just someone walking and talking down the hall to their room. I was asleep and woke up to voices in the hallway. I thought we were at home. I was in full on protect my wife mode. Had no idea where I was til Morgan screamed and really woke me up.

Let's go home. We pack up our stuff in the middle of the night, well, morning now, and head back to Bakersfield. I don't think either one of us said anything the way back home. What a night. And we didn't even get our money back.

Forever Begins Today...

November 3rd is now today and I am about to get married. But first, we need ice. Of all things to forget. Ice. Luckily, a had a few friends run to every gas station downtown and buy all the ice they could. I think we are ready. Well, gotta be ready. People are showing up now.

So at first it's just family and friends setting up the place then I blink, and now I am standing with Pastor Dennie watching my future father-in-law walk my wife-to-be down the aisle. She is immaculate. I cannot believe I get to see that face every time I wake, every time I get home from work, every time and for all of time. Then she gets closer and closer. Her father hands her off to me. She is now in my hands...take great care. It's just her and I alone, in this 300 plus packed hall. Her presence is overwhelming. Let's start forever.

"I do." "I do." I know it may sound strange, but that's what I remember. We both said 'I do.' I was so nervous. I wanted everything to be done and over with, so I can't recall much more than Morgan. She just floated on down the aisle and we were joined together in holy matrimony. Forever begins today.

Seriously...It's November 3rd

"Will you marry me?" Yeah, that's what I should have said. But my brain had other plans and it told my mouth to say, "Your ice cream is dripping." I recover and finally ask, "Will you marry me?" And she says yes! So she turns around and sees the family. Everyone is there. She is so surprised. I am so happy. Best day ever. Now what?

You plan a wedding, that's what. At first we were going to wait for a year or so, but then we decided that it would be best if we had it sooner. You never realize all that goes into planning a wedding, until you bump up the date. We had our date now, November 3rd, 2007. Luckily, we had the wedding planners 'Forever Begins Today' by The Sisters taking care of our wedding. The Morgs mom and aunts took care of just about all the planning. Simply amazing. Then everyone else took another part of the wedding and before we knew it, we had everything covered. Family friends took care of the cost to rent The Women's Hall, Uncle and Aunt took care of buying the alcohol (That gift kept on giving, we had tons of alcohol left over!), Uncle and Aunt took care of the Rehearsal Dinner and people just kept on helping out. We were blessed. So many people were involved in this wedding. It was amazing.

So the wedding is on track. A few bumps along the way but it's getting closer and closer to The Day. Time seemed to fly by. I really don't remember much that went on. It seemed like forever until the wedding and then all of a sudden, it's showtime. Where did time go? What happened? I remember trying to find a place, what to wear and all of that, but seriously, it flew by. I really should have taken more time to realize what a great time it was.

July, August, September, October, November (a little cool fact, those months also spell my name, J-A-S-O-N). Our engagement lasted through my name. Time flies. What day is it actually now? It's November 3rd. Seriously?

Your ice cream is dripping...duh.

Ok, so the girl I think I like won't date a smoker.  No problem.  I can quit, been wanting to for a while now.  Doesn't every smoker say that?  Monday.  Doesn't every smoker say that, too???  Well, I have a gift on my desk Monday morning.  That's very strange.  Small bag, noisy filler stuff on top and tons and tons of gum.  I was completely shocked.  I mean we had a first date to see her Uncle Walter play at the Marketplace (not the band we saw, but it's still Walter going bang bang on the drum so check them out 1916) and we ate Coldstone, so that counts as a meal and that means a date.  Once again, that's one of those things she denies.  So, I have this bag of gum.  Yeah, I better try and keep this girl.  The next day comes and after my first time playing bingo at an actual bingo hall (if you haven't done it, you gotta try it at least once) I ask her to be my girlfriend.  How lame is that?  But she says yes.  I reach in for the kiss to seal the deal and DENIED.

What?  No kiss?  I could have sworn that's what happens.  Sorry, try again later.  After a couple days, I finally tell her, "I would like a kiss from my girlfriend."  And it finally happens.  So we are a thing, a couple, I have a girlfriend.  I thought this doesn't happen anymore.  But I like it, I like it a lot, I love her.  Wait what?  Yup, after months of talking non-stop, late nights get pulled over by the police, work everyday, I have fallen in love.  Completely.  I don't quite know how it happened, or when it happened, but I do know why it happened.  We were meant for each other.  It's funny how life turns out.  Never thought there was somebody out there like her.  I have to keep her...for good.  Time to propose.

So here's the plan: The Marketplace.  Get Coldstone.  Eat at the fountain.  Have entire family for the proposal.  Don't look like an idiot.  Not quite that easy.  I decide to propose at the fountain at the Marketplace.  We had our first date there, its nice, should be quiet, 110 degrees in the Bakersfield heat, all our family can be there.  I figure 3:00 on July 25th, 2007 would be the day and time.  So the family is there.  I can see them in the back, but Morgan can't see them.  So, slowly they creep on around the fountain and start taking pictures.  Morgan is just sitting there all cute, eating her ice cream, no idea I am soooo nervous!  It's time.  I gotta do, what I gotta do.  Ask her to marry me.  So do it.  Now.  Do it.  Just do it.  It could have been a freakin' Nike commercial.  All I was thinking was 'Just do it.'  Everyone is there.  20 feet away.  She still has no idea.  So what do I do?  Nothing.  My brain is shutdown.  I am about to say something...My brain is coming back around.  Everyone can see that I am about to ask right now!!!  And for absolutely no reason what-so-ever, I blurt out in a complete moment of duh...
"Your ice cream is dripping."

I won't date a guy that smokes...so she says.

Ever been MySpace stalked?  I have.  And I married her.  Crazy huh?  Well, it's not quite that bad.  

So the new girl forgets my name...seconds after telling her.  Horrible.  So she did what any girl would do after meeting a guy, finds out my name and immediately gets on MySpace and finds out whatever she could about me.  And then I get the friend request.  Oh yeah!  Might have forgot my name but at least she didn't forget me.

We worked together for a while.  I would come down to the first floor and get some food, they always have food in Building Inspection, and give an occasional "Hi" to that cute new girl.  Then she got sent up to work on the fifth floor, my floor.  She denies it, but she would take the long way to the copier and just so happens that my desk is in that path.  Oh yeah!  Things are going well.  Still didn't like her, I was too busy and again, I didn't want a real girlfriend.  I would smile as she went by and then I would try to time going the printer just perfectly so that when she would come back around the corner I would be walking back to my desk and BAM!!!  We would accidentally bump into each other.  Good times.  Well, this flirting went on for a few months and then I started really liking her.  I thought about it and realized "I could be with this girl for a while.  She is a good girl."  So after talking and such for a while, I try to get a reading on how much she likes me.  And I think she really does like me.....strangely.  But then the absolute worst thing I could have ever of heard...I would have taken "I have a kid," over what I was about to hear.  So she says,
"I won't date a guy that smokes."