diaries of a mixed marriage wife

you'd think that by now people would be used to mixed race marriages or other crazy realities of living in a melting-pot country...but no.
kinda funny!

i could write a book about all the funny things that i experience.....

entry 1:
that one time when my coworker and i were walking to lunch and the landscaping guys were also taking their lunch...they smile at both of us, nodding, one in particular calls out with a thick accent "hey! how are you?" .....i smile and chuckle a bit to myself cuz he sounded just like marvin...she huffs and says "i hate it when latino guys call out to me!"...then the awkward pause when she realizes i'm married to one of those 'latino guys.'

entry 2:
ups guy comes to deliver a package, i sign, he asks for my last name, i reply: "ruano." he fumbles a bit, looks down at my signature, looks back at me and, puzzled, asks: "how do you spell that?"

entry 3:
you leave a message for someone with your full name, they return your call and ask for "alicia....i couldn't get her last name,...started with an r?"

entry 4:
you talk to someone on the phone and give your full name. then when you meet in person they do a double take...cuz you're white and your name is completely hispanic sounding.

entry 5:
we go anywhere in the hispanic community - i get looks....we go anywhere in the white community - he gets looks.

entry 6:
ANY TIME i give my last name.....a puzzled look stares back at me.

entry 7:
we attend the spanish congregation in my church because we like to help out and i get to keep up on my spanish. the members of the english-speaking congregations always come up to me and think i am new in their congregation. i tell them "no, i attend the spanish ward." then they give me a strange look and ask "do you speak spanish??" yes, i respond....(another strange look)...."my husband is from guatemala."

entry 8:
the other day when talking about where we like to eat in the area, someone mentioned they liked a certain mexican place. having been there i said "it's ok. not really authentic." they asked me where i like to get 'mexican' food. i told them about a variety of places we like to go...all authentic because they are run by latinos, 'you have to go to where the latinos are' i say. "how do you know about all these places?" i get asked with incredulity.....my husband is latino.

entry 9:
while in a group of women exchanging quick/cheap dinner ideas, i mention "we like to eat a lot of beans and rice...rice and chicken, beans and eggs, rice and pork, beans on salads, or even just beans and rice with cheese. carbs and protein!" someone asks "really? you like beans and rice that much?" well, i respond "my husband is from guatemala."

entry 10:
that one time i went to the grocery store and bought a GINORMOUS bag of rice cuz we eat it so much....the cashier gal's eyes went wide as she saw it come down the belt, "you must eat a lot of rice!" ...."my husband is hispanic"

confessions....

....i have gained weight since i got married.
at first i freaked out about it and would cry when i tried to put on the cute shorts i wore last summer and they just wouldn't go. but then marvin said one time: "who cares? i think you're beautiful. some people lose weight when they get married, some people gain weight. we happened to gain weight. just go buy new pants." so i did. and guess what....i feel ok about it. lest you think i am letting myself go and lounging around in my sweats all day - that is not happening i assure you. i just don't walk to/from work every day and run around the metro like i used to. i still run 2-3 times a week and try to eat my veggies and not eat ice cream every day. its just not the same. i came to accept that this is a new season of my life. that was the old time of my life- single and a bit thinner. (and i used to lament being fat back then!) i still would like to get more tone around my muscles but i have accepted that i'm not going back to how i was then and i'm ok with that because my life is completely new and it is great.

....i really think my husband is the handsomest man on the face of the planet.
 i used to think my sister was a bit crazy cuz she would say the same thing and i would think "i don't see it." but now i get it! seriously even beckham, clooney, or duhamel got nothing on him. he puts on a white button-down and slacks....stop my beating heart. i often look at him and think: how did i get to be with him? dang he's cute.

....i am addicted to j.crew.
but since i can't afford the full retail price of almost anything at j.crew (nor do i think it is wise to buy almost anything there for full price)...i shop the killer sales sections and the factory store. still addicted and maybe a bit obsessed.

....i really like living in richmond. and virginia.
i have fallen in love with virginia lately. it is beautiful in the fall and i love the rolling hills covered with trees. i love the fact that you can be in the city and drive 10 miles out and be in the country but never know it. (real country not just the desert..sorry utah) i love the history and the homey feel of everything. and while i initially was skeptical of richmond after living in glamorous and busy washington for 2 years, richmond has grown on me. its the biggest small town you will ever find. you can get across the city in 20 min but the downtown is def fun and happening. there is history everywhere. the houses are ADORABLE. the architecture is stunning. and i love the style - mix of eastern, southern, traditional, and modern.

....i don't like buying tickets for anything out of fear that i won't actually make it.
yes a bit irrational but it always gives me a bit of trepidation to purchase anything non-refundable, especially something time sensitive because i have had way too many experiences lately where plans changed.  and i hate to purchase something in advance and then have to change things around. just hate it. (does this say something about me?? maybe...)