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jenjenjasp
04-17-2010, 05:24 PM
Hey guys, I am so excited and want to share my happy news here with all my buddies!

As most of you know, my 40th birthday just passed (April 4th). I don't know how many of you are aware of my life of birthday fiascos, but some of you may be. From when I posted the funny story back at that other site.

Okay, so...well...let's just say this year wasn't much different. sigh. Read on for a good chuckle, a few "Aww, Jen"'s and then a "WAY to go MATT!!!!"

*******************************

My birthday this year shared the day with Easter and our church's General Conference. Quite the hopping and busy day. I was excited to get up and watch the kiddies hunt those eggs and celebrate, etc. It was such a fun morning. But as time went on - I realized no one was wishing me Happy Birthday. Sigh. My mom and one of my baby sisters were in Utah (long story short - Aunt dying). So I sucked it up and decided to keep my trap shut (believe it or not).

Well, lunch came and went (which I made), and still nada. I said I was going to go up and take a nap before I had to start Easter dinner - trying to leave an opening for Matt or my dad to volunteer to help make dinner. Yeah, right.

So I got up an hour later and as I came down the stairs, my wonderful father came to me, gave me a huge hug, and wished a wonderful and happy birthday. All of the kids gasped, looked at Matt with condemning looks, and ran to me with well wishes. I almost started crying. rofl. Matt sat where he was and said "Happy Birthday, sweetheart," and nothing else.

Well, I spent the next four hours making Easter Dinner. My wonderful dad did live up to my expectations of a happy birthday by helping me wash dishes and keep the kitchen clean as I cooked. He also knew better than to try to help cook (let's just say he always comes up with things like "Cream of Celery covered Fish Sticks.") But with his frequent hugs and his loving comments, my day looked a little better.

I decided, with the usual me face on it, to just suck it up and realize how blessed I was to share my birthday with the celebration of our Savior's Atonement and Resurrection. I watched conference as I cooked, and I immediately felt so much better and almost completely forgave my adorable husband. almost. lol

So, by about 5:00, my sister and her family and my bil (the one married to the sister away in Utah) came over for dinner. They all tromped in, right past me, except for my bil, Ryan. He gave me a hug, wished me a happy birthday with a cute smile on his face, and said to close my eyes. I put down my spoon and did so, and after hearing some rustling and doors opening and closing, he had me open my eyes. He had made 50 cupcakes and DECORATED them in a very cute and fun manner. I burst into tears and hugged him back over the cakes. I think I embarrassed him.

Then my sister came around the corner with a home made carrot cake (my favorite, and something that meant a lot since my sister Carol - oldest - REALLY doesn't cook. lol). People remembered! YEA!

So, that was it...birthday came and went and every once in a while rubbed it into Matt. good naturedly, of course. But he really did mess up and he knew it. He hadn't forgotten, he had just figured since I didn't want anything for my birthday that meant that I didn't want ANYONE to even remember...what? lol. Male logic I guess.

Okay, flash forward a few weeks to this morning. My hubby let me sleep in (yea!) and then came in and started rubbing my toes. I finally woke up and he asked "Hey, do you like Elton John?" And then I, half asleep, answered, "Not as a person, but his music is fun."

He said, "GOOD! Because we are going to his concert tonite!"

I literally almost fell out of my bed. I was completely and totally caught off guard. A CONCERT???? LIVE???? I was astounded, since those tickets are not cheap and we have no money (as usual), and like a huge dork I asked "What, did you rob a bank???" He laughed and said, "Nope, but close...'nuff said."

So....I won't be at the speed scrap tonite (keep those cheers down, gals). BUT! Think of me being astounded at a live concert with Elton John, 4 rows back, and totally gushing over my wonderful husband who somehow pulled strings I didn't even know he had!

And yes, he is TOTALLY forgiven. snort.

LisaAdmin
04-17-2010, 05:26 PM
Congrats girlie~!

Sami Brown
04-17-2010, 05:29 PM
LOL have fun at your concert We will miss you at the chat!

ColdFire
04-17-2010, 05:35 PM
Have fun ;)

Jamies Creations
04-17-2010, 05:44 PM
Have fun, hun!! :)

scrapsofcandy
04-17-2010, 06:18 PM
Sounds like a wonderful belated birthday gift. :)

AnneofAlamo
04-17-2010, 06:30 PM
oh sing loud along with Daniel my Brother...oh my gosh...sing loud to everything!!!

jenjenjasp
04-17-2010, 06:34 PM
you know it, Anne. Although with me and my big voice, they may end up kicking me out. Or the man himself may do it. rofl

jemy70
04-17-2010, 07:11 PM
Have fun! I saw him in concert many years ago in college. He is a great performer!

stater
04-17-2010, 07:31 PM
You'll enjoy Elton live, but I want no miss behaving on your part Ms. Jen. We want everyone in one piece. VBG

Happy belated b'day kiddo & 40 ain't so bad. Been there done that...

Do report in about your Elton adventure!

LDHoriginals
04-17-2010, 07:53 PM
Awesome story, JenJen. Ignore my email earlier that said "see you at the speed scrap" LOL. I should have read this first!

Have an awesome time. Just an evening out can be worth its weight in GOLD.

Ps. "Way to go, Matt!"

crazsquaw
04-17-2010, 09:41 PM
Yay for you!!!!!

