Looking at Birthdays

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I am celebrating another birthday this week. I have been showered with gifts from all corners! Saintvi gave me a wonderful gift with 3 LuLaRoe pieces – a Linnea in purple triangles and diamond shapes, a Perfect-T of white with navy geometric designs, and an Irma in a patterned velour with sparkly gold metallic stars. I can’t wait to wear them! But perhaps the most fun part of the gift was the fake eyelashes that are magnetic!! I just might post a photo when I give them a try! Meijers grocery store sent me a coupon for a free doughnut. I’ve got a free appetizer from Texas Roadhouse, $5 off and a free croissant at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, a free birthday burger at Red Robin, and a free entree at Table 97. So much food and not enough time! Sparky bought a gift that was supposed to come for Christmas but didn’t make it in time so I told him that it would be fine to give it to me for my birthday. The bad part is that I don’t think it has arrived. Of course he won’t tell me what it is…

Besides the food and gifts I’m celebrating in another way, I’m giving myself permission to say “NO” when I don’t want to do something! So far I’m saying no to organizing a church retreat, taking over the planning, placement and presentation of the geocaching event for Fernwood, and taking on another researcher who wants my assistance. Not only am I saying no but I’m refusing to accept any guilt for refusing to do all these activities. That is the biggest gift I’m giving myself this year. No guilt. It is human nature that when someone holds their hand out as if to give you something you respond by sticking your hand out to receive it. Well I’m not falling for that trick. They can hold out the guilt but my hands are firmly in my pockets.

On a side note Sparky survived his surgery and is resting uncomfortably. The doctor prescribed some Tylenol with codeine in case his pain couldn’t be controlled with plain Tylenol. He is loathe to take any of them but he is not a happy camper… He is supposed to go back to work tomorrow afternoon but I’m not sure that is going to happen.

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37 thoughts on “Looking at Birthdays”

    1. LuLaRoe is clothing – and very comfortable but very expensive too. So I get all mine second hand (except for the one dress I bought on vacation because Sparky dragged me to all the NASA stuff and so he owed me).

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  2. “resting uncomfortably”. I had to reread that for the obvious reasons. Sorry for laughing, Sparky. To make up for my laughter, I encourage him to take as long as he needs to feel better before he goes back to work. I offer this advice because I have never used it.
    Happy birthday! Congrats on all the good stuff and so much more to come!

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    1. Thanks! I am trying to keep a positive attitude. I went to the gym this morning and Sparky tagged along. He walked slowly around the track. He was a little peeved that everyone was passing him… He will sleep well tonight.

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  3. Hope that he recovers quickly. Happy Birthday. Hope you have a wonderful year. Keep saying no. I had to learn to say no with us being gone Monday through Friday. I can’t spend all my home time working on projects for the town organizer. I finally have my mom trained that I can help her out but only on Saturdays. Sunday I have no time with us leaving by five.

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    1. Thanks! I got the card and had a chuckle. Sparky was amused but it hurts to laugh. I convinced him after we had lunch and he was walking like he was 110 years old. He had said he was going to work Thursday but after walking today, under 6000 steps, he called his boss and let her know he wouldn’t be in to work Thursday… He even skipped choir practice tonight. I think reality has crept into view and he asked me for the good drugs.

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  5. Happy Birthday Val, saying no is essential … “guilt” can’t be translated in many languages, it’s a very Christian thing 🙂
    Saintvi said it well, Sparky needs to man up 🙂 I had to look up that clothing thing, never heard of it here!

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    1. Thanks! I suppose it could be considered Christian but my Jewish grandmother was an expert at guilt. As for the man of the house, he has finally accepted that he is not the “Man of Steel” and has been taking the pain meds. Hopefully he will sleep better tonight and feel even better in the morning.

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      1. I hope so for the sake of your marriage 🙂

        Guilt serves no purpose at all, it’s such a waste of energy. My mum used it to manipulate but once you recognise it it was easier to step away 🙂

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  6. glad to read that surgery was uneventful and now healing in progress. yay to gifts and and food a fine way to celebrate, you are blessed. organising a retreat sounds very exciting to me, I am keen to read about it as your proceed. a very happy weekend to you and a very happy birthday…Gina (hugs and smiles)

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    1. Thanks Gina! I had a fun day. As for the retreat for church, that was one of the things I said no to. I offered to assist in some other ways (making banners or cooking) but said I wasn’t available for Chairing the event. There are many other (younger) people looking for ways to be involved so I think I’ll let them step up…

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    1. Haha! The fake eyelashes were fun but it took Sparky over an hour to notice them. He probably wouldn’t have except I took a couple pictures to send to saintvi. Then son #1 took me to dinner and after 3 hours and sitting across from him he still hadn’t noticed. I had to play that old game, “Do you notice anything different about me?” Took him twenty guesses to finally figure it out (with lots of hints). Obviously the eyelashes aren’t that big of a change…

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  8. Happy Birthday. Mine is soon, also! I like my husband will remember and we will do something special and Aquarian but my job, I am ok if they don’t remember and hoping the forget. But if they ask, I will say I am old enough to be called ma’am.

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  11. Happy Birthday! And I’m glad you’re learning to say “no.” It’s one of the most important words we can learn, I think, to say without guilt. And speaking of which, I do hope your husband learns that taking a pain pill or two after surgery is nothing to feel guilty about.

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    1. Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! He returned to work today and it nearly did him in. He has taken a pain pill and gone to bed – after taking a 3 hour nap when he got home!!

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  12. Glad the surgery went well but not that Sparky is in pain.
    What wonderful gifts. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Hope it’s a wonderful day.
    Good for you..that is a very special gift (and needed one) to give yourself.

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    1. Hi Elizabeth! I did have a really good birthday. Today Sparky is in a lot less pain and was able to go to work and not collapse when he got home. He’s managing with only Tylenol and the bruising is almost gone…

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  13. I may have sent FB birthday greetings, but if not, I hope your year is off to a great start. “Just say no!” is a splendid mantra, especially as one is expected to fend for oneself in old age, and saying that one was generous, back in the day, is no excuse for geriatric penury.

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