How do you celebrate the birthday of a loved one, when you're miles (and miles!) from friends and most of your family? Randy doesn't make a big deal out of his birthdays usually---he hates those "sing the birthday song" things that restaurants do. And he's always said he doesn't like surprise parties (and then a few days ago said that for his 40th, he probably wouldn't have minded....Argh! Now he tells me!!!!)

So today, with only one thing on my plate to try to accomplish (make kheer), did I? Nope. I woke with....eh, let's just keep the details vague and call it "intestinal grief". Ugh. I've hardly been able to move today---I feel like an old lady! (Wait, *whose* 40th is it????)

How could I make up for this???? FLASH! Like a strobe of lightning in the dark I had an idea..... I'll order flowers delivered to his office---yeah! With balloons floating above, so they'll be visible above those crappy almost-walls that make up cubicle farms in offices all over the world. Perfect.

I located a florist just down the street from his office and called. I spoke to the owner (!) and she was absolutely amazing about it. I ordered a medium dish garden, with 2 latex balloons and a mylar "Happy Birthday" balloon. ::rubs hands together with glee:: I gave my Amex card numbers and eagerly awaited the call from Randy that he'd been pounced on at work.

Only... I got the call a lot sooner than I expected and he didn't sound too happy. For a second, I thought, "NO! Please tell me he didn't get laid off on his birthday!" Turns out, he wasn't feeling good and was coming home early!

I called the florist back and Paula was, once again, simply the best. She headed out immediately for our townhouse and was here and gone before Randy could get home. Look at the wonderful job she did.

One dish garden

Paula put in a couple cut flowers for some temporary color---and she picked well 'cause the orange tiger-lily reminds us both of when we were just engaged.

One Mylar, Two Latex Balloons

The Full Deal

Now, we just need to find a home for it where the ferrets can't paw through it.

Happy 40th, darling!