The Daily Doocy

Dear Friends of "FOX & Friends,"

Today we start The Daily Doocy, thanks for buying the first copy. Okay it's free, I just wanted to see if you were paying attention. The focus of the Daily Doocy will be to feature some of the hundreds of submissions from viewers who shared with me their personal secrets to a happy marriage.

This is in conjunction with the upcoming publication of my book, "The Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook," which is a funny owner's manual for families. The book arrives in bookstores October 17, but you can pre-order it wherever you buy books, or get an autographed copy at www.happyhandbook.com.

My book is about the funny parts of married life, but the writers of these stories aren't going for funny necessarily, they're going for what works for them. They are all terrific, and I appreciate all of them for trusting me with their stories:

E-mail No. 1

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Mr. Doocy,
Your book sounds like it portrays the funny points of an inspired and great marriage, CONGRATULATIONS. I just celebrated my 10-year anniversary, June 1st, in Baghdad, Iraq.
As a Navy Officer with 4 at sea deployments and now a year on the ground in Baghdad, valuing my wife and her precious time is the key to our wonderful 10 year marriage. We left a small town in WV to venture all over the US, North to South and East to West for the love of our Country. When I return from each deployment, we value those precious quiet moments together. Just taking a quiet walk through a State Park or sitting on our deck watching our 3 girls. One thing about a combat zone, you have time to think about life, it's true meaning and what you really value at the end of your life here on Earth. You plan for 6 months or a year for your arrival at home and back to your family. You dream up some crazy things to do. The day that you arrive home, you miraculously forget about IEDs, body armor, 122F heat in the shade, and the rocket attacks. You value that time and how precious it is. Imagine coming home at the 7 month mark of a 1 year deployment, knowing that you have 2 weeks to try to relive your 3 daughters' lives on super fast forward. While they are too young to understand, you know that you still have 5 more months of trying to stay alive in a combat zone.
The secret to a great marriage is Valuing your Life's Partner.
Very Respectfully,
Buzz
LCDR James Mason, U.S. Navy
Deputy Director, Distinguished Visitor Operations Bureau
Secretary of the Combined Joint Staff,
Multi-National Force-Iraq Command Group
Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq

E-mail No. 2

The other day, I asked my husband of 12 years if he wouldn't mind retrieving my favorite evening snack for me (Fritos and raspberry seltzer). It just so happened the snack was downstairs, quite a trip after happily settling in our cushy bed for the night. I was working away on my laptop and he was watching some sort of sports channel.
Anyway, I ended my request with a burst of gratitude by saying, "I hope you don't mind my asking you to do this, honey." My husband turned to me and said what I feel encapsulates his entire marriage strategy: "When have I ever said 'no' to you? -- Except when you asked for baby No. 4."
And he was absolutely right. He's never said "no" to me, and we will never have baby No. 4!
Cate Brizzell
Saratoga Springs, NY

E-mail No. 3

After 32 years I have discovered that two things will make your marriage happy.
First is to practice Christian principles of mercy, forgiveness and believing the best, with your spouse before you extend those principles to others.
Second, I have discovered that men are not that complicated. Women try to attribute female characteristics to their husband and it only makes things frustrating. When I want to taaaaalk, or watch a movie about feelings (Chick Flick), I call one of my sisters or girlfriends. When I want to do something physical (hike, fish, bike, kayak), yell at sports or action films on TV, I hang with my husband. A very happily married man once said, "As a man, I can tell you our needs are simple. We want to be fed, we want our kids mothered and we want loving". (Vince)
I have remembered that and as a result, I am married to my best friend (notice, I did not say I married my best friend) and it just keeps getting better.
Tara West

E-mail No. 4

I married a nagger but I have learned to tune him out for the last 43 years. We may argue about something but 5 minutes later we have both forgotten what we argued about.
The only thing that keeps me going is that his Mom, brother and all our friends tell me that there is a seat in heaven next to God waiting for me. We are planning to make 50 years.
My hubby has a heart of gold. Just learn to tune your partner out.
Gerry Sciara,
Gladstone, MO

E-mail No. 5

Dear Steve,
The secret to our happy marriage is our ever-evolving personal wedding vows to each other:
• You'll always have clean underwear.
• The grass will never get longer than 5 inches.
• Extra baseballs will always be in the truck. (he's a little league coach)
• The seat will be lifted and the lid will be closed.
• You'll never have to eat olives, mushrooms, or liver.
• You take out the trash; I'll pick up the mail.
• Steak will never be grilled past medium rare.
• At some point in the evening the TV will be turned off, a glass of wine will be poured, and we'll talk.
• Every 6 months we'll take a weekend just for ourselves without kids/dogs/friends.
• We'll volunteer together in our community (we chose the San Antonio Rodeo and the Texas Open golf tournament).
• Only dark chocolate.
• Etc.
It's really just knowing what is important to the other person and making a concerted effort to respect it. In the event that we inadvertently break a vow, this phrase is gently spoke, "You know... promises were made." It never fails to crack us up, and get one of us moving to make good on a promise.
Best of luck with your book!
Mike & Shauna Forkenbrock
San Antonio, TX

Terrific real stories from real viewers, thanks for hour humor and honesty. If you'd like to share your secrets of a happy marriage, and they might wind up being featured here on The Daily Doocy or on the "FOX & Friends" program, please go to "The Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook" official Web site for more information: www.happyhandbook.com

Thanks for stopping by the Daily Doocy, and we'll see you tomorrow with five more stories of married life!

Steve Doocy
Mr. Happy