If We Were Vampires

"It's knowing that this can't go on forever / Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone / Maybe we'll get forty years together / But one day I'll be gone or one day you'll be gone."

I think of this lyric a lot. I have since I first heard this song years ago.

Today 710 and I hit 'forty years together'. 

I'd say 'ugh' but that's more of a thought of time passing (and time left) than with whom I'm passing said time. 

40 years is a fuck of a long time. There is just no way around that. I was probably wearing two Swatch watches at the time. The horror!

I know I'm a better man / person because of 710. Better half, if you will. He is kinder, nicer, gentler than I. He is funnier than you'd expect, which kind of makes him even more funny due to that. 

Over the years here, I've said we had tough and trying times with the relationship. That was a long time ago, but things that have stuck with us from which we've learned - and learned not to forget or take for granted. 

I always feel weird when someone asks how long we've been together. You can see them start to do math in their head. I was 21; he 24. Obviously, at the time, we didn't know it would be a lifetime thing. Who does at that age?

When we married in 2010, the vows you've heard so many times about sickness/health, richer/poorer etc actually meant something. We had lived all of that in the 25 years we had been together before tying the knot. Couples who get married after being together for 2-3 years and saying those things truly are going through the motions. Those words brought us to tears. 

"Maybe time running out is a gift / I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift / And give you every second I can find / And hope it isn't me who's left behind."

I have also said in this here blog, I want to go first, just like the lyric says. It is 100% selfish and I recognize that. I try not to think about the time we have left, but hitting 60 just makes me feel old(er). We talk about age more. I don't know how we survive without each other - though billions of other couples have done it in the past. I try not to dwell on that. 

710 is confident he'll go first, just due to my genetics. He's usually right about so much, so here is hoping he is wrong on this one. 

The idea is to spend our time in the present and loving and appreciating each other - even though I know I make it difficult. There is a LOT of eye rolling on his part - and it is deserved. 

As you probably know, our anniversary / wedding dates do not match up. I somewhat regret that, but what are you gonna do?  January dates suck mostly due to the weather. 

We have nothing planned for today. Absolutely nothing. 

We had opted for a nice dinner out, as we rarely do that anymore. But it will be below 0°F. That does not sound like fun. And I think we would have done it, but Shep has a minor procedure at the vet tomorrow, so we are spending the evening with him. 

We will attempt dinner this weekend. I think we know which restaurant we will want to patronize. 

I'd like to say we are on our way to closing in on the Golden Anniversary, but we'll also be past 70 years old.........and that is just weirding me out.  I'm assuming if we are still ambulatory then, we'll do somethign special. 

You won't be able to hold me to that though. 

I don't often do this, but here is a link to the blog title song that goes along with the lyrics. 

The title image is thanks for Meredith, and is from November 2000. 

Song by: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Love Story

Can I tell you how much I don't care how people pretend not to care about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce?

I honestly, save one song, don't really know or care for Swift's music, but she is a musical business genius - or at least someone on her team is. In a world of Vegas residencies, she sold out every show that was 3-4 times the size of any Vegas venue. And in Vegas, you can't play more than something like 90 minutes, because it affects the casino cash.  Honest.  She plays for 3.5 hours. 

There was an article a few weeks back that only Swift can save the music industry - and they might be correct. She takes stands professionally, business-wise and political wise and has the power to get away with it all. Streaming service seem great, but will legit kill the music business, and companies buying up all musical rights aren't helping matters. 

Back to her date. 

If Fox "news" comments on it, and in a negative way, for fuck sake, pork that football players brains out. Or at the very least, pretend to. 

The brand is just pissed that the Chief games are on CBS or NBC, and viewership has rocketed on the hopes of seeing Swift in the stands.

And well, Swift is an ally to the LGBT community, stands up for civil rights and talks down Tennessee politicians and BLOTUS himself.  Fox's problem is her popularity and what her outspokenness can do. Kelce is one of the few white football players to take a knee. This coupling is a threat to Fox and their viewers. Of course they don't want to see this. Or want anyone else to see this. 

