That summer they took us in.

Here are the remarkable things that have happened in the past month --

I should start with a true point of unending happiness: my brother proposed to his girlfriend who shall henceforth be called his fiancé! He had wanted to surround Katie with the beauty of New Hampshire, at the summit of a mountain, and profess how his love was more vast than their view (at least, this is what comes to mind when he said "yeah, I'm going to take her hiking..."). Instead, as the gods are wont to do, it rained heavily all weekend and he was left to take on the task in a dimly lit, romantic restaurant, on one knee like a true charmer. I mean, I know what that's like! I'm thrilled at the prospect of having a sister! And for all the happiness she brings to my brother, yadda, yadda, yadda...

Before my brother's magical weekend, my own romantic hero took me across the United States to visit his family in northern California. It's not a part of the country I've spent much time, and it was great to reconnect with his father and aunt, and to meet his grandmother for the first time. We spent the last day of the trip in San Francisco, a city that renders me in a state of perpetual coldness. There was no fog this time around, like there was that July many years ago, but the wind was still there and it ran through me and chilled my bones every chance it could. I was glad to say bye to the city, but was sad to leave the loving faces of family just north of it.

Amidst the past month Jesse and I also spent a weekend in Massachusetts with my family for Mother's Day. It was a jam-packed weekend that included Katie (before she was The Fiancé) graduating with a Masters Degree (while Jesse and I parked it in a barcalounger-full theater for The Great Gatsby), and a dinner with her entire family. (They who will soon be an extension of our own family!) They are wonderful and again, I'm so happy for my baby brother. We spent Mother's Day on my parents' deck and Jesse got to show off his bocce skills again. He's quite the impressive chap when it comes to competitive games. We were sad to say bye to my family at the end of the weekend.

Last week, after Jesse returned from a couple of weeks of rehearsing in Minneapolis, and I returned from house- and dog-sitting in New Jersey, we celebrated his birthday! I took him out for a delectable steak dinner and then we hung out with friends in the East Village. It was a glorious Monday evening. We squeezed out every bit of time we had since his return and before his departure for the Warped Tour the day before yesterday. On his last night in town we got to see The Menzingers live! And though we felt like The Old People who were checking our watches at 10:30pm, as soon as they hit the stage and the first notes of "The Obituaries" began, we were pumped. (I have to pause here and personally thank Liz for the introduction of them via her blog.) I had a bit of an urge to jump into the crowd and let loose, but I just bounced around in one spot near the back for the most part. Jesse and I (with Pee Wee, of course) collapsed in bed that night exhausted, but it was all time well spent. And now it's gone. I'll see him again soon, and hopefully it will only be a stretch of a couple of weeks.

And in a few minutes, I'm off to Massachusetts again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUSBAND!

My mister was born some years ago today. Courteously, his actual age I'll not betray. Though let it be known it's his first birthday as husband to my wife. And I married this lovely man because I knew he'd continue giving me smiles, laughs, and sweetness in my life. Yes, things are quite sunshiney in our lives, even when he's away. This weekend he sets out for more traveling dates - but tonight he gets to stay! And so we'll gussy ourselves up and take ourselves out for some vino and some steak. And perhaps a little of his favourite dessert: some rich and delicious cheesecake. But I digress - it's my man's birthday and I really should describe: his sharing, his caring, his abundant loving, his rare dancing, his big hands, his peppering strands, you get the picture - if he was a magazine, I'd most definitely subscribe. He's so handsome and dreamy and still makes me all squeamy; we are so barfy and with love my eyes are always teeming. When he's gone it's still there, but of course I will miss him and pout. So today and tonight I rightly celebrate the man, the mister, my Jesse Mack, who I simply couldn't live without.

You're all over the map.

Look how dapper my man looked on his birthday!

Pretty bummed I wasn't there to share in the festivities...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE !

Jesse Mack Johnson turns 32 years old today!

It's a bum out that I'm here in New York and he's across the country in Los Angeles, but that's the way it goes. I sent him a little card reminding him that this was his last "single" birthday. The rest of the years he's all mine.

Tonight he's going to some crazy magic show in LA at The Magic Castle. Apparently you have to dress up. I expect a full report, because honestly all I imagine is GOB.

If you have twitter, you can wish him a happy birthday at his handle - @jessemackj! (Doesn't everybody smile when they get Happy Birthday wishes? Even from people you haven't met? That's why you should Happy Birthday him - because I want him to be smiling all day!)

And I get to put up this picture AGAIN:

My favourite.

Happy Birthday to My Favourite !

It's Jesse's birthday!!! YAY!

* Note: Picture not actually taken in the 1920s, despite how old you might think Jesse is.