some things are not attainable
Whereas I have little interest in doing anything except enjoying some peace and quiet on my birthday (I’m still waiting for that unattainable gift – maybe next year?) I know Ali’s birthday is a big deal to him.
Lunch at Central Park. With the bees.
So last Saturday, as Ali turned 37, Maya and I :
- Bought him a much-needed new robe and some books.
- Made him muffins and tea.
- Took him to Soho for more tea and scones at Harney & Sons.
- And then we took him to his favorite Ruth’s Chris for steak (the name of this place continues to trouble me).
I also gifted my husband a break from my sarcasm and commentary.
Tea at Harney and Sons….not sure an indecisive person (not naming any names here) should be taken to a place with 1,000,000 different tea choices…
Thus, I didn’t mutter a word when Ali said “I hate bees. This is why I am not a park person,” minutes after we arrived at Central Park for the picnic lunch he requested.
I also didn’t say anything about the mountain of gift wrap that sat on the dining table and floor for 3 days until I finally recycled it.
I even gave him a free pass on socks in the living room, dishes in the sink, and tea stains all over the counter.
It was a difficult day for me, as I’m sure you can imagine.
Dinner at Ruth’s Chris : Maya ate salad, a 6 oz. filet, 4 shrimp, mashed potatoes, broccoli, bread, and half of the dessert. Not sure if I should be scared or impressed?
What I failed to do, however, was to spare him from my post this week. But try as I did, I could NOT come up with a topic that didn’t involve Ali.
I guess some gifts will remain unattainable for Ali as well. Maybe next year?
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
Well, let’s just say that he is always in your posts because, you love him despite all his flaws :).
Happy birthday to Ali!
*kisses* H
On behalf of Ali, thank you HH!
Scones in New York? A few dollars. Mentioning him repeatedly on your blog? Priceless. For everything else ….
For everything else…there’s sarcasm and impatience. 🙂
LOL
Hah! 🙂 I’m witchooo ggiirrrrllll !
Happy birthday to Ali!!! I see that you have showered Ali with presents!! It simply shows how much you love him 🙂
On behalf of Ali, thank you Nandita!
Ali is the gift that keeps on giving to your blog! Happy belated birthday to him. 😉
Well said Mama D. 100% true!
Hence proved Amnah,You love Ali a lot,that’s why none of your posts go without mentioning him..tempting food,assorted tea/coffee and great family pics..stat blessed!!
Thank you Elijah! For reading and for the comment. I appreciate it.
Happy birthday to you husband! I am sure he appreciated all that you planned for him.
On behalf of Ali, thank you Anita! 🙂
37 years, wow. In the UK, he’d have a hard time accepting 37 solid dead arms punches which are a custom here. I hope he and you have a wonderful time. Must agree the name Ruth’s Chris is crazy and kinda senseless.
Really? That’s a custom? Just for age 37 or every year?
Happy birthday, Ali! You guys are such a cute family!
And I think I’m going to come celebrate my birthday with you in NYC – the food sounds amazing!
Please come Parita! Me, you, and Nisha can have tea and scones together. 🙂
You spoil him Girl, You do! And..it’s amazing you do it so wonderfully, hiding the pampering behind a facade of self mocking complaints! I think, that’s true love. He’s lucky to be yours and that’s his favorite gift I’m sure 🙂 Happy Birthday Ali.
Love that family pic.
I hope that I’m his favorite gift. I will have to ask him and report back. 🙂
Thank you for the comment as always MWAD! I appreciate it.
I think you did better than most! You’re always such a champion. I would not have spared a bees complaint. Also, my grandma is Ruth, my mom is Chris, and they’re both obsessed with that restaurant. I’ve never been, but apparently it’s amazing.
How interesting about their names…what are the chances?
It is a great place if you eat steak. Which I do not. Thus I paid an arm and a leg for some shrimp that was decent but nothing to write home about. 🙂
Happy Birthday Ali. Sounds like the perfect gift, a few gifts, homemade muffins, afternoon tea & scones, and dinner. Can’t beat that. I have to check out Harney & Sons… looks so good.. Maya has an appetite… that’s good, as long as she’s running around in the park. 🙂
I’d love to join you at Harney & Sons … just let me know when!
And yes…I keep Maya running around like there’s no tomorrow. LOL
Happy birthday to Ali! I hope he knows how much loved (& spoiled) he is. So Ali also likes teas in addition to his lattes? Well.. now that his birthday is over, I hope he remembers to move his socks back to where they belong 😉
Ali loves his caffeine any way he can get it!
His socks will never be moved. Birthday or not. I sort of have to accept that… LOL
Happy birthday, Ali! I don’t mention Hubby every time I write a post. Please don’t let him know that you do yours, ok?
I’m going to send him an email for sure. 🙂
When you/if you get that hour of quiet let me know how that is. And seriously WTF “Ruth’s Chris” that apostrophe has to go or Chris should be Crisp or something. All these years I had it wrong.
Agreed. The apostrophe (something that throws me for a loop in general) mystifies me.
It’s so funny you mention it because I seriously have a problem with Ruth’s Chris name too. It doesn’t make sense. If anything Ruth Chris’s. Weird. Anyways glad you managed to tolerate your husband without words for that one day!! I know how incredibly hard it is when they are driving you nuts.
Apostrophe’s make no sense to me. Ruth’s Chris makes even less sense to me.
Glad I’m not the only one…
Belated Birthday wishes to your husband, Ameena. He already got the bestest gifts in you and Maya..!!!
