Halloween Is Just The Day After
I just went to remove the chicken from the refrigerator (the better to roast it, my dear) and discovered the following sticky note attached to the bird: "Don't eat me! We are going out."
"Really, Gold n' Plump? You and I are hitting the town?" I asked with interest.
The chicken remained enigmatically silent.
"Ste-eeeeee-ve!" I bellowed towards the upper recesses of the house "I am receiving messages from the food!"
"Listen to the chicken," he yelled back. "Heed the wisdom of the chicken!"
"You and I and the chicken are going out tonight?" I asked.
"Well, you and I."
"You got a babysitter?"
"I got a babysitter."
"You made reservations?"
"I made reservations."
"Garsh," I said.
"I know!" he replied.
So in one short hour I will be ditching my child with that nice woman from the nanny service and going to a place that boasts page after page after page of delicious wine. And I shall choose not wisely but well and, considering it is my birthday in T- 7 hours, I must say I completely deserve it.
I like birthdays and I like surprises but I especially like MY birthday surprises.
Let me be the first to say happy birthday! Spend lots of money on that bottle of wine (and ignore the mark-up....).
Posted by: courtney | October 29, 2005 at 05:50 PM
Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!
Funny, I made chicken parmigian tonight & my poulty never uttered a word! Lucky gal you are. Have a great night.
Posted by: Catizhere | October 29, 2005 at 06:06 PM
Happy birthday. And you might consider taking the chicken with you and insisting that it get its own seat and glass of wine.
Posted by: Christine | October 29, 2005 at 06:19 PM
Have a great time! We ditched our kids last night and it was great - although we made the mistake of going to a place, however well liked by us, at which other peoples' kids were vocally in attendance. Next time (oh, in three or four years) we'll go somewhere more likely to be completely without youthful clientele. We love kids, mind you, but on our rare nights out it's nice to not be around any, you know?
Happy Birthday! If you take the chicken, make sure you get separate check to be fair to it - they eat like birds.
Posted by: Marsha | October 29, 2005 at 06:25 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I've never gotten a poultry-gram before. Lucky you!
Posted by: RachelH | October 29, 2005 at 06:26 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
drink a few bottles for me ;)
Posted by: heather | October 29, 2005 at 06:33 PM
Happy Birthday! I hope it's superb!
And props to Steve!
Posted by: Jen (yup, another one) | October 29, 2005 at 07:44 PM
Happy Birthday! A surprise date complete with babysitter, reservations, and wine list. I am jealous, I must say.
Posted by: k | October 29, 2005 at 07:45 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Jenn | October 29, 2005 at 07:51 PM
Talking chicken is good if it brings you messages like that!
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Catherine | October 29, 2005 at 08:10 PM
Happy, happy m'dear. And let's just say that rum drink I just had was in celebration of your special day, shall we? Okay, let's.
Have fun,
K.
Posted by: Chookooloonks | October 29, 2005 at 08:46 PM
Happy Birthday!
Very jealous, too. Hope you have a fantastic evening. I wonder who's going to have a sore head tomorrow?
Enjoy.
Posted by: Sheridan | October 29, 2005 at 09:05 PM
Happy Birthday from a longtime lurker!
Is Steve willing to give lessons to less, ummm, "organized" husbands???
Posted by: beckyb | October 29, 2005 at 09:07 PM
Ooooooooooooh, yeah you totally deserve it. Have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweets!!
Posted by: Ollie | October 29, 2005 at 09:09 PM
Happy Birthday and say hello to the chicken for me.
xoxoxo
Posted by: Mollie | October 29, 2005 at 09:13 PM
Well, I knew I opened a beer and got some pretzels in honor of SOMEBODY. Happy to find it was you.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Ruth | October 29, 2005 at 10:57 PM
Happy Birthday. I made BBQ chicken tonight and it didn't speak to me at all, so we ate it.
Posted by: margalit | October 29, 2005 at 11:07 PM
mmmmmmmm... wine. Miss that. Miss going out too.
Happy Birthday!!!!!!
Posted by: BrendaS | October 30, 2005 at 01:54 AM
Happy Birthday!!
I hope the chicken gets you something nice, too.
Posted by: Ruggybabs | October 30, 2005 at 04:48 AM
I'm reading this now, when it actually is your birthday, but I thought you meant tomorrow was your birthday, which is actually my birthday, so I was GOING to say Wow, that's my birthday too, but then I saw the date. Oh well.
The person who could do some sort of birthday surprise-y thing for me has no money. He offered to bring me my breakfast in bed, but porridge just doesn't feel that luxurious.
Posted by: Julia | October 30, 2005 at 07:24 AM
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Cat, Galloping | October 30, 2005 at 07:25 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Posted by: Kris | October 30, 2005 at 08:21 AM
Lucky thing!
