April 20, 2008
This post was pre-approved by my husband
This post was inspired by: Robot Jumping Rope
I may be an old married mom but that doesn't mean I don't have any tidbits to share from my past dating life.
Once when a guy came to pick me up for a date the antenna on his car was so large I couldn't go out with him again.
When I didn't want to go out with large antenna guy I just had my brother pretend to be me on the phone. (His voice hadn't changed yet.) Antenna guy finally went away.
I once dated a guy who stole all the pennies from the "take a penny leave a penny" jar. We got busted by the waitress.
I won my college dorm's Dating Game my freshman year. One of the questions was "if you were a pie, what pie would you be?" My answer was, "apple pie, because I'm the American dream." That must have been the vodka talking.
In college I went on a date with someone even though he hit Alex in the eye after a rugby game. Our first three months of dating he only played Vanilla Ice in his car. I dated him for two years.
Two summers ago at the neighborhood pool I ran into the guy who took me on my first car date. I talked to him for 20 minutes and he had no clue who I was. If that is not a sign to retire the bikini, I don't know what is.
I once went on a date with a guy who on the car ride to a state park said, "you know, I could be the green river murderer." Yeah, last date there.
I once dated a guy who drove a yellow volkswagen bug with a rolls royce front. He told me our relationship was like a corn dog and we should try it with the mustard. If we didn't like the mustard we could always go back to just the corn dog. I married him.
Posted by jana at 2:29 PM | Comments (8)
April 12, 2008
Kleitsch consumer confidence is building
I hate gambling. If I never stepped in a casino again I wouldn't care.
Then what is up with this scenario?
Andy: "I really need to hire some people. FAST. I don't know when the angel round will close or how much money I'll take though."
Me: "We could probably use our tax refund and move some money around to guarantee a salary for 1 person for 3 months."
How did that come out of my mouth?
The stakes are getting even higher and I'm talking about doubling down.
Posted by jana at 10:25 PM
April 6, 2008
Dreaming
The report from Vegas is that the "mobile conference room" was a success.
I hate to jinx it before any contracts are even signed, but I will say that Andy subscribed to the yacht magazine, Power Cruising. I'm still dreaming about the taqueria and a nice camera. Even if my dreams are on the smaller scale, it feels good to be dreaming again. If I haven't mentioned it before (ha ha) self-funding a start up has been painful.
I also think most people think we're crazy for putting ourselves through this when Andy could be working for a company that would pay him for such work. Or maybe I'm just the one who thinks we're crazy.
Posted by jana at 9:51 PM
March 31, 2008
On hold now...
Hubby is in Vegas for only a few hours and I already have an email from the credit card company warning of fraudulent activity. What is going on in Vegas? What goes on in Vegas will not stay in Vegas because there is going to be a paper trail.
----Update----
It is reassuring to know that when hubby hops a plane to Vegas, rents and RV and buys a bunch of booze that it is not our usual shopping pattern and that we'll get a call.
Posted by jana at 4:37 PM
March 28, 2008
Project 365 continues with lame camera
Got today's photo for Project 365 by 9am. Perhaps a personal record. I couldn't get her to smile and stand still though.
This week was the week I have been planning to buy my new camera. Good thing I didn't hit the "proceed to checkout" button just yet. I found out I'll be financing this for next week. Sigh.
The good news is that financing for my revolution seems to be more and more in sight. I'm still hopeful for better glass and more nights at the taqueria.
Posted by jana at 12:24 PM | Comments (1)
March 12, 2008
Volunteer Remorse
Andy came home from the Shoreline Management Council meeting tonight.
A: Guess who is the chairman of the committee?
Me: You?
A: Yep.
Me: What? You are way too busy. What are you thinking?
Later I returned home from the PTA meeting at K's school....
Me: Guess who is the new PTA secretary?
------------
What is wrong with us?
Wait, don't answer that.
Posted by jana at 9:46 PM | Comments (4)
February 20, 2008
Rats, I should have attended Ignite Seattle
From the Ignite Seattle website:Ellen Kowalczyk - Living with (and not killing) the entrepreneur in your life. Creative ways on managing money, time, personal space and the emotional ups and downs of living with a startup junkie.Ignite Seattle! ยป Ignite Seattle 5: The Schedule
- - - - - -
Although I see that Ellen has only been married for to a startup junkie for 3 years as opposed to my 12.
