Mossy Cottage Knits: Birthday Surprise

February 08, 2008

Birthday Surprise

Do you know how incredibly adult you have to be to turn comments off on (a) a blog entry that was posted as a complete surprise by your honey and (b) has been stuffed with an avalanche of loving, positive, supportive comments from readers about your very own birthday in which, for that one day, you are allowed to wallow unabashedly? Very adult, I am here to tell you. At least 48 years old. But the spammers, who apparently didn’t care that Wednesday was my birthday—or did, and wanted to express their delight by giving until it hurt—spammed the crap out of me. This is all odd, since my blog spamming has been more or less under control for years. I think I’ll have to start turning the comments for previous entries off as I go along. As ever, my mantra: Stupid spammers.

Thank you, Dear Readers, for the many, many warm birthday wishes!! You made my day.

Long-time blog readers may remember this:

This is a God-awful birthday tiara that my sister and I have been mailing back and forth to each other for years. And it was Birthday Tiara #2, much uglier than Birthday Tiara #1, and—or so I thought until this year—the most outrageous natal-day head adornment conceivable. Then, this year, my mischievous niece got in on the act and found…this:

The picture comes nowhere near doing this thing justice so, please, allow me to explain. First, it's made of shiny, fake, white and pink velvet. And is padded, side to side, top to bottom, with astonishing care and precision, much like a warm, high-quality quilt. Embroidered on the front are the words, “Birthday Princess.” The top is a three-dimensional cake. And those pink things on top? Opalescent pink candles with orange-yellow satin “flames.” And inexplicably, sewn into the satin pink lining is a tiny pocket, like the kind you would find in, say, a pair of gym shorts. As if you would actually wear this thing in public, to an event, where people could see you, and would need a place to store, oh, a key. Or an extra tampon. Or a few dollars for your taxi ride home. Stunning and practical, non?

This thing is absolutely insane. And although it was strictly within the confines of TMK’s house, I swear, San Diego family, I wore it for the entirety of my birthday evening. In its defense, thanks to the quilting, my head and I stayed very warm and cozy, although fashion-critic Frankie was not too sure about the overall look:

The birthday was lovely, despite my bloo mood of late. I was fêted on Monday at Ferals, thanks to TMK and a surprise chocolate-chocolate-chocolate-with-extra-chocolate-added cake, and being serenaded by the Feral ladies. Wednesday, the night of my actual birthday, there was dinner at a lovely restaurant, many lovely gifts from TMK and family, and further serenading by San Diego family.

Oh, wait, there was one other surprise gift but I don’t quite remember…

Let me think.

What was it now?

I remember a box.

I remember something gold, shiny, round. Oh, wait, I remember two things that were gold, shiny, round.

Oh, now I remember!

If ever a picture were worth a thousand words:

Posted by Ryan at February 8, 2008 11:23 AM

Comments

Holy CRAP! Get OUT!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Posted by: MaryB in Richmond on February 8, 2008 11:32 AM

Ryan, now you've gone and made me cry. . . lovely!

Posted by: Elizabeth D on February 8, 2008 11:37 AM

Awww! Congrats!!

Posted by: Emily on February 8, 2008 11:50 AM

Very lovely.

Posted by: PICAdrienne on February 8, 2008 11:59 AM

Huh, I had you figured for the Big Ass Diamond (tm) kinda girl. :-D
Congrats, you two!

Posted by: Carrie on February 8, 2008 12:07 PM

Mazel tov!!! Wonderful!!!

Posted by: Cynthia on February 8, 2008 12:23 PM

That is so, SO wonderful!!! I'm so happy for you. I'm just teary-eyed!

Posted by: Cathy aka Varied Thrush on February 8, 2008 12:25 PM

WHAAAAAAAAAAAT????! Sah-WEEEEET.

Happy, happy day.

Posted by: Norma on February 8, 2008 12:32 PM

Never met you before. Haven't even commented before, I think, but I teared up immediately...at work. It was a tough week. Thanks for the happiness.

