My New Favorite Number is 35

I've been drifting about in a dream world for the last six days. It has been The Thirty-Fifth Anniversary of the Celebration of My Birth and it has been really fabulous. Now, I know that most people use the more conventional phrase, "my birthday" and I tend to do that as well when I am restricted by the confines of social mores, but since this is, well, my blog, I am going to be slightly self-indulgent (which I never, ever do in real life anyway).

The festivities started out on Friday...
I got home from work and Mr. Lipstick had cards sitting out for me. He had written one for me and he and the kids had made one for me. They are even sitting next to the card (that I read four times straight with tears spilling out of my eyes) from my father-in-law which says that he is happy Mr. Lipstick married me. I stood looking contentedly at my bookshelf (which was built by Mr. Lipstick, of course) and sighed and thought, life is truly good.

Then Nonna and Mommy and Daddy Lipstick swooped into town late Friday afternoon with some secret packages and a very large box that just HAD to go in the refrigerator. After the chaos and mayhem subsided a bit and the kids were sort of headed to bed, Mr. Lipstick and I were on our way to Ye Olde Fancy Steakhouse for a romantic dinner. Something fun about Ye Olde Fancy Steakhouse is that it opened in 1974 and anyone can learn this by reading the script at the bottom of the dishes. I like going to a restaurant and seeing, "Est. 1974" because inside my head I am thinking, me too. I am not sure if that is narcissistic or just stupid, but you don't have to just rush out and comment on it, k?

Mommy Lipstick just kept chasing me around, asking me if I wanted to open my present before dinner. I wanted to wait because I like to drag out the fabulousness of the occasion as looooooong as possible. I am happy to open my presents at 3 am, thank you very much. Well, there was more chasing and asking and refusing. I just didn't get it. Apparently, and it is only a suggestion, mind you...I am hard-headed.

Before I knew it, there were cards and a sack that was overflowing with curly ribbon practically floating in front of me. I looked up at the smiling and expectant faces of my loved ones who were clearly in on a secret. I slowly stuck my hand down in the sack, swirled around the paper, and my hand landed on a felt box. My heart stopped.I felt dizzy and giddy and overwhelmed and overjoyed. Amazed and excited. Actually speechless too.

Back in April Mommy Lipstick found this ring and thought it would be a perfect birthday present. She called Mr. Lipstick. He agreed. She called Nonna who also agreed. She called Daddy Lipstick. He agreed. They all bought my birthday present and then they all kept it a secret. For five months.

I am still pretty amazed and excited. Still overwhelmed and overjoyed too.

Oh, by the way...the deal about the box that HAD to go in the refrigerator...it was this cakeand y'all that was fabulous too.