Celebrating a Big Day!

So, that’s it…I just went from being a bit of a procrastinator to a flat out crappy husband. Just like that. I had been planning to write something about the celebration of our 3rd Anniversary and her birthday all week but, just hadn’t gotten the chance yet (yeah, because all that research I’ve been conducting on whether Javelinas are pigs or not was so much more important). So, Olivia goes and steals my thunder and reveals me for the sorry sack of poop I am. This should be a time to celebrate her much more than just to talk about our anniversary. Although her words were very kind and made me sound like so much better of a husband and father than I ever am, I cannot let it go with only that message!

Olivia turned thirty-three on Monday, November 9th. Or, if she’s feeling bummed about it, she turned 29 for the 5th time…Yay!!! Seriously though, she’s starting to take these thirties pretty hard, lately (CRAZY since she’s yet to look like 26, much less 29…again). During our now famous jog on Monday, as we rounded the turn on our last 10th of a mile, Olivia said “To hell with you, gravity!” I don’t know how long she and I will be able to keep winning that fight but, let me tell you, she’s kicking gravity’s butt in her jogging pants these days. Saucy!!!

If you are reading this belated b-day message for my lovely wife, you have probably received phone calls, emails or some message on your own birthday from Olivia. That’s just a part of who she is. She remembers peoples birthdays…EVERYBODY’S! Now, if you’re reading this and thinking, "Wait a minute, Olivia didn't call me on my birthday, that guy's full of crap!" I’m going to reveal her secret strategy to remember everyone’s birthday shortly, and all will be made clear.

Olivia has a new calendar every year. Yeah, I know…you’re supposed to get a new calendar every year but, if you’re like me you only use a real calendar about once a month to see if you’re supposed to have any extra days off that week. Olivia actually uses her calendar. She takes her old calendar at the start of each year, and adds all your important days to the new one. She does this every year and then, she actually looks at the calendar each day to see who’s day it is. Seems pretty simple so far (although I can’t say I’ve ever written a single word on a real calendar in my life much less, used one to remember which special person’s birthday or anniversary or whatever it was). Here’s where it gets a little tougher. She actually calls or at least emails the people whose big day it is!!! I can’t even remember who about 85% of you people are and she’s emailing and calling like 3 of you a week!!! So, if you haven’t gotten a call or email, your day probably didn’t make the original calendar like 7 years ago and although she does add people all the time, let her know and she’ll sign you right up on the list with everyone else. See, Olivia cares. She loves her friends and family and enjoys reaching out to them to let them know they are important to her. Wow! Now you know that when I say that she makes me want to be a better person, I’m not just saying it. She’s really is a pretty cool chick. And don’t even get me started on her study habits!

What is especially ironic about this birthday stuff, and pretty frustrating for me at times is that, she never wants anyone to make any big deal out of her birthday. I’m not saying she should expect a parade but hey, a little cake isn’t too much to ask! I would also like to thank all of you for letting her know that you were thinking about her on her birthday because I know that it meant a lot to her and the phone was ringing from the time I left for work in the morning until we started to get ready for bed that night. It was nice to see her get to talk to so many people who are so special to her on her birthday. It probably didn’t seem like a very big deal to you but, you are all pretty great in my book…whatever your names are! And, if you hadn’t already figured it out, I’m so thoughtful that I convinced Olivia to marry me on her birthday so that I’d only have to remember one day every year that’s not already written on every calendar and web page in the world. November 9th. That’s the big one for me! That’s the day that my Livvy-Fay was born, and that’s the day that I got to marry my Sunshine! Pretty good day if you ask me and I can honestly say thanks to her, since that day, there have been so many more good days than bad, it’s not even close. We really do try to do everything together and the way I see it, that’s what a marriage should be. I don’t know about making her laugh every day but, I’ll tell you that any good day for me definitely includes putting a smile on her face and that the major sign of a bad day is one where she cries (unless it’s a good cry... which happens sometimes). God has truly blessed me with a great partner and she is a wonderful wife in every way I could ever hope for! Okay that’s more than enough of a look into how I feel about my special girl.

Since I know you've been waiting impatiently all this time, here's your answer:

Javelinas or, Peccaries (also known as javelinas, by the Portuguese name javali and Spanish jabalí or pecarí) are medium-sized mammals of the family Tayassuidae. Peccaries are members of the artiodactyl suborder Suina, as are swine (Suidae) and possibly hippopotami.[1] They are found in the southwestern area of North America and throughout Central and South America. Peccaries usually measure between 90 to 130 centimetres (3.0 to 4.3 ft), and a full-grown adult usually weighs between about 20 to 40 kilograms (44 to 88 lb). People often confuse peccaries, which are found in the Americas, with pigs which originated in Afro-Eurasia, especially since some domestic pigs brought by European settlers have escaped over the years and now run wild as razorback hogs in many parts of the United States. Thanks again, Wikipedia! And with that, I’m off to spend countless hours conducting similarly critical research…