Valentines Day

My last few posts really haven't been about the upcoming wedding, although I have been working behind the scenes on a few things, my posts have been more about the unusual things that have been happening ..... take for example the recent "huge" snowfall. It really was a beautiful sight and as long as I or any member of my family didn't have to be out driving in it, I loved watching the snow blanket everything in the neighborhood!! However, with all the news lately about "cancellations" for everything from school to sporting events and evening activities......I was a little concerned that an annual event for us would also have to be cancelled due to weather conditions..... but, the show went on last evening and it again proved to be a fun filled evening (even though we are NEVER the winners in any games that are played). The event that I am referring to is our Annual Ho's and Bro's Valentines Party.....now before I get too far into this story, I must explain that the word HO is used in a very loving content. This is a group of our dear friends that all have one thing or more in common ...... mostly our sons and sports! This started when our children were all in high school together and has continued and flourished for more than 10 years. We have monthly Pokeno games, travel together, laugh, cry and provide support for each other whenever needed. I even tried to get us on Oprah one year when she was looking for "ladies groups" that do stuff together....... apparently she didn't think we were worthy ..... but I did! The word HO is short for the word "Homemaker" which is what each of us are ..... Moms, wives, professionals and most importantly, friends. We are there for each other at the drop of a hat.....if you need dinner....BAM...done! If you need someone to talk to because things aren't going so well.....hello...here we are. If we need to laugh, lunch or just have a "girls" afternoon or heck even a weekend..... it happens. These are friendships that I truly do treasure and I am sure are treasured in return. So with all this being said, here is what we do on Valentines Day. We felt that our monthly Pokeno needed to expand in February to include our husbands (and just a quick side note.....all of us have been married to the same man for approximately 25 years....some a little more, some a few years less but notably these are lasting, loving marriages). So every Valentines Day weekend, we all gather at the Head Ho's house and celebrate with lots of food, fun and games (which BTW... did I mention that FOB and I never win). We start the evening with lots of food (this is usual for us and I wonder why the lb's have packed on) and then move onto the game category, which for the past 2 years we have played Left, Right, Center or LRC for short (it's a money and dice game .... again we love to donate to our friends wallets) and then move right on into the Oldy Wed Game!!! This is a take off on the Newly Wed game hosted by the infamous Bob Eubanks.... I often wondered if those couples really didn't know that much about their respective spouses or was it all staged for the cameras.....well the past couple of years have opened my eyes .... I already told you that FOB and I have been married for 30 years .... and we do love one another ... deeply, however, this frickin' game can put us closer to divorce than wallpapering together! We cannot answer a question correctly to save our souls! Here's an example of one of the questions last night.... If your husband was reincarnated as a dog breed, what would he come back as .... poodle, Chihuahua, Russell terrier, lab, boxer or bulldog? I put thought into my answer and said Lab because FOB is easy going, loving and kind (everything this type of dog is....hellooo!!... remember.... Marley and Me.....??) Now my dancing fool friend was across from me while answering the question and she told me to put Boxer (because we have a Boxer grand dog that FOB absolutely loves) but, that's not how I thought the question needed to be answered.....I was wrong ... he said Boxer! It didn't get any better for us all night long....we came in last place....again. :( How can this be..... we know one another ....... we do a lot of things together (most everything) and yet we cannot answer a question right .... one of the other couples who I will not name publicly on this blog ..... last year answered this question .... correctly .....!!! Now I was sitting beside said friend and saw her write this answer down and immediately questioned her ..... she was adament that he would get this correct.....we were all floored and laughed until we cried, but she stood firm in her answer to this question ..... What would your spouse say your "pet name" is for him? Her immediate response was "Asshole"..... now I found this hard to believe as did all our other friends but she stood firm and when her husband was asked the question, without as much as a blink of an eye ..... he said "Asshole" and then proceeded to tell us he had a sign in the garage that read...."Asshole's Garage"! Yet FOB and I cannot answer a question correctly! Next example, If your husband went into the "body shop" for repairs, what would you say needed to be repaired......???? Above mentioned couple again answers correctly.....Penis! None of us could believe her answer, again she stood firm..... and Bingo right...yet again!!! I answer "belly" because we are working on this repair..... FOB says ..... feet!!! FEET..... for crying out loud....what the hell is wrong with his feet?!?!? we have never discussed this before.....wrong again!!! It just continued to go downhill from there .... dead last! No money, no bragging rights for next year.....nothing!!! I think that we are going to practice if we want to play again next year.....everyday I am going to question FOB in a different category of our lives......maybe this will help! Oh well.....there is always "next year"....... it's just a darn game....... did I mention that I hate to lose.....I won't even bring up Guesstures from the Annual Christmas Party...... It's a sad day when we go down in defeat that bad! But most importantly we had a great time with good friends and enjoyed the evening eating and laughing ...... and losing! My prayer is that everyone be blessed with spouses and friends like ours .... really.....I can't wait for next year :)

BTW....Happy Birthday Lisa, as always ... you were a gracious host, a loving friend and are the best Head Ho ever! MMMuuuaaahhhh!