Happy Birthday!

Starting my blog two years ago on this day was not arbitrary. It was Amanda's 30th birthday and as I used the "30" thing to transition from one meaningless "writing" project to another, I felt that July 8 was more of a milestone than my own birthday. That's because the two of us have been together since we were 19 and while this may sound cliche, I've marked so many special occasions and milestones with her, I couldn't think of doing anything without her.

Today, she is 32. I've got some stuff planned, plus we have a great weekend coming up. And hopefully Brett will be able to say "Happy Birthday Mommy!" without saying "Brett's birthday in two minutes" immediately afterward. And not throw one of his trademark "WATCH GABBA!!!" fits (although that will take a small miracle).

Anyway, when you're together this long you start to approach that "running out of new things to say" point -- you know, where talking about everything that is great about her seems forced, rather than genuine. Not that I haven't had anything great to say for today, but what is great is that she inadvertently gave it to me tonight.

We were sitting at the dinnertable watching the "Careful" episode of Yo Gabba Gabba! The Gabba gang was singing "Don't Throw Things at Friends" and Amanda was telling me how the segment that preceded the song was misleading because Muno's throwing a snowball at Plex and knocking him out was really not intentional -- the snowball was part of a game with Tootie and Muno has really bad aim. I mentioned that in "Differences," Tootie and Brobee make fun of Muno having his glasses, resulting in Foofa singing "Don't Say Mean Things to Friends"; however, Tootie was there when Muno got his glasses and didn't seem to have much problem with it.

Yeah, I know we probably should have been enjoying the fact that our son was quiet and not throwing food instead of discussing the plot holes in children's programming, but this is one of the many, many things that makes her awesome. No, seriously. Amanda has a great sense of humor and wit, and I think that anyone would be lucky to be married to someone who peppers conversation with Simpsons references. Just sayin'.

But it doesn't end there. She is brilliant, and great for conversation about just anything. She kicks my ass EVERY SINGLE TIME at Scrabble (this is what I get for marrying an English major). She has excellent taste. She loves sports and knows sports (especially football) very well. And she is sexy. Very sexy.

I mean, I think of all the things I have done with her and because of her and just how fun things are because of her and with her. Nothing else compares.

And in honor of her on her 32nd birthday, I present a video clip that is in the Pantheon of Awesome ...