40

My 40th birthday is coming up and I'm excited about it. TWO WEEKS. 

Excited? Anxious? A little weirded out?

40? 

How the hell did I reach 40? I still feel 25. 

If you know me IRL, you'll know that I'm not a basic bitch. I am also pretty vocal about what I want. 

I told Steve months ago that I expected him to do something special for my 40th birthday.

We missed out on our 10th-anniversary trip and it's unknown when we'll be able to take a big trip like that. 

I told him that he had to surprise me. 

I told him he had to put effort into this surprise.

I told him I didn't want to stay in town.

That's pretty much it.

He told me to take off certain days from work.

He told me I needed to bring a "nice dress."

I am trying not to ask any questions because I really do want to be surprised. 

But I'm definitely curious. 

I found out today that we're leaving the morning of Wednesday, January 26. Originally he had told me we were leaving that evening. We are coming back Sunday. I also took Monday off to you know, get back into real life. 

I know he asked my mom to come over and babysit the kids and dogs. 

I know we're driving some length of time and that we're trying to get to our destination "on time."

Other than that, I have no other clues. 

My original wish was to rent a cabin up north and rent a couple of snowmobiles and do the trails up there. He was looking into that, but then had a good point - what if we don't have enough snow? That would completely ruin that idea. If there's no snow (we don't have any now) it'll be gray, muddy, and disgusting. 

No thank you.

So he pivoted.

I don't think we're going anywhere warm. And that's totally ok. 

He told me he did a good job. He told me that when he told his work buddy (who knows me very well), even he said it was a good idea and that I'd be impressed. 

Ok. 

Let's see. 

I'm suuuuuper excited and suuuuper curious! 

I literally have NO idea. COVID cases are on the rise. Terribly. 

Even amongst fully vaccinated folks. 

It's so bad we're concerned that my birthday trip may get canceled.

Which would outright piss me off.

Of course I care about humanity and the well-being of all.

I don't have any answers.

I don't want to get the 'vid either.

But I also want to get back to somewhat of a normal life.

I'm wearing my mask out in public again. I have been, even before the state put forth their recommendation. 

The other part of us is like "let us get Covid now so we'll be ok for the trip" - of course that'd be assuming we'd get mild cases. That's not something I want to risk either! Not with my asthma!

So, basically, as excited as we are for this trip, we are also hesitant and completely aware that it may get canceled. 

He bought insurance, just in case.

Welp. 

I got the call. 

One of our friends has the 'vid.

One whom we are very close with. 

One whom we spent NYE with. 

So I told Steve that we were exposed. I guess we'd rather be exposed now than later, when my birthday is here. 

The girls needed to be tested the day they went back to school. Just a thing districts are doing as kids head back after holiday break. 

They are both negative.

Steve and I will be testing ourselves today/tomorrow as tomorrow will be 5 full days after exposure. 

Thankfully we both tested negative.

It has now been 8 days since exposure and we're still doing ok.

It's now day 10 past exposure and we're still doing well. No symptoms.

I realized I noted that we had a trip coming up in my last post, but didn't really put any other context around it! Ha!

Well, here you go, folks. 

As of today, we are 13 days past exposure and we are still doing fine. Other than Steve seems to have a bout of the stomach bug? Not sure what's going on with him. 

But, we are all still healthy! 

I'm REALLY trying to hunker down before we leave - IN LESS THAN 2 weeks! 

AHH! I'm so excited. I asked Steve last night what I needed to pack and he said "nice dress, pajamas, shoes" and I'm like "what about leggings, do I need jeans? socks? Obviously I will pack plenty of underwear, but what kind of shoes? Other than nice ones? Sneakers? Are we walking a lot?" and he just stares at me like WUT lady. 😂

Eyelashes are getting lifted and brows are getting waxed Saturday. 

Any guesses on where we're going? I can't wait to report back. (Well....let's hope I want to report back).