mandaloo . com

i cannot begin to tell you how much has happened in the last week so here are the highlights:

• dad’s birthday.  basically, jeromy and i went over to my parents’ house last saturday for my dad’s birthday.  i bought him some longhorns stuff (a sweatshirt and a tshirt, which i later exchanged for a larger size) and some dublin dr. pepper (which i picked up on my adventure in stephenville last week).  also threw in a free calendar from a tool store i got that day.  it was super cute and funny and i think dad enjoyed this gift more than any of the others i got… which felt like a parent getting a gift for a kid only to watch the child gleefully play with the box.  heh.
• work.  and tons of it.  it’s thursday and i have already gotten 40 hours plus some.  as a result, i’ve been kinda tired and stressed, but nothing major. 
• stars hockey game.  went to go watch the stars do their preseason thing last night.  they got whooped by colorado - they really need to pull it together soon.  it was jeromy’s birthday yesterday and his sister scored some tickets at work, so that was his gift to make the day fun for him.  they were platinum tickets… which meant parking in the garage and no lines.  it was super nice and despite the defeat, i had a good time.  i absolutely love going to hockey games.  it’s a good sport for an impatient person such as i to watch.  jeromy seemed to have a good time, too - it was his first hockey game.  you gotta love a guy who makes jokes about the midriff-showing ice girls who skate out there during breaks and wave to the crowd.  i was not amused.  neither was he.  so the side comments flew.  and i think i love him more for that.  there was a game with some of the crowd members that looked kinda fun.  the individual would sit in a sled and they would kinda “sling” you (with a giant slingshot amazingly enough) across the ice where you would try to knock over giant bowling pins.  i don’t know why i found it so entertaining but i did.  i had a young couple (high school maybe?) next to me that needed to get a room.  i found it interesting when the girl was showing her boyfriend her fresh tattoo on her leg… of a GIANT marajuana leaf and dice underneath.  classy.
  
• jeromy’s birthday.  i let jeromy open his gifts a day early since i thought i was going to have to work late last night.  i got him a batman ornament, batman nightlight, two batman tshirts, and a set of batman sheets.  they were all in batman bags, too.  (do you sense a theme?)  i think he liked them and it brought me sheer joy to see him smile while opening his gifts.  i’m grateful that i had the chance to celebrate a birthday with him.  i know this next year will be great for him - he’s got a great job and seems to be solidifying what he needs to do to have the type of life he wants.
• got invited to a ball.  no, we’re not in a fairy tale… i’m actually going to a ball this weekend, which rocks my face off.  one of the top people at my company bought a table for the event (it’s a fundraiser for the opera).  there are enough seats for him, his spouse, and four people and their guests (ten total).  i got a call monday morning from his secretary asking what i was doing this saturday and that i was invited to go to this event.  i rushed downstairs and could barely believe that i was asked to go, when we have 300 employees at our company.  the other people going are notable people in the company, so i still am stunned about the invitation, but i am totally excited beyond belief.  each plate is $300 - so that’s $600 for jeromy and i to attend.  i am still shocked.  it’s a super formal (black tie) event, so that night, my coworker and i went out dress shopping for me.  i scored a gorgeous gown, which rocks.  jeromy is going tonight to a tux place to rent a vest and tie for his suit.  it’s going to have a dinner and dancing and will be amazing.  i went to one of these events before (three years ago or so) when a coworker’s spouse couldn’t make it to attend with her and had an incredible evening (which may be why i was invited again - they probably get a kick out of seeing me beyond elated).  i still need to find some shoes and stuff, but i am thrilled to dress up and have a memorable night.
• got a new calling at church.  i’ll be coordinating periodic activities (called “enrichment” nights) for the women’s group, which will be fun.  i’m looking forward to serving the ladies in my congregation in this new role and hope i do a good job.

my mom is having some health problems i’ve heard via dad, so i hope she gets to feeling better.  they’re supposed to be testing her soon for various things.  i would love it if one day my mom felt good and and happy and well again.  

that’s about it for now.  the weekend is going to be busy.  there is a party (mexican restaurant - w00t) for jeromy with some of his friends plus an omni night for work in addition to the other activities this weekend.  more to come.