Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Birthday Sweets!

So after boasting about what an awesome birthday I was going to have in the wee hours of Saturday morning, I woke up in the not-so-wee hours with a miserable case of food poisoning. (Helpful Tip: I'm pretty sure the Boston Market meatloaf is *not* supposed to be pink in the middle. Ug.) That's what I get for jinxing it, right?

Fortunately I was recovered enough by the afternoon to still get out of the house for a bit, and fully recovered in time for my deeeLIGHTful Boma birthday dinner with friends:

Mmmm. Booooomaaaa.

Now I'm going to brag on John a bit.

He's been acting extraordinarily pleased with himself the past few weeks, dropping hints and collecting packages and generally being way more excited about my birthday than I was. (Which, to be fair, wasn't hard.)
 
Last week the suspense was apparently too much for him, because he surprised me with my first gift: the oh-so-elusive paperback movie adaption of Labyrinth. (WOOT!!) It's never been reprinted, so he was up 'til 5AM one morning in a bidding war on ebay to get it. (And I've already finished it. And it's awesome. I may have to write a book review to share some of the cool extra tidbits in there with you guys...)

John and I don't usually "do" birthday gifts, so please forgive me for photographing my haul like an obnoxious 12-year-old:

Toys, art, and books. Does my hubby know me, or WHAT?

The ACEO is from Jasmine Becket Griffith. The adorable mustachioed octopus was a custom order (teal & orange FTW!) from Cheek & Stitch, and I'm especially impressed because John found it all by himself - or maybe one of you readers tipped him off? (He *has* been helping me with a lot of e-mail lately...)

Sir Squibner now sits in the place of honor on my monitor stand:
"I say! What what! Tally ho! And so forth."

Of course, the big big surprise came on Saturday afternoon when John handed me his phone and instructed me to read the e-mail he had on screen.

I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say that John had been conspiring with the famous Geek a Week artist Len Peralta for nearly six weeks, all to get me this:

Me as Mr. StayPuft. 

 Awwwww YEEEEAAAHH.

Len's an insanely busy guy, but thanks to John's charm (and the fact that Len happens to be a fan) he found the time to do this drawing and surprise me with a sweet birthday e-mail. (In which he informed me what a great husband John is. Believe me, Len, I KNOW.) John even talked him into giving me the original sketch, something he normally doesn't do. I'm going to get them framed together side-by-side. And then try to find a free spot in my office to hang them. (I need more walls!)


Thank you all for the lovely get-well and birthday wishes on Saturday - they made the day that much sweeter. If I could, I would totally throw a big ol' geek party at Boma and have every single one of you there. Maybe next year? You guys don't mind coming to Orlando for that, right? :D

40 comments:

  1. It takes a very special kind of girl to appreciate being drawn so round and soft in the middle, lol! Glad your presents made up for being sick and glad you had such a fun birthday after all :-)

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  2. Ooooh! I have one of Jasmine's pictures in my loft!

    Happy Birthday!

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  3. I am completely jealous, although I do have to admit, geeky husbands named John are more than a little awesome. I have one myself.

    I think I might have to move something off the wall to make room for the Peralta drawings. I love that you have the original sketch too. Matched sets are awesome.

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  4. Ohhh! Congrats, and sorry about the freak meatloaf! May all the best be yours, your awesome high geekiness, you! :D PS IS THAT BOMA, from disney?!?!

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  5. Sweetness and light, Jen.

    http://store.doverpublications.com/0486481115.html

    Saw this in my Dover catalog and thought of steampunky you.

    ~ Haiku Joy

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  6. I'm sad that I missed your birthday! Happy returns and all that!

    Sweet haul!

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  7. Drat, I didn't even know there was a novelization of Labyrinth... now I want one! I also want a model BTTF Delorean, and have been eyeing a few different versions over the past couple months. What version is yours, and what are your thoughts on it?

    A belated happy birthday to you Jen! And John, you're awesome!

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  8. It's true; your husband is a sweetie. But you're one right back! So glad your birthday picked up.

    And that octopus is to DIE for.

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  9. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Boma so I'm so in also Ohana is very tasty

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  10. I used to own a copy of The Labyrinth also, until the stupid floods destroyed it. :-( Talk about devestated. I've been trying to rebuy it but I refuse to pay the stupid amounts of money people want for it. I also tried contacting the publisher several times, was told I'd get a response soon, and never heard back.....twice. Rude! Oh well, one day I'll get a copy again.

    Meanwhile, Happy Birthday!!!! Glad it was awesome. You deserve it!!!!!

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  11. Wow. That is an awesome birthday you had there! Congrats!

    Wow. I didn't know that Labyrinth book was rare! I have my own copy! I've had it for at least 10 to 15 years. It's SO rare that I can't even find reference to it on Google!

    Who knew?

    Liz from Canada

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  12. how about a Boma get-together on October 24th this year? At around 7:30 in the evening? I already have a ressie for that night!! :) For my own birthday (which is the week before).... Also TOTALLY agree with Nicole, Ohana ROCKS!! We have been there twice, we were going to make it 3 times, but thought we should try somewhere new, can't wait 'til October!!! Only 162 days until I get to go to Boma!!

