Jack Black and I have one thing in common…

…a birthdate.

At the Day Job, people bring treats for their birthdays, like we did when I was in grade school. Traditionally, I bake my mother’s cinnamon roll recipe, and even though I had all the ingredients, Thursday night I didn’t really feel like baking. Instead, I decided to stop off at the People’s Bakery in the morning for some doughnuts.

Friday morning, I almost forgot it was my birthday until I checked my e-mail during my morning routine. Brian, the World’s Greatest Husband (WGH), sent me two books from my Amazon.com wish list: Night Watch and Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko et al from the World of Watches series. We saw the film Night Watch based on the first part of the same-named novel years ago, and Brian keeps telling me to expand my reading from the books I’ve read ad nauseum, so I put the entire series on my wish list.

My only sincere wish for my birthday each year is for one person to say happy birthday to me without a reminder from me, so I was glad when I received an e-mail from my Best Friend Betsy RN MSN wishing me a happy birthday. Even though Bets looks a lot younger than I do (and neither of us looks like we’re in our mid-forties), she is older than me by six months and two days.

Brian forgot to wish me a happy birthday until I reminded him to stop at the People’s Bakery, but that’s okay: he already sent me gifts (and one more is on the way); plus, as I keep reminding him, every day with him is the best gift ever. The bakery not only was generous with the two-dozen doughnuts, but I also bought some doughnut holes.

In fact, Brian was concerned about how he was going to top last year’s birthday: the Packers played their last pre-season game at Lambeau on my birthday proper. He bought tickets from a colleague, and we had a marvelous time. Plus, I splurged on myself and bought the unaltered theatrical releases of the Original Star Wars Trilogy (in other words, Han shot first).

At the Day Job, I sent the e-mail:
It’s Jack Black’s Birthday… (DOUGHNUTS!)
…which happens to be the same date as mine.
To celebrate turning 28 (for the 19th time; you do the math), I brought in doughnuts and doughnut holes from the People’s Bakery. Goodies can be found on the fifth floor between columns B9 and B10.
Remember: the more you eat, the less I gain!
-Lori
The doughnuts were gone before noon, and I ate the last doughnut hole for dessert for my lunch.

I was mildly disappointed that Google didn’t have a birthday Doodle for me, as they have in the past. Oh, well. No big deal.

After work, I took a nap because I was tired and it was MY birthday, dammit. Though I did tell the WGH to wake me in time for dinner. I debated between the Nitty Gritty, a local birthday bar that I hadn’t been to for my birthday since my mid-twenties, or the Market Street Diner, where I would receive a free birthday cake from Carl’s Cakes. Ultimately, I decided upon the latter because my acid reflux was acting up, and I didn’t want to exacerbate it with bar food.

Even though I wanted to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend on Netflix that night, I decided I just wanted to go to bed early. Yes, I’m getting old. Besides, when I just looked up the hyperlink, it says the movie still has yet to be released.

Saturday evening, as Brian and I watched the debacle that was the Packers preseason game three and at the cake from Carl’s, the WGH lamented that this year’s birthday was no comparison to the grandeur of last year’s. I told him that was fine. I don’t have to have a big to-do every year for my birthday. He can make a fuss when I turn 50 because I want a big red hat party.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

“There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.” – Dave Barry

 

Weekend Wonderful…

… but still too short.

Friday/Ladies Night Out
My Best Friend Betsy RN MSN and I try to get together once per month, but it typically works out to about 3-4 times a year. Friday night we met at Saigon Noodles on the west side of town, and had a lovely time. Of course, she told me more stories of her three children. B., the middle child and oldest boy, is very smart; but doesn’t always do his homework, preferring to coast on his intelligence. Betsy made him attend summer school, which he hated. As she told me this story, she reminded me that she doesn’t wish to be offensive, but B. complained about the stupid kids in his class “who have to wear helmets;” i. e.: they have physical and developmental disabilities. Betsy reminded him that it was his fault he was in summer school by stating that “stupid people” included him because he didn’t do his homework. Betsy’s youngest A. asked her if he would have to go to school in the summer, and she said only if he didn’t do his homework. “Good,” he said, “I don’t want to go to helmet school.”

