May 8, 2006
ellen valentine
5/8/06
When you read this, it will be the birthday of a particularly cool chick I know, a woman that I refer to as "my wife" when I really want people to get out of my way. She got mad at me a few weeks ago when I said she stopped reading my blog, because she thought it made her look unsupportive. So she really does still read it (as long as I'm not delving into another futile discussion of politics) and I wanted to tell her out in the open that she is the coolest chick since Cleopatra, Helen and Penelope.
She says that her birthday has been rendered somewhat meaningless with the birth of our little punkinboots, but I think denying your One Special Day makes you not only a masochist, but a commie. If anything, she needs her birthday more than ever, because so much of our mental energy has gone into The Bug. We promised that we would never become the kind of parents that lose themselves in Utter Babyland, and having a great birthday is the best vaccine.
I loved the recent story that quoted a study saying if stay-at-home moms actually got paid for their work, they'd get $131,121 a year. If that mom had another job, the overtime work of also being a mom at home would net $85,876. What makes that study so cool is how specific the numbers are; no fucking around!
I'm assuming that study dealt with absentee or "I work all day so don't bother me" dads, but even if it didn't, a man's inability to understand the core of a woman is disturbingly shabby. I'm not trying to be all twee and boring, but I largely gave up comparing myself with Tessa after three weeks of dating. All I can do is put forth my best, and occasionally hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Thirty-something years ago in a hospital room in Texas, my girlfriend sprang forth in a Taurus with Leo rising. Over in San Jose, I was just beginning to form my preference for the female gender. Oh, thank god they collided!
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Tessa and Sandy, 1970-ish
Weird. Today is my sister's birthday, also. She has a true zest for life and adores her children. Came of age in Texas. Happy Birthday, Tessa! Must be a good day to be born!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TESSA!
And holy crap! At first glance, I thought that was Tessa and Lucy. What an amazing resemblance!!!
"...and occasionally hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer."
who are you, dante calabria?
happiest of birthdays to your marvelous wife.
Happy Birthday Tessa!
Happy Birthday, Tessa! For the longest time, I've been trying to figure out who Lucy looks like the most. Now, seeing that picture, I know. :) Tessa, you're right, after you have a young 'un, your own birthdays do seem to lose their luster and importance in the Daily Scheme of Things. But nonetheless, I hope you had a delightful day. I still love my birthdays, and the thought of getting older is still really cool to me. My wish is that the same is true for you.
Happy Birthday, Tessa!
It's amazing how much she looked like her beautiful Lucy when she was a baby!
Happy Birthday, Tessa!
Add me to the list of those who thought that was a pic of Tessa and Lucy at first glance!
Yawn...naptime for this SAHM. Playtime is so draining these days now that Babyzilla is on the loose in our house...
Dear Tessa--
I hope you have a deliciously relaxing birthday--whyn't you get Ian to cook you some Thai food and give you a FOOT MASSAGE...I mean one that lasts like an hour. ReCEIVE, yo!
love from
Annie
Gee thanks, everybody!
It is already been an excellent day... Lucy cooed through our run, tossing her socks, blanket and hat asunder with glee, yelling "daaaaa" (dog) at every German Shepard and Dachshund on the way. The shower was hot, the tea was strong, and I am planning for a delicious afternoon birthday nap!
I won't deny being a mom is hard work. Being a dad isn't always easy either. I'm alone with my 2 and a half year old for the next few days while his mother attends a funeral in Maine. Somehow he does seem to act better around me when his mother isn't around. Strange.
Anyways, Happy Birthday, Tessa!
Happy Birthday Birthday Girl! And our very own German Shepherd and Dachshund say ditto.
Happy Birthday Tessa! Put on your party hat and blow out the candles - Lucy will love it!
Happy bday, Tessa. I have to admit that you seem to take Ian's blog (and having all of us lurkers learn about your life) with much grace! I am much too paranoid and anxiety-ridden for that! Anyway, have a great day, and know that we all wish you the best!
celebrate!!!
i recommend getting a sitter for the little apple blossom while you go out for a night of drinking and dancing your ass off at deep house tuesday with dj/producer/poet ian friday at alibi lounge at 116 macdougal st. at bleecker & west 3rd.
http://www.mawrecords.com/bios2/pages/Ifriday.html
but whatever you do, have a blast and live it up!
happy birthday tessa! can't wait to see you in less than a month - if i don't call it off and run away screaming before then! xoxo jif
Tessa:
Your enthusiasm for your birthday will return when little Lucy starts to understand what birthdays are all about. Of course I'm talking about cake and presents. My children get very excited about my birthday,and their excitement is contagious. Unfortunately, they do have high expectations these days. My 4 y.o. basically told me last month that my birthday sucked, because I didn't have any friends or presents. I told her that her Father was taking me on a weekend trip away for my birthday, and she loudly exclaimed that a trip was not a present! She was also disappointed that I did not have theme plates and napkins or goodie bags. (I have a little rant about goodie bags at kid birthday parties, but I won't get into that now.)Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of the coolest women I really don't know!
Happy birthday, Tessa!
If you get a chance, throw a baby pic of yourself up next to Lucy, Ian. I'll the resemblance there jumps out, too. Baby pictures are funny things. My mom's and my dad's look nothing alike, but if you stick mine in between, you can see we're all related.