Saturday, April 18, 2009

40 Things I Love...


Today is my husband's 40th birthday! My husband Vynnie is truly the most incredible, inspiring and kindest person I know. What does a girl get for the man who needs nothing to be happy, loves sitting in his garden more than going out to fancy dinners and thinks poop is a gift? Compost bins! Yes, that's right, he wanted compost bins for his birthday and so that is what he is getting!

I think sometimes the people in our lives don't know what makes them so special to us so I wanted to write a list of 40 things I absolutely love about my man. So here it goes:

  1. His smile. This is the first thing I saw, even before I met him. You can see his smile coming a mile away and it always melts my heart.
  2. The way he drinks his tea (both hands on a cup, sipping like a little kid).
  3. His kindness.
  4. That he prefers PB and J to fillet mignon.
  5. His passion for all things green.
  6. That he always says yes to a new adventure.
  7. How he can talk to anybody. Anybody!
  8. That for his birthday dinner he wants something that has rice.
  9. How he can put anything together, fix anything and never throw the hammer when it takes longer than expected or when it requires far more tools and supplies than originally thought.
  10. That he likes cats.
  11. That there are no strangers in his world, only friends he hasn't met yet.
  12. His endless creativity.
  13. That his favorite color is white.
  14. His paintings - they are mysterious, layered and they inspire the imagination to go to new places.
  15. That his favorite movie is Blade Runner
  16. How his eyes exude incredible light, like he knows the secret to the universe.
  17. The way he cooks sweet potatoes - YUM!
  18. That it takes him a year to read a novel, one page a day.
  19. That he is a brave Marine but never, ever brags about it.
  20. His gusto for eating vegetables. He will pick things out of the garden and start nibbling right there because he can not wait for them to be rinsed and prepared.
  21. His eye for beauty - admiring it, creating it, finding it in places where others may overlook it.
  22. How he always uses the Latin name for plants (and therefore I rarely know which one's he is talking about).
  23. The way children light up when he walks into a room.
  24. His preference for t-shirt and shorts over suit and tie.
  25. The way he will stand in his garden, arms crossed, and witness life happening all around.
  26. That he always had something positive to say - about anyone, anything or any situation.
  27. His incredible, unending patience. As an impatient perfectionist, I am in constant awe of his ability to let things move at their own pace and in their own unique way.
  28. His beard that tickles my chin a little every time we kiss.
  29. His fondness for vanilla ice cream.
  30. The way he eats his chips and salsa - chips crushed up in a bowl, salsa poured on top and eaten with a spoon.
  31. The way he writes very detailed information on tiny little Post It notes.
  32. The way he walks - with confidence and a smidgen of bad ass.
  33. That he can admit getting a tattoo hurt.
  34. How he always finishes his drink before he starts to eat.
  35. The way his face lights up when he talks about peach cobbler.
  36. That no matter how expensive the bottle of wine, he will pour Hansen's soda in it to make it a wine cooler.
  37. His detachment to having control. He is very good at taking control if a situation calls for it, otherwise he just rolls with whatever is happening and enjoys the ride.
  38. His Scooby-Doo laugh. His laugh makes everyone smile and laugh with him.
  39. That he never raises his voice in anger.
  40. The way he can raise one eyebrow like Mr. Spock!
Happy birthday Vynnie! You are a true gift in everyone's life who has the fortune to know you!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

I Get a Do Over.


Check this guy out! He was hanging out on the sidewalk like he owned it as hoards of people wandered down Bleeker Street on a Saturday. I love the the braveness.

I got a note from The Universe this morning that says I get a do-over. The note read:

You get as many "do-overs" as you like. Of course, you never know you're living a "do-over" until it's over.
There are lots of reasons for wanting a "do-over." Most of all, people want another chance to do things they were afraid to do the first time, and to say things they were afraid to say. Oddly enough, it's not their mistakes they want to rework, but their "unused" minutes. Yeah, pretty nifty, but you should know that it isn't any easier the next time, and because no two ever go exactly the same, the gifts, opportunities, and loves of one, never appear the same way again. Never. So all in all, it's better to live as if there are no "do-overs," so that you won't need one. But I thought I'd share this with you anyway, to work in the bits about fear, mistakes, and how precious today's opportunities really and truly are.

I love my life and have few regrets but boy, it is good to know, that if I need it I can get a do-over.