Septiheptihan

Sixteen years ago I married my wife. Since then I don't think I've ever regretted it or doubted that it was the absolutely right thing for me to do. She is my best friend and I believe she always will be. This helps make the marriage work. Sometimes I wonder why she puts up with me. Other times (much much more rarely) I wonder why I put up with her. It must be looooove.

We aren't big on ceremony/hokieness. Nevertheless I have been married long enough to know that I cannot fail to recognize the day with a gift and card. I lucked out this year. I was in Cincinnati yesterday on business. Driving home I decided I stop at the Florence Mall (Y'all?) and look for a gift. After 20 minutes of wandering in vain (such as I usually do in malls (side issue -- malls always depress me. Why is this? Is it because they make obvious the shortcomings of materialism? Dunno.)) I stumbled into Spencer Gifts.

Cheesy as it is, I must peek into every Spencer Gifts I pass. I think it's a remnant of the 13 year old hick in me.

They had a big ol' Clearance sale going on. Amongst the soft-core sex aids, the fart joke novelties and the glorified lava lamps I found a some useful stuff. Heart lights (strings of 10 with heart shaped covers.) $2.50 each. Date cards which will give us pre-planned spontaneously romantic ideas of what to do with each other for the duration of an evening after almost 20 years. I also got some incense that I like (Gonesh, the McDonalds of incense, but damn it, I like this flavor) and some ceiling stars for Patty (fiddy cent).

And Halloo but there's a Hallmark right next door. Stop in, buy suitably sappy card. Rush out to avoid having to take insulin injection. Done and done. Cross fingers and hope quirky gifts are received well.

Cut to this a.m. She's getting home from work, I'm leaving for work. Nicely wrapped presents and card await her. She has JACK for me. HA! 10,000 brownie points for our hero. She loved the lights and was intrigued by the cards. Touched by the sentiments I writ on the card -- although I was not pleased with my romantic prose. First paragraph of this post expresses it better.

So anyway, we go out for a decent dinner tonight -- Mitchell's Seafood. Apparently a chain (what isn't anymore?) B+ food, C- service. I had Cherrystone clams, Grouper and a cup of Lobster Bisque. It was all good but not great. Service was all but poor.

Then we went to Target. This is what we do for recreation. This makes me sad, but still I go. I was able to pick out my present. I got a cool looking bonsai. I've always wanted a cool looking bonsai and now I have one. Nyah.

Back to work on the bathroom floor in the morning.