Happy Birthday to my BEST FRIEND!

Today is a historical day. It is the day that my best friend was born. He's not only my best friend, he is the love of my life, my soul mate, life partner, my rock and my loving, caring and understanding husband: Mark - a.k.a. Bullwinkle, Bullsky, hubby and, well, I'm not giving you his pet name :)

Not only is this day historical because it is birthday, but it is the day we are NOW the same age. I'm proud to say we are NOW 48 years young (on paper that is, in life we're in our 20's).

Yep. I robbed the cradle as he says - by a whopping 6 months and 10 days. I'm sure he has the minutes and seconds down, being an accountant/bookkeeper and all. Speaking of bookkeeper, doesn't he totally fit the image? I mean come on, don't you see his pocket protector in his leather vest and the calculator attached to the tank in the above pic? All accountants ride to work like this, don't they? That was his 2000 Road Star a.k.a. Millennium Falcon, which we no longer have (sold our bikes a couple years ago - now have a jeep).

Mark is truly a special guy. Don't worry, I won't go on and on of how ABSOLUTELY wonderful he is - most of you know this already from previous posts, those who know him, etc. He is a very friendly & likable guy, a proud Navy Veteran, fun to be around, loves his family, life, his work and his computer (me too of course :). Kids just love playing with him. Above is one of my favorite pics of Mark & Ian, one of my nephews. This was taken a few years ago at my brother's house, one of our many BBQ parties. He loves all his nephews and they love horsing around with him.
Mark LOVES Star Wars and Star Trek. When we used to ride, he was tagged with "Bullwinkle" (wonder why?), "BullSky" and eventually "BullSky WinkleWalker." Say that one 10 times fast! One of our comedian friends did the above pic. It is actually Mark's head on, I'm guessing, Luke Skywalker's body. He loves this picture.

This was from last November, our 14th wedding anniversary (yes, metal in my mouth too). We are still newlyweds and are pretty much attached at the hip (can't you tell?). Well, I said I wouldn't go on and on about all his good qualities, kindness, love and... oh, sorry - I'll stop.

Happy Birthday Honey! You're as OLD as me now! Thppppppp :)

Love, Rocki

My hubby, I'll convert him yet!

Mark is the love of my life, my best friend, my soulmate in life after life, my partner in crime, my rock and the best hubby anyone could ever ask for. He does dishes too.

The photo above is from a couple years ago at one of the local handmade craft shows. Yep, he did ALL the shows with me: packed the car, unloaded the car, set up the big stuff, helped with customers and even made food runs for those around us. He's a keeper.

He's an accountant/bookkeeper by day and a loving hubby & daddy all the time. He's also known as JOAT MON. (Jack of all trades master of none). Below is one of my favorite pictures when we went to pick out our first little girl: Maelyn. For those of you who do not know our story, I'll condense it...

Mark & I are one and the same and have been together in previous lives. We know this as we have WAY too much in common. We both have 2 boys each: Jeremy's & Jason's. Yep, 4 boys and 2 share the same name each. In fact 2 of them share the same middle name. If me & my ex would have had a little girl her name was going to be Jessica Mae. If Mark & his ex had a little girl her name was going to be Jessica Lynn. Since we couldn't have kids together, we decided to name our first 4-legged child "Maelyn" (by combining the middle names). Oh yes, there's more to this love story, but I'll save it for another time. He does laundry too.

Although Mark is very proud of my work, he lovingly refers to it as "car parts" - yes, he's a guy, what can I say. Oh, but let me tell you, he's picked up the lingo quite well. To hear him come off with "you have a convo honey, it's a transaction" or when he uses the exact term for my metalwork findings instead of "car parts", it melts my heart. Did I tell you he irons?

So the other day while at the hardware store he came up with an idea for earrings (above). Yes, I know the design in and of itself is not new, but hey, MY hubby, Mr. Car Parts, came up with it so I just had to honor him. I told him that he could name them. He came up with "Put a Hex on You!" We compromised with Spellbound. I just love them, but maybe a little more because of how they were created. Did I mention he still opens doors for me?

That got me thinking, so I have now added Sleepers to my shop. I'll have more styles to add as soon as Mr. Car Parts comes up with them. See... I TOLD you I'd convert him!

