Date 4: Dinner and a monster!

This was one of the easier dates to plan...because I didn't really have to plan it.  We had bought tickets to see Young Frankenstein the Musical months ago, well before the whole 52 Dates was even an idea.

We dressed nice, because we're cultured like that, and headed downtown.  The musical was at the Lied Center so we thought we'd use the gift card we tried to use on our last date and have dinner at Spaghetti Works.  No such luck.  We cruised around downtown looking for a parking spot, looking, looking. It wasn't that look, but it sure feels like it when you're on a schedule.  We found a spot in front of the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center and walked over to Spaghetti Works.  As we're approaching the front door another couple beats us to it.  We follow them inside and find that it is STANDING ROOM only!  On a Saturday night in January!  Well, we're not using the gift card tonight.  The nearest options are Panera Bread, Five Guys Burgers and Qdoba.  Qdoba it is.

We walk around the corner to Qdoba, again another couple beats us to the door, but there is plenty of room and few people in line at the counter.  Now, what to order.  I like spicy food.  Wendy would tell you that I like "really" spicy food, the spicier the better.  I would agree, if I can get a nice sweat from my food, then you know it's spicy enough.  Gross, I know, but that's how I like it.  Beads of sweat rolling down my temples aren't quite what I'm going for tonight, I am on a date and kind of dressed up, so I go mild.

We enjoyed our dinner, tried to find a booth set off away from other patrons and I also didn't want to have a clear view to the TV.  We're here to be with each other and not for me to be watching the basketball game on the TV.  We talk about our days, Wendy's run, the kiddos, etc...  One of the guys behind the counter had a pretty sweet, ZZ Topesque beard.  We wondered how long it had taken him to grow it, eventually we was close enough for us to ask.  I don't recall specifically, but I'm thinking it was about 9 months.  We finish our dinner and head to the Lied Center to catch the show.

Young Frankenstein (the movie) was one of my favorite movies growing up.  My Uncle David had a laser disc player and we'd go over to my Grandpa Mar's house and watch movies.  It was the kind of humor that a 12-13yr old boy could understand and snicker at.  It has been many years since I'd watched the movie and I'd forgotten much of the story line, but I still remembered some of my favorite lines.  "Walk this way." "Nice knockers." I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the musical, but I hoped that those lines made it into the musical somehow.

We made it to our seats, in the balcony, but the nice thing about the Lied Center is that there really aren't bad seats.  We look over the programs.  Do some people watching.  And waiting for the light to go down and curtains up.  I hadn't realized that Mel Brooks wrote the musical also.  The creative talent of some people awes me.  The show was fun.  Amazing voices! And they worked "Walk this way" and "Nice knockers" into the musical!

Wendy introduced me to musicals.  Fun the things a guy will do to be with a girl.  I grew up thinking the musicals were "girly" and that as a masculine jock, I was too good for musicals and plays.  Now, I enjoy going to them and think that it would be so fun to be on stage, feeding off the energy of the crowd.

One of the things that I love about Wendy is she can sing!  I loved listening to her sing to our children when they were babies.  It is a talent that I wish I had.

I sure hope someone is working on turning "the Gods Must Be Crazy" into a musical.

Cost:  Dinner $17.  Tickets $96.00

Date 2: A trip to Pink Nails & Spa

One of my goals for this journey is to have new experiences with Wendy...well this was definitely a new experience (for me at least). I mean we could do 52 dinners & a movie, that's not really original, but it would be better than nothing.  There will be dinner & a movie dates in this journey because 52 is a big number to try to come up with 52 different dates.

So, the idea for this date came to me while I was driving home on our anniversary.  I knew that I was going to be needing a number of date ideas.  It just so happened that earlier that day Groupon had deal; $12 for $24 of services at Pink Nails & Spa.  As Gru from Despicable Me says "Light Bulb".  Here we go...date #2.  (I know what you're thinking, but Matt you are so masculine.  I know, I know, but I do have 5 sisters & 3 daughters, so I know how to get in-touch with my feminine side.)

I told Wendy about my idea for our date and she was game.  So now it was time to figure out what exactly had I signed up for?  I asked some of the gals at work what tips they had for me.  I got everything from ask for the "golfer's treatment" (a male pedicure) to pay attention to the hand signals (to deal with potential language barriers).  I learned that a pedicure was much, much more than getting your toenails painted.  The most common response was "I've always wanted to take my husband to get a pedicure."  Wendy said we'd probably need an appointments, so I set the appointment.


