While my best friend, Jenn, is the woman behind the nickname Jules, my husband, Peppermeister, is the man behind this blog.
Last February, he tried to explain how great WordPress was, and how I should use it as a vehicle to start writing again. I knew nothing about blogging, but then I read a hilarious WordPress blog and thought, “Oh. Well. This could be fun.”
And now here we are, a year and a half later, Peppermeister begging me to write him a birthday post. I mean, he just won’t shut up about it.
Please note: That last paragraph is all lies.
Except for the part about his birthday, which is today.
How do you do someone named Peppermeister justice? This is the man who texted me on Friday to say, “Want to know what the best part of making chicken tacos is?”
And then followed-up with this picture:
How do you measure up to someone with whom you once had this conversation?
“She’s going to be home in 5 minutes,” I said, hanging up the phone. It was June 2003 and we were a month into dating, cuddling on the couch of a friend’s apartment. My friend let us hang out there because Peppermeister and I both still lived at home [with our parents].
“Great,” Peppermeister replied. “That gives me 3 minutes to convince you, and 2 minutes to do it.”
“Two minutes?” I answered, raising my eyebrows.
“Yeah. I thought we could do it twice.”
How do you write a post for someone 
who cordially invites the dog onto the couch, complete with trumpet calls? Or tells you you’re “pretty” and “svelte” every day? Or convinces his whole family, after stubbing his toe on a boat in the Bahamas, that he was bitten by a shark? Or plays a mean harmonica? Or finds fulfillment in teaching cognitively impaired children?
Well. You don’t. You just give him another funny t-shirt, bake some cupcakes and hope he doesn’t realize you didn’t clean the bathroom he could do a lot better.
Gawd, I’m getting sentimental in my old age.
P.S. – In case you’re wondering about Peppermeister’s [former] band, they’re called Echo Movement and they’re on the Warped Tour again this summer. We lurve them and you should, too.
Go Jules Go 
Happy Birthday Peppermeister (aka Mr Jules)!
Thank you so much, Kate! Mr. Jules would say thanks, too, if he wasn’t sleeping until 1 o’clock, LOL
The “five minutes” conversation was hilarious. Mr. Jules sound awesome. Happy Dirthbay!
Thanks, Speaker! “Dirthbay”! Yes. I love that.
And by the by, just so you know, the only reason I fall behind on your Shades splendor is because I REFUSE to rush through any bit of them, and I’ve been so busy I want to throw up in my mouth. (Thank gawd I have vacay time coming up after this week!)
I’m the same way — the posts that I lag behind on reading are often times the ones I’m putting off because I want to savor them.
This is not to say that the ones I read immediately suck balls.
Awww, I will have to remind myself Birthday tributes are supposed to be kind and loving when my husbands comes around. Maybe I should bookmark this. So sweet….so fortunate!
LOL I’m telling you I really am getting sentimental in my old age. Last year the title of my [wedding] anniversary post was, “Happy Anniversary to ME!”
Thank you so much 🙂
A very sweet birthday wish Jules. You young love birds are getting me all misty eyed.
Aw, shucks, Dave! Thanks! I’d tell you I’m about to make him breakfast, too, but I don’t want you to break down. 😉
Too late! If there are chocolate chip or blueberry pancakes, I may pass out.
Huh. You know what? He wanted some crazy Mexican breakfast that I don’t know how to make (it involves two kinds of sauce! From scratch!).
But I have everything for chocolate chip pancakes, and I KNOW how to make those. I will eat 1 (and by 1 I mean 5) in your honor.
My breakfast of black coffee and the New York Times food and wine column pales by comparison. The P-meister is a lucky lad!
I bet he’ll give you, like, four minutes after this post. Way to go, Jules. 😉 You guys are made for each other.
Bow-chick-a-bow-wow! You know it! 😉
P.S. – JM just texted that she’s coming to BlogHer on Saturday. Now the only thing that’s missing is you and Peg.
Are you freaking serious? I soooo blew it! I could have hung with you and JM and Misty and @ErinMargolin and @GDRPempress (Alexandria Rosas) and a skillion of other cool kids. *Stomping my boot on the floor*
Ouch.
As in MFEO from Sleepless in Seattle?? 🙂
OMG, MJ, I say that to Peppermeister all the time (“MFEO”). I’m such a sucker for that movie! (BTW he’s reading this post right now, LOL)
MLB’s made me, I mean, I’ve wanted to watch that movie about 200 times.
BTW, you might want to RUN over to Katy’s and check out my LUST entry. Buwahahahahahahahahahahaha!
MJ! Your entry was amazing! Although “Jules” wouldn’t DARE wear anything made of chipmunk fur. *gasp*
Of course she wouldn’t. Did you think Jewels was you?? 😉
This was really cute. It sounds like y’all are a really fun couple. And the mustaches…love it. Everyone knows that a family that mustaches together stays together.
Carly! Thank you so much! And EXACTLY. His t-shirt in the first photo (which was actually a Christmas gift from me ages ago) says, “Handlebar Mustaches – Fun for the whole family!”
Jules – Jules – Jules. This birthday post rocks…all the great hubz were, apparently, born in July. Wish the P-meister a Happy B-day.
