
Well, unfortunately this is not the case for spouse and I. We are not smiling 24/7. Marriage is work. Hard work. Compromise. And his schedule isn’t doing us any favors. You’d think after 17+ years we’d have it figured out, but I think it only gets harder as we become more set in our ways and sure of who we are. There is no room for complacency.
This week we have both made more conscious efforts for the other, for the sake of our matrimonial vows.
Spouse spends time away from his regularly scheduled ESPN programs to go shopping with me and I take a day off from my normal routine of cleaning and blogging to spend an afternoon fishing.
Friday we had such a day planned. I got up early and prepared for the day.

Spouse ribbed me. “Are you dressed for a fashion show or a day out fishing?”
I knew we were taking the boat out and I wouldn’t be doing much hiking, so I thought carefully about my shoe choice and thought it was the perfect selection. Warm and practical. A hat for added protection and old jeans I could get dirty.
I reminded spouse that I’m a girl. He backed off.
What do you wear fishing?
I also packed my camera, a jacket, snacks, some band-aids (just in case), and wet wipes. Spouse laughed.
Hey, I’m a mom. Need I say more?

It was cool and overcast. Fish weren’t biting with our lures. And to you facebook people who have no confidence in my abilities, the next photo is for you.

I bet you thought you'd never see me do that.
I’m growing. Expanding my horizons. But don’t get any wild ideas.
Spouse seems to have some secret plot to train me up to be his next bass pro-fishing companion. Not sure that is going to happen in this lifetime. But thanks for thinking of me, hun.
We managed to get more snags than fish. I lost 2 of his favorite lures on the bottom of the lake. Oops. But we did get 2 striper and I got to reel them both in.

I think fishing is way more fun when you aren’t just sitting, but then I think of those poor fish who have just been hooked. They were just going about their day when out of the blue their world was rocked upside down by a shiny, sharp deadly object. It seems wrong on so many levels.

I was enjoying myself just fine until the gnats started swarming me. I despise those little varmints. They actually made the Friday Flip Off list this week. Unfortunately I didn’t plan my fishing excursion carefully enough thanks to hubs distracting me. I forgot the bug spray. Several of those pests got down my shirt. Don’t ask me how. I had several layers on. Spouse says they were “man gnats” trying to get lucky. Well, they sure did. Took a couple good bites out of my boob. Today I’m left with a couple welts and dang do they itch. Grr. They may be tiny but they can sure do some damage.
Oh, don’t worry. I’m planning my next move. You gnats better watch out! Alicia will be armed and ready next time!
Luckily I rounded up some sting relief pad in spouse’s first aid kit and it helped a bit.
But after the gnats I’m left wondering if I’m really man enough to do these adventure trips spouse has been begging me to do. Hmm… gonna have to think LONG and HARD on that one.

