Tuesday, November 24, 2009

All About My Birthday

Today is my birthday (whoo), and before I go to bed -- apparently I'm officially old as I'm exhausted at 8pm -- I figured I'd share some highlights of the day.

1) My mom called to ask where I wanted to go for dinner. Since I'm the one who cooks for everyone else's birthday dinners, at least I'm not expected to cook for my own? She suggested Go Roma! While they have good food, and I do enjoy it there, essentially fast food Italian is not quite what I was looking for. I politely declined and suggested a more suitable establishment (that was great and I ate 1/3 of my dinner yet still came home stuffed).

2) My mom did make my birthday cake though. She tries really hard, but ... while her heart is in the right place, her baking sometimes comes up a little short. She decided to make it dairy free by simply omitting the butter and milk (no replacements). Then she thought the white cake was a little too yellow so dyed it pink. She made chocolate frosting, but not quite enough -- so only the top layer ended up frosted. And the edge of the (once) round cake was cut off prior to being frosted so Little Miss could have a dairy free bit. It really was an adorable cake.

Bless her heart, my mom tried. My husband complimented the ice cream I served with it saying that, This ice cream really complements the cake, and that was the nicest thing he could say. My husband, who eats anything. My dad didn't even really want a piece, and he'll really eat anything. My cooking and baking skills? Nope, they did not come from my mom. I think we're actually going to toss the remainder of the cake, and my family is allowed to buy a cake for me next year -- unless I can teach the wee ones to make a cake in the next 364 days.

3) Little Miss leaned over to me at lunchtime and blew me a hug and some kisses. There, Mom, I just gave you some of your presents. And truly? That's all the presents I needed. Something really clicked last year, and I decided that I could care less what gifts I receive or whether I receive any. Kisses from Little Miss? Good enough for me!

4) I received a birthday card that listed the then and now type things. Again, I don't care who shares my birthday or what happened in the world of sports that night, but there was an interesting price comparison.

Gallon of Milk: Then $1.50 Now $3.87 -- where are they buying their milk? And from whom? I have a few things I'd like to sell these people. The last gallon of milk I bought was $1.79, and I bought it on sale for $1.49 the week before.

Gallon of Gas: Then $0.57 Now $1.86 -- but apparently I need to move somewhere else. I haven't paid $1.86 for gas in years. In fact, I paid $2.55 earlier today and was happy because that was the cheapest I'd paid in awhile.

Loaf of Bread: Then $0.28 Now $1.40 -- it's interesting to me that this is the biggest percentage jump, but I also have to say that my bread costs more than that (though not by much), and I buy mine at Costco which I know is cheaper than most grocery stores. But hey, I'll pay that premium for the whole wheat bread.

Ok ok ok, and just because I suppose I can't leave all the pop culture out, popular songs I've heard of included Mandy and Please Mr. Postman.

Wow. Now I really feel old. In fact, me and my inflamed bursa sac are going to head off to bed now. Especially because this was much funnier in my head, but I'm too tired to fix it now.

19 comments:

Anonymous November 24, 2009 at 11:01 PM  

Happy Birthday!

Your cake sounds, um, unique.

I agree with you about the prices of stuff. If I could find $1.86 for gas, I'd be thrilled!

Pop and Ice November 24, 2009 at 11:12 PM  

Oh, no! It was funny! I haven't laughed much today but reading about the cake failure was hilarious! Just omit the butter and milk. HA! And dyed it pink. Did that HELP? I think not. At least you didn't mistake pearl earrings for teeth, like I did on my birthday (my vision leaves something to be desired).

WeaselMomma November 25, 2009 at 5:36 AM  

No pics of the cake? Iy sounds hysterical and deserving of a pic.

Tami November 25, 2009 at 7:26 AM  

I was laughing so hard! I'm glad you didn't fix anything in your story. I am glad you had a good birthday!
ps. I agree that Kisses from a child are a PERFECT gift!

Teacher Tom November 25, 2009 at 8:47 AM  

Happy birthday! I would have loved a pic of the cake too, but not a taste . . .

I'm with you, sounds like I need to move. I'm paying almost $3 a gallon for gas. And bread . . . Well, I like the whole grain stuff which is also costing almost $3 per loaf.

Jenn M November 25, 2009 at 12:09 PM  

Happy birthday!

A Musing Mother November 25, 2009 at 1:04 PM  

It was my birthday, too! I ran over a porcupine.

Roxane November 25, 2009 at 3:16 PM  

Happy Bday! Apparently your mother and mine both attended the same baking classes. She cooks like an angel but bakes like a 3rd grader LOL. At least she tries!