I want to hear about people seeing it. On the surface, I don't give a rat's ass who dates anyone, but if this makes others bristle, it's probably a good thing. I'm fine with them putting up a facade of liking each other, even if they don't. 

Of course, I like the rumours that the other Kelce brother is dating Jake from State Farm, since he was with the mom Kelce. Jake seems more in touch with his feelings than Taylor. 

Song by: Taylor Swift

Jeopardy

So.......last Friday night, 710 and I had dinner and do what all men our age do:  watch Jeopardy. 

A newer thing of the program - in the last year or so - is showing who is on the next show. I vaguely pay attention to these, because....well.....who really knows or cares.

The announcer didn't even need to say the name of the dude (in the Cindy Brady box), as I knew who it was. Dan. 

I'll leave it at first name. If you want to know his last, you can watch yesterday's show. 

Back in the '80s, I went out with Dan for a few weeks. Maybe longer. Whatever the timeframe, it seemed longer than it was. Or should have been. We were all young once, right? We all made mistakes. 

As my post from 2011 says, he was a bit psycho. These days - and back in 1944 - they'd call it 'gaslighting'.  Telling me he was somewhere - or on his way - when he wasn't and didn't. Accusing me of liking another guy, only to start dating that guy for years. And possibly slashing two of my car tires. 

I was not sorry to move on. 

Save a comment here and there on FB, I have had no interaction with Dan for the last 12 years, since that dinner. I'm good with that. Yet, there he was last Friday, staring back at me, finally finding a shirt collar he could button. I'll give it up to the wardrobe department at Merv Griffin Enterprises.......they can work miracles. 

But poor Dan. He started off rough - not unlike Cindy Brady when she was on a quiz show. He stumbled, stuttered and said "the London Ripper guy" - and not "Jack". He also lost on guessing "Shadows of the Night". Pat Benatar was as disappointed as I. 

The meet & greet part was probably the worst. His daughter plays soccer and he admitted to knowing nothing about it. WHAT'S TO KNOW?  You kick a ball into a net. The goalie is the only one who can use their hands. Has he never watched Ted Lasso? I can't image when it's his turn to bring orange slices for after the game, the rest of the soccer moms are going to be happy. 

As it turns out - and spoiler alert - that's the only time you're gonna see him. He won't even be an alternate on the Tournament of Champions. 

Song: the Greg Kihn Band

Till Death Do Us Part

For better or worse, that's what they say.

In 30 years we have seen both. Ditto with sickness and health. Richer and poorer too.

Yes, we have had some bumps along the way, some stops and starts, but today we consider it our 30th anniversary.

Can you believe it?  I cannot.

As I've said in previous posts, before same-sex weddings, us gays had seemingly arbitrary dates in which to attach our relationships. 710 and I are no different. We have our official wedding date, which was 25+ years after our "considered start date".

We had met at work. Looking back, it's inexplicable how or why we were drawn to each other. Neither of us were at our prime, even at 21 and 24. We were awkward at best. Still, I knew (or hoped) as we sat there day after day that we would go out.  ...and with the help of after work outings with co-workers, we eventually did....but then eventually without the others.

For years - decades maybe - the relationship was more work than pleasure. Much earlier on, I used to think it should be easier than it was and that we should just be able to enjoy it. But let's face it, I'm immature, so it took a lot more work on both our parts before we got to a point where buttons weren't pushed.

Oh hell, it took a while before we found out we had those buttons....and then we had to test and retest them.

It's safe to say that 710 has put up with a lot more with / of me than the other way around. Illness and surgeries just plagued me. Then there was our moving back to Cleveland where my family resides. It would have been easy - and maybe wise - to cut and run, but he did not. And now he can't, because of the kids.

Sometimes it seems like it has indeed been 30 years, and in other ways, it seems like only 30 months. He continues to make me smile and laugh (often unexpectedly) and sometimes he makes me grind my teeth. Hopefully I do the same for him..minus the teeth grinding thing, though I know I can frustrate him.