We dropped the Whitney and Simon off at my sister's house and headed to the appointment.  We got there a few minutes before our appointment and checked in.  Wendy was directed to pick out the color she wanted her toenails painted.  I looked around the salon and whataya know...I'm not the only male here.  There is a gentlemen sitting in one of the chairs with his jeans rolled up and feet in the bath.  We relaxed on the couch for a few minutes.

One of the things that I discovered is even though we had an "appointment" it really didn't mean we were getting into the chairs at 4:30.  I didn't really mind, I was enjoying spending some time in a new setting with my sweetie.  I found out that if you are a regular, you get your own little pencil case with "your" private tools.  There was a little round table, where the ladies stuck there toes, in those toe organizers under the blue light and gossip.  On the table is also a variety of sugar scrub "flavors."

We were called to our chairs.  First order of business, remove your shoes and socks.  Done.  Next, roll up your jeans.  (My 1st tip, be sure to wear looser fitting jeans...I was trying to look good for my wife and wore my "skinny rocker" jeans.  Not such a good idea, just sayin.)  Then you put your feet in the bath. (Tip #2, don't be afraid to ask for the water to be hot.  My water was lukewarm.  I had forgotten that one of the gals at work had told me to tell them to turn the hot "all the way up".)  Oh, did I mention, the chair that you sit in the entire time is a message chair!  I had that thing going the entire time!
 

Isn't she beautiful!

After letting your feet soak for a while, they got to work on your feet.

Clip & file the toe nails, hang nails & cuticles.  Pumice stone scrub your heels & feet. (I only jumped a couple of times from being ticklish.)

 

They massage your feet and calves, then came my favorite part of the entire experience...the exfoliation.  It began with the sugar scrub and then they put this blue lotion on your legs and wrap your legs in hot, damp towels.  The blue lotion has a tingly, warming sensation.  It is during this time that they'd paint your toenails if you were so inclined.

We had an enjoyable time.  There was plenty of time to just chat while our feet soaked.  The other gentleman in the salon was also there with his wife and told the gal working on him "You women have kept this (pedicures) a secret for too long."  I would agree, it felt wonderful and I don't feel like I had to give up my "man card" to do it.  It most definitely is something that I recommend all guys do with their girls.  (Ok, I admit that I don't think I would have gone and got one by myself.)  And my toes have never looked better! 

My foot is the one on the right.

Cost of the date:  $34.00 (2 $12 Groupons and $10 tip) and again utilized free babysitting! 

Happy Anniversary to my sweet heart!

My wife and I have been married for 17 years today.  That is 6,133 days longer than one recent celebrity marriage.  (Cliche alert) Much has changed and much has stayed the same!  Four children, a few career changes, a mortgage, a minivan and many wonderful times have got us to this point.

The thing about marriage is...it is work.  Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, it is hard work.  I believe that great marriages don't just happen, they are made.  You have to blend interests, habits, idiosyncrasies, tastes, likes, dislikes, TV shows (this is a little easier now with DVR!), principles, values and ideals.  At times during the last 17 years the amount of effort that I have put into my marriage has fluctuated.  This is natural, but I am determined to make a more consistent effort to work harder on my marriage.  In order to have the type of marriage that I want, I have to be willing to pay the price necessary for that.  I want to have a great marriage.

With that in mind, I am starting this blog.  As my anniversary gift to my wife, I am committing myself to taking her on a date 52 times this coming year!  And blogging about it.  I starting this blog for a couple of reasons.  The number 1 reason is accountability.  It's out there so I now I have to do it & whether anybody else reads this or not I've made a commitment to record the dates.  Number 2, hopefully this will inspire others to re-romance their significant others and improve their relationships.  Number 3, I'm going to need some ideas...I don't know that going out for 52 dinner's and a movies will yield the results I'm hoping to achieve, so I 'm going to need some ideas for some creative dates. 

So what do I hope to achieve with this...a stronger, closer marriage.  (Cliche alert) A happy wife makes for a happy home.  We start tonight...we are headed to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, where I will unveil this blog.

I <3 You Wendy! I am so excited to take this journey with you!  (And a little nervous...I've got a few date ideas but I'm going to need a lot more!)