Jeremy 

He grew up with hippy parents. He once homesteaded on the dry plains of Colorado with his family– riding sheep, chasing horny toads, and never watching television. No running water, no indoor potty, no Atari games. He spent part of his childhood on a lesbian commune, in sweat lodges, and watching adults channel spirits and ghosts while smoking peyote and pot and tripping on acid. He ate boiled vegetables, saw a Happy Meal once in a blue moon, and was cured of all his ailments with a dose of love and a spoon of garlic.

He listens to rock music (Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down), hates rap and R&B.

He loves chocolate and Little Debbie Snacks. He can eat until he’s blue in the face and never gains weight.

When I met him, he had braids in his hair with beads on the end. When he moved his head, the beads clanked together. I loved the sound of him coming into the room.

He works unbelievably hard. He is the most amazing and talented man I’ve ever met. Give him a piece of wood and a few nails and he’ll build something wonderful.

He’s brilliant with numbers. He is like a human calculator.

He wiggles relentlessly in bed from 4 am until it’s time to wake. I love him, but his wiggling makes me crazy. I’m researching the Bragada and Temperpedic mattresses!

He remembers details. He’d be a criminal’s worst nightmare if he were to ever have to do a line-up. Nothing gets past this guy.

He’s brilliantly funny and the life of the party– if you can get him out of the house to go to the party!

He’s a homebody. He goes to work because he has to, but rushes home afterwards to us. He’s never been one of those guys who wanted Guy’s Night Out or hobbies that were outside of his family life.

He’s only had one best friend other than me in the 10 years we’ve been together. That best friend is married to my best friend, which was wonderful when we lived in NC. Now we have 2000 miles between us and them.

He’s the most affectionate person I’ve ever known.

He’s had 1 surgery in his life– for a hernia. The doctor who did the surgery butchered him and was also nice enough to give him a second belly button. Yep, if you look at Jeremy’s tummy, it looks like he has 2 belly buttons!

He is building a church right now. He feels more of a connection to this establishment than any other he’s built. I think that says something about him because he has built some amazing structures– 2 million dollar custom homes, huge commercial projects, etc. He loves that his living comes from being a Carpenter and always uses Jesus and Noah as examples of the great men who have shared his love of working with wood.  

He is strong. He can fix broken cars. He can yank even the meanest splinter. He can cook like it’s no one’s business!

He also happens to be the sexiest man on Earth.

Steph

I grew up with my toes in the sand. My mom was single and raised me alone. She was also a registered nurse, so worked some funky hours. But she loved the beach and any free moment she had away from the hospital, we were on the sand and soaking up the sun. Where Jeremy ate boiled veggies for dinner, I ate double cheesburgers from McDonalds. Where Jeremy was chasing sheep, I was chasing seagulls.

I love all foods. Never met one I didn’t atleast appreciate. I’m partial to the southern stuff though– fried chicken and porkchops, baked mac-n-cheese, deviled eggs, fried okra.

I’ve had surgery 4 times. Once to remove a sick appendix, once to open my twisted fallopian tubes, one d&c for a pregnancy that ended but my body held onto, one plastic surgery.

I’m so sensitive to the news that I can’t watch it. I’d rather gag on celebrity gossip for hours than to watch the news for 5 minutes. It makes me cry. Outloud. Like a baby.

I love rediculous humor. Some of my favorite comedies are: Super Troopers, Borat, Team America, South Park. (Jeremy also loves these)

I don’t read books enough but when I do it HAS to be African American Literature.

I loathe (ok, maybe I just dislike) Oprah Winfrey. Any woman who can put her own fugly mug on the cover of a magazine every month of the year is too full of herself for me. YUCK! And I used to love (ok, maybe I just really liked) that woman.

I didn’t date for long before I met My Love. But when I did, I dated any race, any age, and both genders. I never thought love should be limited by rules or expectations. Love is for the good people, however they come packaged.

I enjoy watching people. I love observing interactions. I remember faces no matter what, but I’m terrible with names.

I LURV to watch Man vs. Wild. What a hunky, manly man Bear Grylls is! Grrrr.

I can’t sleep without my fan on high. I also have a hard time sleeping past 4 a.m. (when Jeremy starts wiggling). 

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The kids will follow. I’m saving them for Part Two, since saving the best for last is just my style… Feel free to join me in introducing the people you love (and you, of course)!