If How I Met Your Mother has taught us anything (and it has!!!!!), it is that in any relationship, one person is 'the reacher' and one is 'the settler'.

710 will deny it, but he is the settler. Poor 710.

So tonight we will go out to a really nice dinner. I'm such an old fart, I told him we could wait till the weekend, but 710 is insistent - and rightfully so - that we celebrate the day. This is why a January "anniversary" sucks....one must bundle up against the cold to go out to do anything special...when they'd (i.e. me!) would rather just nest at home.

As for anything else special for such a milestone, that will wait for better weather. A better time of year.

The idea is / was going to Paris, but who wants to go in January? And now since I posted a Charlie Hebdo cover on my FB page, ISIS is just waiting for me to step into France's border. I won't give them that satisfaction.......at least for a few months. When I eventually get there, they can do their worst.

My genetic make-up (again, for better or worse) can have me hanging around for another 30 more. Hopefully 710's genes will have him do the same. Maybe by the time we hit our 60th, same sex marriage will finally be legal in Ohio.




As for the title image - you get a little seen glimpse of 710, albeit from 1988.

There he is in his Ravenclaw dress robes graduation gown. There I am in....lord knows where I got those pants, but it was the '80s. And no belt???  (and yes Morty & Co. this was taken outside of the old Larkins Hall.)

I got to meet my future in-laws for the first time that day...including his grandparents, sister and brother and their spouses. And this was three years after we started going out.

We might have pictures of us together that were slightly earlier than that. There are of me. There are of him. But I can't find any of us together. So this will have to do.



Well tomorrow starts the trek to 31 years.  Wish us luck.



Song by: Madonna

A Different Point of View

While they say opposites attract - or at least Paula Abdul and some animated "singing" cat say it - now and again I am struck what different reactions 710 and I have to certain things.

I would say usually we are on the same page, or at least know what page each of us would be on in certain scenarios.  The other night, not so much. Not that he knew it.

Monday morning, I woke around 3:30 and smelled fire. I also heard fire engines.

Now rescue vehicles coming and going at all hours of the night is not unusual, and I've even learned, for the most part, to successfully ignore them. If I didn't, I'd never sleep, or think.

Oddly enough, I was having an extensive dream that involved fire and that chick from Law & Order SVU. Perhaps, I incorporated fire into my subconscious, or the entire dream, because I smelled smoke. Or maybe like Firestarter, I conjured up flames.

I laid there for an hour or two a few minutes contemplating 'what to do'. The sirens were continual, but not really getting any closer.  Yes, the windows were open, but there was no breeze to speak of - so no real blowing smoke from a nearby fire into the house.

Finally, I lightly whispered to a sleeping 710, "do you smell smoke".  He awoke immediately and said, "yes!".

We were out of bed - both nekkid - looking for....well, I don't know what. He saw nothing, I saw nothing, the sirens had stopped and hadn't gotten close to our house, let alone in our actual 'hood.  Our house wasn't on fire.

He went back to bed and immediately fell asleep.

...and that's where our paths diverge.

I stayed awake. Wide awake.

What if?

Where was Sophie? How would we get her out - and what would we do with her once we did?  What exit would we use? Where were my clothes and glasses?  What do we try to save?  When was the last time I backed up my laptop - and even if I did, where was the external hard drive? Do we need the house reassessed to take into account the renovations - so when we filed an insurance claim we had entire coverage? Where would we stay during reconstruction time?

....yeah.....there  was no going back to sleep for Blobby.

I don't have ideations of how I'll die, but in a fire seems to rank up there in the crappiest fashion, which is most likely the real reason I never went back to Dream SVU land - all those questions just filled in the time.  Yet next to me was the man I'm spending my life with - asleep and unaware.


Song by: Pet Shop Boys

Subculture

There's a Seinfeld episode where Jerry tells Elaine everything he knows about the arts has come from Looney Tunes.

True that.

Jerry may have been the first to put that on TV, but certainly not the first one to verbalize that thought.

