The missus and I had a relaxing day. Went out for breakfast, where she stealth snapped a picture of me:
Afterwards, we went and got mani/pedis, and I promptly knocked over a 32 oz latte all over the entire god damned place. Joelle got fancy nails for the first time and mumbled something about being a kept woman.
Took her over to the parents house so they could meet, and then left her there to chat for a couple hours. All went well, and she apparently passed her comprehensive finals with the English profs.
Went out to dinner at an Italian place, and are now watching Season 1 of the wire, which she has never seen and I am making her watch.
Anne Laurie
You make a lovely couple, and I hope you know how lucky you are, Cole!
Jackie
Joelle is a keeper! Happy vacation!
Devore
Congrats. Didn’t see the wife thing coming. I guess I should I been paying closer attention. Best of luck. Wife and cats make life better
frosty
You’re both looking great! I’m so happy for you.
Lapassionara
This is great! So glad to see.
cain
Love that black cat t-shirt!! Yall look cute :) Have a wonderful trip :
ETA also, keep up that diet, yo! You’re definitely lookin slimmer!
FelonyGovt
Looking good!
Eric
Joelle is a full-on cutie, and it sounds like she has the patience of a scent. Mazel tov to you both!
TaMara
All this happy coupling needs is some…ducks.
dm
Congratulations.
The Wire has one of the best Shakespearean lines ever: “If you come for the king, you’d best not miss”
“Is you takin’ notes on a M-F’n conspiracy?” is also good.
Trivia Man
I’ve enjoyed your writing and your hospitality for many years, I feel like a friend is including us all in his joy.
thanks
Raoul Paste
@Trivia Man: Well said
Pennsylvanian
Many blessings on you both. Really, nothing can go wrong when you get do-gooders together with other do-gooders. Add animals and it is a recipe for success.
So happy for you both! Be well, be content, be true, and love awaits you!
NotMax
@dm
Emersonian, not Shakespearian. Original version from ol’ Ralph Waldo is “When you strike at a king, you must kill him.'”
satby
John, you’re really looking good! Congrats on how well the diet’s been going. Joelle always looks adorable. Have fun!
MagdaInBlack
When I say that you already look like a comfy married couple, please know that that’s a good good thing. Congratulations both of you ❤️
Steeplejack
@Devore:
Obligatory back-story.
satby
Nice typo, funny you should have said it that way. Her scent would be Angel.
phein64
I just want to say this: hot wax pedicures are the absolute best thing ever. I cannot recommend them enough. If you have problematic feet, treat yourself and you will see.
bbleh
Naturally you mentioned how good her hair looks. Cuz it really does.
Turgidson
Wait. She hadn’t met your parents before….and…you left her alone with them for 2 hours? Upon first meeting? And none of them were like “WTF?” and all is well?
Well I’ll be damned.
NotMax
@satby
Expected Arizona denizens to carry the aroma of citrusy iced tea.
;)
RobertDSC-iPhone 8
Happy for you both.
Redshift
Aww, you guys look great! Wishing you every happiness!
Odie Hugh Manatee
You sound happy, John. Or at least sedate…lol! Enjoy, have fun and do the stuff that makes you folks happy.
I like it when life feels good. Even if I spill something.
James E Powell
32 oz latte? I guess it’s vacation, go for the gusto.
Eric
@satby: Autocorrect can be so wise.
geg6
She’s adorable, Cole. Plus, I think she has your number. You are a lucky man.
You are looking good, my man. The new routine seems to agree with you. That, plus being in love.
And I will always love Joelle because she loves Thurston. Lovey approves.
lee
It sounds like you had a wonderful day. Congrats!!
The Wire was the best 4 seasons of television ever made.
Maxim
@NotMax: I like the contemporary version better.
Cole and Joelle, you two are delightful.
Joelle
@satby: coincidentally I DO wear Angel.
SpaceUnit
Don’t take this wrong my friend, but I think you married up.
MagdaInBlack
@Joelle: Well Hi there ! Lovely to meet you ! ❤️🌻
geg6
The Wire is definitely must see tv. Maybe the best tv ever. I have other favorites but few of them are so salient.
wombat probabilty cloud
@Raoul Paste: Seconded!
geg6
Oh my, Bob Huggins (WVU, basketball) has resigned after getting pulled over for DUI in Pittsburgh. A bad end to a long career.
Warblewarble
We are all in debt to you. Wishing you every happiness.
mrmoshpotato
@Eric:
Oh autoincorrect…
different-church-lady
I am witnessing the documentation of happiness! (Am I in the right blog?)
Ruckus
@SpaceUnit:
Jeeeez that was easy……
Lyrebird
@Joelle: Thanks for taking that sweet photo, and
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Always so happy to hear of good people finding each other. All the best to you both from yet another occasional commenter.
Nukular Biskits
John, I submit that you are far wiser than many, waiting to find THE right soul mate.
May you have an eternity of arguments over who left the toilet seat up.
;>)
BellyCat
JC, if she survives The Wire, you’re good. I predict success.
RandomMonster
I’m liking Relationship John.
Layer8Problem
Hooray for you two!
Mai Naem mobile
Congratulations to the two of you. You guys really do look like a many year married couple already. That’s got to be a good sign.
Yutsano
Okay fine I’ll say the thing.
