Valentine's Day: The Story

I wanted to buy tickets to the OKC Thunder game which was conveniently on Valentine's Day thinking it would be a fun alternative to our traditional V-Day date: exchange cards and watch a movie. Only problem - they were pretty much sold out (I could only find single-seat tickets). My in-laws graciously agreed to watch the kids so we could at least go out to dinner. That was nice.

Sunday night it snowed. Monday morning was cold, dreary and icy. However, Samuel's preschool had not been canceled so I found myself packing up the kids and making the 25 mile trip to Oklahoma City.

I believe it was fate. Most everyone was avoiding the roads and therefore not in their cars listening to the radio. I, however, was in my car, murmuring under my breath and listening to Jack and Ron on 98.9. When I heard it "Let's give away some Thunder tickets, caller number 9 will have a chance to win Thunder tickets by playing Simpleton Trivia."

I hesitated - was it really wise to talk on the phone while driving, in semi-icy conditions, with two kids screaming in the back? Probably not, but I decided it was worth the try.

Ring...ring... I was caller number six, please try again.

Ring... ring... ring... "You are caller number 10, would you mind holding in case caller number 9 gets the question wrong?"

I wouldn't mind holding at all.

The next thing I knew I was talking to Jack and Ron. Caller number 9 had answered incorrectly and I was getting a shot at the Thunder tickets. Samuel had decided he was a dinosaur and started roaring at the top of his lungs, Jack and Ron asked me what all that noise was. "Sorry, it's my son." "How old is he?" "He's 3." "Well, you tell him Uncle Jack and Uncle Ron said to settle down." He didn't settle down, so I had to answer the trivia question with now both kids hollering in the back seat.

Oh well, at least I'm used to it, because I got the question right and the next thing I knew I was picking up two tickets to my first NBA game. It was also the first time I have EVER won anything.

I decided not to tell Carlin and surprise him. That was seriously one of the hardest secrets I've ever had to keep. It was quite the Valentine's Date and definitely our most memorable Valentine's ever.

We were seriously 3rd row from the very top of the stands, but it didn't bother us one bit. We treated ourselves to some stadium food, bought me a Thunder t-shirt and sat back and enjoyed it.

I also decided I needed these guys to come home with me:

Yes, I'm referring to boys in the yellow shirts with brooms. I had this sudden day-dream of someone standing in my house with a broom, mop and rag, at the ready to clean up any spill or mess created by the kids the instant it happened. Just think how clean my house would be? Happy sigh.

Oh and the question was: What U.S. President was the first to lose an election? (I may not be saying that question exactly right... but I knew it, even before they gave me three choices). A. George Washington B. John Adams or C. Thomas Jefferson.