My Life as a Novel

I am a fan of blog-reading. At some point in the last couple of weeks, I stumbled across the blog for this guy who is a worship leader at a church in Buckhead, Georgia. His blog, I have come to recognize, is more of a "community-reading and commenting experience" than most that I read, and I've been sucked in.

In a recent blog called "Splat Your Tat", he asked all his readers to send in pictures of their tattoos and he would post pictures. Well I think he got more than he bargained for. 81 tattoos. So he posted pictures and asked us to link from his site to a place where we could explain our tattoos.

And since they were posted on Friday, I'm just now getting around to it.

And this may be boring to you, but ... skip it if you want to.


I used to tell Kyle that if I got a tattoo, it would be on top of my foot and I would probably like to get an orchid. This started the summer after we were married. Two years later, in March of '07 we were planning a mid-week "mini-vacation" to Atlanta for a concert and to hang out with some friends. Kyle called "his" tattoo artist and asked for a recommendation. Hands down, Jay recommended Demian at Liberty Tattoo. So we called him up, met with him on Wednesday morning, and, by Wednesday afternoon, I had a tattoo.

Word of warning: These are links to tattoo sites. I make no claim stating that the images in these links are appropriate for all ages.

FAQ:

Q: Didn't that hurt?
A: Yes. Absolutely. And it was swollen and difficult to walk on for at least 2 weeks.

Q: How long did it take?
A: Just under 2 hours, I believe.

Q: Why an orchid?
A: Because I like them.

Q: Why on your foot?
A: Because that's where I wanted it.

Q: You work at a church, right? Is this a problem?
A: No one's made me "take it off" yet, so I'm guessing not. The closest to a "complaint" I've ever heard were these ladies who came into my office and I had to show them something in the sanctuary. One said to me as we were walking down the hall, "Boy, times are changing when the secretary of a Southern Baptist Church walks around with her tattoo hanging out." I laughed.

Is this enough information? I hope so. :shrugs:

I truly enjoy working on projects with my husband. The process of actually making time to get together to make things happen -- which includes time allowed for good communication, the syncing of our brains and ideas, researching, and then finally putting rubber to the road to bring it all together -- it's not always the easiest thing for us to do. We're both really busy doing our own things at times, but magic happens when the Polk brains come together.

And this is why: Kyle Polk encourages me in a way that no one else does. Perhaps this is because I value his opinions and criticisms more than anyone else's. And perhaps that's because he processes his ideas for a while before speaking them. You will rarely hear him speak something that he doesn't absolutely believe and that's because the idea has been tossed about in his weird little head for long enough that he's behind it 100%. (This doesn't mean he's always right, but just that his opinion is rarely - if ever - a knee-jerk reaction.)

Today, Kyle told me, "I wish people saw you the way I see you."

And here are my thoughts on that.

"Hello, nicest boy of my life. Tonight, you can share my bed."

But seriously, you would all hate me. If I were vulnerable, selfish, mean, honest, dirty (bordering on disgusting at times) with you like I am with him ... If you saw my emotions run the gamut between elation and exasperation and ire ... If you saw these things in me the way my husband has seen them, you would hate me. You would worry - as I'm sure he does at times - about my sanity.

I love my marriage. I apologize to anyone who has heard me make derogatory comments about my marriage - or marriage in general - because I am only going for the easy joke. I never intend to defame what has been so good to me.

Not every moment is golden and glorious, but there are days that make the ugly ones completely worth it. We make a good team, he and I. We support each other and each believes the other is capable of more and pushes them until they reach it - or believes until they find that belief in themselves.

Labels: family, Marriage, The Hubby

This is just too cute not to link to:

My Daddy is On My Way

This is the blog of Josh, a friend of ours from college. The video is of his daughter, Rainy, who makes a solid soloist! She's performing her rendition of his original which can be heard here.

Labels: Friends, Music

The concert that we were looking forward to on Friday night (see this) has been postponed until August! Because they're apparently going to be on Saturday Night Live.

Losers.

Labels: Music

... 'til we get to see this again! Whoo hoo!