So sweet Gayathri…thank you. I’ll make sure Ali reads this comment for sure!
your sweet Ameena Aziz. I love this Birthday Post, humor with a twist:) I am certain your husband had a wonderful day and appreciates everything you do for him. Now your a super wife with super Mum qualities. Blessed be. x
Super Mum? Nobody has ever referred to me with those words.. Thank you Maha! 🙂
Happy birthday to Ali!
Ameena, have I mentioned how much I love your blog? The way you write is how I think in my head. I love it.
We have a Ruth’s Chris here in San Francisco and I was surprisingly impressed with the food after learning it’s a chain.
PS: I was also confused with it’s name. It doesn’t make sense no matter which way you thin about it.
Thank you Tara for the compliment and for the comment.
Glad you agree on the name! Also glad you liked Ruth’s Chris. 🙂 For steak eaters is a good place.
Happy birthday to Ali…The food look amazing…
Thank you, on behalf of Ali! 🙂
HB! I have to say, the entire time I’m reading this I’m just thinking, why have I not met you (at least) for lunch yet? Email me!
I sent you an email…..let’s have lunch!
Ha! I too am troubled by that steak house’s name.
And I’ve decided your daughter in fact has a gift in the eating department:)
Color me impressed.
She does have a gift.
“Color me impressed!” Too funny.
Happy belated birthday to Ali…sounds like he had an amazing day! A one-day free pass sounds like the best gift of all ;)! Maya is quite the foodie- I want to eat with her one day :D!
A one day free pass is the best gift but so not going to happen!
Haha, aww 🙂 It sounds like you gave Ali an excellent birthday! (Happy belated birthday to him!) You are always so funny, Ameena 🙂 The name of that steakhouse troubles me, too – drives me nuts every time I see one.
Thanks Jessie! For the compliment and for reading. I always appreciate your comments!
No sarcasm or running commentary for a whole day! Clearly Ali’s birthday is a big deal to you too!! Happy Birthday Ali !
On behalf of Ali, thank you!
Belated birthday wishes to your husband! I love the sarcastic voice that resonates in my head when I read your posts! You are so funny without trying too hard. + 1 to you!
“+1” I love it. Thank you!
I appreciate your comment Zarine. 🙂
I know that Ali is the focus of this post (Happy Birthday, Ali!) but man, I remain ridiculously impressed with Maya. That girl can EAT 🙂
She certainly can…not sure where she gets it from! I am impressed too. 🙂
This is just delightful. Love your humour! 🙂
Thank you Jennie. 🙂
Lol. We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t give them what they want. He he. I’m sure Ali appreciated the gesture and I’m sure you two made his birthday extra special. I’d think I may have a mini meltdown over the thought of having to choose from over 1000 teas. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
-Gina-
I think Ali had a mini-meltdown…he is not so decisive when it comes to lots of choices!
Happy Belated Ali – it seems like you had a wonderful time 🙂
On behalf of Ali thank you Dixya!
HBDA!
OMG!!! You too? I can’t comprehend the whole Chris’ Ruth’s Steakhouse name either. And no one, no one seems to be able to give me a worthy answer. But perhaps it would help if I actually ate there and asked someone who works there. But the name is too… it just turns me off if I can’t even understand it.
So funny how the name totally turns me off too. Plus I don’t eat steak so that’s another reason.
The things I do for Ali!
Happy belated birthday to Ali!
Thank you YC!
Ameena, Happy Birthday to your hubby!
To all who wonder about the origins of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse:
I used to be a hostess there and the story goes that Ruth whom we might call a self-made woman these days, a newly divorced single mother bought out Chris Steakhouse with a loan she got from the sell of her house. She never owned a restaurant before and had to learn everything form butchering to managing, but was determined to succeed and, get this, gave almost all jobs to women, because she thought they were better workers than men! Ain’t that the truth?! However, a fire destroyed her booming business a few years later and she had to move it but couldn’t use the name “Chris Steak House” in any other address according to the contract. So she added her first name to it for people to recognize their favorite steakhouse 🙂
This is so inspiring! I really didn’t know there was a reason behind the random name, and now I feel bad for being so negative about it.
Thank you for sharing the story IP…wish I’d Googled it earlier.
Bless him! It’s a gift I hope Ali doesn’t get either! Nevertheless, wish him happy birthday from me – possibly his greatest fan!
On behalf of Ali thank you. And on behalf of Ali I’ll add that he’s thrilled to have a fan. A fan of any kind! 🙂
happy birthday to Ali. what a special day you made it for him by not being sarcastic 😛 … kudos to you for showing such immense levels of patience 😀 (Y) shrimps look delicious 😀
You made such a nice birthday for him that he should definitely overlook this post! Also, the name of Ruth’s Chris has always bugged me too!
If Ali ever misbehaves (e.g., doesn’t recycle gift wrap or clear dishes from the table), we can smoother him in honey and leave him alone in Central Park to be swarmed by bees. Very Winnie the Pooh. Watch out, Ali!
“The name still troubles you” that is hilarious, thinking about it, it’s really weird? Happy day to the man. You’re awesome Ameena, he is one lucky man. Love,
Shauna
It’s never a dull moment in your home 🙂 I hope Ali enjoyed and appreciated your thoughtfulness on his birthday. Hopefully you get the same treatment on your birthday!
Oooh how did I miss this! Happy Birthday Ali..admittedly a little belated but nevertheless. I think a break from sarcasm must have made him a happy man 🙂
This is very funny, Ameena, you make me laugh reading this! I think u did a splendid birthday bash for him !