In other startup junkie news:
Brent, one of my co-workers asked me the other day, "How is Andy's company coming along? Is it a success?" I asked him to define success. "Amount of money earned divided by total hours worked." "With that definition," I said, "total failure." I mentioned this to Andy and he said he equates personal happiness into his equation in which case he declares, "complete success."
Blogged with Flock
Posted by jana at 12:08 PM | Comments (1)
February 2, 2008
Another convo with the hubby
Him: You know how some girls have that look of their thong showing above their jeans?
Me: Yeah?
Not liking where this convo is going
Him: Well you have the look of your long underwear popping up above your jeans.
-----
I admit, I've been wearing long underwear for the last two months. When is it going to be summer? I'm ready.
Posted by jana at 1:33 PM
January 31, 2008
email from Britta's preschool teacher
Well Jana~ Shame on you for "letting" Andy's car run out of gas :>) I laughed so hard this morning when he was telling the other Moms how he was trying to figure out a way to blame it on you....what a character!!!!! Britta was sure all Tuesday morning that she was going to have to walk home!!!!!!!
Posted by jana at 8:18 PM
January 29, 2008
The preschool commute
Convo with the hubby after he ran out of gas today:
Him: You must have driven the Subaru after I did.
Me: No, I haven't driven it since December.
Him: Maybe one of the neighbor kids is siphoning gas out of the tank.
Me: Maybe because when I got in the Lexus it had no gas yesterday. I was afraid I'd run out of gas on the way to work.
Him: No, that was me. I left the car without any gas.
Me: You are a risk taker and that applies to how much gas you have in the tank too. If you run your car on hardly any gas you might run out.
Fortunately he stopped blaming me for running out of gas. If anything he needs to thank me for the times I do fill up the tank.
Posted by jana at 12:15 PM | Comments (1)
December 14, 2007
A sign: A visit from the car fairy
I've been trying to stay strong this year. I haven't blogged about it but this has been one of my toughest years ever for several reasons. I'm married to an entrepreneur which sometimes causes me to live outside of my comfort zone. I've had to stay strong for the family especially in the financial area which isn't easy when working as a part-time designer. I am the Angel Investor in one enterprise called My Husband.
We always seem to be on the brink of something amazing or something devastating. The car situation seemed to tip the scales towards the downward side. Fortunately a few bright things have happened which keeps my hopes up that better things are in store for 08. Good Lord, I am an eternal optimist.
I haven't had to look for a car at all. At one point I almost surfed on over to craigslist. I made a little status update regarding that on facebook and voila, jfew offered up his Subaru Tribeca for sale. Interesting! Next I whined about my car to my hair dresser and voila, her husband the mechanic wanted to sell his Prius. Yes, yes, a hybrid! That's what we want. We started figuring out how we were going to pay for the car besides my preferred method of a big wad of cash when viola again! My neighbor, the manager of a fancy car dealership shows up at my door last night with a previously owned hybrid by an 82-year-old man at my doorstep last night. They'd read my blog about the death of my subaru. I love the power of social networks.
So yes, I'm feeling the pain of being an investor in a risky venture. However given the option of living with someone being content to live an ordinary life just doesn't cut it for me either. I liken it to prozac. Sure, it might make my life less painful but I wouldn't be able to feel the potential highs or unfortunately the lows. Andy goes for what he wants, works hard for it and is a passionate leader. How could he fail? As the ultimate salesman he told me, "we live a life rich in adventure." Nice, but I'm ready for some cash.
Posted by jana at 10:49 AM
August 31, 2007
Happy anniversary!!
It's hard to keep your feet on the ground when you know you were born to fly. -Sara Evans
This labor day weekend marks our 12th wedding anniversary. The quote above reminds me of the man I married. Sometimes I feel as if I am Andy's rocket fuel, other times I am the weight around his ankles keeping him on this earth. But together I think we balance each other out. He lifts me off the ground of an ordinary life and I am here to help him keep us in flight.
We're thinking of going to Bumbershoot and perhaps taking a boat ride to celebrate our anniversary. Whatever we do, I have no doubt Andy will make it fun -- which is why I'm so glad I married him.
Happy anniversary Andy! I'd marry you again tomorrow. I love you.
Posted by jana at 1:43 PM | Comments (3)
November 13, 2006
What really happened
Here are the details of Andy's windsurfing adventures yesterday.
Posted by jana at 2:13 PM
November 12, 2006
"The wind shifted"
Wife's worst nightmare: a tankard, 2 tugs and a helicopter looking for your husband.