Labels: Music

I am a fan of spring and fall. I find that just when they start to show up around these parts, I'm really ready for them. This has been an incredibly mild winter. It's been very warm, with spurts of cool weeks here and there. But now it's starting to warm up ... really warm up outside. And I'm getting some spring action in the yard.

So this is for Mandy and for others of you who are still waiting to see the sun shine on the snow. A little Spring Blessing your way!

Labels: flowers, home, photo

I tried very hard to finish this project before the baby shower last weekend, but it just wasn't happening. Between making plans for the baby shower, and finishing up a big wedding invitation project I had going on, there just wasn't time. So I finished it up last night.

I'm not a professional knitter by any means at all, but I was very proud of how this turned out. (And I'm not feigning humility here. I literally know one stitch. And while I've pretty much got that one down, it's probably time to learn something new!)

The specs: The yarn is Berroco Comfort in seedling and purple. I used two strands all the way through and followed a dishcloth baby afghan pattern. (not that exact one, but it's similar). I used a random stripe generator to come up with the stripe pattern. The finished product is 23" x 26".

Labels: design, photo, Work in Progress

Somehow when I went to blog a few pictures from Valentine's Day, this is the only one that I had uploaded. Oh well. The rest didn't do it justice. Let me just tell you how terrific my Valentine's Day was!


First off, I had to run errands in Charleston all afternoon, trying to finish up a wedding invitation project. So, after a quick trip to the grocery store, I was more than a little haggard when I got home. It was a terrific surprise when I walked in the door and the living room and kitchen were SPOTLESS!! "Clean" doesn't do it justice. The kitchen may not have been this clean since we moved in! And on top of that, the table was set, candles were in place, music was playing, and Kyle and Andrew were waiting for the groceries so they could prepare dinner.

April came over and a little while later, the four of us enjoyed a great meal together. The boys made this excellent soup and fettuccine alfredo. And Andrew made those chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. (Technically I think they were for April, but he let me have a couple too!) (Also of note: did you see that cute heart he drew on one of them?!)

Labels: holidays, Roommate, The Hubby

In honor of Valentine's Day, I submit the "How Did You Meet?" survey. (It's the short version of this post from my old blog.) Enjoy.

1. Where did you meet?
My Story: The summer after my 7th (his 6th) grade year, he sat behind me in a choir at a music camp we both went to. I maintain he shot spitballs at me all week. He swears it was Jesse.
His Story: He doesn't really remember meeting me until after Anna and Chris started dating. Anna and I were "groupies" for their band.

2. What was the first thought that went through your head when you met?
I may kill him. :)

3. Do you remember what he was wearing?
No, but I'm sure it was at least 5 sizes too big.

4. Where was the first time you kissed?
The first time he kissed me was on the way home from the Niagara Falls trip. It was the summer after my 11th (his 10th) grade year. I was asleep and it didn't work out so well, but my heart certainly jumped into my throat.
The first real time was in the Horton-Tingle parking lot at NGC(U) several years later.

5. How did he ask you out?
When we dated in high school, it was more out of convenience. Anna and Chris were together, so we were always together anyway. Might as well.
When we got back together in college, he said, "If we get back together, this time it's for good. So take a couple of days and let me know." I didn't need a few days.

6. Where did you go for your first date?
Seriously? I have no recollection whatsoever. Our early "dates" were often Pizza Inn and a movie. In college we saw a lot of movies and went out with Kenny and whoever he was dating at the time.

7. How long did you know him before you became a couple?
Depends on who you ask ... We were friends for several months, I guess.

8. Has he ever proposed to you?
Yep. He told me he didn't want to be my boyfriend anymore. It was very "romantic".

9. Do you have kids with this person?
Nope. Recently (as in, last week) he told me, "Rita, if you're ever ready to have kids, you're just going to have to be very honest with me. I don't know that the idea will ever occur to me, 'Hm. I think I'd like to have a baby.'" Fortunately, I think we're in the same boat there.

