happy birthday, jr!!!

Well, we did it! We successfully pulled off a surprise party for JR tonight! Despite a close call when Shannon hadn't gotten my e-mail yet and kept saying, "Absolutely! We'll go celebrate your birthday with you on Friday night!", and Aaron kept saying, "But that's date night. We can't go.", and the back and forth of "We can do date night any night!" and "We'll see...", he was still surprised. He had no idea.

The plan was for just JR and I to go to dinner at Kookez and then to go see a movie, just the two of us. Unbeknownst to him, Deano and Shyer had made a cake, and Aaron and Shannon were waiting for us at a special table at Kookez, with balloons and everything, even a mug full of sugar-free candy. We had a nice long dinner with all our bestest friends, drinking wine and beer, and JR and I took a night off from our diet.

Deano and Shy put 31 candles on the beautiful cake Shy had made, and brought it out in a fiery blaze. :) The cake was delicious! After we had our cake, we all counted through the candles and recounted our entire lives up to this point. JR started it off, and he noted the last 2 candles as the best years, starting when he met the best girl. I'm totally keeping those 2 candles.

I love you, JR. Happy Birthday. Best years of my life too. And only more to come.

ask ashley™, #2

Stepping outside the box, today's question is from an actual reader! (An almost-lawyer in Houston who would prefer to remain anonymous.) :D

Dear Ashley,

My neighborhood pub has $12 steak night every Monday during happy hour. I like steaks, and I like happy hour, but the two combined always render my Monday evenings completely useless. What can I do?

—Nap-Time Nelson

Dear Nap-Time,

Looks to me like you're screwed. How can anyone resist $12 steak AND happy hour?!? Accept that Monday nights are reserved for uselessness. As some Zen master said, "It is what it is."

Also... are Stella or Duvel included in happy hour? If so, you are truly lost my friend. And I might come visit you next Monday.

—Ashley

Ask Ashley™ is not to be confused with (or impinge upon the trademark rights of) Ask Abby™.