Bowling for Birthdays

When it comes to birthdays, many people are of the mindset that denial is the best policy. However, I am of the opinion that that is stupid. We have no control over the passage of time. Time passes whether we acknowledge it or not so why not party? This conviction is one of the reasons I never let Jason’s birthday go by without a whoopty doo. He’s supportive of my whoopty-doo policy since he loves his friends and rowdy get-togethers with them.

Bowling isn't usually considered a wild sport but...
Bowling isn’t usually considered a wild sport but…

This year, I decided to throw a bowling party for Jason’s birthday in a private four-lane suite at Jupiter Bowl in Park City. About two dozen buddies joined us for this pin pig out. We had the room for three hours but, thanks to all our yakking, those in my­ lane only made it through one game and part of another. No, it wasn’t my fastest bowling or my finest for that matter; I was too distracted. To be honest, I’m not even sure who amongst us won. The distractions suited Jim though; he bowled five strikes in a row. I don’t know if that has an official name but I’m going to call it a turkey sandwich.

Jupiter Bowl's private suite was pretty classy and comfy.
Jupiter Bowl’s private suite was pretty classy and comfy.
The food was rather unhealthy and we consumed rather a lot of it.
The food was rather unhealthy and we consumed rather a lot of it.

Food was served periodically throughout the night. I’m glad I requested that it be supplied in stages; it would have been way too much all at once. A selection of cheeses, dried fruits, and crackers awaited our arrival. An hour later, crab and corn fritters with basil aioli, tempura shrimp with yuzu-soy dipping sauce, curried cauliflower tempura, and Jamaican jerk chicken skewers with pineapple salsa were all brought out. An hour after that, we sang happy birthday to Jason with chocolate-hazelnut-banana puff pastries and vanilla ice cream topped with five-spice poached pears in a port reduction.

Jason rarely gets embarrassed but for some reason this outpouring of masculine attention made him self-conscious.
Jason rarely gets embarrassed but for some reason this outpouring of masculine attention made him self-conscious.

It was an ear and pin-splitting night. Thanks everyone that came to celebrate my fantastic man! Time passes but I don’t see why that means opportunities for great memories need to be passed up as well.

A Party with a Twist

I am no artist. If you don’t believe me, I can draw you some convincing stick figures. However, because I am happy to undertake that which I suck at, I welcomed Jason’s suggestion of celebrating my birthday via a painting party at Painting with a Twist. Many of our friends also cheered this idea and, thus, it became a colorful reality.

We had 14 in our group, almost the studio max.
We had 14 in our group, almost the studio max.

Since everyone at my party had to paint the same picture, I wanted it to be selected fairly. So, after sifting through over 4,000 options, I created a preference survey for a handful of the cooler ones. My survey didn’t exactly work. Someone (Cameron) took it multiple times. Consequently, the real winner, a Harry Potter castle, got supplanted by an Asian wave. Still, our Japanese-style surfs looked awesome!

I'm a perfectionist in all things, even that which I suck at.
I’m a perfectionist in all things, even that which I suck at.

The painting process went astonishingly fast so there wasn’t much time to socialize during it but we went to dinner at Leatherby’s with a subset of our party goers afterward, which offered more chances to chat.

Our waves, although from one source, took on distinct characteristics.
Our waves, although from one source, took on distinct characteristics.

Thanks everyone that joined us for my twisted party. Nothing says “we’re friends” quite like matching decor.

My Love Song

I can be an intimidating person to be married to. Just ask my husband.

I put a lot of effort into the gifts I bestow on others, which can cause panic when those others cannot concoct a thoughtful way to reciprocate. I have witnessed Jason squirming for this very reason. However, on our anniversary this year he had no reason to dread.

Every gift Jason gave me was tagged with the verse to which it belonged.
Every gift Jason gave me was tagged with the verse to which it belonged.

My favorite poem is T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. For our anniversary, Jason read this poem to me. Each verse had an associated gift. They were all tagged with fancy handwritten versions of the poignant words they referenced.

According to Jason, this particular scenario happened because the cat didn't realize that a computer mouse isn't a real mouse.
According to Jason, this particular scenario happened because the cat didn’t realize that a computer mouse isn’t a real mouse.

This wasn’t the first time Jason jotted The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock in its entirety for me. He presented it bit by bit via handwritten scrolls the day he purposed. So this anniversary gift was a nod to that proposal.

The cat was intent on watching my bird watching book one morning.
The cat was intent on watching my bird watching book one morning.

Nice job Jason! It’s hard to keep up with a woman that sews a Han Solo costume or creates a whole scrapbook of lost childhood photos as just part of her spouse’s Christmas presents. Nicely done indeed.

On a side note, Jason moves the toy cat that was among his Eliot offerings around nearly every day, creating different feline motifs. I must say, it’s quite hilarious and Jason-ish.