Honesty. How valuable and rare it is, and how everyone claims to want to know it, but how seldom they can actually handle it.
Something I Saw:
The new Peanuts special “Welcome Home Franklin” Special on Apple TV+. Loved it. Franklin is my favorite Peanuts character and I was so happy to see him get the spotlight.
Something I Heard:
A lot of romantic songs for the V-Day “holiday” that made me emotional. I’m such a romantic softy.
Something I tasted:
A Reese’s white chocolate peanut butter heart. Mmmmmmmm….
Something I Learned:
A lot of people who read my blog now a DC Villain when they see one.
(Also, some naughty words in ASL.)
Something I Accomplished:
Making 5 meals from scratch, completing a puzzle, entertaining guests, hosting the BFJ for the weekend,
Something I Created:
Another week of creative failure, BUT…I pulled out an incomplete craft project, an unfinished crochet project, a sketch pad, and I have some ideas rolling around in my head.
WAIT!!! I handmade a Valentine’s Day card for the BFJ. Does that count?!?!?!
It was a busy, crazy day of working (from home) and working my arse off to clean the house as quickly as possible. The BFJ is coming tomorrow for the weekend, and we’re having friends over for cocktails tomorrow night. I also had to run Harvey to the Vet mid-morning for a post-dental work check-up. He got a clean bill of health – everything is healing well – yay!
Jeffrey picked me up after work and we headed out to our belated Valentine’s dinner at our favorite local restaurant, Sea Smoke. We were lucky to get our favorite waitress, Sarah, who is always so sweet and accommodating and happy to see us. We started with oysters, shrimp, and crab appetizers. Jeffrey had filet mignon, and I had charred sea bass. Dinner was fabulous (as always) and the cocktails were stupendous. It was a lovely evening out after a hard day’s work.
Early on, special days were marked with gifts and cards and big displays of love. 26+ years in, we need nothing more than a kiss, a smile, a hug, and an acknowledgement that we’re glad to have made it this far, together. A night on the couch with cocktails, watching our favorite shows, holding hands, and cuddling with our precious pup, Harvey, is celebration enough for us.
But winning the lottery certainly wouldn’t spoil our celebration.
Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day has come again. It’s laughable how the media and businesses are trying to make this like a legitimate shopping/money making holiday. There was a news report today on how Valentine’s Day shopping is being impacted by inflation, and discussing how much people will or won’t spend today. Did I miss something? Did they suddenly declare Valentine’s Day Christmas light? Doesn’t Halloween have a stronghold on second place, after Christmas?
Regardless, I’m a holiday kind of guy, so I love any excuse to celebrate and let my friends know I love and care about them.
So, Happy Valentine’s Day, blogworld! I’ve loved getting to know all of you through your blog posts and/or your comments. I’ve loved meeting so many of you and I love the idea of meeting more of you. I hope this post reminds you there’s somebody in this world (me) that loves that you’re part of theirs. (mine.)
I think today means something to someone somewhere but, for the life of me, I can’t figure out what. I think maybe we’re supposed to eat a lot, confess we shoved someone, then flash our nickels to get a pearl necklace?!?!? Then we’re supposed to Lend people stuff for 40 days and, if we do, a chocolate bunny will lay peanut butter eggs in a basketball. And if he sees his shadow while he’s doing it, some guy named J. Zeus will raise the Grateful Dead and eat a Sundae.
Or some such.
But, to me, it’s just Valentine’s Day Eve, so I’m going to bed early in the hopes some naked dude with wings visits me overnight, pokes me with his arrow, and I wake up with a Heart on tomorrow morning.
Much to my surprise, we actually watched the game yesterday (mostly.) I asked some questions, and tried to follow along, and eventually became invested in the game, routing for the team of my hosts. Yup, I watched a football game. (I’ll note here that I didn’t find any of the commercials or performances interesting, with the only exception being the commercials for Deadpool 3 and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. And What the hell was up with those creepy religious commercials? GROSS!)
Me, the BFJ, and his hubby, wearing our Sporty shirts!
But it gets weirder. We left at 3rd quarter, and when the BFJ, his hubby, and I got back to the BFJ’s house, we turned on the game and watched it until they were tied and the game went into overtime, and then we gave up and went to bed. When we got up this morning, we checked the score to see who one, and I even read an article about what happened in overtime.
What is happening to me?
I got these great pictures of Gracy, the BFJ’s cat, while I was visiting.
Anyhoo, I was up at 5:00am and on the road by 5:30am, and got home at 7:30am on the dot.
These early morning drives are killing me. Fortunately, I was smart enough to take the day off.
Jeffrey and Harvey were still sleeping when I got home, so I quietly unloaded the car, made myself a cup of coffee, then sneaked into the bedroom to retrieve Harvey from the bed. He was under the blankets, laying up against Jeffrey. My heart melted. After I carefully and quietly extracted him (I hadn’t seen him since Saturday morning…I was in withdrawal) we got settled on the couch together, where I promptly fell asleep, coffee untouched, with Harvey nestled in my lap. Sometime around 10:30am, I heard Jeffrey come out to the dining room, and decided it was time to wake up and have breakfast. After that, we just kind of lounged around, watched TV and took turns nodding off.
