Husbands and birthdays

In contrast to the lovely homemade card my first-born son gave me on my birthday, my husband offered a different approach. I'll give him credit. Vic gave me something I really wanted - however, he bought it on my actual birthday and there was no element of surprise. There was no fanfare, no joy attached to the gift.

Here's an excerpted transcript of the IM conversation we had on my birthday:

Vic: I'm looking into the iPhone stuffme: ok

Vic: would you believe that if the battery goes bad and is out of warranty, that we would have to take the phone to an Apple store or send it to Apple for replacement?

which costs 1/2 as much as the phone?

me: i guess i would believe that

i haven't heard of anyone having problems with the battery so far

Vic: i'm not real thrilled with a lot of Apple's business practices

me: i know

Vic: but i guess i can look the other way

if the monthly cost is not too high

i'm going to print out our current deal with AT&T so that we can compare the before and after

me: good idea

Vic: do you prefer black or white?

me: white

they don't have any pretty colors?

weird

Vic: black or white

like a Model T

hey, once you drink the Apple Kool-Aid, you get what they want you to get. And you have to like it.

me: wow

don't be a hater

Vic: otherwise, you're not cool

:-)

Vic: by the way, you are going to have to chain this thing to your wrist so that you don't lose it

me: sigh

Vic: the phone itself costs $300 for the 16 GB

$200 for 8 GB

$200 for 16 GB, refurbished

me: ok

Vic: $5 per month for voice dial

I think not (it's optional)

$2 per month for detailed billing

ridiculous!

(this is AT&T, not Apple)

me: wow, this is quite crazy

Vic: data plan is required

$30 per month

me: that's much less than i expected

does that include all internet access?Vic: Data Plan for iPhone 3G includes unlimited data in the U.S. Access rich HTML email and desktop-level web browsing, as well as Visual Voicemail to listen to voicemail messages in any order you choose.

me: cool

Vic: it is done

At the end, Vic also informed me exactly how much the net extra cost per year would be, as opposed to my old phone with its service plan. So romantic!

Happy birthday to me!

Happy Birtay

Nico made me a fantastic birthday card. The front was awesome. Besides writing "HAPPY BIRTAY!" in my favorite color, red, Nico decorated the words with hearts and fireworks. Then he sprinkled Easter egg, flower and football stickers across the page.

The inside of the card showed a scene of me and a large pink and blue rabbit jumping up and down. "You are so cute!" the animal was saying to me, with me answering, "Thank you, Easter bunny!"

Nico wrote a message to me that said:
Dear Mommy, Today is your birthay! I hope you like today. Don't you wish it would not be snowing? It's snowing on April 6, 2009? Plus its a blizerd! Get that out of your mind and think of your birthay! You are 39 today! Love, Nico

I love it.

Skin deep

I think I'm officially getting old. My birthday is tomorrow, and I'm feeling my age. Even though I'm still in my 30s, 40 is right around the corner! I really need to take better care of myself.

Lately, I noticed a disturbing pattern in the ads and coupons I clipped from magazines. Many of them promoted skin care products:

• Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller
  ("Massage away puffiness and dark circles")
• Olay Regenerist Reversal Treatment Foam
  ("Some women nip and tuck. Others prefer the cutting edge.")
• Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer
  ("You could spend $2,000 for laser treatments to fight wrinkles and discoloration. Or you can bank on Olay Definity.")
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Cream Foundation with Custom Coverage Applicator
  ("Rewind the years, instantly!")
• Almay Bright Eyes
  ("A wake-up call for your eyes")
• Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Liquid Makeup SPF 20
  ("Creates such a perfectly natural look, you'll wonder who did your makeup."
  

Hmm.

My friend Janet had been raving about a new skin care regimen she had been trying, so I decided to give it a shot. I headed to Target and examined the products in the skin care aisle. Overwhelmed by the choices, I called Janet. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: I don't know which one to get! Help!
Janet: It's OK. Just get the Olay Regenerist stuff.
Me: There's so much here. Should I get the Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum or the Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream?
Janet: No, don't get the Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream. Well, I mean, you can get it but I didn't like it. It was too heavy for me. You want the Olay Regenerist lotion that has sunscreen in it. You'll use that during the day.
Me: I don't see that. I see a whole bunch of other stuff. Do I want the Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging UV Moisturizer?
Janet: No, not Total Effects. You want the Regenerist stuff.
Me: Well, I don't see what you're talking about. Do I want the one that is with Touch of Foundation?
Janet: NO. Don't get the Touch of Foundation. You want the Olay Regenerist lotion. It's kind of in a round container.
Me: I might get the Total Effects stuff too. It has "7 anti-aging therapies in 1 vitamin rich moisturizer" and is "for visibly younger-looking, even toned skin".
Janet: Hmm, OK, but that's not the one I'm talking about.
Me: Wait! I think I've got it! Is it the Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion?
Janet: Yeah!
Me: Yeah!

I hope this works.