Andy washed ashore on the beach of Puget Sound a good 5 miles away from our house, but not knowing Wes had called the Coast Guard. Wes is a good friend. We fed him dinner tonight to say "thanks." In the end the Coast Guard didn't end up rescuing Andy but we were thankful for Wes standing outside in the pouring rain and watching Andy winsurf.
----------------------------
The kids and I came home from Centralia where we met my grandpa for lunch. It was 4:30 when we came home and the weather was stormy. Most notably, the weather was windy. Both cars were at home but the doors were locked and Andy was not to be located.
I called him and he was in a meeting in Bellevue so I was not worried.
I checked the messages on the phone and there was one from the Coast Guard looking for Andy. Andy then walked in the door and I heard the story unfold of the wind dying and then changing directions, blah, blah, blah.
He's safe. I'm upping the life insurance policy again.
Posted by jana at 5:27 PM | Comments (2)
July 18, 2006
Hey, I'm going to Europe
That means the extra fat around my stomach that arrived on my body as soon as I went through U.S. customs last winter will soon disappear! Which means eating a big bowl of corn chips shouldn't have any impact. I'm liking this thought. Bowl is empty. Must replenish.
Time to suspend my Dodgeball account. I saved almost $12 while Erik Benson was at Mime Camp by not receiving his whereabouts notices via SMS.
Also Andy has now realized that he has reason to be happy about me being gone for three weeks without him. He can party every night! Go windsurfing at the Gorge! Live like a bachelor. I'll be checking under the couches for bottle caps when I get back.
I found a suitcase. Now it is time to think about packing -- just as soon as I pay the bills. Ugh.
Posted by jana at 9:22 PM
May 6, 2006
Almost Famous Inlaws
The Seattle Times publishes Andy's uncle's letter to the editor. See the first letter.
Andy's dad ranks #5 in So Cal for men over 65 in tennis.
Posted by jana at 8:34 AM
May 4, 2006
Happy birthday Andy
My husband is now old enough to run for president of the United States of America. Lord, help us all. (semi-sarcasm)
Posted by jana at 10:42 PM
April 29, 2006
Feel like making love
Feel like making love
Originally uploaded by B-TownMom.
See any family resemblance?
More songs from Andy's playlist:
Back in Black
Jenny
Gloria
Johnny Be Good
Louie Louie
Name that 70s song, the list goes on and on. I married the life of the party.
Posted by jana at 11:14 PM
March 29, 2006
My husband is a "grup"
I knew there had to be a name for the likes of him. Yes, there are other 22 year-old males trapped in a 34 year-old body. The generation gap is dead.
[via Andrej's email -> my email -> mdm's blog]
Posted by jana at 9:06 PM
February 4, 2006
Surf's Up
Puget Sound or Pacific Ocean? Our house is shaking when the waves hit the bulkhead. Logs are floating out in the Sound. 4 wheel drive is needed to drive down our street to tackle the debris.
According to Andy the conditions are perfect. 50mph winds and he's ready to ride some waves. Time to up the life insurance policy.
Posted by jana at 9:51 AM | Comments (3)
June 29, 2005
Pass the mic
Andy went to Denver yesterday just for the day. I didn't know why he was going to Denver but I figured it must be to meet with potential business partners or something. The night before he left he mentioned that he was going to a conference, and that he was one of the speakers at the conference. This is where I realize how different Andy and I are. If someone were to ask me to speak at a conference I would lock myself at the library for weeks before the event. I'd probably have to move there just to practice for every waking second before I had to give the dreaded speech. Every dream would be halicunations about looming speech.
I asked Andy, "What is your speech about?" Micro mobile payments. Ahhhh.
Posted by jana at 11:59 AM
March 15, 2005
welcome to the blogoshpere Shawna
My token conservative mommy friend got herself a blog. Hurray! Good stuff as she draws on her past church cult membership and reflects on Govenor Gregoire's "baby kissing" politics. Suffice to say it was not the best idea to watch the Republican National Convention at Shawna's parents house this past election. (I haven't been invited back after I dissed on Cheney.)
In other blogoshperes -- Erik posted an interesting article on How to Start up a Startup. I had to read it just because I have been the founder of one startup and Andy is on his third or possibly fourth. Andy felt like he could identify with this quote:
"My final test may be the most restrictive. Do you actually want to start a startup? What it amounts to, economically, is compressing your working life into the smallest possible space. Instead of working at an ordinary rate for 40 years, you work like hell for four. And maybe end up with nothing-- though in that case it probably won't take four years."
