Happy belated Valentine's Day

So … making a list of random thoughts instead of streaming together coherent and clever sentences is something that lazy and incompetent writers do.

However.

After a hectic week of work that included an overnight stay in Grand Rapids and the execution of two events, plus a late night last night following the John Mayer concert in Madison, I just can’t seem to manage a coherent and clever post today.

So bear with me and please enjoy my list. J

1. I like Valentine’s Day. I don’t think it’s a Hallmark holiday the way a day like Sweetest Day is; however, I do think spending $200 on dinner and $100 on overpriced roses that will die in a few days is a bit over-the-top and unnecessary. But a day dedicated to love and romance is a-ok in my book.

2. I did not get a $200 dinner or an overpriced bouquet of roses. Instead, my sweet husband surprised me at work yesterday with a bag full of my favorite things that he’d just purchased at Walgreens: the latest copy of US Weekly, a new pack of pens, Twizzler bites, pistachios, Orbit gum, a bottled Starbucks Frappucino, and a few other little things. Seeing my husband outside my office window and him knowing exactly which little things to get me = priceless. Way better than flowers.

3. That sweet husband? Also very sly in that he got me a birthday present that was to be used on Valentine’s Day. We went to the John Mayer concert at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison last night and it was the best birthday slash Valentine’s Day gift ever.

4. I’d never been to the Alliant Energy Center before – it’s rather small, only seating a little over 10,000 people, and we were in the very back row but the seats were still pretty darn good.

5. I’ve seen John Mayer twice before and he just gets better and better. Both of the other concerts were outside at the Marcus Amphitheater, and while outdoor concerts are one of the best parts about summer (ahhhh, summer), live music sounds so much better inside.

6. He played a great mix of older stuff (“Comfortable,” “Your Body is a Wonderland,” “No Such Thing,” “Bigger Than My Body”) and new stuff (“Gravity,” “Vultures,” “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” “Waiting on the World to Change”) with a lot of jamming on his electric guitars in between.

7. This man is itchin to play the blues full-time, that’s for sure. If and when he does, I’ll still love him. I still love him now despite his silly o-faces and his desperate need for a haircut.

8. Dave thought I was dumb for mentioning Jessica Simpson numerous times, but it would have been cool to catch a glimpse of her. She was there, but alas, I did not see her.

9. Being in love is the best thing ever. Krista's post about her fiancé this morning – along with regular stories from Amanda & Mark and other friends – made me realize that most couples are goofy and obnoxious and ridiculous together, and we all think that no one could possibly be as weird as we are. But we’re all weird, and it’s what makes our respective relationships so darn fun.

Our ride home last night included us belting out songs from The Little Mermaid (well, me belting out songs; Dave just singing “Under the Sea! Under the Sea!” over and over to drown me out) and Dave trying to exorcise the devil from me by blessing me with bottled water. And also laughing uncontrollably over the word “hooter.” 

Erin: “Can we still act like this when we have kids in the backseat?”
Dave: “Simple, we’ll just get one of those divider things like taxis and limos have.”

10. I have tomorrow off in exchange for the travel and the evening events I’ve been working the past few weeks. Tomorrow I’ll be using a gift certificate to get a massage at Azana after taking a morning yoga class at my new gym; Saturday I’m having breakfast with a friend and lunch with mom and Gram; and Sunday we’re entertaining my dad and Barb for dinner. I might fit a blog activity of some sort in there somewhere, or I might not.

And that's all she wrote. Have a good weekend all.

Comments

[Krista]

Hooray for John Mayer! Glad your night was splendid. I ate Shake 'n Bake pork chops and watched reruns of Law & Order. Hot.

I started taking Jazzercise, by the way, as part of my cross training, and it's pretty hardcore! I joined a 24-hour gym, also, and it's fantastic to have around.

[Jessica]

That was an awesome concert, and I saw Jessica Simpson! She was singing along to all the lyrics.

[Other Erin]

JOHN MAYER, on Valentine's Day! There's a husband who knows the quickest way to a woman's heart.

Though I might add that my Dave did just fine, too. No John Mayer, though ...

And I agree about the mushy stuff is so dang fun -- I never thought I'd get weepy over reading about "asshat" like on Krista's blog ...

[Kate]

I'm jealous. I wanted to go to that concert, but unfortunately had to go to St. Cloud for work.

I agree, John Mayer needs a haircut. Eww. And I definitely would have been obsessed with trying to spot Jessica Simpson.

[Farrah]

A little over a year ago, I was the biggest cynic when it came to mushy love stuff. Every year, I gave my annual "Valentine's Day is an evil holiday" speech at work. That was before I fell in love. They say it's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all, but I disagree. Knowing how great love is and not having it anymore is torture. I miss it (and him) soooo much! You guys are all so incredibly lucky to have found your special someones -- really thought I had found mine.

P.S. Since I can't go more than a week without a trip to Walgreens, here's what my bag would contain: In Touch magazine, a bottle of Evian, a word find, Chapstick, Post-It notes, a PEZ dispenser, a Rice Krispies treat, and Cheetos :o)

[monkey]

much thanks to your #9, as it was a bright point in my afternoon. it made my heart all skippy and stuff as i sat here and dazed off into the daydreams of my own relationship. i smiled from ear to ear and laughed outloud to myself. gosh, being in love IS the best... i agree. :)

i'm glad you had a nice valentines. and lazy or not, i enjoyed this post. :)

[Amanda]

This is the second time I read this post, and I laughed out loud again when I read #9 - not only because of your hilarious antics in the car, but because it made me think of just how strange Mark and I are...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Glad you had a good V-day. :)

[Mark]

I read about Sweetest Day once and found out some weird stuff you might find slightly interesting...

It's not actually a holiday that's celebrated throughout the country... Rather, it's more of a Midwest phenomenon. Not only that, but we've somehow changed the original meaning of the "holiday."

Sweetest Day was invented by candy makers in Ohio and pitched to the government as a way to celebrate candy. The idea never really flew nationally but for whatever reason, Midwesterners picked it up and - in Wisconsin at least - it's celebrated as a pseudo-valentine's day of sorts.