Birthday Boy

My husband was born 33 years ago today.  Today is a day I celebrate with enormous enthusiasm,  much excitement, and never-ending-appreciation.

I'm so glad my husband was born.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Thank You Del

Our friend Del stayed with us for almost a month while he was working in Dallas, and it was a joyous set of weeks.  He just joined our household while he was here.  He took care of the dogs when we were out of town.  He went grocery shopping when the pantry was low.  He even picked up the check at dinner numerous times.  He is the most enjoyable house guest ever!

While he was here he overheard me inform my husband that I needed a second pillow for our red leather love seat.  My husband shot me down, because he doesn't like me to spend money on stuff for the house.  He thinks the stuff for the house is want not a need.   Del tracked down Wisteria in Dallas, purchased the pillow, and gave it to me as a "because you should have it" gift.   I thought it was tremendously thoughtful.  Doesn't it look nice on the couch?

Del is also on to me.  He said I have this "thing" where I have at least two of everything I love, which is why he knew I needed a second pillow.  He started going around the house pointing out all my multiples: from scissors, to sharpies, to pillows, to chairs, to home accessories...if I like something, then I usually own at least two of them.  I'm slightly ashamed to say it's true.  I've known this about my personality for years, my parents used to call me a "pack rat," but I usually try to hide it from the world (mainly my husband).

Del's daughter came to visit this weekend and he acted out this bit in front of me and his daughter where he pulled out all my scissors and said: "You don't need all them scissors.  When will you need twelve scissors?  What will you be cutting?"  It's a funny bit.  He did it again with my stash of sharpies and pens.  We were all laughing.

I think I need a second house to hide all my seconds.

Linear Not Parallel

Early one morning on my way to my client's corporate headquarters I stopped to purchase 60 breakfast taquitos at Whataburger.  I am a participating member of my client's "Breakfast Club."  The young lady didn't blink when I ordered 20 sausage egg and cheese, 20 bacon egg and cheese, and 20 potato egg and cheese taquitos; plus I ordered a large coffee that I was going to enjoy while I waited.  My bill was over $150.  I thought my type of order had to be rare, but she showed no sign of amusement.

Three minutes later another man walked in and ordered one bacon egg and cheese taquito, and he requested light on the eggs. The two of us began watching the team make taquitos ten at a time.

Three minutes later he looked over at me, the only other person in Whataburger, and asked how many taquitos I ordered?  

"Sixty." I informed him politely as I sipped on my black coffee.

"SIXTY!" He repeated in a panicked and annoyed tone.  He was shocked.  I could feel his anger build.  He looked over at me again and claimed that he was about to make a scene.  The man, who had been waiting less than five minutes, demanded his money back.  At which point they took one of the taquitos from my stack and packaged it up for him; he wasn't happy because he asked for less eggs.  They gave him his money back.  He walked out in a ball of anger without any food.

The team returned to processing my order; I was in and out in less than fifteen minutes with my 60 taquitos which was efficient.  It was a big hit at the office to walk in with hot breakfast tacos.  I got laughs when I retold the story about the poor guy that ordered one breakfast taco after I ordered sixty.  The linear process flow was not his friend.

I can't stop thinking about the angry man though.  Attitude is a choice.  This man could have laughed at the ridiculousness of processing my 60 tacos before they processed his one.  Think about it.  That's funny.  Maybe he could have used humor to get the team to process his one taco faster?  Instead the man got angry.  He was mad; he was mad at me for ordering 60.  He belittled the fast food employees.   He stormed out of the restaurant.   Do  you think his whole life is like that?  Do you think he always picks anger?  Attitude is a choice.

I pick happiness.

My Girls Get American Girls

This was the weekend that our nieces received birthday gifts from my husband and me.  It was a belated gift to Presley and an early gift to Paxten.  My husband was out of town, so my parents got lassoed into the American Girl adventure.  It was an adventure.  Have you been to that store?  Grab a girl and go to their store.

First, you must recognize that American Girl is a marketing machine.  It knows how to get you to happily purchase expensive dolls.  I want to buy a doll for myself after hanging out in the store.  (Not joking.)

Second, you must recognize that American Girl's mission is to encourage girls to be their best.  I like that mission.  It uses books, dolls, and movies to inspire little ladies.   If we can parlay an American Girl doll into my nieces reading American Girl books, then we're winning.  I think so.

My husband and I purchased the dolls.  My parents purchased the beds.  Presley and Paxten were very captivated by their American Girl loot.

It's fun being an uncle.

Thank You Obama

US asks Supreme Court to strike down law denying benefits to same-sex couples. Read it.

(Thank you President Obama)

QOTD

"To embrace gay rights, Republicans don’t need to abandon cultural conservatism. To the contrary, an unthinking, bigoted opposition to gay equality is preventing Republicans from fashioning a more meaningful culturally conservative message for today’s age. The real threats to traditional values in America today don’t come from committed, monogamous gays and lesbians. They come from the breakdown of marriage among straight Americans, especially poor, straight Americans. For today’s GOP, seriously addressing the cultural and economic reasons that so many straight marriages fail is a better long-term political strategy than continuing to try to bar lesbians and gays from getting married in the first place."

- The Daily Beast (Peter Berinart)

Two Men

Anytime I see a gay couple in media I take note.  I was very pleased to see Elton and David on the cover of Architectural Digest.  It's their home.  Both of them should be on the cover.  Love it.

We're headed in the right direction!  Love it more.