God send the only true friend I call mine...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

According to theknot I have been married to BD for...

2,021 Days!

He claims I never blog about him...But he's wrong. There's this special post today (Valentine's Day) ...there's more but I'm focusing on today...

There have been a few posts going around out there about how you met your 'significant other'. I met my husband in a bar. Drunk. The two of us. I was dating someone else and wasn't interested in him. Period.

How I fell in love with him was a whole 'nother story.

After a few botched up phone calls, we wound up dating.

On our first date, I knew I was going to marry him. I just knew. He was cute, sarcastically funny (he drove a gigantic Lincoln Town Car and asked me if I wanted to sit in the back like he was my town car driver) and the color of his eyes just blew me away (they still do, they are the most amazing layered blue.green.brown I have ever seen)...

He took me to the wrong restaurant where he thought he made a reservation, but didn't (there were two restaurants with the same name..opposite sides if the city)... and I also thought his last name was "Prada"...I was wrong. Very, very wrong. But that's not why I wanted to marry him...He was not my type at all and he had a job. What a novel idea! Before him, my Dad called most of my boyfriends "Oil Rags"...BD was different. I knew I'd marry him someday.

Later on during our first date, I found out the final game of the 1996 Yankees World Series was going on and he gave up watching the game with his friends to take me out. (He's the biggest Yankee fan ever!) If you only knew the dilemma he was facing prior to our date! It was a war in his mind for days but I was none the wiser. During dinner, he was disappearing to the bathroom every few hours to check the score and finally he fessed up and we went to a bar to watch the end of the game...They won. I prayed he wouldn't kiss me. We just hugged. Relief. He knew what I wanted and what I didn't want even before I knew it myself.

A few months later, he took me out for what became our first annual "Valentine's/Birthday Evening". It was a beautiful night. A little chilly, rainy and foggy...but that didn't bother me. I was looking forward to my surprise dinner. I had no clue where we were going and I was excited. He loves to eat and drink good wine so I knew it had to be great. Turned out to be the River Cafe. It's in Brooklyn and I have never been there...too fancy for my blood.

I was impressed and excited. He was disappointed. I couldn't understand why. It was foggy and he was mad. It didn't dawn on me until we sat down. Next to each other, against the wall... with the full view of the Brooklyn Bridge spread out in front of us along the wall of windows...Except the Brooklyn Bridge was immersed in a blanket of fog and was hidden from view. It was like we were sitting next to each other on the railroad, not at a fancy-schmancy restaurant trying to see the gorgeous view.

He was horrified. What was the point if you couldn't see the main attraction? The bridge?

I didn't mind. I ate like a pig, drank fabulous wine and had the best conversation ever. I fell in love that night.

He tried so hard and it didn't work out and he was so disappointed. I felt so bad for him. He was so upset. He cared so much about making me happy and I wasn't very used to that kind of treatment. He wound up getting me their famous Brooklyn Bridge Chocolate dessert instead to make up for the lack of view.

The key to my heart.
An attempt at romance using chocolate.
Sold!

I knew in my heart he had snagged it for good and I was head over heels in love. That was a wonderful night and it was the night I knew he was mine forever.

Eleven years later. We're still here. Going strong. Some ups, some downs. Some joyous times. Some uneasy moments...but all the while the love is there. In my heart. Forever.

He makes me laugh when I am not in the mood. He cares so deeply for his 'girls' and he would do anything to make us happy. What more can you ask for? And those eyes. I can see "Home" in those deep blue/green eyes.

A-Z of me + A New Tradition

Today's December 1st! I am starting a new tradition with my daughter. (yay me) I bought her an Advent calendar from Starbucks, (of course) to count down the days 'til Christmas and give us both something to look forward to. (I realize I am not teaching her the exact idea behind 'Advent' but I am doing what feels right for me...I am introducing the concept which we can research, or not, when she gets older and decides for herself)...I am very excited for her to see this calendar. I remember when I was a kid, my mom did the same thing with me. My Aunt would buy the calendar every year, and Mom and I would open it every night, piece by piece, day by day...I looked so forward to that little piece of chocolate! I begged to open it days sooner and she always told me, "Go ahead, but when you are done and there's no more chocolate to open...that's your problem." Ha! Whatta woman. Lay it all out there. So I am starting my first tradition with my girl. I am very proud of myself.

Also,
...I've been doing a lot of these lately...I'll just do them, they make me smile...if you read it and comment I love you for it, if you don't, that's okay too...

Thanks Mel...See, I told you I'd get to it...

A-Z of Me !!!

A - Available/Single? Married for 5 years!
B - Best Friend? SF, BD, K, G
C- Cake or Pie? Cake, chocolate, rich, creamy...yum.
D - Drink Of Choice? Coffee...injected into an IV if at all possible.
E- Essential item you use every day. The telephone. 
F - Favorite Color? Purple, or as we say 'round these parts...'poi-ple'.
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Yuck, neither.
H - Hometown? (born in ) Queens, NY
I - Indulgence? French Fries, Pizza, Chocolate, Sushi
J - January Or February? February...It's my Birthday!
K - Kids Their Names? 1, Farfallina
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? Hugs
M - Marriage Date? August Third
N- Number Of Siblings? 1 kinda, sorta brother...Hummm...I smell a post coming on...
O - Oranges Or Apples? Apples, with peanut butter
P - Phobias/Fears? Jesus...I'd be here all friggin' day. I'll just say yes.
Q - Favorite Quote? "Sometimes you have to jump, and build your wings on the way down"
R - Reason to Smile -My daughter
S - Season? Spring
T - Tag Four People? Now, I just won't do it...If you want to try this, go ahead.
U - Unknown Fact About Me? With this blog, there is none...Um, I love to sleep.
V - Vegetable you dont like? None...
W - Worst Habit? Complaining too much.
X - X-rays You've Had Recently.. My teeth...no cavities thank you very much.
Y - Your Favorite Food? Mexican, Japanese
Z - Zodiac Sign? Pisces...I don't smell like fish.

Chocolate, you cruel confection.

I hate you. I love you. I wish I could bathe in you daily. Go away. You are making me crazy. How do I enjoy you in small doses without slopping on 5 extra pounds? You are cruel, do you know that?

Now get out of here and don't come back. Wait, just one more bite.

No! Leave. Leave now. I hate you. Why do you do this to me? What have I ever done to deserve this treatment from you? All I want is some love and attention. And a little sliver of your tasty morsel now and again. Why do you tease me so and make me devour you uncontrollably, in chunks!

Just a taste and then be off...I can't bear to watch you walk out that door.

Goodbye my love. See you next year.