*ahem*
MAZEL TOV YA CRAZY KIDS!!!
KrackenJack
You two deserve all the happiness that you make together!
HumboldtBlue
Hampsterdam, always worth a discussion.
devore
@Steeplejack:
thanks for the back story. It was very touching. Nice to see John happy. John’s certainly helped plenty of us live better lives. He certainly deserves the same.
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
You make a lovely couple. Congrats to you both!
Joelle
@Turgidson: both the Colerents and I agreed that doing an Operation Dumbo Drop with your fiancée during her first meeting with the in-laws was done in Typical JG fashion. His dad told some tall tales of JGs youth involving the Old Main clock tower and copious amounts of underage drinking and the fed me wine and cheese and iced tea while we watched the Oriels and blue jays from their sunporch.
Amir Khalid
@Joelle:
Besides, the encounter ended with no casualties, so that was a positive outcome.
Must go now. Aoife is in post-nap manic play mode, and I’d like to get away unscathed.
Another Scott
@Joelle: :-)
I’m very happy for all of you. Enjoy!
Cheers,
Scott.
Another Scott
For the insomniacs – PennDOT live cam of I-95 overpass reconstruction.
They’re working fast!
Cheers,
Scott.
karen marie
Wait, did we yada-yada the wedding?
Amir Khalid
@karen marie:
WaterGirl has has reported that the nuptials are only happening next year — in the fall, I think she said. And apparently, we jackals won’t be invited. Pout.
Johnb
She takes much better pictures of you than you take of yourself.
TaMara
I think this party needs some music. I’m off to crash, but here’s a nice Motown mix to get you started:
Steeplejack
@karen marie:
Details at #17.
Omnes Omnibus
@satby: The Thierry Mugler fragrance?
NotMax
@Omnes Omnibus
Then again, in light of the groom-to-be’s history, maybe a heady mix of mustard and Absorbine Jr?
:)
eclare
This America, man.
CaseyL
@Joelle:
Well, they do say that you should start as you mean to go on :)
This first vacation-and-family-meet looks like you’re off to an auspicious start.
Mazel tov to you both!
oldster
I like the Wire, and I’m looking forward to hearing what marathon cultural experience Joelle forces John to sit through.
Kristine
@Joelle: Hey and Best Wishes, Joelle. And welcome to the pack.
elliottg
@lee:
Curious, Which season do you discount?
prostratedragon
“The Sheltering Sky,” Ryuichi Sakamoto
Tony Jay
@Amir Khalid:
Well, I wasn’t going to be able to make it anyway, but Baud will be crushed. He was even going to wear pants!
Narrators voice: “He was not going to wear pants”
satby
@Joelle: 😉
Spanish Moss
Great pic, so happy for both of you!
satby
@Omnes Omnibus: yes. I make a soap and lotion with a dupe of that scent.
p.a.
Best wishes!
Baud
The Biden anniversary thread last night and this post hit home how much liberals hate the institution of marriage.
Congratulations on passing the parent test. That’s a big one.
raven
The first time I proposed to garden girl she told me “go home and finish your dissertation and ask me then”!
LiminalOwl
Congratulations to both of you, and pleased to meet you, Joelle. Thank you for bringing happiness to the Blogfather’s life.
EarthWindFire
You two look healthy and happy…may it continue!
@Baud: Just like a liberal to want to be institutionalized. – Some Conservative Somewhere
zhena gogolia
Happy to see this!
SiubhanDuinne
I’m very happy for both of you! Congratulations, best wishes, and @Joelle, please stick around the blog and comment often!
Betty Cracker
I want Wes Anderson to make an animated film about this vacation with Ed Norton voicing John and Gwyneth Paltrow as Joelle! Brian Cox and Holly Hunter could voice Pa and Ma Cole. Not sure who would voice the animals — maybe Owen Wilson for Steve and Willem Dafoe for Thurston?
@SiubhanDuinne: Shhh — don’t screw this up for John! ;-)
SteveinPHX
Wish you all the best!
The Quiet One
I rarely comment but this is huge! Congrats to you both.
John
lowtechcyclist
@Joelle:
Congrats, and welcome to this hotbed of lunacy!
WaterGirl
@raven: Of course she did!
She didn’t want you to be ABD. :-)
cintibud
So happy to hear about the Joy both of you are experiencing. May it continue forever
Miss Bianca
@TaMara: BWAH HA HA HA HA!
MelissaM
Someone mentions The Wire and all I think is “motherfucker.”
Barry
Congratulations! I look forward to congratulating you two in five, ten, … years!
feebog
This is so cool. Congratulations to both of you, more pics please.
David Anderson
Congratulations Joelle & John
Ben Cisco 🇺🇸🎖️🖥️♦️
I’m very happy for you both. For you to have found The One – in each other – there are no words ❤️
Kayla Rudbek
Congratulations!!
Joelle
@Betty Cracker: oooohhhhh my gawd I want this for my wedding present!
Joelle
@satby: I 💕 it so!
Joelle
@oldster: I laughed at this early this afternoon and just laughed at it again. Oh and it’s Midsommar in one sitting and 12 seasons of America’s Next Top Model.
Joelle
@Devore: and not only that but some how ole lover boy went and pulled a playboy bunny outta a hat 🎩!
Paul in KY
@geg6: He is/was a POS! Ha ha ha!