No Self Portraits this week...

I guess the stress of trying to pull off a special birthday, combined with trying to learn how to set up music recording software, and driving all over town to find something to stick a birthday candle in; sent me over the edge (not really, I am teasing; I have no idea what sets off these breakouts).... I have a huge cold sore again! Which is what really sends me to the top of my stress meter!!

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So NO self portraits this week!

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Ugggggg!!!!!

Birthday dinner with a martian...

I think he has finally confirmed for me that he is a "Martian"!

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I grew up getting to pick where I wanted to go for my birthday... it was my special day, and even when we were little and my Mom was single raising 4 kids... if it meant my other siblings had to order very conservatively so that I could get what I wanted for my birthday; sometimes it worked that way. But I got to chose where and what I wanted for my birthday.

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I really liked that tradition; so we have always done that together since I have been married. Except for the first year that we decided to stay home for my birthday and my strong silent mysterious man went to the store to buy steaks to cook for me at home; and came home with frozen taquitos! He was still in training.

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So last night, we let him pick where he wants to go for dinner. We end up at Taco Bell!

It was his birthday dinner; so I am trying to let it go.

I feel like a failure! Just kidding, I love to eat out. So when it's a special time to pick a special place to eat... Taco Bell is not even on the list... it's down there with the frozen taquitos for me!!

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But... again not my birthday... and I refer to my birthday post for him yesterday

#2 He is humble and doesn't need much to be truly happy

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#35 He loves Mexican food

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But just for the record.. don't take me to Taco Bell for my birthday dinner!

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He got some new software for recording and mixing music. He was pretty excited about it; so I got it all loaded on the computer so he could try it out when he got home from work.

But it was not very user friendly, and reading the guidebook or anything from the help menu, I was understanding about as much in the Spanish section as I was anything in English.

Finally about 10:30pm last night we figured out how to start recording and he was able to get a few tracks loaded to know he was going to love it once he figured out all the bells and whistles on it.

It was a pretty crazy day, and he is not big on birthday cake; but he used to like lemon mirange pie. I have never attempted to bake one for him; but I wanted to do something I knew he would love. So I found one at a bakery and brought it home.

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We got a picture of him with it... but he would never open it or eat any. The teenager was dying to take the lid off and shove it in his face; but I wouldn't give him permission. Later last night after we went to bed... I was quizzing him on why he didn't want to even cut into the pie and he said "I think my tastes have changed". So I guess that means he doesn't like lemon mirange pie anymore. Hmmm... note to self; next year try the candles in birthday mexi fries I guess? I should have just let the teenager throw the pie at him. That would have been a fun birthday memory!

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I think he had a good birthday. It's just so hard to tell on my birthday meter. I have such a hard time making or doing special things for him! He does love his gifts and the well wishes and phone calls; and I think he felt special in his own little martian way!

Happy Birthday to our nephew Tony and our great neice Olivia yesterday too!

Happy 49th Birthday... 49 things I love about him!

49 things I love about my Strong Silent Mysterious Man!

1. He has a sexy deep voice. It was one of the first things that attracted me to him. We knew each other over the phone, way before we met in person.
2. He is humble and doesn't need much to be truly happy.
3. He was the best Dad I could have ever imagined for my son... from the very second we found out we were pregnant. I was afraid and fearful I would be the primary care giver; and so uncertain that I was even capable of doing that; but he eased my fears from the very beginning in his every action of what a great, hands on Dad he would be.
4. He has a wonderful work ethic.
5. He doesn't fight back.
6. He isn't petty; and reminds me softly when I am.
7. He is straight forward and kind.
8. He would give the shirt off his back to someone in need.
9. He is content eating the same exact sandwich everyday for lunch; actually this makes my life simpler, but I don't understand it... I have to have variety.
10. He is so relaxed playing his guitar.
11. He could play his guitar for hours and days on end.
12. He has a soft spot in his heart for dogs; especially our dogs.
13. He can't go look at puppies without bringing one home... he better not go look at anymore puppies.
14. He had really nice handwriting, but get jealous it is better than mine.
15. He makes me sign our name to things because he thinks my handwriting is better than his... but he is wrong.
16. He used to write lyrics to songs on our bathroom mirror. I thought they were love notes to me.
17. He has stopped and helped so many people broke down on the side of the road... I have lost track. And I think there are probably hundreds more I don't know about; because I worry to death about him when he tells me these kinds of stories.
18. He has an artistic, unorganized mind; but usually accomplishes much more than me, because I get all bogged down with the details.
19. He has been happy with Levi 501's forever!
20. He will wear the teenagers hand me down fancy designer jeans.
21. He said he would never wear fancy designer jeans.
22. Most anything he tries to do he is really good at. We tease him for having "the Midas touch"; everything he touches turns to gold.
23. He hates it when we say that about him; he thinks he has to work at lots of stuff.
24. He doesn't, it all comes naturally.
25. He gives up most of his side of the bed, because I am wild sleeper.
26. He has a really high tolerance for pain.
27. He has compassion for people he has never met.
28. His food rating range goes from "it's okay - to good". There is nothing above or below, and nothing in-between. I haven't learned to appreciate this yet; it frustrates me and leaves me wanting more. But I am sure if I ever learn to cherish it, it's a real blessing in disguise! And probably most wives would give a left arm for this quality in their husband.
29. He doesn't gossip!
30. He loves listening to live bands.
31. He happily comes home to me everyday; even when I am moody!
32. He is an outdoors kind of guy, and appreciates beauty in nature.
33. He has an infatuation with wood, rocks, and Indian artifacts.
34. He "collects" guitars; I am just learning what this means.
35. He loves mexican food.
36. He has played in lots of different kinds of bands over the years. I wish he had more opportunities to jam with his friends. It makes him really happy.
37. He is loyal.
38. He has fallen in love with bow hunting.
39. He lets me go with him even when he is with "the boys".
40. He is okay that I don't let him do things when it is just "the girls".
41. He is calm cool and collected most of the time; and finds it annoying that I worry about things out of my control.
42. He is grounded; and very mature.
43. He doesn't judge me when I act immature; he is patient with me and all my insecurities, and shortcomings.
44. He has shortcomings, but it's a pretty small list, he doesn't dwell or pick out others.
45. He is finally learning to forgive himself for his shortcomings.
46. He makes friends easily; but doesn't have many close friends; but keeps them forever.
47. He is okay with being shorter than the teenager now; I am still learning to deal with it; and have coping issues.
48. He introduces me as "Elizabeth" to strangers. I love that, it's really endearing somehow... like they have to get to know me before they can call me Beth (?)
49. I love that he loves me for just who I am; and even more when he shows his affection openly!

