On Dating, Figurative Fires and S’mores

Apparently I have a thing for firefighters.  It doesn’t have anything to do with the uniform.  Really.  Although that certainly doesn’t hurt.  Hello Backdraft anyone?  Though The Ex was not a firefighter when we met and dated, he joined the department after we got engaged.  It turns out that Mystic was a firefighter too.  Of course, I didn’t know that when we first met a few months ago, but judging by our time together so far, it seems his background could come in handy.  Figuratively, of course.

We (and by we, I mean I) like to call it the O’Malley Trial by Fire.  You know, like the initiation process when you date me.  It’s like freshmen hazing rituals.  Only way more fun. At least that’s what I tell him.  In the short time since we started dating, he has dealt with the after affects of the Great Power Outage of ’11.  You know, when a surge went through the house and torched my computer, printer, fax, house phones, microwave, tv, a portion of the hot water heater and goodness knows what else in its wake.  He actually started hanging out with me just in time to deal with the aftermath.  Like when I got all new stuff and had to figure it all out.  I don’t do manuals.  Or technology.  Thank goodness he does.

And then there was the ankle sprain.  My left ankle is still a good bit bigger than the size of my right.  And I’m still hobbling around on it.

And the diagnosis of our beloved Eli.

And a cat missing for two days.

And my trip to Seattle.

And Atlanta.

And oh yes, there was this water incident the week before last.  As I tried to run through all the people who I thought could help me at the time, when two buckets of water was steadily pouring through my living room ceiling, and who might be home, and who were boys, Mystic was the second person I called.  I tried to hold the phone to my ear, as I was holding the buckets, attempting to catch the water and keep it from going into the tv on the way down.

” Are you ok? “

No, are you nearby? 

“No, what’s the matter?”

Ok, gotta go.  I didn’t mean to hang up on him, but the water that was pouring down my head slipped the phone from my grasp.  There’s only so much multi-tasking a girl can do.  He was there within half an hour.  Just slightly behind The Neighbor Wife who had the misfortune of calling me during the whole event.  Both were total troopers.  Who were repaid with spaghetti and garlic bread.  That’s how I roll.

There was, ahem, another minor incident two weeks ago that I proudly handled myself.  Well, ok, it might have involved the boys in blue, but I didn’t call anyone else for help.  Swear.

Later that week when I told Mystic that I thought it had been a bit of an action-packed few months, he asked how he was doing.

“Well, you haven’t run from the burning building yet, so I think that’s good.”

So far.

“Oh I see.  I’m on PROBATION?”

He wisely didn’t answer.

“I’d like to think I’m bringing happy chaos to the table.  I’m just trying to keep things interesting.”

You’re doing an excellent job.  Maybe I should try harder from my side?

“Try harder for what?”

To keep things interesting too.

I then politely explained that perhaps he could just balance out my crazy and not bring his own.  You know, ying to my yang or something.  Thank God he was ok with that.

Speaking of fire… nothing like summertime and camp fires to make me think of s’mores.  How ya like that segueway?

This summer, the Hershey Company is launching the Say S’mores campaign to help families create their own s’mores memories.  I actually never had s’mores growing up – I’ve never been camping, if you can believe it!  Nick has had them tons of times since he’s a Boy Scout, and we also make them at home (in our microwave!).  If you and your family enjoy s’mores, you might want to check out Hershey’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/hersheys for a chance to win S’mores-themed prizes.  The grand-prize is a Canon Rebel Camera, slate marble outdoor firebowl, $250 SnapFish gift card, roasting skewers set and all of the ingredients needed to make S’mores, including Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars. Families who visit the Hershey’s brand Facebook page can download the Say S’mores application to participate in monthly photo contests and receive a $1 coupon good toward the purchase of any two Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar 6-packs.  Um, I totally want the roasting skewers.  Well, the Canon Rebel would be pretty sweet too!

*s’mores picture courtesy of Hershey

June 20, 2011 – Bonus Photos

I absolutely love this picture, taken in my favorite spot in our neighborhood. By Nick! Nick took this shot, and this is completely unedited, SOOC (straight out of the camera). And for sale in my Etsy shop if you love it as much as I do.

I can never find my shoes, or at least in pair form, when I need them. Gee, I wonder why.

Gorgeous weather during the last week of school begs for an after-dinner stop at Rita’s.

I love this face. Cherry Italian ice and all. And this is precisely why I never get cherry flavor. Juicy pear? Sign me up.