I’d love to have bonding experiences and all, but at what price?
Looks like a fun day :) and I love your pictures all of them! LOL about "get along swimmingly" couples, I hear you, we definitely don't have that either, not every day at least. But we try, on those days when he is not working and I'm not way too tired ;)
ReplyDeleteFrom the Lady Blogger Tea Party, saw your blog and I love it! It looks like you had as good a time as any girl fishing! I agree with you though, one of my best friends has that "perfect" relationship with her fiance and it drives me crazy because my relationship with my fiance is def not perfect.. It's work! Good to see how you two compromised to get some equal time together, I'll have to think of something fun like this for us!
ReplyDeleteFollowing you now, come check me out sometime!
http://jessraquelmyeternallove.blogspot.com/
You look like you were really enjoying yourself. I mean, a day with Hubby, outside in the fresh air, what's not to love...oh yeah, icky fish. I'll happily hand with Hubby, but if he wants me to fish...he's baiting the hook. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh and...love the pics.
Great photos and looks like a fun day. I'd never look that good fishing, BTW. Look at your nails!
ReplyDeleteI never look that good, period! What style you have! Love the photo of you kissing the fish!
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome of you to spend the day out fishing with your husband. I really don't like to be outside or near bugs or on boats!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics!
Yeah i couldn't have seen you fishing. but you looked good doing it! love all the pictures. Marriage is alot of work and i love your idea on compermising!
ReplyDeleteI don't fish. It would matter if my husband begged me I still wouldn't do it. I think it's great that you were willing to go with him though.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good sport... and you got some fab photos out of the trip! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the pics. Especially the kissy fish one. You look hot. I LOVE the turquoise jewelry. And you did look very coordinated in the accessory department. Who's boat is that? I'm sure the trip was worth it, even if it was just in Haldan's eyes. You guys are a very cute couple.
ReplyDeleteHi Alicia, Wow! Love the pics here. Well taken.
ReplyDeleteI love fishing too, and love your boat.....
You sure one glamourous lady going fishing, ha ha....no wonder the fish were biting like crazy.....
Re marriage, as the saying goes.....
First the engagement ring, then the wedding ring, then the suffering. Ha ha.
You have fun, stay young, stay beautiful and keep a song in your heart, Lee.
aw, you look adorable. Looks like you had a good time, gnats and all. And those couples you think are so perfect? don't be so sure. I actually recently found out a woman i work with who i thought had the "perfect marraige" had an affair with someone else we work with at another company. you just never know...
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I need to have a day together like that. I love my girls, but I think all married couples need time away together. It's just so hard making that time together with everyones busy schedules.
ReplyDeleteGood for the two of you for making that effort!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI saw you SITS so popped over to wave. Marriage is not easy and there aren't any perfect ones. There might be seemingly perfect engagements. Men tries hard during the courting period but after marriage, they're like, whew I'm done. I got her tied down and I can just relax and be my slobby self or whatever.
I also think that being in love is not sustainable. It's a very intensive physical and emotional state and our bodies are not equipped to deal with so much chemicals for a prolonged period. It comes and goes. I fall in and out of love with my hubby all the time.
The love is still there although I'm not in love with him. I think those trips you take are what helps connect so you can fall back in love off and on.
When "in love", the blinders are on so I'm less annoyed when I go flying in the dark tripping over his slippers and shoes.
I know that "perfect" couples don't really exist but you and your hubby sure fooled me! What a wonderful way to show each other how much you both still care about each other. Seventeen years of marriage is quite an accomplishment! You should be proud of yourself. Today is my 12th anniversary and boy, does it feel like twelve long years! hahaha!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, great pix! Did hubby take all of the ones of you? If he did, he's quite a photographer himself!
Love it! You looked fantastic. I'm not sure what I should be more jealous of, your look or your fishing skills!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you guys got to spend time together!
Good for you! I can tell you a day of fishing would not be at all fun for me (love the pic of you kissing the fish!), but if it would make my hubby happy, I guess I'd give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a post that reminds me of this one - how much work and effort marriage is. I'm glad I'm not the only one out there going through it and that we have support!
You did look awfully cute fishing...jewelery and everything!! Most fishermen wear a t-shirt, jacket and shorts or jeans and old sneakers!
ReplyDeleteTry not to use any hairspray or perfume next time. It attracts bugs!
Looks like a fun day on the boat. I am jealous!
ummm... I don't know any couples who get along all the time... is that possible? all the time? naaah! Despite the gnats and the snags n
ReplyDeletelost lures, looks like it was fun!
Oh, and FYI: I might have had some jewelry and even some make-up on, but no hairspray or perfume. I guess I'm just a sweet smellin chick. Oh, and I may have some allergy to gnat bites by the size of this thing on my boob 2 days after the fact. Yowza!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I have so much to say. Here goes...
ReplyDelete1. Do you look that cute when you roll out of bed? Seriously, you are just too stinkin' cute. all. the. time. lol :)
2. I love the fishing outfit.
3. You and your hubby make a cute couple.
4. Seventeen years is a loooong time. Congratulations!
5. I'm so proud of you for kissing that fish.
Okay I'll stop now. lol I think it's great that the two of you had a little fishing trip together. It looks like you had a great time. What a wonderful way to connect with the spousal unit! :)
Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud
@TweetingMama
so fun and so cute! ur so funny, you and your husband. great fish kissing picture, total awesomeness. your outfit was fit for a fishing trip, i would of worn something similar. great bonding time and yes, those poor fish but they taste so yummy :D
ReplyDeleteThis wife of almost 30 years years says.....AWESOME!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are also great...but the message is even better.
Blessings to you!!!!!!
Janette
That is awesome!!!!! And you guys look great! I totally understand about the work an effort...I'm actually sstarting the 40 day love dare if you want to join in the "fun"...
ReplyDeleteLOVE your earrings!! And, the fish-kissin' capture is so awesome. What a fun day.
ReplyDeleteI love it that you are completely accessorized and adorable for fishing...you look better than I do on a normal day for sure! Ha! Glad to see you and the hubs had a great day. You need to listen to a song called Fishin' In The Dark next time...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a great day together!
ReplyDeleteAnd wow - I can't believe that you kissed the fish!! LOL!
I have a similar tale. My husband, an avid runner and I, an avid swimmer, made a promise with each other that he would start to swim more if I ran more so that we could spend more time together. Well, let's just say I have kept my side of the bargain, running with him and agreeing to start racing 5k and 10k road races. However, he isn't even close. He would occasionally swim with me but never sign up for a swim meet. So I stopped torturing myself and hung up the shoes. We have come to the conclusion it is better to be each others athletic supporter than to be athletically supportive.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post and pictures! Glad you had a good time! You are totally right---marriage is hard work! We are 10 years and counting, and it gets better every year. : ) Congrats!
ReplyDeletei totally agree! marriage is hard work definitely not what fairy tales portrays it to be. totally worth the work. i am blessed with an amazing husband! great pics of the beautiful day you two had together.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord, girl! You are so stinkin adorable. I love that picture of you and your hubby. I love that you did this as well. Good for you! You guys needed a day like this. HOPE! I think this has to be one of my favorite posts. He took some great photos! And I am sick of writing such short sentences so I'm out, but again LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteWhere are these "perfect' couples? I'd like to find them-maybe they could give me some pointers :) I think that those seemingly perfect couples put on a show for others because that's what they want people to perceive. Every relationship, be it marriage or otherwise, has its ups and downs. Nothing's always smooth sailing. But I do think it's worth the work and the effort and it seems that you think so, too. Don't get discouraged by all the "perfect" relationships you see. Chances are, they think the same about you.
ReplyDeleteYou are adorable!
ReplyDeletei Love the pics. Especially the kissy fish one
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rohfun.com/blog/