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Last night, I had a wonderful night with my wife.

(Yes, that too - but you won't get to hear about that part of it).

Every other week, our kids go to my parents house for the night, and my wife (Mary) and I get a 'date night'. We look forward to it for days before hand - not because we're going to some far-off vacation spot or anything, but because we get to spend time together as a couple.

On paper, it was the most boring evening you could possibly plan. I got my hair cut for the first time in 3 months. We went to the bank to get my card replaced. We went to Linens and More to pick up a bathroom wall cabinet that Mary wanted. We went to the liquor store. We went to dinner at Kelsey's, and then went home. Once home, we assembled the wall cabinet, and enjoyed some of the fruits of our trip to the liquor store. I mounted the wall cabinet.

(Oh - and the wall cabinet was part of Mary's Valentine's Day gift - sorry, ladies, but I'm taken. :) )

Anyway... when you've loved someone for a lot of years, the way I have my wife, those mundane times together give you a chance to focus on a connection that the two of you have. In a way, it's almost better to have a night together where you're not focusing on things around you, or are bound by a schedule - you can just relax, and enjoy the stupid little things together. The thing is... it isn't about enjoying what you're DOING, exactly... it's about enjoying the fact that you're connected to one another. It's about enjoying an unforced moment of silence. It's about not caring if she'll notice a new pimple I have on my neck. Somehow... the feelings that you have just transcend that stuff, and make it seem really small. If you let yourself think about that feeling, it really is wonderful how much a part of you it is.

Wanted to share that - Fridays after 'date night' are always a high for me. :) Don't get me wrong - our kids are awesome, and I'll be writing about them soon, too - but couple time is pretty sweet. :)

Okay - now, to counteract all the feminine stuff above, let's have some manly random thoughts today:

- Iran grabbed some British sailors this morning out of Iraqi waters. Good times - I actually have bets going with my dad on when there will be fighting with Iran. I'm pretty sure I'm going to win that one.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070323/ap_on_re_eu/british_troops_iran;_ylt=Arvwprx2quvXOxQv0HjSCSas0NUE

- Canadians love our hockey. When our boys took home gold at the Olympics in Torino, the streets were full of honking cars, drunken revellers, and all kinds of other fun stuff... I've never seen so many Canadian flags in my life. Pakistan, however, is fanatical about its cricket. These guys make British soccer hooligans look like Girl Scouts:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070323/ap_on_re_as/cricket_pakistan;_ylt=AjTawmJ7TaBsWpiuv4g_PEnMWM0F

- Finally, a nod to our friends in the Southern US. There are wildlife protection people, there are animal rights activists, and then there are just the downright obsessive types:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/pet_food_buyer;_ylt=AgOCJslQ4umQzJPGjOKaj4ztiBIF

Dear FiringSquad: I promise that if I win the contest, I won't use the money for pet food.

Finally, the Link 'o the Day: The Onion. Just good, good stuff - and an inspiration, I believe, for guys like Colbert. Probably a PG-13 link - occasional swearing, but nothing you kids haven't heard your parents say a thousand times. :)

External Link: http://www.theonion.com