710 thinks I snagged him under the pretense that I like opera.  I can't say I really do. Circumstances were such, back in 1985, that I would tell him about my sister singing opera. I even had a vinyl copy of La Boheme just to familiarize with piece before performed it.  710 saw it and assumed I had more culture and taste than I really do.

You're talking to the guy who tells the U.S.S Enterprise / toilet paper joke once a year like clockwork.

I enjoy some classical music, but I can't tell composer from composer and I have a short attention span when it comes to the genre. I guess I could have stopped after 'I have a short attention span'.

Many a Saturday morning, 710 will put on PBS, where they have an MTV-like show for classical pieces. Classical, meaning it ranges from Copland and Bernstein back to Bach and Verdi.  Some are clips of symphonies playing, or arias being sung. Like anything - some good, some bad, some tolerable, some just highly annoying.

But it's nice that while 710 can appreciate the higher culture in life, that I can make him laugh during it.  ...well, now and again.

Take yesterday morning, between clips PBS played some interlude music that happened to be from the Barber of Seville. Oddly enough, my first exposure to this opera was when in the Little Rascals, Alfalfa decided he didn't want to croon anymore and be a serious artist. It didn't work out.

My second exposure was Bugs Bunny doing hair on Elmer Fudd.  Bugs also "did hair" on that monster too. ...and he wears dresses and lipstick.  Something might be up with Bugs and gender identity.

So while the interlude music played, 710 looks over and me, and I use my hands to air massage a make believe scalp (see the title image). Without having to explain myself, he starts laughing, as he knows exactly what I am up to....and laughs.

Clearly, it is not impossible to maintain a household of high and low culture.  For the record....I'm the low part.


Song by: New Order

Half as Much

Today is 710's birthday.

....and I've done next to nothing.  I could make dinner and dessert, but chances are we'll just go out to dinner on the weekend instead. It will be a typical Thursday at Chez Blob.  ...and that's ok.

There will be a present, but a small one. ...and it might not arrive on time. It's is currently tracked to Columbus - well, at 13:41 yesterday. If it's moved, no one at UPS has updated their system.

The renovation was our presents - for the next 12 years, so he isn't really expecting anything - unless he reads this instead of the morning paper (which he won't).

Of course the big present is me. I mean, why wouldn't it be?

I was thinking, yesterday, in the new shower, that while I won't tell you how old he is, that in his entire lifetime, he has spent more birthdays with me than without. That is kind of semi-incredible fact....at least to me.

On another birthday note, my oldest niece turned 21 two days ago? How'd that happen? Wasn't it just a few years ago I held her after she came home from the hospital?  Didn't I just attend her first birthday party - seen here?

She didn't have a rough b-day and ralph in the trash can - she just dropped some stuffed animal in there.
Where has the time gone? Whether it be my time with 710 or having my niece become legal.

Katie will get a nicer gift than 710. We'll get her a Amex gift card she can take to Italy. Oh yes, she's going to Italy and Croatia after school is out next month. I'll want her to have a good time and a little money she can use for fun.

710?  No gift card.  No Europe. No trash can.  He just gets me.



Song by: Patsy Cline

My True Love

We flew in under the radar. At least the news and at least to most people.

Yesterday, Denton and I got married in Washington DC.

Mallied? Yeah - mallied.......sheeesh (you have to say it like Long Duck Dong).

I know most of you who follow this here blog-thingy knew we were planning on getting married, I even probably put a date of August/September on the books for this to happen. Alas, it did not - and all due to my work schedule.

Partially because of this, it was even smaller of a ceremony than we anticipated - and that the original wasn't sizeable to being with. We had a window of opportunity and we took it. It was either that or wait until 2011. We discussed for a while and decided to go for it.

Because of our decision, we knew we were giving up a few things - and mainly those were people we wanted to be there, but we made it difficult for them to attend. I'm sure if we even gave them two more weeks, they might have - but frick, I would have felt guilty about them having to trek to DC for that, especially so close to the holidays and their own vacations.

It sounds lame when you say it out loud like that, but it is the truth. As it turns out we had one guest: Rebecca.