Posted by: SarahA on February 8, 2008 12:36 PM

It made me cry too!!! Congratulations. You and TMK are an inspiration.

Posted by: Beth in Ohio on February 8, 2008 01:06 PM

How wonderful!!!

Posted by: Joan in Reno on February 8, 2008 01:12 PM

Awwww, congratulations (and a belated happy-birthday, too)!

Posted by: chris on February 8, 2008 01:18 PM

I've been lurking for a long time, even made a thing or two from your patterns, but haven't commented before now... I just had to say congratulations! That just warmed my heart on a chilly Friday :-)

Posted by: Ellie on February 8, 2008 01:19 PM

Oh look, I'm not the only one who teared up!

Ryan and TMK, congratulations! May the wind always be at your back and the hills never be too steep.

Love the Birthday Princess crown. You totally need a tiny sock monkey to stuff into the tiny pocket. :)

Posted by: jules on February 8, 2008 01:23 PM

Oh! My! God!!! Congratulations! I'm so happy for both of you. Oh geez... now I'm crying too.

Posted by: Kathleen C. on February 8, 2008 01:23 PM

Awwww, Huge Congratulations and Best Wishes and All that Good Sweet Stuff to you and TMK!!! :^)
(I really like how you deflected away from the 'Birthday Princess' tiara, heh)

Posted by: marianne on February 8, 2008 01:25 PM

OMG! I'm so excited! I want to run around in circles yelling YIPPPEEEE!

Posted by: Rebecca on February 8, 2008 01:26 PM

Oh, squee! Congratulations!

Posted by: Imbrium on February 8, 2008 01:31 PM

Congratulations! It does my heart good when people are able to work things out :)

Posted by: Jean on February 8, 2008 01:32 PM

Gads, now I'm all misty and I'm at work! What I would give for high cubicle walls right now.

But I'm SO happy for you! Postively beautiful. Both the ring and the birthday girl.

Oh, and the crown pocket? It is for people to stick money in to wish you well. I think you should wear that crown for a few more days and tell everyone this.

Posted by: Laurie on February 8, 2008 01:33 PM

This is a double comment as I was going to happy birthday you but you'd been spammed so much I thought it inappropriate! So, Happy, happy birthday; and so glad to see that it indeed was. All the best to you and the lovely TMK (at least her feet are lovely). Hard won. Earned. Deserved.

Posted by: Laura Sue on February 8, 2008 01:35 PM

You. Just. Made. My. Day! YIPPEE!!!!

I tried to comment to you Happy Birthday on the other post but it was apparently after comments were already closed. So, here is my belated happy birthday! So glad to see that it was happy!!!

Posted by: Marisa on February 8, 2008 01:35 PM

That is SO. AWESOME.

Congratulations! (And Happy Birthday!)

Posted by: Shmoosh on February 8, 2008 01:44 PM

Woo Hoo!

I am so happy for you both!

I think the next birthday tiara should light up. Just sayin'...

Posted by: Cookie on February 8, 2008 01:44 PM

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How terrific for both of you.

Posted by: Donna in VA on February 8, 2008 01:45 PM

Congratulations!!!

Posted by: Romy on February 8, 2008 01:48 PM

How. Freakin'. Cool.

Congratulations.

Posted by: Kris on February 8, 2008 01:55 PM

Congratulations!!!!!

Posted by: Ruth on February 8, 2008 01:58 PM

Congratulations! *^v^*

Posted by: Joanna Kostrzewa on February 8, 2008 02:00 PM

I was having a down in the dumps day and was checking the blogs for some distraction. Now I am happy, happ--so happy I even want to wear a tiara.

Congratulations Ryan and TMK!!!!!!

Posted by: Judith in NYC on February 8, 2008 02:02 PM

Fantastic!! What a lovely, wonderful surprise!! Congrats!!

Posted by: Bonney on February 8, 2008 02:13 PM

Well here I was all ready to write up a big comment about how you should install and use the Akismet plugin (http://akismet.com/development/) which I've used on my own blog with great success but then I got to the end of your post and suddenly my comment WAS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE SQUEEEE!!!

