44. The way his tooth sort of sticks to his lip when he's trying not to laugh.
43. The way he went to sleep last night wearing only one sock. He'd taken the other one off.
42. The way he listens so carefully to my opinions.
41. The way he drives automatic rental cars like his mission in life is to change gears as fast as possible.
40. How much time he spends writing out cards for other people on their birthdays, often buying two cards in case he makes a mistake, and typing up what he wants to write first.
39. His curly, curly hair.
38. The inexplicable phobia he has about getting his curly, curly hair cut.
37. The way he lets me towel off his back after a shower because otherwise, he'll just leave it wet when he gets dressed.
36. The way he will go and get tacos or a burger for me when I'm not feeling well.
35. The way he always offers me a foot rub when my tummy hurts.
34. How supportive he has been since day 1 of my writing.
33. The way he believes in me more than anyone else I can think of, passionately, fervently, insistently -- sometimes, to the point of irrationality.
32. The way he eats all of one thing on his plate before he moves on to another one.
31. The way he hugs me with my arms curled up in front of me, and just stands there while I soak it all in.
30. His schadenfreude.
29. His shadenfreude when his stocks tank.
28. The silly smile he gets on his face when he's made a joke he thinks is funny.
27. His puns. (For instance, we used to live above a man named Creighton who was a pain in the ass. He always called him Cretin.)
26. How much he loves music.
25. His perfect man legs.
24. The way he quickly latched onto wearing a crappy tee-shirt under a nice blazer when I told him it was cool.
23. The way he won't throw away any sweatshirt his mom has ever given him, no matter how old or how stained.
22. [censored]
21. The way he has to buy 42 magazines every time we go to the airport.
20. The way he always runs off to the magazine stand in every grocery store, pharmacy, and gas station.
19. The way he can always locate the nearest wine store with his inner GPS.
18. The way he's been keeping up with the chores since I went to work, even though it's not second nature for him to remember to do them.
17. The way he always uses my olive wood mortar and pestle to smash garlic
16. The way he makes all our homemade salad dressings.
15. The way he pulls a pillow over his head while he sleeps.
14. The way he has valiantly, and with very little complaint, gotten up very day of the last year and a half and done what he had to do.
13. The way he has pushed himself in yoga, in running, in all things physical, even though they make him feel terrible, all so he can feel good again.
12. The fact that he thinks I was (am) the best account person he ever worked with in advertising. (Which isn't true, which is why I love him for thinking it.)
11. The way he has gone out of his way to teach himself how to make me feel good when I am down.
10. The way he can drink a glass of wine in 2 sips. It's sort of gross, but it's also sort of cute.
9. The joy he takes in choosing a bottle of 20 year old French Burgundy from his dad's wine selection.
8. The way he uncomplainingly accompanies me out to dinner wherever I have to go or want to go, regardless of what he wants to eat.
7. The way he loves Top Chef, American Idol, Project Runway, The Shield, The Wire, Battlestar Galactica, and Big Love as much as I do.
6. The way he buys more books than he could ever read, and can't seem to stop.
5. The way he never gives me even the slightest hint of a dirty look when I come home with new clothes, even if it's right after we've had "the budget discussion."
4. The way he knows to set the table with sel gris rather than table salt, especially when it's pizza night.
3. His nose.
2. His Grizzly Adams look when he hasn't shaved for four days. Which happens every five days.
1. How much he makes me laugh.
Happy Birthday!
Do I have the best girlfriend, or what?!? Damn, gotta run, my earth worm squad just sent out a distress signal.
Posted by: Jeff | June 27, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Yes, you have the best girlfriend EVER! Happy Birthday, Jeff! I might have to forward this list to someone who could use a few pointers (cough), especially on items 35 & 18.
Posted by: Jennifer Jeffrey | June 27, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Happy Birthday, Mr. FM! What a lovely way to express it, loved the list!
Posted by: Cindy | June 27, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Wow. Time to bump Catherine off and move in with Jeff. Fred can only do #s 27, 26, 22, 21 and 8. Please ask Jeff to give Fred lessons in #s 4, 13, 35 and 36. Happy Birthday Jeff!
Posted by: sam | June 27, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Aw, what a sweet post -- Happy Birthday Jeff!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 27, 2007 at 12:11 PM
You are too cute! Best wishes to Mr. FM and the woman who loves him.
Posted by: Tea | June 27, 2007 at 02:26 PM
How sweet! I seriously teared up a bit. Happy Birthday wishes to Mr. FM!
Posted by: Tiffany | June 27, 2007 at 03:00 PM
What better birthday present than this! As for me, the thing that I love about Mr. FM is that he loves you!
Posted by: mom | June 27, 2007 at 04:27 PM
happy birthday to my favorite brother-kind of-in law!
Posted by: little sister | June 28, 2007 at 04:48 AM
Wow. This made me tear up and smile all at once.
Happy birthday, Jeff. We can't wait to hit dinner with you guys again, soon!
F & C
Posted by: Fatemeh | June 28, 2007 at 07:32 AM
Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes. Mr. FM was very happy to get them all.
Posted by: Catherine | June 28, 2007 at 08:04 AM
Your list has made me love Mr. FM too. Happy birthday! Also I agree, can Mr. FM schedule a class on 35 and 36?
Posted by: sabrina | June 28, 2007 at 02:18 PM
Happy, happy birthday, Mr. Man Legs.
Sigh.
Posted by: cookiecrumb | June 28, 2007 at 06:29 PM
{I know I'm not supposed to say how handsome he is, too, so I'll put it in these nifty brackets.}
Happy Birthday Jeff! Thanks for bringing in summer.
What a gorgeous post this is. thank you for warming me from afar.
Posted by: shuna fish lydon | June 28, 2007 at 11:24 PM
happy b'day Mr. Food Musings! (He is in GOOD hands.)
Posted by: malachy walsh | June 29, 2007 at 05:33 AM
Well, late to the party (all work and no blogs make Tana a dull girl), but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jeff. I have to say, my guy's list is pretty long, too, and it makes me glad to know that you both have so much love to give.
XO
Posted by: Tana | June 30, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Yeah-your list is really great-Happy B'day to Mr. FM!! sounds like a winner. I enjoy reading your blog-good job!!
Posted by: Ellen | July 03, 2007 at 01:25 PM