Happy day everyone!
Rocki

Very Sad Day

This will be short and sweet as I have to keep busy, which isn't a problem as I have several orders to fill, and to keep my mind active. Danny had yet another heart attack yesterday. We were at the hospital last night and I'm crushed - simply crushed.

For those of you who do not know who Danny is, he is our best friend/brother in heart and soul. We've been friends for years and now he is loosing his battle with lung cancer. I have several posts about him on my blog, but if you click on the pic it will take you to the one about our Sea World trip.

I'm so horribly sad, eyes swollen from crying so much that I can barely see straight. Danny is only 48. In his short, but well lived life, he has had about 4 + heart attacks, bi-pass surgeries and unexpectedly diagnosed last April with stage 4 lung cancer after a chest x-ray because he wasn't feeling well. That was a blow. Mark & I went to appointments with Danny & Margie and when the doc said stage 4, we all pretty much lost color, to say the least. I was Danny's chemo buddy. I took him to chemo, we would people watch, eat snacks (he loves chocolate!) watch DVD movies, talk, laugh and whatever else to pass the 8 hours of his chemo therapy. Chemo and all other treatment have now stopped. All we have is time.

There are no treatments or surgeries that can be done due to his failing health. A surgery would actually kill him. Danny is now on DNR, per his request. They are setting up hospice today so he can be at home and comfortable. The doc, obviously, could not give a time frame - said it could be days, weeks, etc. Danny is one tough cookie and has fought this battle so well that he's amazed the docs - and us. I know he will continue to fight. Funny, he's worried about me! Even told Mark last night to please take care of me and make sure I'm okay. Danny. I just love him.

Well, guess this wasn't so "short and sweet" after all. I do need to get to work though. I have to work, just can't think anymore.

Live every moment as if it counts - because it does.

Love,
Rocki

Happy Anniversary to US!

Today, Mark & I celebrate our 14th wedding Anniversary! I was would have had some old pics of us, including our little wedding picture, but my main PC was on the blink yesterday. I may follow up with those later on. The above pic, in all our glory, is one of my favorites. It was after my first official group ride (Memorial Day Ride). Even though we were all hot and sweaty (from the ride!) and exhausted, there's just something about this picture that I love. Maybe because it screams "we're in love".

If I explain how deeply in love we STILL are, how we met, how we became best friends first & still are today, how we worked together at 2 different offices, the way we got married, how we still hold hands everywhere we go, how we always say "I love you" throughout the day, and many other details of our lives, this blog would turn into a novel. So I will just tell you a few tidbits that you may or may not know about us.

The pic above was from one of our Anniversaries. It was Mark's turn to make the plans. Every year we took turns planning our Anniversary gift, whether it be a simple dinner & movie or a trip near or far, we always kept it a surprise until that day. This trip was a train ride up to the Grand Canyon for the weekend. It was SO much fun, but it was SOOOO cold & snowy. Good snuggle weather.

We've had many adventures and have many more yet to come. When we both started riding, it was a whole other world. We met a lot of people, made some good friends and have TONS of photos! The pic above was from our very first Toy Run and that was a blast!

Did you know that between the two of us we have 4 boys with the same names and 2 share the same middle name? Yep. Two Jeremy's & 2 Jason's. If we had girls with our ex's, mine was going to be Jessica Mae & Mark's Jessica Lynn. So since we couldn't have kids of our own, we named our first little 4 legged girl "Maelyn". We have LOTS in common and were destined to be together. We are true soul mates and will always find each other life after life.

Awe, the Laughlin Run! Fun times! I can honestly say that besides being with my boys & family, being with Mark truly completes me. We enjoy each other's company whether it's just sitting on the porch enjoying the weather, plopped on the couch watching a movie or doing some other activity. Mark is my best friend, my rock, sounding board, partner, husband, soul mate and the love of my life.

It's been 14 years since we said "I do". We tell each other this all the time, but there are days when it feels like it was just yesterday when we got married, yet it also feels like we've been together forever.

I love you honey. Always have. Always will. In this life and the next, and the next...

Happy Anniversary!

Rocki - your wife :)