"What would you say to your partner's mother?" (John)

 

"What would you say to your partner's mother?" (Ric)

Disclaimer: After sharing a post on my personal blog, SanDiegoJohn, I made a commitment to myself that I would no longer speak about my relationship with my mother. And I meant that. But Ric and I have also made a promise to each other that we are going to answer the questions in our Couples Q&A Journal as they come up, and today's requires us to share opinions about the other person's mother. So while I am still honoring my commitment to not speak of my mother, Ric answered the question as asked. 

~ John

"Positive Anything..."

Positive anything is better than negative nothing.

Double positive is better than a double negative? I think I’m just gonna let that slide.

John tries really hard to look at the positive, even during bad circumstances. He’s a glass half full kind of guy, even if it’s half full glass of Card-Boardeux. He is a “positive realist." He looks at the good but not so much that it feels fake. I like that. When I’m in a shitty situation he doesn’t focus on the shit. He focuses on how to get out of it.

~ Ric

"Be your own hero."

 

Ric most definitely is his own hero. If not, he should be. And he is definitely a hero to me and so many people who know him. He is the guy you know will be there when you are in any kind of trouble. He'll help you with his time, his energy, his strength, and his money. And he'll find a way to make bad things better and good things great.

~ John 

Throwback Thursday - Look at that adorable little boy!

What's better than a cute photograph from way back in the day?

 

How about finding cool technology that helps bring that old photo to life?

"What song would you dedicate to your partner?" (John)

 

"What song would you dedicate to your partner?" (Ric)

 

"Say Yes"

 

I would say John says YES most of the time. There are things that are a definite NO right now with COVID. There is no going to restaurants or bars or gatherings or concerts. There is no visiting people or going shopping. If you can't just drop it off or pick it up from your car, or have Von’s, Amazon, FedEx, UPS, USPS or Instacart deliver it , then “no.” However, YES is usually his answer. He will get things done or enlist the help of others to help do projects to get things accomplished.

~ Ric

"Make Good Art"

 

Come on, at this point, is there anything Ric can't do? Of course, he's an artist. He's a musician who can play guitar. He's a photographer with an amazing eye for nature shots. And he can draw. He'll just pick up a sketchbook and a pencil and quickly scratch out an amazing image of a bear, or a river, or a little cabin set back in a field. Ric has such an eye for details and a passion for the great outdoors, and those combine with his ability to conjure up beauty from nowhere. He's amazing. And that reminds me, I need to make sure he has a new sketchbook and pencil set just conveniently accessible in the living room.

~ John

"AutoPay"

Today's Grateful AF card is not really something that springs to mind when you think about gratitude.

And yet, here it is, reminding me that things like AutoPay are conveniences that make my life easier. And it's true. I don't have to bother with hanging on to the paperwork, finding an envelope and my checkbook, and remembering to pay the bill on time.

But this one hits deeper than that for me. I'm grateful for AutoPay because it wasn't that long ago in my life that I wasn't always sure I would have the money to pay the bills. I could never feel comfortable or safe setting up something on AutoPay, because I didn't know for sure that I would have the money in my account by the time the due date came around. That's no longer a worry for me, but I never forget how stressed it made me. These days, I can pay my bills with no problem and I am very aware that it isn't that way for many people, most through no fault of their own. I am very fortunate and never want to forget it.

And for all of that, yes, I am grateful AF.

"Does your partner have a happy dance?" (John)

 

"Does your partner have a happy dance?" (Ric)

 

"Do something that makes your heart zing."

Honestly, some of these affirmations write themselves. In this case, I need look no further than my own Ring camera footage for proof that Ric does at least one thing every single day that makes my heart zing. This morning, this was him on the way out the door. 

He took the time to stop and blow me a kiss and a smile as he was leaving for work, just to make sure that I had something fun and silly to enjoy while we are apart.

Here's your proof that it's not only the big moments that matter. The everyday reminders that you are thinking about your loved one can make a heart zing.

~ John

"You were made to be awesome."

 
John’s nickname is Captain Awesome. When you type in John Hulsey name into Facebook, Facebook replaces it with “Captain Awesome.” He deserves this title. He has helped so many people. There are people that would not be alive today if it were not for John. He has helped people through financial crises, divorce, suicide attempts, depression, and natural disasters. He has helped people celebrate milestones and validate their lives to people around them. He stands up for truth, reason, kindness, and science. 

John Hulsey was made to be AWESOME.  

I know, he even wears an orange cape!

~ Ric

A Little Good News

Two Colleges in Ohio See How Much They Can Out-Tip One Another at Restaurants—Raising $34,000 for Workers

Tex-Mex Restaurant Owner Spends $2,000 of His Own Money to Promote Competitors Who Are Struggling

See Incredible Photos and Hear Martian Winds From the Red Planet—Thanks to Perseverance Rover

"What would you throw out?" (John)

"What would you throw out?" (Ric)

 

"Little by Little"

I think Ric is so very good at this. He can take what seems to be an overwhelming amount of work and break it down into smaller pieces, and then he can commit to completing those multiple tasks until the larger project is complete.

For example, Ric has a lot of these little houses and buildings in his Christmas village collection. They are all hand-painted, which is impressive enough, but there's even more detail to be noticed. If you look at the brick walls or the tile roofs, you can see that there are multiple, alternating colors, because Ric insisted that "the colors should look like real building and houses."

He has that patience, to work on something little by little until it is a completed work, a true accomplishment. And I admire that about him. 

~ John

"Pep Talks"

 

I think John does this a lot. I know I do. Days when you just dread going to work and you have to talk yourself into it. Days when you just feel bad or down and you have to give yourself that push to not just pull the covers over you head and say “enough.” Empaths have to talk themselves and push themselves more just to not throw in the towel. You get news that a friend has passed or has an advanced disease. Or someone you thought valued your friendship turns out to care about themselves so much more than you.

Yeah, those Pep Talks are daily or even hourly some months. I think you just focus on what you are doing for the people that you love and that is how you get through to do it all again tomorrow.

~ Ric

Meme Monday

Not the meme I was hoping to share today, but I'm feeling crappy after getting my second COVID vaccine shot this past weekend. I've had a fever, a headache, and I've been tired since waking up yesterday morning.

To be clear, I have zero regrets about getting the vaccine. A day or two of feeling a little crummy is 100% worth it.