I finally decided I need to get up and do something, so I baked. I had three boxed baked goods I had gotten for the holidays and never made, so I made cinnamon bread, brownies, and cranberry white chocolate bars. Unfortunately, baking is not my strong point, and none of them came out great. Good enough for us to pick at, but not something I would bring to the office or offer guests.
How it started……how it ended!
Then I made dinner, which came out much better: Shepherd’s pie. I cook better than I bake (and I make cocktails better than I cook.) Still, I felt a little redemption with dinner.
The weather folks ate predicting a heavy snow storm tomorrow into Wednesday. I work from home Tuesday and, if the weather is bad Wednesday morning, I will likely request to work from home that day as well. I wish Jeffrey (and everyone) had that option. No one should ever have to drive in bad weather if they don’t have to.
We had reservations to go out to dinner Wednesday for Valentine’s Day. It’s not a holiday we normally celebrate or care much about, but we figured what the hell. Given the uncertainty of the weather, we cancelled our reservations and made new ones for Thursday, just to be safe.
On a final note, a friend on Facebook, posted this picture from our highschool days when we were both in jazz band. Who’s that adorable trombone player in the back on the right?!?!?!
My dog, Harvey, and how brave he’s been through all his medical treatments. He’s a real trooper. And I am thrilled hearing that our intervention with his heart and teeth may have added years to his life! Hooray!
Something I saw:
A bunch of awesome Peanuts Valentine’s Day dishes at a HomeGoods/Marshalls store that I really wanted but I bought NONE of it. I’m doing a good job fighting my compulsive shopping habits. I’ve bought a couple things here and there, but I have spent far less on frivolous things since Christmas. Woohoo!
Something I heard:
I heard a fun song: “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. It was released in 2020. I am shocked none of my friends shared it with me before now.
Something I learned:
How to sign Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender. They are my favorite words to sign, so far.
Something I accomplished:
I am a life long nail-biter, and bite my nails when I’m nervous, anxious, scared, or bored. I stopped biting them for the first time almost 4 weeks ago and I have proper nails for the first time in forever. At first I had to stop myself every time I absentmindedly brought my nail to my mouth, but now I no longer do that. I’m really happy to kick such a nasty habit.
Something I created:
Once again I’ve fallen short in this category. I started to work on several things but never quite got there. I made a tray of deviled eggs, a batch of cookies, cooked a few meals, and wrote a funny poem to a friend (that would only make sense to her, so i won’t share it.) That’s about it. Sigh.
I’m off to the Super Bowl party. Yikes!
Monday 2/12 Update: Lurky reminded me I forgot to post something I tasted. I couldn’t leave the label as is if I didn’t have a seventh category, so here it is:
Something I tasted: a mighty good Bloody Mary at the Superbowl party!
This was one of those work weeks that ensures I will be walking out the door in 828 days. ’nuff said!
On a happier note, Harvey is doing very well. He’s eating his soft foods, drinking his water, and being just as precious as ever. I miss his “snaggle” tooth, but I love him just the same. Of course, giving him 3 meds twice a day ( 2 liquids and one pill) is no thrill. He HATES taking medicine and, with his mouth fresh out of surgery and still sore, we are being extra careful with the administration, which requires us to hold his head, pry his mouth open, and put the meds down his throat. Don’t let his tiny size fool you. When he is being defiant (and this is pretty much the only time he is) he is strong as an ox, and stubborn as a mule.
In other news, we have (had) plans to go to CT this weekend. A friend of ours is hosting a Superbowl party on Sunday, and we were invited, along with the BFJ and his hubby, to attend. And by attend, I mean sit in the kitchen, avoiding the living room and game completely, and drink cocktails and snack and gossip. (It will be all lesbians and gay men. Guess who will be where.) However, I wanted to get in the spirit of the day, despite my distaste for all things “sporty,” so I did what any gay man would do – I got us matching T-Shirts:
However, Jeffrey is worried about traveling with Harvey so soon after his procedure, so he has decided to stay home with Harvey and I will be attending this weekend’s events on my own.
I cannot be held accountable for what I do when I am left unchaperoned.
I’m happy to say Harvey made it through with flying colors. He’s still a bit loopy and tired, and he’s down to six teeth, but he seems to be doing well. He ate dinner (soft foods of course) drank water, and peed. He’s had a dose of pain med so he shouldn’t be in too much discomfort, and he’s currently sleeping peacefully between his two dads.
I am exhausted from worrying all day, and so relieved and grateful to have my little buddy back home, safe and sound. Thank you for all your positive comments and texts. It means a lot to me.
That adorable little fuzzy pup above is my pride and joy, Harvey. We got him when he was a pup of just 12 weeks and we have raised him for the past 12 years. he has spent his entire life with us. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect him or keep him safe or make him happy.
Tomorrow, I have to bring him in for dental surgery. I’ve been emotional all day, thinking about having to drop him off at the vet’s and what he’s going to go through and how he’s going to feel afterwards. I hate that I can’t explain to him what’s about to happen and why, and reassure him that everything will be OK.
I love him more than I thought was possible, and I know I’m being overly emotional and ridiculous, but I’d really appreciate it if everybody who reads my blog will wake up tomorrow and send a little positive thought his way. He’s a little guy, brave as Beowulf, but fragile as a flower and, although I’m not a spiritual guy in the least, I can’t help feeling it would help (or couldn’t hurt) to know that everyone’s thinking of him and rooting for him.
Idle Eyes and a Dormy 