Okay, Betsy and I can chuckle at this because 1. I have epilepsy, and 2. A. is a medically fragile kid who was born with a congenital heart defect, since corrected.

Saturday/Mekhi’s Blue Belt Test
To recap: Mekhi has been taking American Tae Kwon Do lessons at Kicks Unlimited in Sun Prairie since December 2013. This past weekend, he tested for the next belt in the progression: blue, and he’s about halfway to his black belt. During tests in the past, Brian has tried very hard not to cry because he is so proud of Mekhi (and I forgot to put extra tissues in my purse). Lisa/Mom #1 and I are proud, too, and take plenty of pictures during the belt tests (though hers turn out much better than mine).

Saturday’s test included a module test for those going for a second- or third-degree black belt, which included using and wooden and padded swords. When Brian told me the name of the wooden sword, I thought it was spelled “Bokun”; nope; it was Bokken. Go ahead and Google the first word, but know that the Urban Dictionary definition is NSFW.

After the tests were complete, some of the instructors gave inspirational speeches. One, who has lost over seventy pounds since the beginning of the year, talked about reaching a plateau and how to go beyond that. At first I thought he was talking about a Fat Toe; maybe I need to have my hearing checked again.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

“If you don’t get the ‘Leather Bear’ thing, remember to put safe search on when you Google.” – R.K. Milholland “Something Positive”

The Giant Banana Was Getting a Bit Fresh With Me…

…because I was standing in the shade of the booth where said stuffed banana could be won.

The World’s Greatest Husband (WGH) wanted to go to the Wisconsin State Fair this year, so I made all the arrangements. I paid $20 (twice the normal rate) for a preferred parking spot, and I obtained over $100 in ones because I know vendors at such places always need ones, having been a vendor myself once upon a time. Plus, we asked Mom #1 if we could take Mekhi, and of course she and our son said yes.

Our parking spot was literally across a frontage road from the main gate that one sees from the highway. Going to the fair on a Thursday also meant shorter lines everywhere (worth the day of vacation). Spin City – the midway part of the fair – was the first area just inside the gate, and we wisely bought a wrist band for unlimited rides for Mekhi. Unfortunately, the wrist band didn’t include the games, so we paid an extra $20 for 25 game/ride tickets (in case Mekhi wanted us to go on a ride with him; we didn’t because he used all the tickets for playing games). The only item he won was a big red rubber ball with a smiley face on it. The preferred parking spot paid off when the WGH took it back to the car rather than lug it around the fair all day.

After a morning round of rides, we needed something to eat. The boys ate food at the midway, but I chose to wait until we arrived at the “Wisconsin” part of the state fair, knowing of the goodies yet to come. Mekhi didn’t finish his (huge) slice of pizza, and Brian’s Philly cheesesteak wasn’t good (doesn’t help when we’ve actually been to Philadelphia and had our first cheesesteaks from one of the places that invented the sandwich).

In the Youth Expo Hall, we saw many crafts and displays from members of 4-H, the FFA, and Boy and Girl Scouts. Stars hanging from the expo roof showed pictures of famous alumni such as Tom Wopat, who was a member of FFA, and John F. Kennedy of the Boy Scouts. I didn’t see any stars with Girl Scouts alumnae, but I paid more attention to the beautiful displays. A group onstage was performing Disney’s Frozen, and the WGH didn’t like it too much when Mekhi and I sang along to “Let It Go” and “In Summer.”

We stopped in the coliseum where youth were participating in the Beef Showmanship – Junior Show. We explained to Mekhi that the young people wearing the numbered race bibs were showing off the cattle that they worked hard to raise, and they were hoping to win a ribbon.

