Haven’t been keeping up too much with blogging because my stupid computer is screwed up and for some reason won’t load my page. Every other page, fine. But mine, forget about it. Whatever. Anyway, on a brighter note, we’re going camping. YAY! No whining dogs, no fog (beach + San Francisco + summer = FREEZING), no everything else that is annoying…NO COMPUTERS!

So, that’s it. Have fun while I’m gone. And I promise as soon as I fix this technical problem, I’ll check in more often and start visiting you all out there again. BYE!

I am lucky to have married a man who loves to shop. Jason and I went a little crazy this past weekend. We got new pots, new silverware, a bunch of other stuff for the house, a new car seat for Squid…I even got a new pink silicone bundt pan. Awesome.

Anyway, here comes the part about the pet peeves.

I wanted to stock up on lotions and bath products at Bath and Body Works. Jason nodded and dutifully followed me, pushing Squid. (Did I mention how lucky I am?) I swear, the guy might love spending money even more than I do.

So, we walk in and are immediately greeted by not one but two sales people. “HELLO! JUST SO YOU KNOW, THESE ARE OUR NEW SCENTS…” I type in capital letters because that is how LOUD and annoying they were. But it’s just a greeting. Whatever.

I begin walking around the store, but no sooner have I stepped three feet when another, different woman approaches me. “BLAH BLAH BLAH SOMETHING ABOUT A SALE BLAH BLAH.” Uh, huh, okay, I tell her and roll my eyes at Jason.

Then another girl approaches Jason! “BLAH BLAH BLAH, YOU SHOULD TRY THIS, BLAH BLAH.” At this point, I’m getting hot. I continue to walk, hoping no one will speak to us again. After all, I told them I’m just looking, just want to browse around.

Again! A girl with an equally grating sing-song voice steps to us. “THIS STUFF MAKES YOUR BODY TINGLE! HA HA, OH BUT IN A GOOD WAY. HA HA.”

I am now visibly mad. I spin around to Jason, “Is it me?”

“NO! This place is completely out of control!” he says.

Finally, I just run to the cash register and book it out of there. I would have just left without purchasing anything at all, but I had a coupon and you know me and coupons. I can’t see a good one go to waste.

Once we were out of there and my breathing had become normal again, I said what I always say after an experience like that…”I’m writing a letter!” But this time, I actually did! I sent an email right away and just this morning got a response.

$25 gift card, yo! Just enough to cover the emotional damage.

My birthday was on Wednesday and according to Jason, I’m officially in my LATE TWENTIES. I swear to God, if he says that one more time I might punch him in the gut. I had a great birthday, though, and got lots of good presents!

We celebrated a little on the 11th (with dinner, flowers and champagne :) but had the big cake and presents extravaganza last night so that my stepson could be involved. And today my dad and stepmom are headed into the city to take us out to a picnic lunch. Essentially, I get to have three birthdays for the price of one. It helps as you get older to extend your birthday for as long as possible. Takes the pain of wrinkles and gray hair away.

Ooh, I have to share the great things I recevied! Hence, The Friday Five.

One: First, I got an espresso machine for (YAY!) soy lattés in the AM’s. And afternoons. And PM’s.

Two: I got this beautiful pink Le Creuset pitcher from my MIL.

Three: Jason remembered how much I loved this tea from Peet’s.

Four: Plus he bought me a new mug, chocolate-covered espresso beans and Scharffen Berger.

Five: But the grand-finale gift was - okay hold your breath - Dance Dance Revolution! What, you’re not excited? Okay, you’re right, I’m a huge nerd and I’ve been wanting this for months!

So, I drink the coffee, I eat the chocolate and then I dance! It’s a girl’s dream.

Oh, yeah, here’s us on the night of my birthday trying (and failing) to look classy.

Dinner made by my hubby

Mint-chocolate chip ice cream cake

We left Squid with my mom overnight on Friday. What I assumed would be 24 hours of pure hell (for him, not us) turned out to be a happy time had by all. Here’s a recap.

Reading grandma’s “To-do” list

C-ya, wouldn’t want to be ya!

This isn’t so bad, afterall, says Squid

Cooling off

Kickin’ it with a soggy dipe

Getting acquainted with the wares

Ready to roll

If you could see me now

On the big bed with brother

Mesmorized

Playing hockey in the neighbors’ yard

And tennis, too…

Taking a break for a bite

Browsing at garage sales

Power-napping

Is that Mom I hear in the driveway?

And…we’re back!

Now that that’s out of the way, I’m totally ready to book our next stay away. Jason and I had so much fun and the crazy part is, we fell right back into that “dating stage” where you remember what it’s like NOT to have kids. I thought I’d be turning my back, going, “Where’s Squid!” or thinking I accidentally left him at a store or the movie theater! But, nope. I was running around town like a kid let loose at a candy store. And the baby…well, he was just fine.

People tell me to go on dates, to make time away from the baby, to get sitters and all that. I sort of just tune out when those conversations present themselves. I don’t like leaving Squid. I don’t have an overwhelming desire to be away from him, to have someone watch him even for just an evening. (I don’t trust anyone that much!) And I don’t necessarily agree when people tell me I have to have private time with my husband or I just have to make special date nights “happen.” I see my husband every single night and am alone with him from 8:00 to midnight every day. What more time do I need?!?

That being said, Jason played a gig at GAMH this weekend and really wanted me to be there. I really wanted me to be there. So, what was I to do but wrangle a sitter (i.e. my mother) to hold the fort down.

We left at 8:30 and came home at 2:30. No sitter? No time away from the baby? No going out? No dates? Fuck that. I’ve opened Pandora’s box. Saturday night we went out again (this time Jason’s mom sat) and we’re headed to a hotel in the South Bay this weekend after we drop off the kids at my grandmother’s house along the way.

Okay, so I’m still terrified to leave Squid, still spend the few days prior biting my nails and at least one full hour that night thinking about him, but if I didn’t, I’d probably start to seriously question my success as a parent. I don’t ever want to get too good at leaving my baby. But is it nice? Hell yeah, it is.