Watch out, I'm on a tirade

I've had to do a lot of deep breathing today. And it's not because of my children this time.

Let me just say this. A person ought to be able to expect a few basic things from their spouse. There are a lot of shortcomings one can fixate on in their partner, but most things are annoyances rather than major flaws. But a lack of commitment, loyalty, and fidelity is just unacceptable. And to be indignant that your spouse won't tolerate your lack of loyalty, well, just go back to high school where you belong and don't come back until you freakin' grow up. It's one thing to recognize your weakness or failing or at the very least, own up to it. But tearing the innocent party down to try to justify your behavior is...I can't even come up with a word to express the loathing I feel.

And while I'm at it, when you marry someone, you should have their happiness as your greatest concern, not your sense of justification or self-righteousness. You may get offended or otherwise dislike someone in your spouse's family, but it is their family, their roots, their comfort, where they came from. And you have no right to try and manipulate them into discontinuing or restricting access to those that have loved them since long before you came around. If you put your money where your mouth is, if you want to do more than give a little lip service to "I just have your/our little family's best interests at heart" then you need to open the door to let your spouse seek solace in the ones who know and love them well. I'm not talking about blabbing your own, personal family problems to your siblings or parents or whoever else. Generally it's much wiser to keep your greivances with your spouse between the two of you. But to restrict, especially by manipulation, your spouse from talking to and receiving love and good cheer and encouragement and just the sense of comfort and safety that can be received from their own family is just wrong. Selfish and warped and wrong.

'Nuff said.

I like a man who makes his expectations clear

While Dan was working late one night last week he sent me an email entitled "My fortune from Panda Express."

Reminded me of one of our favorite movie lines, I think it's from that movie with Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson (or maybe it's Eddie Murphy and Jackie Chan) where Eddie Murphy goes, "What is that? Some kinda innuendo?" (pronounced in-you-in-doh). What movie is that?

That Dan sure is funny! If you haven't read my sister Becky's blog tribute to her funny brother-in-law, you should check it out!

Happy Birthday Bin!

In honor of Dan's 37th (yes, this blog is called Um, Thanks for Sharing!) birthday today, I thought I'd take you all down memory lane.

Approx. 8 months old. Check out the shag carpet they used for a backdrop. So 70's!

We affectionately refer to this picture as "White Trash Baby", sitting in the dirt in his diaper. Age 9 months.

Kindergarten or First Grade. Dan says he remembers missing all 4 front teeth at once and he couldn't bite into anything.

Dan (in blue) and his brother David. Dan started Mighty Mites in first grade and played football every year through the end of high school.

Dan and his Dad. Nice mustache, Dave!

7th grade football. What a good looking kid! Man, we need to have a son!

15th birthday. He looks about 12, doesn't he? Poor guy was a late bloomer, he finally hit 5 feet and 100 pounds when he was a freshman in high school!

Dan and his sister Dianna at Mema and Pepa's house, 1986 or 1987. Is that the quintessential 80's outfit or what?! Nice work, Di!

Family picture 1988. Can you believe he showed up for a photo shoot in his Metallica t-shirt? I'm certain the photographer was like, "You gotta be kidding me!" However, I'm sure his mother was just glad that he showed up! L to R: brother David, step-brother Mike, step-dad Larry (divorced from Paddy around the time that Dan and I got married), step-brother Darrin, Dan, mom Paddy, and sister Dianna.

This photo really deserves a closer look. Remember the "groups" in high school? The preps, the jocks, the rappers, the rockers, the geeks. Well, if you had asked me back then, I never would have imagined that I would marry a rocker! Check out that long hair. But wait, it gets better...

1990. Nothing quite like crazy rocker hair, a Metallica t-shirt, and bike shorts. The love affair with spandex began quite a long time ago!

The would-be Mrs. Richardson and her shaggy dog. Ah, well, her loss is my gain!

1991. This is Lily's favorite picture from Dan's mission "I wanna see the one of Daddy dancing with the giant doggy!" This is in rural Maryland at the beginning of Dan's mission. The amazing thing about this picture is that they are on a hill and Dan is standing about 6 inches higher than the Great Dane. That is one huge dog!

1993. This was a sign at the exit of a Baptist church in Alexandria or Arlington, Virginia. This was towards the end of his mission. Notice the suit? Yes, it's the same one you see below.

March 23, 1996 Washington D.C. Temple. Got married in the mission suit. He did at least get a new shirt, tie, and pair of shoes, though.

Look at those two children! (well, me mostly!)

Spring 2001, Graduation with Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah.

March 2007, Defending his thesis. He's smiling big because he's getting the hell out of there! I'm not sure if his smile or my smile was bigger as we walked out of the building.

2007, still riding the crazy jumps after age 35. So Sexy!

Make mine a double!

Why only have one blog when you can have two and waste twice as much time?!

I started a blog for my photography business. http://www.suerichardsonphotography.blogspot.com/

I'm hoping it will generate some more business for me and give me a chance to show off all the fun stuff I am doing. Blogger is having some issues with new accounts and image uploads right now, so you can't click on the images to see them bigger, but hopefully that will be resolved soon.

Check it out!

Who's that sexy man and his hot mama?

There's a flaw in this picture. Can you find it? Click to view larger. I'll give you $10 if you can find it (OK, not really, but have a little fun with me. It'll be like Where's Waldo!)

I don't know...I think I'm kinda cute

When I was a sophomore in college, my roommates and I were sitting around bemoaning the woes of dating. We were complaining about how guys always go straight for the lookers, bypassing us decent looking girls with lots of personality. We sat there silently and I suddenly busted out with, "I don't know...I think I'm kinda cute." Oh, that phrase has lived in infamy ever since!

My dear friend Cami took our family picture earlier in the week and last night I was at her house looking at the proofs. We came to this picture

and I turned to Cami and exclaimed, "Wow, I look really good!" Yes, I'm that vain! You know you're with a close friend when you can say that and not feel self-conscious.

There are so, so many pics that I love and surely I will be posting more, but here are a couple favorites of Lily & Amelia. Dan and I sure make cute kids!


Thanks, Cami, for doing such an awesome job!