I wanted to bring Mekhi to the state fair not only for the fun rides, but for the educational offerings available. In the Wisconsin Products Pavilion, I told Mekhi that Wisconsin doesn’t just produce beer and dairy products. We also make honey and wine; grow cranberries, ginseng, apples, potatoes, and corn; and raise lambs, goats, and pigs; among a whole variety of other goodies. Brian wished he hadn’t eaten that cheesesteak and waited for the better offerings in this pavilion. I enjoyed a huge caramel apple without the nuts.

As we walked further south, the various hawkers showed off their wares. One booth was the “let me guess your weight or age” contest, and I muttered under my breath, “I don’t want you to guess my weight.” One food truck offered jerky made from a variety of meats and sponsored by PETA: the “People Eating Tasting Animals.” I wanted to teach Mekhi the meanings behind the Wisconsin State Fair Logo (how it represents all four seasons in our home state), but by then he wasn’t in a mood for another lesson.

I searched for the Horticulture, Craft, and Culinary Pavilion, but it was hidden behind a crowd watching a street performer. We went in the Exposition Center, but when I realized it was just a room full of vendors, I decided to leave to look for the right place. I left Brian and Mekhi to watch the street performer while I quickly viewed the beautiful works of quilts, sketches, sauces (one company was called “Get Sauced”), vegetables and fruits.

The Wisconsin State Fair makes the best cream puffs in the world IMHO, and the Original Cream Puff Pavilion also included fudge, strudel, ice cream, and other sundries. The line for the cream puffs wasn’t very long, moved fast thanks to the staff, and included viewing windows to see how the pastries are made. Brian and I each enjoyed a huge cream puff (Mekhi ate some of mine, too), and sat in the Major Goolsby’s tent so we could eat with both hands.

Mekhi really wanted a caramel apple like I had earlier, so we worked our way back north to the midway. Along Dairy Lane, we passed a stall offering pony rides. $8 was a bit expensive, but worth every penny to give Mekhi his first ride ever on a horse. Then he wanted to go into the Badgerland Financial Discovery Barnyard, which was a lot of fun. Mekhi played with toy dump trucks in boxes of oats, corn, or soybeans. Then he saw baby chicks and quails coming out of their eggs. Although the signs indicated that the animals were not to be petted, one of the volunteers at the exhibit permitted Mekhi to pet a goat. In fact, the affection-sponge goat insisted on being petted. We also saw a cow with a calf, two baby lambs drinking milk from their mama’s teats, same with a group of pigs, and Mekhi also played a pig commodity game. Fun.

On our way back north, we passed the coliseum again where we saw the cattle judging events. Horses were lined up to go inside, and Mekhi got to pet one of them on the nose. Afterward, Mekhi said the horse licked him “about 5000 times.” We were stopped by the state fair security people to let a line of cows pass through, and one of the cows dropped some true “cow pies.”

Back at the midway, Mekhi had fun picking as many rides as he wanted. He finally screwed up his courage to go on a ride that went upside down, in fact riding that a couple of times. I ate some chocolate-covered strawberries on a stick while we watched our son. Brian noted that one of the warning signs said that people who are “exceptionally sized” may not be able to go on that particular ride, and I thought that was a lovely euphemism for those of us who are too fat.

Again, the preferred parking spot paid off in that I didn’t have to walk a long distance back to our car on my very, very tired and aching feet. Brian said that when we come next year, we’ll have to plan our food eating better. I told him that the state fair website has lists for that, as well as a mobile app, of course.

As we drove home, Mekhi had fun playing with his big red ball by putting Brian’s straw grass fedora on top of it or putting the ball in front of his own head. We had a great day as a family.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

“If Mekhi’s not puking by the end of the day, we’re not doing something right.” – me, discussing our trip. Mercifully, Mekhi did not puke.

Fricking Fabulous

My Mother’s Day gift for myself this year was an R2-D2 flared dress from Think Geek.com. When they advertised a red sheath dress with the twin suns of Tatooine on it, Brian, the World’s Greatest Husband (WGH), encouraged me to buy it.

