our first valentine's

our valentine's started early. three days early, to be exact, with frozen lemon chiffon wedding cake in vermont while lying on a couch bed watching Mad About You.

a three hour rehearsal on the actual night of valentine's day forced us to be a little creative this year. on monday night we called in a reservation to Alchemy in gloucester. turns out the reservation wasn't needed at all since most people apparently celebrate the holiday on the actual evening. we had the entire restaurant to ourselves and got to sit close to each other in the window booth of our choice with soft pillows and a view of all the local art they hang in there. (maybe we should celebrate a day early every year!) true to expectations, mom b. generously gave us a card with forty dollars in it to help boost our evening into the next level of feeling free to splurge. we ordered a bottle of Rex Goliath (the one with the rooster on it) and a gorgeous appetizer of crab rangoons served with a sweet/spicy sauce and a mustard/horseradish sauce. i ordered the lamb shank with veggie risotto in true gassman fashion while j. ordered the most deluxe hamburger you could ever find (served with bacon and boursin). for dessert we enjoyed a caramel apple pastry that just melted in our mouths.

the actual valentine's day was more of a relaxing event. i came home from work a bit early so we could have dinner together (leftover chili from mom B). j. had bought me a gorgeous bouquet of roses, carnations, and other flowers. i gave him a small cup that says "be mine" for him to use in the bathroom instead of sticking his head under the faucet. we exchanged cards. his said "for my beautiful wife," which, of course, made me so happy. we watched the end of "broken flowers" before he left for orchestra rehearsal. i don't recommend the film, but it was lovely to just lay on the couch relaxing together.

so i guess you could say we had valentine's days. and they were all perfect.