Hope you have/had a wonderful time....you deserve it!!!


miss chris
04-18-2010, 08:50 AM
Hope you had fun!

frani_54
04-18-2010, 01:20 PM
What a story, you had me interested from the first word.......love the ending....;>) Have fun sweety and tell us all about it.

MamaB
04-18-2010, 02:51 PM
So now we are all waiting for the recap lol Hope you had a great time!

Vicki
04-18-2010, 03:00 PM
BENNY AND THE JETS!!! Sing it with me!!! What a wonderful surprise, Jen, Hubby does know how to suck up!

jenjenjasp
04-20-2010, 02:47 PM
oh my GOSH! I can't believe I left ya'll hangin'. lol. thanks for reminding me to fill you guys in - be prepared for a long long loooooooooooonnnnnnnnnggggggggggg jenjen note here. heehee.

Well, it was, in a word, BREATHTAKING!

First, the arena we were in was built to house both sporting events and concerts. If you have ever been to a concert in an arena...it can be so disappointing (especially to those of us who are musicians ourselves). I have been to a few, and then decided never to pay money again for an artist unless it is in a real theatre. Well. I was pleasantly surprised. the acoustics were astounding. Not a dead spot in the place, and you could understand EVERY word he sang - no reverb. I looked around to see how that was possible, since I had been to many pro-sport games there and the reverb ROCKED for those. Well, what they had was a huge netting series set up just above the catwalks, with big "pillow" type things in them. So none of the actual ceiling showed at all. Then the wall spaces which had ads had clear "pillow" pockets over them. Astounding.

Now, for Elton himself. That man is amazing. Astounding. Funny. Emotionally touching. Truly an artist and performer of the highest caliber (as far as pop/rock/jazz) goes. And yes, I put all three because he DID all three. First, the man is in his 60s, but you would never know that by listening to his voice or watching his hands on the keyboard. I tell ya, he is right. Don't smoke. Don't do drugs. Drink LOTS of water. And never never yell. My mottos too! So maybe I will have a voice when I am 60??? rofl. He sounded better at that concert than he did when he was 30! He had the same beautiful vibrato and clarity, but now he had depth and timber he didn't have before.

He sang some of his early jazz type music for a while, which I loved. Then he started out the "popular" or more famous music section of the concert with Daniel, my brother. He told us the story behind why he wrote it before he sang (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=166611), and I had never known it. Well, you can imagine me. I cry whenever I hear that song anyway. Shoot, this time I was a pail on the floor. lol

He went through many of his famous songs after that. Rocket Man (which went from a normal 5 minute rendition to 15 due to the incredible vamping of the band!), Benny and the Jets, And the House Fell Down, Blues Never Fade Away, Candle in the Wind (Marilyn version), Crocodile Rock (which brought to mind the muppets when he did that with them), and on and on. The man sang for THREE HOURS STRAIGHT. He didn't take a single break. I think if his voice got tired, he just started jamming and the band followed.

When he intro'd the band, that band member (one from Michigan and one from Wisconsin actually) had to stand up and say his or her favorite musical artist who had a name that was related to either cheese or dairy. Elton was laughing so hard by the time he was done, we all were, that his personal assistant had to bring him a pitcher of water - rather than just a little cup. So he used that time to just "talk" to us.

He talked about how much he loves performing in the USA. At first I was like, yeah "Blah Blah Blah, Yada Yada Yada_he says that everywhere." But then he reiterated why. He said he loves performing period, but there was a joy in music here in the U.S. That as an audience, he felt as though the people here were really "with" him on stage. Whereas elsewhere, although he felt appreciated and that his audience enjoyed him, he was just a performer. In the U.S it was as thought the audience was right there with him, enveloping every word sang, and he became a "conduit" (his word) that the joy of music simply worked through. Amazing! Then he also said whenever he was here, he could simply feel the joy of life we have as a country, and that he felt that it all stemmed from teh freedoms we enjoy. Something no other country has. And that we should do what we can to protect it, and continue to reach out.

Huh...who'd a thunk? did he just say that cause he was in the midwest/heartland of america? I dont' know...but he won me over. lol

He finished with an encore of The Lion King theme song, and had us all weeping yet again.

So yes - matt is completely forgiven and I don't think any other concert will top this!

jenjenjasp
04-20-2010, 02:49 PM
oh, and YUP! I sang at the top of my lungs. But I didn't get kicked out because EVERYONE did. heehee.

LDHoriginals
04-20-2010, 09:55 PM
Awesome story - thanks for the detail, now I feel like I was there too :)

stater
04-21-2010, 06:11 PM
Jen... if you are ever in Atlanta... head downtown to the Buckhead area. If you are lucky Elton will be home. Stop by & say, "howdy do!"

Catlady
04-30-2010, 10:45 PM
JenJen so sorry girl I missed your bday. :(
Happy belated birthday my friend. Sounds like you had awesome one.
Loved your stories and so so cool you got to see the concert. That is awesome.
Many hugs
Mary

jenjenjasp
05-01-2010, 08:59 AM
heehee, thanks mary. And that is quite alright. Still love you. And it ROCKED!

physioscrapper
05-03-2010, 12:38 AM
Yeah! Happy Birthday! I love your stories!!! Keep them coming! :)