February 3rd

My husband is planning a surprise.

Between my job, church, and his school, we are very busy right around Valentine's Day, so we were discussing appropriate days to celebrate.

Aside: for the last two years, one or the other of us has deserted on February 14th. I deserted him for a rugby tournament in North Carolina two years ago and last year, Brandon worked as a waiter that night.

The weekend before Valentine's Day, we have a conference at church with Dr. Ted Tripp (for those of you that know him) from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia on Shepherding a Child's Heart and the weekend after, I am traveling for five days to Chicago to a book conference for work. Valentine's Day falls on a week day this year and I know that with all the school work that Brandon tends to have during the semester, we will not be able to go on that particular day, so we decided on February 3rd.

About a week ago, Brandon called and asked if I could take half a day at work on the 3rd. I okay 'd the day with my boss, but I am not allowed to know what we are going to be doing. The official word is that we are going to be ice-fishing in Forest Park, but somehow, I am not so quick to believe this idea since our honeymoon was also to be ice-fishing.

I have already scanned the page of my favorite band for possible concerts on this date, I googled St. Louis with the date and only found ice skating competition at the Saavis Center which is possible but not likely. We did see Disney on Ice one year which was really fun for me: I sang along to all the songs and Brandon hid his face. Other than these, I am a little clueless. I think maybe we could go for a nice dinner, maybe at the Melting Pot?? I have never been, but I am told it is so delish.

My mom insists that Brandon would tell her if she asked, but we all know that is not true. My mom is the worst at keeping secrets. Maybe not in real life, but surely when it comes to me. This is the woman that dropped clues about my first date with Brandon (Quick honey, run out to the store right this minute and get something that I don't even need for the dinner I am fixing), the day we got engaged (You're going on a date tonight? Be sure to call and tell me all about it!), and the bridal shower my sister was planning for me (You should have called before you came to visit: I am at a person's house that I normally never visit and I can't leave, sorry. You will have to come here). My mom says that to a normal person these would not be clues, however to me, aka the Super Snoop, everything is a clue.

Believe what you may, my mom gives away surprises, so Brandon will not be telling her. Or me.

I already ventured a couple guesses.

My first guess was that we were going to be flying to St. Thomas for one night to eat at Duffy's Love Shack, (the best Caribbean Lobster place ever!) and to stay at Curlson and Gayle's lovely chateau. Duffy's is an amazing place that is located in a shack set up in a parking lot of a shopping center in St. Thomas. They place music all night, have crazy blended ice drinks and tiki torches, and they give you a plastic lei every time you go. Thursday night is Lobster Night and we did not eat better lobster at any other location on the island. So my first guess was that we were doing that. (Ha!)

I have not been so creative with my other guesses. The only information I have is that I need to be leaving work by two o'clock and that I might want to get my Valentine's manicure beforehand. (Whatever that means.) What throws me is the early off work: it is too late for lunch and too early for dinner, so we must be doing something else first, right?

I love Brandon for creating this elaborate surprise for me, but I can't stand not knowing!! I wish I didn't know that there was going to be a surprise. . . :)