SUPER CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Posted by: Erika on February 8, 2008 02:16 PM

Oh my god. Add me to the list of people with tears of joy running down their cheeks! (And I'm not usually the cry-at-the-drop-of-a-hat type!) Congrats, congrats, congrats!

Posted by: Kristen on February 8, 2008 02:23 PM

A belated happy birthday, and huge congratulations. I'm really happy for you. And, I also wanted to say that it's evident from your photos that those sessions at the gym are having a positive effect. You look really lovely.

Posted by: Quatrefoil on February 8, 2008 02:23 PM

Mazel Tov! I wish you both many more years of happiness!

Posted by: Jenna on February 8, 2008 03:07 PM

YAY! For as cynical as I can be, I'm such a hopeless romantic at the core. That got me all verklempt.

Posted by: Mel on February 8, 2008 03:14 PM

I also hardly ever comment, but I am a faithful reader, so congratuations to both of you!

Now, Ryan, you need one of the pink , sparkly "BRIDE" sashes that the brides-to-proudly wear IN PUBLIC on one of my favorite guilty pleasures to watch, BRIDEZILLAS!

Pat in Virginia

Posted by: Pat In Virginia on February 8, 2008 03:20 PM

Ryan! TMK! Congratulations and best wishes! Adding my "SQUEEE!" to the virtual din! :-)

Posted by: Carol in North Bend on February 8, 2008 03:27 PM

Congratulations!!

Posted by: Stephanie on February 8, 2008 03:32 PM

Congratulations! :D I hope you start to feel less bloo soon.

Posted by: Karlie on February 8, 2008 04:53 PM

Congratulations!

Posted by: Jessica on February 8, 2008 05:02 PM

Happy Birthday! Mazel tov! Confetti all around!

Posted by: Elizabeth on February 8, 2008 05:05 PM

Yay, yay, yay!

Posted by: Becca on February 8, 2008 05:06 PM

What a great birthday present, what a great surprise, what a great commitment! CONGRATS!!!!! To you and to TMK. Love both of those tiaras... maybe the feathery one a bit more, the other is a tad disturbing (still funny though!).

Posted by: lisa on February 8, 2008 05:10 PM

Awwww! Congratulations!

Posted by: Annie on February 8, 2008 05:20 PM

Congratulations, and although you do not know me from the proverbial Adam, I shall take this opportunity to say that you do look quite svelte!!

Posted by: Lee Cockrum on February 8, 2008 05:21 PM

Awwww...I just got teary looking at that last picture. Congratulations you two!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you.

*hugshugshugshugshugs*!

Posted by: no-blog-rachel on February 8, 2008 05:25 PM

Congrats to you both! Squee!!!!

Posted by: Jennu on February 8, 2008 05:27 PM

Congrats!!!
*throws confetti*

Posted by: morenna on February 8, 2008 06:05 PM

I guess all that angst and conflict came to a good end, huh? Congratulations to both of you. Many, many more happy years ahead for y'all.

And that pink headgear? Let me just say, pink becomes you :)

Posted by: kmkat on February 8, 2008 06:14 PM

Wow. What the hell? YES!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness ladies!

Ryan...you are glowing and look so VERY HAPPY. Congratulations to you both!!!

I'm such a sentimental person...I've got joyful tears!

Posted by: Naomi on February 8, 2008 06:25 PM

can you hear me squeeing from Queen Anne? Because I so totally am. Mazel Tov!

Posted by: jen on February 8, 2008 06:42 PM

And out of the ashes, the phoenix rises! Congrats and much love to you both. Couldn't have happened to a finer pair of women. MaryB
PS When's the reception? Common, you gotta have a party!

Posted by: MartB on February 8, 2008 06:44 PM

Congrats to both of you!

Posted by: Angie on February 8, 2008 06:50 PM

oooooh! Congratulations!

Posted by: janna on February 8, 2008 07:12 PM

Tears came to my eyes, I am so happy for you both!!!!!