She really dropped everything to be there. I was elated, I was guilt-ridden. It was between her class schedule and going on her 10th anniversary trip with her husband. That she showed was nothing short of amazing. And she really did represent our other close friends who could not attend.

As I mentioned in a July post regarding getting married, we were not planning on doing it at the courthouse. First off, I didn't like the venue. Secondly, we would have had to battle the final day of the Chandra Levy trial. We wanted to do it outside, if possible.

I had vetted a number of officiants, some who were good, but unavailable, some who were just loons before I found one I really liked. While a religious man, he didn't push that aspect - and he was gay too, so he kind of got where we were coming from.

Ed, the officiant, helped me with narrowing down a location and even helped with a photographer. He was a great non-wedding planner, wedding planner.

We opted for the Enid Haupt Garden, right outside the Smithsonian castle. The photographer, a graduate student from American University. I snapped this pic while we waited to start.

The ceremony was not long, but it was very emotional for not only Denton and myself, but Rebecca too. No one is ashamed to say that tears were shed by all. Well, maybe not by Jordan, the photog.

Since we were out in the open, a number of people witnessed the ceremony. Four people eating lunch in the garden broke into applause and congratulated us. Ditto with some people elsewhere in the garden when we took pictures afterwards. It was very nice and very reaffirming.

...and it was a perfect day. 60 degrees, blue sky with white clouds (see above pic). What more could you ask for?

I said - "I couldn't have planned this better". Becky came back easily with, "you didn't".

True that! We didn't.

There was very little planning. And by little, I mean almost none.

We had "rehearsal dinner" (i.e. small plates and tequila) the night before, and then a great dessert of oh, say, toffee covered pretzels and Prosecco....all while back in our hotel room with TV and each on our laptops. Ahhhh.....the 21st century!

Becky did a few grand gestures one being going out the morning of the wedding and getting us boutiners....and she read a Navajo poem at the ceremony as well. It was beautiful....and she made a little funny at the end of it. She also went and did the whole something old/new/borrowed/blue thing, which never even crossed our minds. Maybe pictures of that later.

After all was said and done, we had our "reception". Or as you people call it: lunch.

On a whim, we went to the W on 15th St. We hit the rooftop for lunch, as it overlooks the White House.

Yes, wine in mid-day....and more small plates. And a great view, with my now husband, and a great friend.

Once we sort through the pictures and such, I may post some here. Denton has been fairly invisible here and he likes that, but we'll see. If nothing else, I'm sure I have shots of just me I can post.



Song by: the Eurythmics

Silver Lining

Hard as it is to believe, and as weird as this might sound, despite a few years break, today Denton and I celebrate our 25th anniversary!!!!

What you say? A quarter of a century??? But that's not what you're saying right now. Right now you're really saying: What????.....a few years break?

It's true. We were young and not necessarily equipped to handle all the things that two gay men in their early 20's have thrown at them. And we separated after 3 years together. We moved out into our own places but never really embarked on lives of our own.

We had keys to each other's apartments and Denton used his daily....or nightly, as the case may be (he worked 3-11p) and would stop over every night as I was getting ready for bed. We'd talk, he'd tuck me in and then he'd go home.

I would go to his place and house sit when he was out of town. I'd go down to use our (yes, it was still ours) washer and dryer. I'd go down to play with Kylie, which he got as a kitten when we lived apart - but it was I to set those wheels in motion by getting him kitten food, litter pan, etc so he would get a cat.

We went on vacation together. We basically did everything but live together and sleep together while we were apart. The two of us even dated other people, which all ended disastrously because deep down we knew that we were meant to be together. I think we even sabotaged those pseudo-relationships by introducing who we were dating to each other. Even most of those guys could see that we were passing time till we figured it all out on how to be together.

It was just a growing-up time for both of us and deep down, we never really feel like we've been apart and that this truly is our silver anniversary.