The WGH and his classmates from high school (along with my brother Fran and his wife Tammy) hit the big 5-0 this year. I’m planning a party for the WGH; Fran already had a dinner at a local Famous Dave’s, and the WGH’s best friend Todd had a fun party where all the guests were encouraged “to kiss Todd anywhere.” I chose his beautifully bald noggin.

Saturday was the birthday party for Chris, one of the WGH’s high school friends, at a friend’s home near Minneapolis. Not knowing how long the party would last, we reserved a hotel room close to the house.

I tried on the red sheath suns dress, but even the WGH agreed it was too tight, so I changed into the R2D2 flare. I looked adorable in it, despite my hefty size. We tried taking the dogs to a local kennel, but the place wouldn’t let them stay without the kennel cough vaccine. One emergency phone call to our friends Ed and Sarah Jean, and our puppies were happily playing with their puppies.

My cell phone bill probably is going to be huge next month due to roaming charges. The trip to Minneapolis is easy from Madison, Wisconsin; but once there, I used my phone’s GPS and Google Maps to locate our hotel and the party. Didn’t help when Sarah Jean kept texting me photos of my dogs playing with her family. I thought Nibbler only smiled that way for me.

Because the party was potluck (I love potluck parties: so economical, so down-to-earth, and a much better variety of foods available), we planned on buying our dish to pass at a local market. After we checked into our hotel (and received a “think about us” message from our puppies when the hotel key card had a picture of a dog on it), Brian re-read the e-vite which suggested bringing lawn chairs as well. Oops. A Costco was on the way, so we shopped there. Found two pasta salads that would be perfect, but their lawn chairs were either way too expensive or had Vikings or Golden Gophers logos on them. Sorry, but that is an absolute NO for anyone at Castle Curley. Seeing my dress, a fellow customer stated I looked “fricking fabulous!” and our cashier made me go to another cashier to show off my outfit.

When we arrived at the house, we noticed they had a Vikings canopy over part of the backyard. Well, me and my Packer tattoo didn’t burst into flames walking under it, but I didn’t take too many chances. I also didn’t take any chances with the 2×4/life-sized version of Jenga set up outside; I am a klutz in the extreme. The day was hot, so I spent most of the party indoors, where the birthday boy was playing Dominion with some of his guests. We’re talking a group of gamers, members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and other varying flavors of geekdom. My R2D2 dress was a hit. We ate and chatted and had a lovely time, especially when two of the three critters (a dog and a cat, the other cat was hiding under a bed) came up to us for attention. Yes, we missed our canine and feline children very much.

We left earlier than we thought we would and could have driven home that evening, but we figured since we had the hotel room, we’d stay and enjoy the Twin Cities. We headed to The Source Comics and Games, where they have an excellent Munchkin collection, among a wide selection of games, comics, and other nerd paraphernalia. I’ve found more than one item for my collection that is out-of-print, but when a fellow customer was asking me about the game, I thought it ironic that The Source didn’t stock the base game.

We went in search of something to eat, and even though we saw “Gas-Food-Lodging” signs for restaurants, Brian proved to be a little navigationally challenged because the signs didn’t tell us which way to turn upon leaving the highway. Again, my Google Maps Fu saved the day, but I only can navigate with a GPS; never from memory. Finally after almost giving up, Brian found what he was looking for: the ubiquitous Taco Bell.

In the morning, we headed home at our leisure, listening to the “Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff” podcast along the way. When I wasn’t re-reading my journals of the past year for the Annual Review (more on that in a later entry), I was fighting falling asleep. We made at least one stop an hour to keep us both awake and safe.

When we picked up Nina and Nibbler from Ed’s house, their dogs Pedro and Lady Chatterley did not want us to take them. Sorry, but I cannot go so long without my puppies!

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

“Shut up and let Brian drive.” – my inner voice every time I wanted to tell Brian he was going the wrong way