Posted by: AnnaMarie on February 8, 2008 07:19 PM

Congrats to both of you....I read you all the time but not commented before. Your happiness just about shines right out of the last photo. Life is very good.

Posted by: Barbara S on February 8, 2008 07:24 PM

HOLY SHIT! That's f'ing FANTASTIC YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!! *pfwee!* Um, yes. Congrats to you both. :D

Posted by: moiraeknittoo on February 8, 2008 07:36 PM

how incredibly wonderful! congratulations to you both.

Posted by: marti on February 8, 2008 07:40 PM

And when the reception comes, Frankie will get to wear the Maid of Honor foo foo collar! Blogless Elaine and I will have to get together and come up with something cool. Meanwhile - my sincerest best wishes for another 20 years (at which time you can re-up for another 20) and I offer you a poem for the occasion - written by Mary Weston Fordham

The die is cast, come weal, come woe
Two lives are joined together,,
For better or for worse, the link
Which naught but death can sever.
The die is cast, come grief, come joy.
Come richer, or come poorer,
If love but binds the mystic tie,
Blest is the bridal hour.

Posted by: Linda "K" on February 8, 2008 07:59 PM

Oh, my very very best congratulations!! How wonderful!! You look so very happy (and I'm guessing that, were we allowed to see TMK's face, she'd be beaming too). :) Frabjous day!

Posted by: Jocelyn on February 8, 2008 08:03 PM

Lovely. Many many happy returns.

Posted by: M-H on February 8, 2008 08:12 PM

You both melt my heart.

And now Linda K made me cry....how beautiful!

Posted by: Gail on February 8, 2008 08:13 PM

AAAAHAHHHHHH! How wonderful! Congratualations - and, Happy Birthday!

Posted by: melissa on February 8, 2008 08:26 PM

Congratulations Ryan and TMK!! You have the most beautiful, happiest smile on your face. May you have a lifetime of love and always remember how happy you were on that day.

Posted by: Heather on February 8, 2008 08:29 PM

You just made me cry. In the good way.

I'm just irritated I don't get to be flower girl.

Posted by: Rabbitch on February 8, 2008 11:20 PM

Well if that ain't the rat's ass :) Felicitations, congratulations, peace, prosperity and a full cookie jar to you both!

Posted by: Robbyn on February 9, 2008 05:57 AM

How marvellous! You look SO HAPPY in that photo, and CONGRATULATIONS!! to you both.

Posted by: Anna on February 9, 2008 06:32 AM

I'm welling up. Best birthday ever? Hmmm?

Posted by: carlarey on February 9, 2008 06:42 AM

Congratulations! May you and TMK live long and happily together and kick that bloo mood right out the door!

The birthday headgear makes me smile. I might start having birthdays if I could wear cool hats like those!

Posted by: Carol on February 9, 2008 07:40 AM

wow. Just proves that the light at the end of the tunnel really isn't an oncoming train. It's a happy day ~ let's all knit!

Posted by: Rebecca on February 9, 2008 07:45 AM

A birthday & a band? Wow & Congratulations! Best to you both.

Posted by: Samina on February 9, 2008 08:32 AM

Congratulations, Ryan and TMK! What a wonderful surprise. I think jules said it best, so I'll steal my toast from her (raising glass in the air): May the wind always be at your back and the hills never be too steep.

Oh, and for the record, that photo really DOES capture the full extent of your birthday tiara's tackiness. But I think it's sweet that your family has a fun birthday tradition, even if it does involve publicly humiliting the honoree. ;-D

Posted by: Denise in Kent, WA on February 9, 2008 09:36 AM

Oh My Word! How wonderful! Congratulations to you and TMK!

Posted by: Beebs on February 9, 2008 10:24 AM

Awwwwwwww!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!

Posted by: Loribird on February 9, 2008 10:48 AM

OHMYGOD HOLY CRAP! That's awesome. That's truly wonderful. Yay love! Yay marriage! WHOOOOOOPEEEEE!

Also: One word: Honeymoon. Okay, two more. Bay Area. All I'm sayin'.

Posted by: Rachael on February 9, 2008 11:33 AM

I just love you guys.