Tara R. November 25, 2009 at 3:36 PM  

Happy belated Birthday. Kiddo kisses are definitely a great present.

septembermom November 25, 2009 at 4:05 PM  

Hope that you enjoyed your birthday Michelle!!! I love your birthday post. You know how to make me smile. Your mom sounds like a sweetheart trying to make your cake. So cute. Enjoy all those kisses!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Pat November 25, 2009 at 5:45 PM  

Happy belated birthday! My husband's is today, Nov. 25th. He was born on Thanksgiving day, so he was his mother's little turkey. I'm sure your bday falls on Thanksgiving some years, too.

I'm with you--I don't care about gifts, just phone calls from my sons on my birthday!

Unknown November 25, 2009 at 6:25 PM  

Hey, anyone who doesn't love Mandy is just too young to know any better :-)

Since I'm still celebrating my 51-and-how-the-hell-did-I-get-here birthday, allow me to send you a present: the link for a free cover-to-cover read of my book (no strings attached, reall. I know, hard to believe these days!) Just
sign up here: no experts needed dot com

It's simply my way of giving back.

take care,
Louise Lewis, author
"No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According to You!"
www.noexpertsneeded.com

Anonymous November 25, 2009 at 8:53 PM  

I am thinking they mixed up the 'Today' prices on the gas and the milk! Bless your Mom's heart for trying, but oh my heck does that cake sound awful.

Happy (Belated) Birthday!

Mrs4444 November 27, 2009 at 1:35 AM  

Awww....kisses are the best!

P.S. Forgot to mention this in my last comment-How's the vision therapy going? My co-worker is completely sold on it; it changed her daughter's life.

Claudya Martinez November 27, 2009 at 6:48 PM  

I hope you had a very Feliz CumpleaƱos, you old lady.

Oh and I can't get milk for that price; it's like twice as much.

anymommy November 27, 2009 at 9:51 PM  

Happy Birthday!! Your daughter is the sweetest.

Cookie November 28, 2009 at 10:01 PM  

Happy Birthday! You're 22, right? ;)
LOL @ then and now. about $2-3 for milk here and almost $3 for gas. Funny!

Michelle November 29, 2009 at 8:28 PM  

Shelly - Yes, yes, it was. I think unique is a great adjective!

Carol Lynn - Umm no. Dyeing it pink did not assist in any way. Love the earrings mistake!

WeaselMomma - No... and unfortunately I was going to take some tonight and post them, but my husband tossed it.

t.t. millers - They are perfect. Then again, going to Costco and asking Mister Man if he wants to buy me X for a present works out well, too ;)

Tom - Yikes, $3? We're down to about $2.55 right now and haven't flirted with $3 in awhile, but I do remember that Seattle was expenseive when I was there.

Jenn - Thank you!

A Musing Mom - Happy birthday to you (albeit delayed!). Somehow, I think you win on that one. Yikes!

Roxane - See, that assumes our moms went to class for the cake. Then again, when my mom was in school, I think home ec was required for the girls....

Tara - Aren't they though?

Kelly - I did. And my mom definitely was sweet but ummm I'm taking her off cake duty next year :)

Pat - Awww! I was born before Thanksgiving but on the week, so my mom had her Tgiving dinner in the hospital that year. I love the little turkey comment!

Louise - Yeah.... THAT'S my problem ;)

Nichole - Hmmm, maybe that's what it is. It would make more sense that way. Slightly anyway!

Mrs4444 - Thank you :) And VT is going well. I'll send you a note on it later!

Unknown Mami - Why thank you :) Bummer on the prices. I'm really intrigued at how different prices are around the country. And so happy we're having a price war in Chicago.

Stacey - Isn't she though? It's amazing sometimes the good things that come out of their mouths.

Dawn - Ummm yes. 22. The wee ones were thinking 25, but I'm good with 22, too ;)

Angela November 30, 2009 at 11:31 AM  

Happy belated B-day!! That cake does indeed sound interesting. I am still boggling at the idea that she removed the milk and butter without replacing them. Ummmmmmm.... 'kay.....!!!

The price comparisons are interesting. I think I pay something like 3.50 for a HALF gallon of milk... but then, I buy organic these days and I'm willing to pay the premium. Sometimes I have coupons, but not often. And I pay about 3.50-3.70 (without Q's) for my bread, but I only buy two varieties, each of which contains a lot of fiber and no HFCS. So there again, I'm okay with it.

I'm with you on the gas. think the best I have seen here recently is 2.55.

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