There is a guy my husband works with who is getting married (for the second time). He and his ex-wife were almost divorced when the young woman he was dating got pregnant. They have since had the baby and are now ready to walk down the aisle.

When I asked my husband about their upcoming wedding, he laughed and stated that they were registering for items and planning to return them for cash. I was puzzled. They included a note card that said they were registered at Target and when I looked online they had certainly registered for what looked like reasonable items.

When we were married (October 7, 2000) we had one bridal shower (with mostly my family). Having both lived for several years in apartments at college, we had a lot of items newly married couples ask for. Granted they didn’t all match, but they worked. For our wedding we ended up deciding that the focus shouldn’t be on gifts. We were celebrating with family and friends that we felt fortunate to have in our lives. Instead we asked that if they felt the need to give something, that they make a donation to a local charity that provides children with Christmas.

I admit, it wasn’t my idea, it was my mom’s. Who were we to argue? After all, they were paying for the wedding and had given us the freedom to choose and plan most of what we wanted. It was a beautiful, simple wedding. Nothing fancy, but yet it felt like an elegant evening.

That idea was met with some resistance. Many guests felt the need to both donate to the charity and give us a small gift, which was fine. I can remember only returning one item that we received - a George Foreman Grill - because we already had one. Although it wasn’t for cash, I believe we exchanged it for something else.

Personally I rarely use gift registries to buy gifts. Whether it be for a wedding or a baby. My biggest reason is it’s no fun. I know you register for things you need and getting a bunch of duplicate or useless items is basically worthless. BUT…I don’t like you telling me what to buy for you and then knowing the price.

So is this the new thing to do? Register for items you don’t want or need, but hope people will buy so you can return them for cash? Shouldn’t they just come out and ask for cash? I know it’s tacky, but you’re just wasting the guests time.

What could have been a lovely quiet evening with possibly a little “somethin’ somethin’” turned into a disaster last night. Capitol D on that one.

I’m not sure if I should attribute my husband’s mood to the fact he quit smoking cold-turkey a few weeks ago (thank GOD!) or the fact our large flat screen T.V. has been in the repair shop for several days and we’re forced to watch my Grandma’s old Orion 19 inch.

This is evening #2 of watching previously recorded sci-fi crap. Typically, I retreat to the bedroom (another 19 inch TV) and pull out my magnifying glasses to watch my shows. But tonight after his second unrealistic magic-potion-saves-the-world show I had the audacity to ask him if we could watch something that we both like.

I’m sorry did the world just come to an end? The response I received was something similar to our son throwing a hissy fit over being asked to clean up his toys or eat all his peas.

His reply was something about me being on the computer and not even watching it. To which I stated that I wouldn’t be on if there was something more interesting to watch.

Next he proceeds to place the remote on an ottoman in between us. Silence follows. I tell him to go ahead and watch whatever he wants. I might have used the word ‘jack***’ in there.

After some more grumbling (from him), he sets it up to play a show we both like and leaves the room. I yell at him asking if he’s going to watch this or not. He said he’s letting me watch what I want and he’ll be in the bedroom.

I turn off the T.V. altogether and tell him when he’s done pouting the remote is on the couch.

Now, we’ve been down this road before…I’m not really sure why he thinks he owns or controls our T.V. He usually gets his way in what we watch. Rarely would he sit in here while I watch something I’ve taped that he doesn’t like. So why am I expected to sit through his shows night after night?

So he pouted in the bedroom wanting to go to bed. Funny thing is that he couldn’t, because the sheets were downstairs in the dryer and he doesn’t seem to know where the laundry is located in our house (even after 7 years).

I opened up and let you know that I have the hots for my Congressman and I also revealed that my husband and I have a “Top 5″ list. Several readers e-mailed and asked if I would reveal our lists. So here they are:

MINE:
1. Brad Ellsworth
2. Matthew McConaughey
3. Dr. Drew (yes, the sex talk guy - sometimes gray can be sexy)
4. Ben Affleck
5. Doogie Howser (aka Neil Patrick Harris, who broke my heart when he said he was gay)

And if this was 1981 I’d add Robert Redford. You gotta admit, the man aged well though.

HIS:
1. Kristen Bell (aka Veronica Mars)
2. Keri Russell (I can’t get past Felicity cutting her hair off)
3. Evangeline Lilly
4. Julia Stiles
5. He says he reserves this space for whoever is in the room at the time….which is me at the moment. Who wouldn’t want to get with this?

Your turn. If you and your spouse have a Top 5 list who’s on it?

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I have a secret to confess. Actually, if you knew me well it wouldn’t be a secret at all. Most of my family and friends have seen me drooling over this man. Some might call it an obsession and others may see it as stalking behavior, but I’d label it downright lust.

I want you to meet the man who reigns over my “Top 5” list (yes, Nate & I do have a top 5 freebie list!). Mr. Brad Ellsworth. Take a moment and just soak in the wholesome goodness this tall, dark and very handsome man radiates.

He was formerly the sheriff of our county (oh yes, in uniform) and last fall won the congressional seat for our district. The highlight of 2006 for me was that his campaign office was downtown and in my building. He was on the 5th floor, I was on the 6th for eight glorious months. My daily needs were met almost daily by seeing him in person. How often do you really get that close to someone in your “Top 5“?

In fact, last November I rode up 5 floors in the elevator with him - A.L.O.N.E.! I called my husband immediately after and confessed that I could have made my move on Mr. Ellsworth right there in the elevator and had my way with him. Of course that fantasy didn’t happen, but it could have.

Mr. Congressman has since moved on to spend more time in Washington, D.C. and the encounters are now few and far between. But thanks to the local news I can still have a daily dose of his hotness every now and then.

It’s so wrong to lust after another man. Most women choose celebrities, but I choose this family man. Maybe because he seems more real and down-to-earth than the untouchable ego’s that grace our movie screens. I did notice he’s accepting applications for Congressional Interns….

I find it humorous that the word “control” is used to describe the remote. We have this long-standing feud in our house and maybe you do too. I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions, although I know I am right (because I’m always right!).

A couple years ago my husband decided we were getting DVR, because we have no life and need to record as much TV as possible so that on Friday nights we’ll have something other than 20/20 to watch. I wish I was kidding.

What happened last night in our living room has occurred on numerous occasions. Nate decided he wanted to go to bed when our son did. Which is fine by me. It means full control of the TV and quiet time. Problem? The DVR was set to record mostly his shows for 3 straight hours - 2 shows each hour. You can only record 2 shows at a time and you must be watching one them (or something already previously recorded). So I was screwed unless I wanted to watch Heroes, Prison Break, 24, etc…and I didn’t. My shows were on too damn it! You know - WifeSwap, Supernanny, Sweet Sixteen, The Hills… I like reality shows and he prefers unrealistic shows where if you save the cheerleader, you save the world. We’re a good match.

My argument was this. If he’s going to bed then he has to cancel at least one of his recordings each hour so that I can watch something I like. Seems fair right? We each get a show? Split down the middle? Apparently not. We compromised and he canceled one show. Normally I would go to the bedroom on Monday night’s because I don’t like ANY of those shows. Which I don’t complain about. He gets the living room, recliner and 50 inch TV in HD. Me? The old queen size mattress and a 19 inch TV with a remote that you have to hold in your left hand, push the numbers twice with your right index finger and jump up and down on one foot just to change the channel.

Woo Hoo! Seem fair to you?