Day: March 10, 2017

Tie o’ the Week 🤢. Day Six, #2.

Tonight I will be eating my birthday dinner at Chez Suzanne, at our Townhouse By The Church. She asked where I wanted to go out to eat for the occasion. Since she can find a dish that conforms to her diet ONLY at Applebee’s, she is sick of that being our go-to, eat-out restaurant. I know she would have agreed to dine anywhere I picked, cuz it’s my speshul day. And I didn’t want to inflict Applebee’s on her again. Instead, I have inflicted upon her the duty of preparing my birthday dinner. No surprise what I asked for: Suzanne’s salmon. Best. Ever.

I have no problem with the idea of turning 53. I still feel 17, attitude-wise. A much wiser 17, for sure. My body, however, does in fact feel 53. A couple of years ago I noticed that my face looked a bit older than I actually am. Suzanne had noticed it too. We had a “conference at the mound”, and decided that the extra wrinkles are due to my grimacing through Hanky Panky pain for the last 18 years, including in my sleep. I’m confident that ‘splains it perfectly, Lucy.

I’ve always said I wanted to have a sort of Georgia O’ Keefe-esque, chiseled face by the time I die. You know what I mean: Wrinkles and lines that basically map out your life on your face. I just didn’t think it would happen quite this soon. But I’d happily have a birthday every week, if I got Suzanne-baked salmon out of it.

Tie o’ the Week went with us to H and R Block to last night to help us get our taxes done. All went dandy. But it annoys the Heck Tate out of me that we always have to pay state taxes, no matter how bigly our federal refund might be. Do not misunderstand me: I do not begrudge paying taxes. I learned decades ago the truth of what Dad always told me about paying taxes: We get more out of a tax dollar than out of any dollar we spend otherwise. But come on, Utah. Get your tax code together!

According to both state and federal tax laws, I cannot claim my neckwear as dependents; but they are always welcome to live with us. They are every bit as much a part of our family as our mutts.  You should see our Homely Family Evenings!

In fact, Suzanne and I have even considered not selling the Beach House, for the sole purpose of using it to house ALL my ties and bow ties. They could enjoy the place the way we used to, right down to spending time on the porch. And they would feel comfortable enough to be outside to do the yard work that desperately needs to be done. Nobody is angry enough at them to put them in danger. On the other hand, if the house went up in flames, they would be trapped. It’s a big decision for us.

The above shirt is from our trip to Disneyworld back in 2004. The “Grumpy” name tag expresses my current, Day Six feeling about this foray into Tie o’ the Week. You can bet I will not attempt this again. Even Mercedes has made known her boredom with days of looking at the same tie. I’m relieved to know it’s not just me dealing with such impatience.