This year I planned a surprise birthday adventure for B. I had his secretary move some things around, clear his schedule, got a babysitter to stay with the twins and picked him up from work early on Thursday 1/14 and we checked into a hotel downtown. We got massages, went out to dinner and then I had tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld (ok I will admit that was kind of a present to ME-self too). He was laugh out-loud, snort through your nose, tears in your eyes and cheeks hurt for a solid hour and a half- funny! It’s such a shock to see him so much older and then we have to realize that so are we…I guess that’s what birthdays do for us. (I found out it wasn’t such a surprise – Master D gave it away without realizing – ah well) I dropped B off to work – yes, he always works on his birthday – where they always take good care to make him feel special. We went out to see the Benghazi movie with Jeff and Christina and my friend Kelly and her husband Juan. Lelu came home for the weekend and Master D came up on Sunday and we celebrated some more with Jeff (who’s birthday was on Sunday), dinner, cake and ice cream. 15 minutes before we were going to eat dinner I sliced my index finger open with a very sharp bread knife. A quick trip to Urgent Care and five stitches and a tetanus shot later we were back to enjoy the festivities.
It’s a challenge to get a decent photo with your phone while the ushers are doing their best to keep everyone from taking photos or videos with their phones. 
Yep they tin-foiled his entire office
The birthday boys each with their own cakes. Picnic cake for my boys and chocolate for Jeff while photo bombed by TT, Wyatt and we forced poor Jake to do the dishes for his meal (not really! I promise he insisted that he help)
They had to put a tourniquet on to keep it from bleeding everywhere. Ouch!
My blog for birthdays this year are from a list of 36 questions “to make you fall in love” that I saw in Readers Digest. I picked out of few of them. You can google it if you want the whole list.
53 year old B’s answers:
1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
Donald Trump – because he’s outrageous – just kidding –my immediate family
- Would you like to be famous? In what way?
No
- Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
Sometimes… when I’m smart
- What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
A nice long run, hard work, fun with the family
- When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
On Jeff’s birthday I sang to myself, Jeff and Master D
- If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
Mind
- Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
Happy
- Name three things you and your wife appear to have in common.
Self-reliance; Value System; style
9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
My family; my prosperity; my health
- If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
No skim milk as a baby;
- Take four minutes (or a paragraph) and tell your life story in as much detail as possible.
Golden childhood. Large influence from Mimi. I started my entrepreneur career in 4th grade growing vegetables and selling them door to door. Lots of outdoor playing with brothers and friends, camping, fishing, hiking and backpacking. Crazy teenager. Great athlete. I don’t even know how I graduated from high school. 3.73 gpa in college, my senior year after having thought that the world was passing me by – I quit school and became a paint contractor. I also fixed cars for cash. Then I worked for my dad. Got married, my first daughter a genius, a creative full of passion son, a sweet little daughter I’d raise all over again because she was so easy, and twins; one a little spitfire girl and a boy that wants to follow in my business footsteps. Moved to Utah in the middle of having kids. Started Far West Credit. Started TazWorks. Sold Far West. Started TradeHouse Data. Started OnBoarding Systems. Started Scandahoovian & Assoc (Home rental business). Started Snigglefritz & Fink (Invests in start-up companies). Building them all. Here I am
- If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
Perfect health and physical prowess
13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?
When will I have grandchildren?
- Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?
Retire with money – not ready yet
- What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
my family
- What do you value most in a friendship?
loyalty
- What is your most treasured memory?
The births of my children
18. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
Stop working except for once a week knowing my family would be taken care of by life insurance and spending time with them.
19. What does friendship mean to you?
People I can count on
20. What roles do love and affection play in your life?
My wife
21. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
Betrayal
Awesome!
Now, I know why I’ve always loved
Barton!! I knew you had a winner when you married him! I am ashamed that I missed his birthday this year. The transition to Arizona in January threw me off. Will make it up to him when we come up in a week or so.