<p>Who was it that said that getting old bites?</p>
<p>It’s kind of ironic that just as our kids are ( or will) think that their generation invented sex, I think my generation is learning that time and gravity wait for no one.
At least I am.
I have a "hot " date tonight- which translated means- I am going out with my H .-
We rarely,* ever *go out- the only time we do , is for prearranged events for which tickets have been purchased- like shows- or like tonight a casino themed charity auction. ( ok I do admit we have been going out to play pool a bit- which I really enjoy- mainly because we are at a similar level, even though he has his own stick- but then he starts talking about getting a table- um ya thats all I need, something else to pile laundry on )</p>
<p>Hanging out with landscape & horticulture types keeps the bar pretty low for appearance in public - but I just don’t have the routine * down* anymore.</p>
<p>( of course 20 years ago- I could just take a shower and put on some lipstick - now I hardly even know how to put make up on- and why is everyone who works at Sephora 20?- )</p>
<p>So men- take heed- take your wives out more often so they will at least remember where their sexy underwear is! ;)</p>
<p>I was just ranting- plus I wanted to share the Keaton clip- </p>
<p>But since Valentines Day is coming up- maybe we could share interesting ( inexpensive) ideas?
We both completely forgot our anniv ( 26th) last year, you know how busy June is, but I’d like to do something different for V-day.</p>
<p>We try to do a date weekend either in town or somewhere close at least every other month. Getting a nice hotel room and just being away makes any weekend special. We got a great room in the new Sheraton downtown for just over $100/night (Hotwire rocks) and went to Jersey Boys and a movie as well a a nice dinner and brunch at the Market. It was great without driving far at all.</p>
<p>Since you’re looking for inexpensive ideas:</p>
<p>I’ve been married for twenty-five years. On our first holiday as a couple my spouse asked me what I would like as a gift. I asked for a love letter and received one. I have received a love letter on every Anniversary, Birthday. Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Christmas since. Once my spouse tried to write a poem, but usually he sticks to prose and writes about my value to him and our family. My spouse also passed along this tradition to our son, who first gave me drawings and, once he could write, gave me notes. Neither my spouse nor our son have ever purchased me a holiday gift, but I have a box full of drawings and letters that I cherish.</p>
<p>It is what you say and do on a daily basis that will make love bloom.
Oh I don’t mean love- I mean romance! He just isn’t very demonstrative, and with our schedules- we haven’t seen each other much lately.</p>
<p>But oh- I just remembered- D will be leaving the next day for West Africa- so we probably ( me) will be running around paniking. ( it burns calories you know)</p>
<p>However- she will be gone for 2 & 1/2 weeks- so I will maybe book us a hotel- without a tv though- last time we went to a hotel- he drove me crazy watching Myth Busters and Extreme Engineering.</p>
<p>We have regular get togethers to pay cards and rotate the houses where we play. All the females “fix up” a little. </p>
<p>When a birthday or holiday falls into the rotation, we ditch the cards and the host decorates for the occassion. Most of us know how to cook upscale (from all having been in some aspect of the restaurant business in the 1970s). Out comes the good china, crystal, silver and linens (for those under 40, that means cloth placemats, napkins) and table decorations and flowers are included.</p>
<p>For those few who still drink, the wine honchos bring a very few really special bottles.</p>
<p>The acceptable apparel goes up a notch (but I admit it is still casual).</p>
<p>It is a hoot to see all of us boomers “playing grown-up.”</p>
<p>
If my father was alive, I’d tell him I now understand that gardening is fulfilling (an issue where I have done a 180 degree turn since I HAD TO MOW THE FAMILY YARD EVERY #%^$*$ WEEKEND).</p>
<p>Once a year, H and I make it an overnight date at, believe it or not, a Disney World resort. We’ll go eat a nice dinner (Victoria and Albert’s is my fave), do something fun (this spring we’re going to Cirque de Soleil), and watch the fireworks from our hotel balcony (Grand Floridian or Polynesian).</p>
<p>We were married over Christmas, which is not a good time to do anniversary getaways, so we always do this honeymoon thing a couple months later.</p>
<p>Neither my spouse nor our son have ever purchased me a holiday gift, but I have a box full of drawings and letters that I cherish.</p>
<p>Thats what I asked for from my oldest for xmas- she gave me a journal- that she has written a little bit in- I think I will give it back to her- to write in- just about her life now- things that make her smile and so on.</p>
<p>I don’t like going out for Valentine’s Day when all the restaurants are overcrowded. I put on a red table cloth, white doilies, light candles, get flowers, a good wine and make something easy and delicious. (Sirloin steak, top of the line lamb chops , take-out sushi all work).</p>
<p>I missed it too- I have been cutting my hair!
( I like it though- I dont have the maria shriver hair that looks great long- I have to dink with mine if it is past my shoulders)</p>
<p>It is so pretty outside here- Ive also been pruning a little bit ( feel sheepish because now that I am taking a pruning class- I am abashed at my hack methods of last winter.)</p>
<p>H is exhausted- he has been working weekends and they have another mandatory overtime this weekend-At least it isn’t a formal thing with courses- although the live auction doesn’t start till 10 ( and we already know we aren’t interested in the Superbowl tickets) :p</p>
<p>We won’t be going out for Valentines Day- since it is a thurs he will have to work the next day ( he leaves the house at 5am) & I have class Thurs night.
But I am gonna see about getting a table at Le Gourmand- it is literally just blocks away from our house and although we have gone to Sambar several times- we haven’t eaten dinner at the restaurant.
[Sambar</a> - Restaurants - The Stranger, Seattle’s Only Newspaper](<a href=“http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=16823]Sambar”>http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=16823)</p>
<p>H thinks he doesn’t like French food though- although when I make it- he doesn’t stop to think that Chicken Provencale, & Coq au Vin are French ;)</p>
<p>We are hosting our 2nd annual Valentines Dinner with about 10-12 couples, all of whom we are very good friends with. We did this last year and it worked out well as an alternate to crowded and over priced resturants. Everyone brings some portion of the meal, I set up long tables and we all had great food, and conversations.</p>
<p>well I just got home ( after I had to make a trip to the grocery for ginger ale since D is throwing up and of course I have to see what Cc is doing!
I wore a black skirt ( new- as my old one goes halfway up my thigh when I sit- only I didn’t know I wouldn’t be sitting) a nice green long sleeved knit top ( ok its a t-shirt) with a skinny leather belt and a black fitted jacket that I was going to toss but it was freezing.</p>
<p>It was fun, but I felt like I was at a high school reunion and I didn’t recognize anyone- very utilitarian building- Navy reserve building- it felt and looked like a gym- not enough folding chairs- it is apparently only their 2nd auction- which probably explains that I came * this close* to winning the first live auction item , which was the only one I was even interested in.
So that was very exciting- because usually at live auctions, by the time I even figure out what they are bidding on, it is * waaay* over my limit.
At least this time- I had a decent chance, because it was the first item, and it was going for below even a reasonable price- I bumped it up to at least twice that
I ended up bidding a flat amount to send a kid to camp
( it was a fundraiser for the local Crohn’s & Colitis foundation & they have summer camps run by Paul Newmans organization for kids with serious illnesses.-)
so at least I didn’t go home empty handed.</p>
)</p>