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  13. aw happy birthday! Mine was yesterday and hubby got me something, after telling I wanted nothing, and he was all "did I do good?" Like a kid, it is nice that they love us so much and even better when they "do good"

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  14. So glad your tummy got back to behaving itself! Those are some fun gifts, to be sure!!

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  15. You had me at Boma. I am SO there!

    Happy Belated Birthday!!!!!

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  16. That sounds like a fabulous birthday despite the tiny bit 'o' food poisoning. Awesome birthday haul! Anytime you want to throw an Epbot party, I'm in!

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  17. Next year? What about all of us that will be in Orlando in late August? ;)

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  18. Why, I'd LOVE to come to Orlando, thanks for asking! I've never been. I was hiding out this weekend (Mother's Day, you know) so missed your post. Happy Belated Birthday!!! So glad it was a happy one. You do indeed have quite a wonderful hubby who knows you well. What a blessing for your both!

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  19. I know I used to have that book. I don't know if I got rid of it in a freak cleaning bout of insanity, or if it's still around. It was pretty good for a movie novelization, if I recall correctly (having Jareth on the cover helps, of course). John did good! And Happy belated birthday!

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  20. Happy Happy Birthday, Jen, dear! When I saw that Labyrinth novel, you piqued my interest. I was thrilled when I found that someone had transcribed it, and I was able to download it for my Kindle! Reading it now, and thoroughly enjoying it. (wish I had a geeky hubby to bid for a hard copy on eBay, but he's buying me a house instead. Can't be too angry with him!)

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  21. Looking forward to your next 'How to" tutorial on how to create more walls in your living space.

    Happy Birthday!

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  22. That octopus is the most adorable thing. Sir Squibner is a perfect name for him.

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  23. Yes, please tell more about the Delorean! I want!!

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  24. Wow, what an awesome octopus that I have absolutely never seen before, not at all, and didn't email anyone about it. At all. ;-)

    So glad you had a wonderful birthday, despite being ill. Hope you're making up for the food poisoning with some suitably beautiful cake.

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  25. How funny. I have that book too. I picked it up for pennies from a used bookstore about ten years ago. I read it once, liked it, then put it on the shelf where it still sits.

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  26. I'm another member of the "Wow, I had no idea my 50 cent copy of Labyrinth was worth that much to anyone but myself" club. Happy Unbarfday!

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  27. 1. Your John is amazing.

    2. I LOVE Boma. Not only is the food always amazing, but they always deal with my gluten free food allergy so gracefully. I even get special gluten free desserts!

    3. I live in Orlando, and i love blogs and think you and John are awesome. I always thought it would be neat to meet you guys but didn't want to come across as a stalker. ^_^

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  28. Jen, Happy belated birthday! I didn't realize that you and my dear husband shared the same natal day! Your dear John knocked it out of the park with the Mrs. Staypuft drawing. I salute thee, Sir John! I took my hubby for a special birthday surprise tour of Rancho Obi-Wan...will try to post our mini-album (there were lots and lots of pics!) on the Epbot page. Best wishes to you and again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thank you for all the laughs.

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  29. I read the book online since I couldn't find it anywhere! It's HERE for anyone who wants to read it online.

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  30. Happy Belated Birthday!
    Wow! I've casually searched for the Labyrinth book online, and it IS so hard to find! (And expensive when you do!) Awesome birthday present!
    Also, Sir Squibner is adorable. :)

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  31. I'm part of the "Wow, I have that book, too" club. I actually bought mine in 1986 and still have it. :-) Of course, I've also managed to get most of Brian Froud's books and 3 of the 4 Labyrinth graphic novel sequels. If you haven't seen them: http://www.amazon.com/Return-Labyrinth-Volume-Jake-Forbes/dp/B002DMJU5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337202692&sr=1-1

    Happy belated birthday - mine was last week. May is obviously an awesome month! :-)

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  32. I've been begging for one of those octopods for ages! They're sooo adorable!

    Happy happy birthday!

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  33. Jen, you're so stinking cute. Happy belated birthday!
    John, you're pretty darn adorable too. Well done, sir!

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  34. I actually ate at Boma for my 20th Birthday (10 years ago :) and the food was so good I never forgot about it! I plan on bringing my kids to Disney World next year around my Birthday so maybe I will have to go there for dinner. You are welcome to come! ;)

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  35. I have also had food poisoning from Boston Market, that resulted in an 8 hour stint in the ER waiting room. On a better note, happy birthday!

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  36. That octopus is just beyond cute! All your other presents are cool too, especially the drawing, but I just LOVE that octopus!

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  37. Wow, I got my copy of the Labyrinth book secondhand from a yard sale or thrift store too, and I don't remember how much I paid for it but wouldn't've bought it if it was more than a dollar or two. I'm shocked it's going for so much online!

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  38. First off, happy birthday! Now on to my rambling, I am sooooo crazy jealous of the little octopus! I need like six of those! Everyone I know needs one of those! I want to fill the world with uber-adorable plushie octopusus? Octopi? Which ever one it is. I love them!

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  39. When the Bloggess got her geek a week card, all I could think was how you needed one as well. Congrats!

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  40. The octopus reminds me of Oswald.

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