January 23, 2011

When Sheryl and I started dating, I was broke and out of a job. When my birthday rolled around, she asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I usually don't want anything, but that year, I REALLY wanted to see Wilco perform at the Meadowbrook Music Theatre. Sheryl got us tickets, and I had an absolute blast.

That concert helped me understand how deeply Sheryl loved me. When I look back on concerts, that one fills me with down-to-Earth good feelings. It makes me feel warm and bubbly.

Tonight, I sit watching Wilco's "Ashes of American Flags" DVD, relaxing, sipping the Green Fairy. Sheryl is in bed and it's 9:20pm.

Our day was full. Our week was busy.

And tomorrow, my angel - my wife - celebrates her birthday. We'll be the same age for 6 months.

It wasn't a mistake that I put this DVD in. The way Sheryl made me feel on that birthday by taking me to see such an amazing show...

... is exactly how I want her to feel every day - not just her birthday.

So today we unofficially celebrated her birthday. And we did yesterday, too, having dinner with friends we hadn't seen since August. At a Mexican restaurant in Mexicantown. Following a Detroit Tigers game.

Following that theme, we went to Tigerfest today at Comerica Park. We had so much fun! Despite standing in line for two hours to get sourpuss (I say that with respect!) Jim Leyland's autograph, we had some crazy unexpected events happen, including me telling Don Kelly that I wasn't jealous that my wife had his ball in her hand! Go figure!

The fun Sheryl had today was definitely the fun that I had at the Wilco show. We have memories together of such great experiences that no one will ever be able to take from us, and that is truly special.

Just like my wife.

Punkin, on our wedding day, you promised to make me laugh every day. I promised to myself that you will always feel loved, and will always feel special. You have kept your promise, and I continue trying my best to keep mine.

I know you know that I love you, and I hope I never give you reason to question that.

Happy birthday, sweetheart. May every day be a mini Tigerfest. With fajitas and sangria. And good friends. And laughs and laughs and laughs.

And love, baby, love.

Body parts

Bought my first ever bottle of the green fairy last night. I am always amazed by how legendary things seem less formidable when experienced - like absinthe and Neu Schwanstein...

Perfect Sense (Part 2)

I went to my cousin's yesterday. I swear to god he and his wife have the coolest friends! Sheryl and I have cool friends, too, but we don't see them nearly enough.

Hmmm... we should do something about that.

Perfect Sense (Part 1)

I had a dream this morning where I definitively felt that Sheryl and I needed to move to North Carolina.

I'm just sayin'. It was a dream.

The Front

Coming home from an awesome vacation can be difficult. In many ways, you feel ready to jump back into the rat race and accomplish a lot. But on the other hand, you have grown accustomed to the awesome vacation life...

I would love to find that happy medium - a location in the rat race where I feel like me 100% of the time - and not someone the rat race makes me. And daily naps. I want daily naps on a daily basis.

I want to use my brain to accomplish great things - then spend a half hour or so in the hot tub.

I wonder what it would be like to mesh my personal desires with my professional desires. To call in sick when I need to catch up on reading Kurt Vonnegut, or feel like riding my bike instead.

I wonder what it would be like to have a money tree that only me and my family and friends can have access to. And since I've crossed the reality border paragraphs ago, the money tree must regrow its leaves within a week.

That would be sweet.

And then I could go wherever I want - which right now means someplace that my hands and feet are not constantly cold and my wine is not my whine...

Years' End

Last night, Sheryl and I got home from our grand vacation.

Two weeks ago, we drove down to Hollywood, Florida via Huntersville, NC. We relaxed, hung out, then headed down to Key West, which was a big highlight for me. I love the Keys so much - they bring back so many positive memories for me.

After the Keys, we went back to Hollywood, and eventually left for Charleston, SC. We're looking to move down South, so visiting Charleston was a little more than just sightseeing.

Oh, and there was Georgie, too.

Georgie the ghost apparently haunted the B&B we stayed in. Nice. I'm such a sissy with that stuff, and Sheryl milked it to no end.

Ultimately, there was no Georgie sighting, and all was well.

The trip home was long - we were essentially on the road for 17 hours, but we got home before the ball dropped in Times Square.

And now we look at the new year. 2011. It seems like just yesterday it was 2010.

I can't wait to see what great things 2011 will bring!

Over the weekend, I need to make sure I'm ready.

Happy new year, everyone!