Best. Birthday. Ever

It’s hard to put into words what this weekend was like. I’ll do my best and just warn that  this is a long post.

Let’s begin at the end, shall we, perhaps with a quote from my wife: “I just wanted you to have the best day ever.” Good lord, was she ever correct.

Before we get to the play-by-play, let’s notice where the seeds were sewn on this one. Apparently, about a month ago, Ericka began “feeling” for what I wanted. Considering I need very little things, I asked for the normal geek stuff. Gadgets, ironic t-shirts, the whole bit. Also around that time I mention that the iPod Nano was my pie-in-the-sky gift, but let’s get serious here. That’s a little ridiculous considering our budget. Then, as weeks went by, Ericka began to ask about image manipulation. I showed her how to resize, edit, and work with images. She told me she was compiling cakes so she could create a “flyer” of sorts for them. But she kept insisting on making a one-page image.

“How big is one page in Fireworks?” She asked, over and over. I tried to explain that a big image wasn’t really the best way to go. For example, an 8” by 11” image won’t work, becuase of margin issues when printing, and so on.

And me, the ever-forgetful husband, thought about it from time to time but never really investigated what she was doing. But more on this later.

Friday evening I went home and went straight to bed around 7PM, to get up around 2:30AM. There are fewer things more uncomfortable than “forcing” sleep. But you know you need to, because you got a big trip ahead. My trip was to the StarCityGames Ravnica PreRelease. In Richmond, Virginia, which, if you weren’t aware, is about a million miles away from Knoxville, TN. Okay, not quite that far, but a hell of a lot. 400 miles is about 6.5 hours of driving, all things considered (gas stops, etc).

We finally make it to the place and I signup for a “flight” (a mini-tournament) and wait to begin. After 4 rounds, I’m 4–0 and take home half a box. To make it sweeter, one of my friends that came with us (Roske) was also 3–0 and there was a 1 in 3 chance of us having to play each other for the prize. That didn’t happen and when we both came out on top, we had a box to share between us.

Good times, good times. Other friends made a killing in selling cards (Chris’ $25 investment turned into almost $200 — after keeping the Good Cards), and a few more packs were won by myself and others in drafts. One draft (and lunch) was provided via Chris. Thanks man, it was hella fun.

As we drove back and arrived home, exactly 24 hours later, I collapsed on my bed and awoke the next morning to more Ravnica goodness. Me and my friends headed to the card shop for some draftin. Considering the set isn’t even on store shelves, with over a box to ourselves it was just a fantastic feeling to have.

But as it got nearer to 4PM, when I had to watch the girls while Ericka had candle party preperations to work on, my friends left and soon me and Chris were headed back home after a call from the wife.

This, my friends, is a red herring. Not that I really knew it or anything. Before I continue, let me retrace a few of these herrings:

– In this post I allude that Ericka is making 1,000 cranes to decorate Annie’s room with. I was incorrect.

– I woke up Sunday morning to breakfast and the most heartfelt card Ericka’s ever given me. She explained that she was sorry she couldn’t afford any wonderful presents this year and that my cake would be ready tomorrow. I told her not to worry about it, because I love her no matter how many presents or cakes I receive.

Now, I don’t know about you, but my favorite part of Extreme Home Makeover is “The Reveal.” If you’ve seen the show, or any “Makeover” show, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The door swings wide, the music swells, and you simply awe at what’s there before you.

I walk up to the building, and suddely everything happens in slow motion.

I open the door:

I begin to see faces. Lana, Jim, Ryan, and Sarah from the great Outpost1. My mother and her boyfriend. My mother and father in law. Ericka’s friends: Nikki, Nikki’s boyfriend Kevin, Corry. All my friends, Jeremy, Dustin and EJ (who had just left the card shop where we were drafting). Chris and Roske are behind me, and they all shout:

“SURPRISE!” And I can’t believe it:

I am so immediately grateful, humbled, and awed, I can do nothing but grab the nearest person (Lana) and hug her. I shake hands, I thank everyone, I don’t know how to react. I’ve never felt so special, as god-awfully corny as that sounds. It takes a lot of work to get all of these people together, to make time in their schedules, for them to choose to spend a Sunday afternoon celebrating my birth with me.

I feel like I want to cry, but all I can do is laugh, and shake my head, and try to express how incredulous all of this is.

I then notice the cranes hung all over the walls. The cranes that were “for Annie’s room” were really for this party. Ericka got the idea from an episode of Six Feet Under (one of Nate’s B-Day parties), as cranes were definitely “more Evan” (quote, unquote) than streamers and balloons. I wholeheatedly agree. It was very, very cool:

I then get to hang out with my friends:

(L to R: Roske, Dustin, Chris. Behind: Kevin)

(L to R: Jim and Jeremy)

Meanwhile, the kids hung out:

(Jim’s son Ryan and Annie)

Soon it was time to eat my favorite food, Lasagna. Nikki made a LOT:

 
(Pans 1 and 2, respectively)

Then it came time to open presents, which the kids helped with:

Ericka also revealed why she had spent so much time asking and working with images: She created a 2006 calendar full of collages. My favorite (and her favorite) Annie and Abby photos were on each month, and captions were added for humor. Brilliant photos and an amazing piece of work. My God, does this woman never stop? She just keeps getting better!

Each month has special dates marked and events noted. On the front is the title (“Daddy’s Our Favorite”), with a picture of Annie holding a sign that has “We (Heart)” and another picture of Abby wearing a sign that says “Daddy”. It’s cute beyond words (and I need to get some photos of it).

Anyway, with the “cake flyer” plan now revealed, she also notes that Jeremy helped her quite a bit with the transition to Powerpoint files. Thanks a bunch man!

The big present came last…

I see an Apple logo, and begin to geek.

See that smile? It got a bit bigger, but trust me when I say it was plastered on my face the entire time.

The Nano arrives! And one of the tough to find black ones at that! A little tough to see in that photo, but it’s there! And believe you me it is a glorious piece of technology. Jeremy provided me with an anti-scratch shield to make sure that no unfortunate things happen to it. Thanks dude! My mom, dad, wife and in-laws provided the Nano itself.

Other presents: Nikki provided me with The Sandman Companion (sweet), and I got some great clothes via my wife, along with a Best Buy gift certificate from Corry (woot!), and a Barnes and Noble gift cert via Jim, Lana and fam. Amazing!

I wish there was a more eloquent and elaborate way to say it, but I’ll just say it: Thank you, I love you all. Cheesy but true. I got some amazing family and friends. I only wish everyone had a day like that, all via a companion as faithful and exceptional as my own.

“You got an amazing wife,” Chris tells me at some point.

“You don’t need to tell me,” I said. And she proves it each and every day. Thank you sweetheart!

You can see the full res versions and a few more of the Birthday ‘05 photos here.