The image above isn't far from the truth. We were young and were lacking many funds, all I had to give was my heart. Regardless of what we have achieved financially, it is only the heart that really matters. It is all I really have to give that is of any value - not that Luigi, the Pawn Broker would give me anything for it.

When it comes down to it, I wouldn't be where I am without Denton. I would like to think he wouldn't be where he is without me by his side.

Regardless of what the religious or political right say, we have established very stable lives because of each other: personal, professional, family. So, they can't take that away from us as a couple or a group.



So - 25 years. Who knew?

Today we have no big plans, I mean, I have yoga! Just kidding. Kind of. I do have yoga. We'll do something over the weekend. A really really nice dinner out. We're pretty low-key people.

There are no gifts. We're planning a trip for mid-spring and that will be our gift to each other. I mean, who really wants to go away in January unless it were someplace like Hawaii? And in reality, I just started a new job. I can't really up and leave after only three weeks of being there.

Anyhoo - I'm pretty psyched to make this milestone. And the "joke" is, most every couple of guys we know are 10 years plus together, but more of them closing in on 20. Maybe it's the crowd we run in, but I think that we are and can be a committed cohort.

So, if he reads this - Denton should just know that I love him. That's it. Simple.


Song by: Rilo Kiley

Forgotten Worlds

What a weird existence these social networking sites have brought us. Blogging. Twittering. Facebook. Linked-In. Like high school, I belong to them and yet do not feel that I fit in. But life is an extension of high school, so...........there's that.

Twitter has basically been non-existent for me lately. I can't think of the last time I logged on, let alone posted a twat.

Linked-In is there, but what do you really do with it? I know you're supposed to network, but it's just Facebook without the updates of, "I'm going to yoga now....". They want you to tell people what you're reading. Do I think potential employers want to know I'm reading "The Life and Times of Joey Stefano"?

I kid. I kid. That is a "movie", not a book!

Blogging, well, I am still doing every day. so............there's that. And I go to Facebook usually daily but will not tell FB what is on my mind on a consistent basis.

Now you folks know when I blog, I will mention Denton. For a long time I just called him 'the BF' because he did not sign up to be on a blog. I was trying to be courteous. Oh - stop laughing. I can be if I have to be.

But now and again he'll read what I write and I got caught for calling him 'the BF'. There's no winning. So now you get his name.

On FB, I don't really mention him at all. And by "don't really", I mean other than saying I'm "in a relationship", you'd just never know he existed.

One of Denton's friends (yes, not really mine) requested me to friend her on FB, and I did. Denton does not have a FB account either....or twitter, or a blog, nor is he linked-in. He's the anti-Blobby.....in so many ways.

When I do put what is on my mind, it's usually frivolous life things: gym, food, travel, etc. My #1 Facebook Fan is my cousin. We exchange stupid little comments back and forth on each other's posts. I could see where someone might think........well.....you know. I mean - they don't know we're cousins, so people could get the wrong idea.

Kathleen might be one of these people.

Denton gets an email the other night from Kathleen asking if he and I had broken up. The rationale? "Blobby" never mentions you on his Facebook posts!!!!

LOLLLLLLLL. I coud not stop laughing.

I don't know Denton found it that amusing. I confirmed to him, that I indeed do not mention him. ....and that I assume people think David and I are dating due to our back and forth. But I don't keep my friends - current or way back ones who haven't really kept up with me - up on my home/love life.

I'm not that guy.

...and trust me, as curious as Denton might have been on why I don't mention him/us, he's not that guy either. I don't think he ever emailed Kathleen back to answer her.


Song by: Delerium

Comfort

Ugh. Yesterday we went over to my little sister's house for a small-ish gathering. It was when we were halfway there did I realize we had not been over, or invited over, for almost two years.

I guess it should be mentioned that she lives less than 30 minutes away from us.

I don't think she is harboring resentment at us or anything, but we certainly don't see them a lot. I see them at my parents and they've been over our house a few times, but it is usually to drop off their kids so we can babysit. I'm not really complaining. While I like my sister and her husband, we clearly don't see eye-to-eye on politics. And by that it would be closer to eye-to-big toe.

