And yes, it’s my birthday!
I’m 36 as of now. Can you tell? My blog has more laugh lines, doesn’t it?
I ruined Brett’s birthday surprise because I decided to quit letting his love of surprising me ruin my birthdays. See, Brett never likes to tell me what he has planned and most of the time what he has planned is not what I want to do. Last night I made him give up the goods. His plans were modest: Get off work a little early and take the kids over to his parents and let them get Noah to Hebrew school. Take me out for a nice dinner. Take me back there for cake with the inlaws.
Oh no. Oh no way. Nope, nope, nope.
“Forget it,” I told him. And here’s why.
1. My babysitter couldn’t come this week and she can’t come next week (exams). I have been salivating for my Wednesday night free-time at Hebrew school since I found out. On Wednesday nights I sit in my synagogue’s library and I write or I play solitaire while I listen to Sondheim. It’s the highlight of my week. No way is he taking that from me.
2. I don’t like to go out to eat at nice restaurants. Why put on uncomfortable shoes just to eat? I’ll get dressed up to see a show. I’ll get dressed up to watch a performance. I’ll get dressed up for an interesting lecture. But for food? I’ll pass.
3. I love his parents (I do) but I don’t want to make smalltalk on my birthday. I don’t want to be thinking about how we better get the kids home soon so we can get them into bed before they get cranky. Besides his mom once made me low-fat cupcakes for my birthday. See, you can’t be as fat as I am without other people assuming that I must want to lose weight. So those low fat cupcakes? They were like an extra-gift. Like, “Dawn, we love you so much and we know that the calories of birthday cake must be a headache for you every year so look what we did! Low-fat cupcakes!” And actually a chubby girl like me appreciates her buttercream frosting. If you can’t have buttercream frosting on your birthday then that is one sad birthday. They have never tried this again (I’m good at faking surprise, delight and joy when I open presents but I can’t master it when faced with a dismal, low-fat cupcake) but I’m left with an inability to enjoy high-calorie food in their presence.
Brett was sad so I started to feel guilty but then I remembered that last year I told him, “Please stop taking me out to eat on my birthday.”
The hilarious thing and proof that I know this man very very well is that Noah and I walked by the restaurant he had plans to take me to just a couple of weeks ago. And I said — I said — this would happen. I said to Noah, “What do you bet Daddy tries to take me here soon because I know he really wants to eat here.”
I’ll take him on his birthday and then it’ll all be good.
Yesterday Madison and I went to Target and she spotted a woman with an umbrella in the parking lot. As the woman passed us Madison turned and then looked at me and said, “What that big head?”
I turned, too, and it sure did look like the woman’s umbrella was an enormous hat. Madison’s pretty funny. And as a birthday present to me, she slept through the night last night for the first time since she’s been sick. Thank god.
Now go check out another birthday girl, one who is a mere pup compared to me.
Happy day! Love you, love you, love you.
pup, my butt! many many happy days for you! you’re always a constant, and for that i am grateful!
Happy Birthday and good on you for taking your day into your own hands.
I too don’t generally enjoy the surprises that have been sprung on me and have been much more vehement about playing a big part in what happens to me on my birthday.
Happy birthday! You’re just a baby, you know.
Surprises, in my mind at least, are overrated. I really don’t like surprises. So have a wonderful day, with no surprises!
Happy birthday, Dawn! And I’m totally with you about the buttercream.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!!
Happy birthday, Dawn! Welcome to 36. I got here a couple of months ahead of you so I could prepare the way.
I’m totally with you on the buttercream. Low-fat anything has no place in a birthday celebration, but especially not in the (cup)cake!
Happy birthday! Hope you have a great time.
Happy Birthday! Maybe it be a year filled with getting exactly what you want, you’re off to a good start already. SWAK
36 is very young and is extremely glamorous. Hope you are having a wonderful day. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Dawn!
Happy Birthday!
‘Have a bird sit on you!’
Many happy returns…
Paige
Happy birthday, Dawn! Hope you have lots of buttercream icing!
Happy Birthday, my dear. I had no idea you were younger than me… sigh.
Happy Birthday!
I would vote for letting Brett surprise you maybe other year because its so sweet and I’m envious, okay?
- how about giving him some suggestions for surprises you’d actually like?
Happy Birthday!!
Oh, the bitterness of a low-fat cupcake.
Here’s to a full-fat day!
Happy Birthday!
Ah to be young again…
.:sigh:.
Many happy returns!
Happy 36th birthday! I’m 37 and loving my 30’s!
Screw low-fat cupcakes, gross! Everyone deserves a calorie filled cake with lots of buttercream frosting on their birthday, so go buy yourself one!
Hope you have a great, surprise-free day!
HA - a woman spending HER birthday as she pleases - LOVE IT! I hope you eat something wonderfully *sinful* and full of buttercream
Happy Birthday - from an older than you *pup*
Happy Birthday Dawn! I’d forgotten it was today - same day as my best friend, who has a surprising amount in common with you, including turning 36 today. She doesn’t read or write blogs though.
As for those low-fat cupcakes - yuk! I hope you have a wonderful time at Hebrew class (or rather, not at it) tonight. And lots of good quality cake.
sleeping through the night - what a great present!
hope you had a happy day - and year. 36 is not old. (i’m younger, and still think it isn’t old)
Low fat cupcakes?!! And on your birthday?!!!
Happy (belated)Birthday Dawn…I don’t comment much anymore but couldn’t let this one go by. Hugs,
Angela (Eos)