Happy 49th Birthday ~ Darling, Sweety, Honey, Baby, Hon, Cutie, Love, hmmm... #50 - we don't have nicknames for each other.

Happy Birthday ~ My Strong Silent Mysterious Man!!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my Strong Silent Mysterious Mans 49th birthday.

He got a box in the mail yesterday from his Mom... and because he is her son... there was no waiting another day to open it!

(just teasing... it's pretty exciting to get good mail, I probably wouldn't have been able to wait either).

I did make him call her and get permission though... so we had her on the phone while he opened it! You can see the teenager was just as excited as the birthday boy.
A new white shirt with a beautiful red silk tie!

He will have to fight to keep the teenagers hands off of this one! You can see him grabbing for it already!

He loves it, and it will look great on him!
What a fun kick off to the Birthday Holiday Weekend Extravaganza!

Trouble in Paradise...

What a week... It started off when I lost my camera (finally found it carefully hidden under the seat of the car). This did not set a good tone for blogging though.

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Then yesterday as I am walking out the door to a meeting with a client (all dressed in my business clothes)... I hear the sound of a waterfall??????

I went into the kitchen to find water; gallons and gallons of water flowing from the washer into my kitchen, pantry, and dining room, headed fast towards the carpet in the living room... about 2 inches deep... pouring.

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I shut off the washer, the waterfall sound stopped, but the water was still rushing in every direction... in my stocking, now soaking wet feet, I start grabbing towels, clean, dirty anything I can find to soak up the water.

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I feel like it is to a point where the water is sitting in the towels and I grab my briefcase and run out the door. I went and took minutes, photos, and paid the food bill and explained to the President the situation I had at home, and he excused me laughing and telling the entire group that he was worried about me this morning, but it was all good; because I have home owners insurance and was going back to deal with my water claim... sending all these insurance agents into a giggle at my expense.

To me... not so funny! Please don't say water damage claim... my husband will kill me.

I manage to get all the water soaked up off the floor, and had moved the washer, dryer and refrigerator to accomplish this. When I moved the dryer I found the venting system was not even in place. The dryer had been moved so many times, the hose to the outside was broken... so it was actually a blessing in disguise to finally discover why my house is soooo dusty, ALL THE TIME!!!When my strong silent mysterious man got home from work, he proceeded to pull out the washer to take a look, thinking the pump had probably gone out.

So trying to stay near by, but out of the way... I began to do some dishes in the kitchen... when some water was standing in the sink, I ran the garbage disposal and heard him yelling at me... STOP!!!!!!

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As a burst of water spewed up like a geizer out of a pipe he was inspecting in his hand, drenching him in the process. It was then he realized our problem was much bigger than a bad pump on our washing machine. It was somehow connected to our kitchen sink?

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Hmmmm... he looked at me and asked if I had put a bunch of food down the disposal AGAIN! I had just cleaned out the refrigerator the day before, but remembering the last clog experience with potato peels, I was really really careful to grind everything up really well and put the bad food down a little at a time and make sure it all washed away!!! REally CaREfuL!!!!

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He walks away shaking his head at me... which sends me into a complete meltdown, crying because I knew I had really screwed up again. It is the worst feeling in the world to disappoint someone... horrible.

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He comes back with our plumber neighbor... who ends up running a snake 50' down into our pipes.

The clog was finally cleared, and all systems were go!

But I am still getting this look; he can't believe I didn't learn my lesson the first time!
It took a couple of hours to get the entire mess cleaned up, as all the lint piling up under the dryer was pretty ugly as the flooding waters carried it across my kitchen floor. And it makes a huge mess when you have dirty dish water, and laundry water backing up into your house. I was bleaching and cleaning... that was my punishment. I will be washing wet towels for a few hours this morning too.
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So I am trying to lay low, and stay out of trouble today!