March 9 - MY BIRTHDAY!!

Words of the day:

quill

~or~

shaft

So...yeah...today is my birthday!! I have had the best day - in the past I don't tell students when my birthday is, but his year I totally did. I've been looking forward to this birthday for awhile now, so I didn't mind them knowing. And...to be kind of conceited...I like it when the students say they can't believe I'm as old as I am - they say I look younger. And...quite honestly...I agree with them. There. I said it.

So while I've had a great day, the BEST part of the day happened when I got home after my son's play practice, guitar practice, and going to the gym for a run. I went to the mailbox, and lo and behold - there was something I had ordered last Friday and didn't expect until next Monday. But before I tell you what it was, I have to tell you the whole story.

It all started two years ago around the holidays. Kohls had just opened in my nearby town, and the boy and I w

ere shopping. While waiting in line, I spotted a coffee mug. It was silver - and dare I say it? It was sexy. Smooth, curvy, sleek - all you could want in a mug. And like many tempting delights, it was pricey.

But I was at Kohls. The store with never-ending sales! Yes - the mug was on sale. Half price. Have I mentioned my mug/water bottle addiction? Well...I have one. It's kind of a problem.

Anyhow - I bought the mug. And I immediately fell in love with the mug. First of all, it felt great in my hands. The curve fit my hand perfectly, the metal was smooth to the touch. And the lid - the lid...it was...are you ready for this?

It was SPILLPROOF

Totally spillproof. I could tip it upside down - and it wouldn't spill. I could toss it in my bag (even next to student papers) and it wouldn't spill.

But wait - it gets better. The mug would also keep my coffee hot for 4 hours. FOUR FREAKING HOURS!! Yeah. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Fast forward to Valentines Day, 2011. All other mugs have been relegated to the back of the cupboard - no need to use them when there is such perfection. But on Valentines Day, fate reared it's ugly head.

I went to take a drink from my mug...

and...

it leaked.

I thought perhaps I screwed the top on wrong. Nope. I though perhaps there was some sort of buildup around the rim. Nope. It was just plain worn out.

I pulled the other mugs out from the back of the cupboard. They all failed miserably when compared to such perfection. I didn't want to throw it away - we had spent more than two years together.

So, I did what any 21st Century shopper would do. I went to the Internet. I googled (NOT BINGED...I DON'T BING!) Contigo. Once I got to the manufacturers website, I scrolled down to the FAQs.

And there was the solution to my problem. They sold replacement lids. Let me restate that in case you missed it. They sell replacement lids!!

So last Friday I ordered one. The website said 7-10 business days. And yet - when I got home tonight...a mere 3 days (if you count Saturday as a business day) after I ordered it...I GOT MY LID!!

Could there be a better gift? Probably. But today that is one of the best gifts I could've gotten. Tomorrow I get to take my mug in to work, and that makes me very happy.