10. Have you ever broken the law together?
Not like the "actual" law, but some NGC rules, for sure.

11. When was the first time you realized that you liked him?
A couple of weeks after we broke up (senior year of high school).

12. Do you get along with any of his exes?
If he had any, I'd probably hate them. (just being honest)

13. Do you trust him?
100%.

14. Do you see him in your future?
Absolutely.

15. What’s the most expensive thing he has given you?
I guess that'd be my ring(s). It's(They're) lovely.

16. What is one thing he does that gets on your nerves?
Sleeps in the middle of the king-sized bed ... and STILL steals the covers.

17. What is one thing you do that gets on his nerves?
Don't wash his socks.

18. Where is he right now?
At work until 5, I understand.

19. Where do you see yourselves 15 years from now?
He's going to be a famous musician and we're going to be living on a tour bus, driving all over the place being famous and rich. :)

Labels: Good for a laugh, holidays, The Hubby

If, over the course of the next day or so, you happen across my blog and notice something that looks odd, it's because I'm updating some of my tags, labels, and other formatting issues and doing an overhaul. Just wanted to let you know in case you were to run across some technical difficulties.

Edit: I think the upgrades are all through. Please peruse my "new" blog. Let me know what you think!

Gary Coleman says he's secretly married.

Not that the newlyweds don't have their differences. "We may go a week and not speak to each other," he says, while she claims, "He lets his anger conquer him sometimes. … He throws things around, and sometimes he throws it in my direction ... I don't like the violence."

Can you say Napoleon Complex?

Labels: Good for a laugh

Monday, February 11, 2008. The Anniversary of the day that The Polks set out on a proverbial hunt: The Church Hunt. On Sunday, February 4, 2007, Kyle played his last drum beat and I MediaShouted my last MediaShout as members of First Baptist Church. And on Sunday, February 11, we struck out for the often-elusive "something more".

And two months later, we met our destiny in the persons of Clay Jernigan, Will Browning, and Chris Cinnamon.

And one year after our scheduled departure, I am here to confess that we did the right thing. Confirmation after confirmation (some more serious than others) have sealed the deal. And it's not just because they put a new roof on our house, but it's because they cared enough to put a roof on our house. And it's not just because they helped us throw Polkapalooza 2008, but because they're also going to help with Polkapalooza 2009. And it's not just because our small groups rock hard, but because the small group wouldn't rock quite as hard without the hard-rockin' people in them. And it's not just because the people are awesome, but because they've helped us to realize that Jesus is important enough to recapture and reinvent The Church.

And for millions more reasons, and reasons I don't even know yet ... I am grateful every single day that we did what we did, despite confusion about the next step.

What is God calling you out to do?

Labels: Church Hunt, Journey Church

Kyle just showed me that our friend Chris has some new songs up on his virb site. Um ... wow. You should go check it out. Maybe you'll crap your pants like I did. 

Labels: Friends, Music

The past few weeks, ever since he recovered from his episode of bronchitis, Kyle has been having trouble going to sleep at night. So I made a special trip to the grocery store the other night to pick up some of this stuff for him. I don't know what exactly is in it that makes it "work", but it has never failed me in recent history. If I'm having trouble sleeping, I don't even have to drink the full cup before I'm ready for some relaxin'.

So Kyle's been having a cup before bedtime the past couple of nights, and I decided last night that I'd have some too. Combine that with the Aleve I took before laying down, and I had some crazy dreams last night!

Kyle was pregnant. He birthed a two-year-old kid.

It was weird.

It finally caught me. For the past three years, during the month of January, I've gotten a case of the flu that knocks me on my butt for a few days. I was just commenting to a friend the other day about how it looked like I'd beaten it this year. The January Bug wouldn't catch me! Spoke too soon. On Thursday, January 31, it caught up with me.

So here's a poorly-taken picture of what last night and today have looked like for me:


Movie count

1. Game Plan (at least the first part of it)
2. About A Boy
3. Help!
4. The Namesake
5. Moulin Rouge
   

Nap count
Same as the movie count


... and that's about it.

Here's to being grateful that I'm a woman.