And Another Year Passes...

I had a wonderful birthday weekend. I took Friday off from work and awaited the delivery of our new bed, which miraculously appeared in the early part of the 4-hour timeframe I was given, so it freed up the entire morning for me. I spent most of it putting things away in the bedroom and trying to make everything fit better, because the bed is HUGE! But so far, totally worth it.

The rest of the day I did some other things around the house and then went shopping. I had just gotten in the car to head back home when I got a call from Husband.

"What do you want for your birthday?" he says. "Do you want something practical or fun?"

"Fun," I said, "something I want but I wouldn't buy for myself."

"OK. I'll see you in a little bit."

So he came home early, and offered to take me to an early movie and then to dinner. When we got in the car, there was a CD sitting in my seat. It was a Bon Jovi greatest hits CD called "This Left Feels Right." (I had mentioned a few weeks ago after hearing "Living on a Prayer" on the radio that I wouldn't mind having some of those old songs on the iPod). We popped it in, expecting to jam to the soaring vocals of Jon Bon Jovi in the height of his 80s heyday.

Instead we heard this. Apparently this CD is some sort of experimentation in re-arrangements or mind-altering drugs, or both. It is just weird. The hits we all know and love sound like some kind of lame lounge singing and have been twisted into weird chords and melodic alterations that turn upbeat hairband songs into plodding, slow dirges. We had a good chuckle, but Husband was also a bit irritated because there was no indication on the outside of the CD, and he had been so happy thinking he got me something I wanted.

Luckily the theater is not far from home, so we were not subjected to the lounge singing for too long. I had been given the cinematic choice of Kung Fu Panda or the new Indiana Jones movie. I wasn't really in the animated feature kind of mood, so I chose Indiana. All I can say is, this movie is a stinker. Definitely not up to par with the the previous three, and as general movies go it was just bad. So Husband was feeling like he was striking out on the birthday extravaganza.

Redemption was certain at dinner, and we were not disappointed. We went to one of our favorite local Thai restaurants, Thahn Do. The food, as always, was excellent. Husband asked me if I wanted the rest of my birthday gift that night, since we had a wedding to attend the next day, on my actual birthday. I said sure, and he said part of the deal was that I had to do something for him when we got home.

We get home and I ask what it is he needs me to do.

"Dance for me," he says.

"Say what?!"

"Open your present and you'll see what I mean."

I was a little uncertain, but when I saw what it was, I got a big old smile on my face. My man bought me Dance, Dance Revolution for the Wii.

So now I am a 32-year-old dancin' machine.

Addendum: I guess I forgot to finish the rest of the weekend...on Saturday we went to my friend Eric's wedding to a super sweet woman, Gretchen. It was a wonderful celebration - they got married at a big downtown church and had a swanky reception at The Depot in Minneapolis. It was a fancy affair but also very sincere and heartfelt and FUN! I caught up with some old co-workers (was even serenaded 'Happy Birthday' by the group) and Husband and I had a dance or two and a drink or three. I was so happy for Eric and Gretchen, and it was a great way to spend my birthday. Today, for Father's Day, we were able to pick up Brandon and have brunch with Husband's family at Mystic Lake Casino, followed by a relaxing afternoon catching up with my dad, and my friend Kristy who is due to have a baby in about a week! In my opinion, the perfect birthday weekend!