It’s someone’s birthday today
Today is Jim’s 52nd birthday. He and I are not much for giving presents or otherwise making a big deal out of birthdays, Christmas, and anniversaries, but we usually do take the day off and go to the Zoo and out to eat.
Out of those 52 birthdays, I’m happy to say that nineteen of them have been spent with me:
• two as a boyfriend
• eight as a boyfriend/roommate/unmarried spouse
• five as a domestic partner (an ugly name for a beautiful relationship)
• four as a husband from our legally recognized California gay marriage of October 30, 2008.
(Now you see why gay people want to get “married” just like anyone else….. So much simpler.)
This year, however, I did get Jim a little birthday present. I saw it at the San Diego County Fair exactly one month ago today and couldn’t resist buying it:
It’s about four inches square and is made out of wood. Jim has a B.A. and an M.A. in Piano Performance from University of Redlands, and I have a B.S. in Forestry from Texas A&M University…. why I like this little piano so much.
It even has a hinged lid that you can open:
As our outing today, we are headed up to Los Angeles to the Getty Museum, probably the best museum west of the Mississippi:
Not to worry about Zoey the Cool Cat. We have a house and pet sitter, whom we have used before, staying the day.
Happy birthday, Love!
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Posted on July 18, 2012, in Manmade, SNIPPETS and tagged birthday presents. Bookmark the permalink. 45 Comments.
Happy Birthday to Jim, here’s to many happy healthy ones. I love the gift, very well done!!!
happy, happy birthday, enjoy this day!!!!
Happy Birthday Jim!
What a perfect gift! Happy birthday to Jim from Australia!
Happy Birthday, Jim,
or, as we say in German, “Alles Gute zum Geburtstag”: enjoy this day and many many more to come.
Pit
P.S.: And what a wonderful present!
Zoey is a beautiful cat. That’s a lovely gift – happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Jim from Canada – what a wonderful gift you are receiving!
Happy birthday to Jim! I love the prezzie
Happy birthday to Jim. That little piano is great. What a find and so shiney and detailed. And the museum? Sounds like a fun-filled happy, happy day.
Happy Birthday dear Jim! Have a nice day.
Happy Birthday!! Travel safe…..looking forward to seeing photos of your adventure upon your return….
Happy birthday, Jim, and I hope you enjoyed a perfect day of celebrating to big day. I love making a fuss over someone’s birthday; everyone should be king for a day a year!
That piano is adorable, charming and wonderful. What a find.
Happy Birthday Jim!!!
For Jim! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHRMX9Brq0s&w=420&h=315%5D
Russel – Please tell Jim “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” for me! What a cool, special birthday gift – one that actually MEANS something instead of giving “stuff” just to give “stuff”!
lovely birthday gift. lucky Jim
happy birthday Jim!
Happy birthday to Jim. Love the ‘baby’ grand.
Great gift. Have an awesome day together. 
Now you see why gay people want to get “married” just like anyone else
Well, there are real physical and emotional benefits to being married. Happy birthday to Jim!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
That little piano looks really nice – a nice present indeed. And happy birthday to Jim! May you both have an enjoyable day.
Happy Birthday, Jim!!!
Hope you guys have a great day (and every day after!)
Happy Birthday to your love! Same day as the legendary Screaming Jay Hawkins!
(Is he going to read all our comments? *smiles*)
Happy birthday to Jim!
Nice gift! I’m sure he loved it
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift! Happy birthday to Jim!
To give something with so much thought is truly giving from the heart! Happy Birthday!
“.”
Happy birthday to your spouse and that is a awesome thoughtful gift
What a great gift! Happy Birthday to Jim!
Oh Happy Happy Birthday Jim..that is a perfect way to spend a birthday. The best presents I have had have not been expensive as much as thoughtful…this is lovely.. Many more happy years together. My husband and I will be married 30 years this fall. Holy cow..30 years with my best friend..Michelle
Oh Happy Happy Birthday Jim..that is a perfect way to spend a birthday. The best presents I have had have not been expensive as much as thoughtful…this is lovely.. Many more happy years together. My husband and I will be married 30 years this fall…30 years with my best friend..Michelle
I want one of these little grand pianos for MY next birthday! Am putting on my wish list right now! Great choice, Russel!
I have not been to the Getty for so many years…that place has some great (free) views!
This is such a beautiful present! Happy Birthday to Jim and lots more happy years together
happy birthday jim!
Happy Birthday Jim, I loved your little piano… I wish you lots more Happy years! Thanks and Love, nia
Happy birthday from Australia Jim, a great gift idea, its absolutely gorgeous
Cheers
Emu
Happy birthday to Jim. The piano is exquisite! All the best, M
LOVE the Getty. I’ve spent hours there. Happy Birthday Jim!
Spending the day at the Getty. I hope you stay after sunset. The view is so amazing. A beautiful birthday. I think I’ll do that for my birthday next year.
And congratulations on the marriage! 19 years together is quite a feat. I’ve been married more than 30 years, and if I had to do it over, I would never have gone through the ceremony. The only reason we married is it was the only union recognized by the Navy. If we weren’t married they would not have even tried to station us together in the future. I think even if we didn’t have that piece of paper we’d still be together. All that said, I take for granted my “right” to marry whom I want. Even with our simple 5 minute civil ceremony no one ever told us we could not marry (except my dad, but that’s another story). That’s not right. Everyone should take it for granted that we can marry whomever we wish!
“Happy Birthday to you Jim!
˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜
¸¸.•*¨*•░H░A░P░P░Y░(¯`’•.¸ *♥♥♥* ¸.•’´¯) ░B░I░R░ T░H░D░A░Y░ (¯`’•.¸*♥♥♥*¸.•’´¯) Hope you enjoy YOUR special day!
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║║║╬║╬║╬║║║ ║║║╬║╬║╬║║║ ║╬║║╔╣╔╣║║╬║╬║║║
╚╩╩╩╣╔╣╔╩╗║ ╚╩╩╩╣╔╣╔╩╗║ ╚═╩╩╝╚═╩╩╩═╩╩╩╗║
¸.•*¨*•.♪♫♫♪Happy Birthday .♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ♥Happy Birthday to youuuuu ♪♫•*¨*•.¸.•*¨*•♫
˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜”
$6.25 content >^..^<
a wonderful present. wish your partner a very Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to Jim. Love the piano. My late father was a pianist and he would appreciate it … I mean, it even has a hinge!
Blessings – Maxi
Happy Birthday, Jim. And you two enjoy the Getty Museum. My favorite thing to do on my birthday is to go to the Denver Art Museum – about an hour away. Have fun! Cathy
Happy (belated) birthday to Jim. And your gift is gorgeous. A lovely post, thank you!
Jim happy belated birthday from the three moggies in the UK and their humans ( Shell & Craig). Russ I hope you treated Jim to a cake as well xx. Big strokes to Zoey