A bigger group of right wing nuts you'd never want to meet. So maybe that has a bit to do with why we're not asked over. I really don't know. Or care.

The other thing we differ on is religion. She married into a large Italian Catholic family - and raising their kids as such. Strike Two, I guess.

I could almost deal with their Jesus this and Jesus that crap it weren't for the hypocrisy - which I guess is the spine of Catholicism. You know, having their kids sing songs about Jesus while downloading music from the internet without paying for it.

I mean, I'll peer to peer share songs too, but I don't tell my kids not to steal from the other side of my mouth.

Let's say nothing of my brother-in-law's previous divorce and my sister living with him before marriage. Aren't those on the pope's 'Not To Do' List?

But the actual thing that I loved about the day was that one of the in-laws in-laws came up and introduced themselves to me and then to Denton. I missed the exchange, but apparently she asked who Denton was to Denton. Just being honest he said, "we're partners".

It seems that a records needle got dragged across the vinyl with that statement. Denton said her face just dropped! I'm sure we were persona non-grata upon leaving - though I'm guessing they did indeed all talk about us afterwards.

I have zero idea of my sister and brother in law have never mentioned this to some of their family or not. I mean, her in-laws have known us for longer than a decade, so are we just too embarrassing to talk about?

I kind of hope so. And I'm happy to make those kind of folks squirm a bit and forced to sit there and have cake with two homos.

Luckily the "flatware" was plastic, so they can just throw everything out because lord knows whatever we touched can't ever come truly clean.



Song by: Michael Penn

Birthday

It's like Birthday Central this last week.

My oldest niece turned 18. I swear it was like a nano-second ago she was born. Her parents had a party for her - well a cookout with just the family. It was nice....and great weather. 80s at 21:00. You gotta love that in April. Four years ago on that same day we got about 14" of snow, so it really can go either way.

But she modeled her prom dresses for us. Only one stays - the rest go back. She didn't want to show us, but I did an impromptu Kelly Kapoor-ism "fashion show! fashion show! fashion show at lunch!!!" which made her parents burst out laughing. Who knew they'd remember an Office episode from like three years ago?

Both were nice, but prom dresses are not what I thought they were - at least they're not now. I didn't go to prom for a number of reason - one being unsaid and yet still fairly obvious. The second being I went to an all boys school and knew no girls - which ironically enough has/had nothing to do with the obvious reason.

Our prom theme was Bruce Springsteen's "She's the One", which I never understood. I thought prom themes were supposed to be timely from the year of the actual prom - not a song released six years earlier. I provided a write-in vote: Nick Lowe's "Cruel to be Kind". It wasn't picked.

Denton's birthday was yesterday. It was a low key event - him and me. Usually we do a combined thing, but he wanted my niece to have it all to herself. He really just didn't want undo attention. So he got none. I mean - we went out for lunch and made a nice dinner and I got him a nice present. I thought. So did he.

Yup, I bought him art. I saw this at a local exhibit and purchased it - without his prior approval. Risky, I know, but I really really liked it. And hell, I have known him so long I was 87% sure he would too....and he did.

Denton has a background in architecture and city planning so anything with buildings usually gets a pass.

But I thought we needed more original artwork in the house and it is from a local artist, so I thought it was a good move. We're not sure where we are going to hang it, but it is safe to say it will most likely go in the living room.

I hate the title of the piece though: Gossip in the City. Of course I think of Sex and the City - which makes me think of Brian on Family Guy saying: "so....this is basically about three hookers and their mom?"

We have two kitty birthdays this week too: Kylie would have been 18. We lost her almost three years ago, but we still honour her in any way we can. Tovah turns 15 !!! She'll get wet food (which totally grosses me out) and some extra treats.

Now the focus is on a next year. It's a big birthday for Denton, so we do have to honour and acknowledge it. We're planning on doing it with a trip. We have it narrowed to two places so hopefully it will all work out. It seems a long way off, but we really do need to just buckle down and do it.



Song by: the Jesus & Mary Chain