I’m an Idiot…Again…

Looking through my posts it came to my attention that I really hadn’t added much to my “Idiot” series of posts…after some soul searching, I figure now I should come clean, bear my soul if you will, to the 10′s of readers to this fine weblog (or blog as the kids call it) about a “small” incident that recently occurred.

Let me take you back to a few weekends ago when a little basketball tournament was happening in The “D”.  My friend Sam Singh who is finishing up his 16 month trek around the world (see his blog at www.singharoundtheworld.com) flew back to Detroit just because Michigan State was in the Final Four.  I picked him up on Saturday afternoon and we headed downtown to join in the festivities.  That evening, as we are all aware, MSU beat UCONN and they were now going to advance to the Finals on Monday.

That next morning (Sunday) and I had planned for Better Half to bring Lil’ Baird downtown for brunch with Sam.  “Uncle” Sam had not seen Lil’ Baird yet and Better Half wanted to also see Sam, so it seemed like a good plan.  Little did I know that Better Half had been working on a plan of her own.After they arrive to the hotel, we gathered up and headed to Fishbone’s in Greektown for brunch.  As we were walking, Better Half says to me “I got you an early birthday present and you know me, I can’t keep a secret.”  Cool, I’m thinking, I’m gettin’ my present early (Bday is May 7th – mark your calendars).  Looking at her, she’s about to burst, she was that excited to spill the beans.

“What is it dear?”

She then proceeds to tell me that she bought two tickets to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Finals on Monday for Sam and I.

Let me say that again, my wife bought me TWO TICKETS to the NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL FINALS so I can go with my FRIEND, not HER, to see MICHIGAN STATE play for a championship!!!!

Now, any other normal person would be jumping up and down, followed by a few “No Way!”s, leading to a “That is so freakin’ cool!” followed by a “Thank you Honey, THANK YOU!”

My reaction – “Ummmm, baby, where did you get them?”

“I bought them off eBay.” she said, with the excitement now leaving her face.

I should have stopped there…but no…

“Oh, honey.  Are you sure he’s legitimate?”

Well, you get the gist.  Instead of being incredibly happy about this incredible gift, I just kept thinking that she got played.  Needless to say, that was not the reaction she was hoping for and your friendly neighborhood bacon lovin’ Baird was in the D-O-double G house.

And…it was even worse than that…

After Better Half and Lil’ Baird head home from breakfast, I tell Sam what Better Half did.  He proceeds to tell me he knew and that the two of them were emailing each other about purchasing the tickets weeks ago.  She heard a rumor that he might come back in town for the Final Four and told him she was going to buy tickets for the Finals for the two of us.  Sam told her it’d be a great idea, that I would be incredibly happy (which I should have been) and that even if MSU didn’t make it to the Finals, we’d still go and have a good time.

PLANNING FOR WEEKS!!  BOUGHT IN ADVANCE!! AGAIN, FOR MY FRIEND AND I TO GO!!!

UGH!

I felt like a heel.  I was sort of half hoping that when I went to pick up the tickets, that I’d be stood up…at least that way I could save a little face.  Nope!  Surely when I got to the door, the ticket wouldn’t scan…wrong again, got in just fine.  Okay, there will be someone else with the exact same seat…NOPE!  Seems that everything was legit and there I was sitting at the Finals with my friend.

Sam and I at the Final Four...Thanks Baby!

Sam and I spent all of Monday night relaying how much of a jackhole I was to any of our friends who would listen to us blather, but still, Better Half wasn’t there to know my true shame as I faced my friends.

Men, let my tale serve as a cautionary one.  Be grateful, ALWAYS be grateful.  Set aside your worry, your doubt and just say THANK YOU!

I have no idea what she spent, she hid the purchase well from me.  Although I was told that her present buying for me was covered through Christmas.  So how does one make amends??  I believe it’s just like the commercial says…”Diamonds.  D-I-A-M-O-N-D-S.”

I’m an Idiot!