Posted by: Stephanie on February 9, 2008 01:14 PM

hoo eee!

Posted by: Mary de B on February 9, 2008 02:31 PM

Here's to a much longer and happier life together-you two are great!

Posted by: Andi on February 9, 2008 03:54 PM

My eyes are all sparkly and blinded now...

YEEEEEEHAAWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!

(need tissue. I'm a messy cryer.)

Why wouldn't you wear that hat to the gym? :-)

Twinkletoes, by the way, would like to congratulate you on the hilarity of your tiara. Awesome. Inspired total fits of giggles.

Posted by: Lee Ann on February 9, 2008 04:06 PM

Isn't it always darkest before dawn? :)

Congratulations from one of your Aussie fans.

Posted by: Rose on February 9, 2008 07:53 PM

HAPPY BUTT DANCE!

congrats you two!

Posted by: minnie on February 9, 2008 08:07 PM

CONGRATS!!!! That is one huge smile!!! and smile you should! Congrats, again and Happy Birthday, too!

Posted by: Weaver on February 10, 2008 07:30 AM

Congratulations and warm wishes to you both! ...and, you know it's love when you wear that, uh, nice hat all evening and still get a ring!

Posted by: Betty on February 10, 2008 11:53 AM

Yay! Congratulations to the both of you!

Posted by: Beth in STL on February 10, 2008 04:14 PM

Here's another lurker with teary eyes. Wishing you every happiness!

Posted by: Zelda on February 10, 2008 04:40 PM

Congratulations!

Posted by: Josiane on February 10, 2008 06:38 PM

*sniffle* HOW COOL. Congratulations!

Posted by: Melanie on February 10, 2008 07:07 PM

I always lurk and never comment but you look so incredibly happy in these pictures that I had to say, "Congratulations!"

Posted by: Chris in MN on February 11, 2008 09:05 AM

Yay! Congratulations to the both of you, and may you continue on together in the luminous glow of happy you're radiating in that last pic.

Posted by: Ann Rose on February 11, 2008 11:14 AM

WOW !! WOW!!

Posted by: devorah on February 11, 2008 11:19 AM

Many, many congratulations! Huzzah!

Posted by: Bether on February 11, 2008 02:31 PM

Wonderful !
Many congratulations to you both.
Fab !

Posted by: Emma on February 11, 2008 05:19 PM

Congrats! Holy moly! Congrats again!

Posted by: Seanna Lea on February 11, 2008 06:26 PM

WHEEEEEEEEEE!!

Well done youse two!
Many happy returns of the day, and all good wishes and warm hugs and wonderfulnesses.

Posted by: kt on February 11, 2008 08:11 PM

squeeeeeeeeeee!!! Congratulations!!!

Posted by: Ruth on February 11, 2008 09:18 PM

Hooray!! Congratulations! What a great birthday surprise!

Posted by: Tina on February 11, 2008 11:20 PM

Aw YAY! Congratulations!

I love Frankie, btw. She is so adorable. And I'm sure she's helpful, too!

Posted by: Diana on February 12, 2008 09:43 AM

Congratulations Birthday Princess and TMK!

p.s. Is it still ok if I have a girlcrush on the baker of a chocolate chocolate with extra chocolate cake? My husband, he is wonderful, but not so much the cake baker.

p.p.s. Any of the cake left, go ahead and send it to me. Frankie can't eat it and I wouldn't want it to go to waste. Just sayin. :-)

Posted by: Elizabeth Spinner on February 12, 2008 09:53 AM

Wow! Lovely!!!!!!

Posted by: CarolineF on February 13, 2008 05:07 AM

I love the crown! And congratulations and best wishes to you and TMK! I wish you both all the happiness ever! But is it okay to still crush just a little over TMK and her awesome yarn/cooking/woodworking abilities? Hugs to you, TMK, and Frankie!

Posted by: Nancy O. on February 13, 2008 06:53 AM

Holy Crap! Congrats!!! :)

Posted by: Carry on February 13, 2008 01:52 PM