Many happy returns!
Posted by: Jess in Nova Scotia | October 30, 2005 at 09:09 AM
Happy birthday!
That is one wise chicken you've got there, yes siree.
Posted by: Menita | October 30, 2005 at 09:44 AM
Happy Day, my dear.
Posted by: Danae | October 30, 2005 at 11:06 AM
Happy Birthday. I hope you had a lovely dinner.
Posted by: thalia | October 30, 2005 at 12:29 PM
Happy Birthday!! I too, went out last night to celebrate my b-day, which was on Wednesday. So, we'll just say that the free shot of HOT SEX I received at one bar was for the both of us, eh? And you drank fab wine for me, ok? I hope this was one of your best yet!
Posted by: Natalee | October 30, 2005 at 01:19 PM
Happy happy birthday to you! I plan on drinking plenty tonight to celebrate.
Posted by: Molly | October 30, 2005 at 05:11 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Jerry considers Birthdays family time and all of us go out. Luckily he does consider himself DD (designated driver) when it's my birthday.
Posted by: DD | October 30, 2005 at 05:57 PM
Happy Birthday! Wishing you many more talking chickens in your future.
Posted by: Tonya | October 31, 2005 at 01:28 AM
Ya know, for all the times Steve seems like an insensitive oaf, he sure does make up for it in spades in other areas. I hope your birthday was absolutely wonderful.
You deserve nothing less.
Posted by: Holly | October 31, 2005 at 06:01 AM
Happy Birthday. I hope the chicken didn't get to lonely all alone in the fridge all night!
Posted by: Katja | October 31, 2005 at 06:30 AM
Happy Birthday...how did Steve know you were going to make the chicken? Or is it one of those connection things that you guys have??
Posted by: Toni | October 31, 2005 at 06:37 AM
Happy birthday!
Surprise: it is my birthday too. I hope you got good and hammered, dear.
Posted by: Jo | October 31, 2005 at 07:01 AM
Aw. Happy birthday! That Steve is a sweetie after all, isn't he?
Posted by: Tine | October 31, 2005 at 08:37 AM
Happy Birthday! Hope you had a fantabulous time!
I love talking chickens!
Posted by: halloweenlover | October 31, 2005 at 08:42 AM
I think I would faint with disbelief if my DH actually planned enough in advance to get a SITTER AND RESERVATIONS for anything....! Good for you! I hope you, your husband, and your chicken had a great evening!
Posted by: JennyK | October 31, 2005 at 08:59 AM
Happy Birthday! I hope dinner was wonderful.
Posted by: bad penguin | October 31, 2005 at 09:30 AM
I am a little late here, but still wanted to wish you Happy Birthday. I hope you have a lovely time.
Posted by: Libby | October 31, 2005 at 09:52 AM
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: VHMPrincess | October 31, 2005 at 10:13 AM
Happy (belated) birthday. May your birthday and the coming year be full of love, laughter, health and good fortune.
Posted by: April | October 31, 2005 at 10:15 AM
Happy birthday!!!!! As much sex as you [and the chicken - hey why else would Steve have included the chicken in the night's festivities?] give Steve, you DESERVE a night out!!
Posted by: Monica C. | October 31, 2005 at 11:20 AM
Yea!!! Happy Birthday, and what a great guy!!!
Posted by: Heather | October 31, 2005 at 12:48 PM
Happy belated! Hope it was wonderful!
Posted by: Violet | October 31, 2005 at 02:06 PM
Hello Julia, First, Happy birthday! I hope you had a great evening. Second, I am a long time lurker with an off-the-topic question I was hoping you would address. I was wondering if you would post about your physical experience with IVF: what you felt like taking the drugs, effects on your body, etc. My husband and I are suffering from male factor infertility, and I'm going to start IVF soon, and I'm very curious. If you have neither the time nor the inclination to rehash these details, I totally understand. Just thought I would ask since you are a great writer and so frank. Also, I was wondering if you guys ever considered using donor sperm (something we may need to consider). I really enjoy your blog. Thanks,
Alina
Posted by: Alina | October 31, 2005 at 02:55 PM
My poultry doesn't talk to me!
I hope you had a great time.
Posted by: Scully | October 31, 2005 at 03:57 PM
YAHOO! Happy Birthday, Julia, and happy night out!
Posted by: Laura K. | October 31, 2005 at 09:31 PM
Hello ... first time here, so Happy Birthday! Looking forward to enjoying your blog on a regular basis.
Posted by: David | November 01, 2005 at 06:03 AM
Happy Birthday! My poultry NEVER surprises ME with a babysitter! So jealous!
Posted by: Lisa S (et al, aka Stolidoli) | November 01, 2005 at 09:27 AM
Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
Posted by: Kestrel | November 01, 2005 at 10:06 AM