This is it. This is Andy. If anyone will create a start up and find success it is him. I may grouch about the guy but I believe in him ultimately finding success. And then doing it all over again.
And here I go hopping on to yet another subject. After reading Shawna's blog I am inspired to blog about something that has been grating on my nerves for some time. Religion doesn't equal moral values. Morale values don't equal religion. Okay people? Quotes in conversations like, "she did X because she is not a Christian." Ugh. Truly some of my most "moral" friends are atheist or agnostic. Some of my "Christian" friends are the most judgemental and immoral people I know. From what I'm gathering though most people think the main benefit of religion is to give people a moral code to live by. Okay, my rant for the day is off my chest. I'll try Becca's "Do you like pina coladas?" next time I hear a moral/religion quote.
Posted by jana at 8:57 PM | TrackBack
February 8, 2005
Life in film
Every movie I've seen lately seems to relate directly to my life.
The Incredibles
Elastic Girl is married to Mr. Incredible. Mr. Incredible is suspended from his super power job and sentenced to being average. He is hating life but it is for his family. Finally he is fired and finds an outlet for his super powers. He's a new man! His wife gets sucked into his risky lifestyle.
Amadeus
Mozart is asked to create two pieces, one for a lot of money and one for money that may or may not come through. He spends his time working on the free but glorious project while his wife hounds him to do the more lucrative job.
The Aviator
Wacky, billionaire inherits money from a tool company. Instead of working for the lucrative tool company he opts to risk it all on bold bets in the aviation world.
Who wants to make a movie about Andy? He's prime material even if he's not urinating into milk bottles. I need a superhero costume.
Posted by jana at 8:18 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 5, 2004
Hello, My Name Is...
My name is "Andy's Wife." Oh sure, some people attempt to learn my name, "Janet" or "Janis" but basically I should just officially change my name to Andy's Wife.
Andy hosted a neighborhood tour of homes today to raise money for charity. The afternoon was a success and I'm sure some people give me credit. Little do they know that I stay out of my husband's planning of events. Andy's style is 95% fly by the seat of your pants and 5% planning. I'm 85% planning and 15% finesse.
Need I give examples? Andy was the key note speaker for an event and as we arrived to the conference hall he locked himself in one of the restrooms. Some people may lock themselves in the bathroom due to nerves and irritable bowels. Andy was in there writing his speech. He gave the best speech of the event.
I admire this talent. After almost a decade of marriage I never worry that he won't pull off what he sets out to accomplish. I just stay out of the way or I'll be the one locked in the bathroom with nerves and irritable bowels.
Posted by jana at 5:21 AM | TrackBack
September 2, 2004
September 2, 1995
Today is my 9 year wedding anniversary. Appropriately I am reading Dr. Laura's "Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands." Andy likes to remind me that I didn't make him a sandwich the other day when I made one for myself. Anyway, I am happy to say that I would marry Andy again tomorrow if he asked. He may wait until I finish the book to say the same.
Posted by jana at 5:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 9, 2004
And the winner is....
Andy almost got in a fight last night with the Concrete Guy. We've been married for 8 1/2 years now and I've known Andy since I was 7 years old and in all that time I can't think of one fight he has been in (even that time Matt threw a beer bottle at his head then rolled him down a hill right before he had a big meeting with Yahoo he laughed it off).
Last night he thought the Concrete Guy was going to hit him when Andy said he wouldn't pay him more money because of the terrible job he did at our house. That's when Andy thought Concrete Guy was about to take a swing at him. Andy started to pet the dog so he could casually duck out of the guy's way just in case. I asked him what would have happened if Concrete Guy would have hit him and he said, "we would have had a fight."
So exciting! I think if Andy were ever to get in a fight I'd rather it be over something other than concrete -- something good like defending my honor, you know. Anyway, kind of interesting to think of your "lover-not-a-fighter" husband brawling.
Extra tidbit: Tom told me that it is called "concrete" when it comes out of a truck and "cement" when you mix it yourself. Good to know. I'm sure I've been embarrassing myself this whole time with such a faux pas.
P.S. Blog spam is good for blogging. Had I not logged in to delete a few colorful comments no one would have known about Andy's almost fight.
Posted by jana at 12:21 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack