Activity Day Anniversary

Our two year anniversary this year was a full on activities day. It was so hilariously fun. We didn't exchange gifts or cards, just giggles and excitement with a day "out on the town". So what exactly does a day out with the Stices entail you ask? Well let me enlighten you (incase you might want to replicate the awesomeness).

The day begins with an errand. That's right. We had to do something to make us feel like we didn't completely give up on the weekday! We achieved something. We picked up our 6 month multi-trip visas from the Chinese Embassy in Wan Chai. Hooray! Trips to China here we come. We got there as soon as the office opened and met a very strange sixty year old American man who just couldn't resist the urge to give us his business card and tell us about his young soon-to-be Chinese wife from somewhere in the middle of China... um? Second item of the day, make a new friend? Moving on.

Our first real activity of the day was watching "The Hunger Games". It was the very first movie of the day (my favorite!) and meant we saw the film before most people on the planet. Hurrah! We're so ahead of the game. This is not the time or the place for a full critique so suffice it to say, we enjoyed the film.

The second activity of the day was perhaps my favorite. Those of you Fb junkies who read our status updates may remember a few weeks ago when Derrald posted about one of our groupons expiring before we could use it and how it was a huge disappointment because we'd never let that happen before... well, the groupon was for a painting workshop and we called the gallery and they agreed to extend the offer until the end of the month so... groupon NOT lost! We decided to celebrate our anniversary by painting our hearts out! It was so fun. Derrald was HILARIOUS. It's not possible to type out how hilarious he was. It's just not possible to imply the tones he was talking in or to describe with justice the character he becomes when he is being an "artiste". Nor is it possible to really explain the undeniable delight in his heart, like that of a five year old child when his painting was noticed (and complimented) by the gallery artists. Seriously folks, his painting turned out wonderfully and it was a surprise to EVERYONE (except me - I have always known that D has a closeted artistic talent... and I love being right... even if it means that NOBODY loves MY painting... bah!) I think some photographic evidence of a true artist at work might be in order. Here we go:

We started with dreams, aprons, blank canvases,

delightful blobs of colored paint,

and a whole lot of "artistic" attitude.

Now, I've been asked to show you some of the "versions" that our master artist's painting morphed through before he found his "finished piece"... yeah, my adorable artist was also a bit of a pretentious one... But he really did have about five different paintings at different times that he kept painting over. This is one of them. Notice the man is losing his apron. He's losing himself in his craft and it is going to get crazy.

A close up:

There was a lot of "flicking" paint involved. Some of it making it's way into my hair...

 "Tools" (i.e. brushes) were used in their entirety. Basically, they were used from both ends. So every time I went to get a brush from the pot my hands would get covered in D's paint!



And at one point, I looked down to see him not only stealing my paint but going at it with his fingers!! He'd moved beyond brushes at this point and was fully into the swing of expressing his art. Later on he also used a pencil. A pencil with paint on it.

LOOK at this concentration!!!

 And now for the payoff. A master and his masterpiece. I've been informed it's named (because everyone knows a true artist names his pieces) "Anniversary 2". 

I told you it was good!!! One of the other patrons even left his own painting to come over and critique Derrald's finished piece. It was hilarious. He told him how much he liked the movement and the color and how it reminded him of a Kandinsky (who D LOVES) and that it could be placed, and now I quote, "in a disco or a cafe to highlight the vividness". Hahahahahahahaha. My husband the accounting artist. Should you wish to have a viewing, you are welcome to stop by Derrald's office where it is currently on display (next to his Top Ten Lecturer Award) This guy. Seriously.

Oh, I guess I should show you my painting. It's a happier piece. I am holding it the wrong way in this picture but really, is there a "right" way?

After painting our hearts out we had worked up an appetite so we headed over to TST where Derrald had made us reservations at "Felix" a tres chic restaurant at the top of The Peninsula!! That post to follow. Stay tuned!

March Madness

Even after moving 8,000 miles away, we still haven't managed to escape the Madness that is March.

March. 

The month where every day, except one, has looked like this:

(driving me to) Madness.


The month where I partake in my first ever basketball bracket challenge and somehow land second on the leader board because my choices according to logo color and general feeling really paid off. Madness.

The month where my father-in-law removed his laid-back, hawaiian shirt wearing attitude and laid the smack down on us schmucks trailing in his tournament challenge wake. Um?

Example:

Madness.

The month where my group of 8-10 year olds finally get to perform the play we have been rehearsing for months. "White Wing's Escape". An endearing tale about a bold young parrot, White Wing, just trying to find his(or her - we were indifferent) way in the world but struggling because he(or she) is different.

All the other parrots have colors and WW only has white feathers. He is ridiculed... until he saves them all from being killed... HOORAY... by the most adorable hunters you have ever seen (not pictured)

The costumes made them look like chickens.

 Oh, and there were also some rhyming monkeys.

What? Don't monkeys have microphones and rhyme where you live too?

Madness.

The month where they have a party to celebrate our White Wing success and the children sit at their desks eating McDonalds. Then they show me an app on my iphone that can make me look like this:

Madness.

The month where I shoot two jobs back to back (a fifteen hour day) while still recovering from several days in bed with a horrible flu/fever that I most likely caught on a previous shoot that had us out in the cold rain all day wearing naught but a t-shirt and shorts. The same shoot that had us hanging with the monkeys and fighting with the cows for lunch!

Madness.


The month where I make my first ever hot cross buns!

And borscht!

Mad(fun)ness.

The month where Derrald and I celebrate TWO whole years of being married.

Has it only been two years since the day we walked into a jailhouse and said "i do"? It seems like so much has happened since then but it also seems like yesterday.

Madness.

Happy March Madness Everybody! 

And here's to Ohio State winning the Championship so I can lord my telepathic powers and ability to pick a winner over my UNC-loyal- in-laws. Bring on the upset.