After nearlyh 33 years of marriage – Sweet Cheeks and I allow at least an hour for sex – that 55 minutes of him begging, 1 minute of hot action, and 4 minutes of me complaining…
Very funny, Sadie, I mean Katy!! 55 minutes …. hehehe
Katy, thank you! I agree, I know quite a few fabulous July men. (I failed to mention in Jenn’s bday post that she has a twin brother, so there’s another one!)
LOL
LOL-ing at thr 5 minute convo. 😉 He’s a keeper! A very happy birthday to him!
Thanks, Lily! 🙂 I suppose he’ll do until Second Husband starts returning my calls.
HB to the PM. Sounds like he completes you, or maybe the other way ’round. Have a fun day together, you two love-munks.
Love-munks! Love-munks! OMG, you’re on a roll today, MJ. I LOVE that.
Wow, another fabulous Leo man! Leos are so shy, aren’t they? 😉
You guys make the perfect cute couple.
Happy bday to him! And I bust out laughing at his five minute comment.
LOL Oh yes, he haaaated performing in a band. So shy.
Thanks so much and likewise, to you and Boss Hogg!
That five minute comment is just my favorite. 🙂
Be careful, Jules. With a post like this, all gushing and highlighting your man’s finer points and whatnot, some reader might want to make HIM her second husband!! 😉
If I didn’t love your man before, I surely do now. And no, not because he was in a band or has a wicked sense of humor. Not even because he texts you funny taco man faces. I love him because he introduced you to WordPress, and hence to ME!! And because of that, I will get to meet you IN PERSON in less than a week!!! So, for sharing his amazing wife with the world via blogging, he is my favorite Peppermeister ever!!! 🙂
Happy Happy to your man. And those are A. May. Zing. Gifts!!
Misty, with comments like this, I might have to consider a First Wife.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR SATURDAY!!! BTW, a terrific blog bud that I’ve met before (the wonderful and talented JM from accidentalstopmom.com) just signed up for Sat, too! Yesssss.
What’s better than waking up to chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, eggs and organic coffee? Add a craftily written blog post and a joke about my stamina in the bedroom and you have the perfect birthday breakfast! Thanks for being so nice to my wife even though she’s a terrible person.
“Organic coffee” in that sentence is akin to getting a diet Coke when ordering “the number #3, super-sized.”
I love you, Pep. I’m sure that breakfast will do wonders for your stamina.
Thank you for bantering with your husband on your blog. The handful of times I’ve done it, I’ve regretted it and feared that it came off completely lame and nepotistic and domestic-y. But you guys are totally adorable!
Now I want to see this banter, Ang! Your husband is a lucky man. Does he know I dream about you?
It’s stuff like, “Hey, can you get off the blog tonight so you can help me fold laundry and move this piece of furniture? Oh, and your mom called.” And then I reply, “Thanks, dear. In a minute.”
Totally kidding.
Conversation I just had while Peppermeister was cooking me dinner (yes, cooking ME dinner): “I’m not going to be able to hang out with you because I’m so busy.”
Busy meaning = trying to unload slap bracelets and respond to blog comments.
It’s amazing marriages survive blogs. You’d think it’d be more like the ‘reality show’ curse.
My husband is a saint. Not kidding. A SAINT. That’s the only way our love has endured while I’ve had a blog.
LOL “Amen” to that!
Awwww! Making you dinner. What a guy!
Very nicely written. And how did I know that you’d have a flair for gift-wrapping?
Thanks, B! I’m also guessing you won’t be surprised to hear my craft room table now has a ‘kidney bean’ area, and I have wrapping paper just for her.
*squee*
Happy Birthday, Peppermeister. It sounds like you have a great sense of humor, and you and Jules make a great combination. Just like your breakfast.
The 5-minute bit is priceless. You both put a smile on my face this morning.
Thank you so much, Earth Rider (gahh I just love that name story so much, LOL)! 🙂
Is there anything better than chocolate chip pancakes, I mean, really?
Yay!!! You’re showing up on my reader again!! 🙂 Happy b-day Peppermeister!!! You guys both win at adorable!!! I’m wondering how your house doesn’t explode with so much cute jam-packed inside of it!! 🙂
Sprinkles!!! Yay!! The Reader has just been atrocious lately!
I think Uncle Jesse is the one who pushes this household over the edge in the cute department. You should see the picture I gave Peppermeister of Uncle J as a gift, OMG.
Thank you so much! How have you been?! I’m going to my first blogging conference on Sat. and I’m pretttttty excited!
Don’t say you have a craft room and then go on to write a whole blog post after that. Don’t you know I’ll be fantasizing for the next half hour? I’ll read about Peppermeister later…
Oh, Louise, it is blog-worthy indeed. Here’s a pic I put up when I mentioned it on my blog last August: https://goguiltypleasures.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/aug20craftroom.jpg
I painted those stripes, and yes, it’s probably the proudest moment of my life. 😉
Whoah! Except for the baby boom box which I had when I was 12, that is an amazing, delightful space that has me drooling. Great stripes.
LOL Louise, the boom box has a James Taylor CD in it, too! Because I am that cool.
“I thought we could do it twice”. Awesome. Happy birthday, Peppermeister! Have you done a post about your craft room? Or is that place where the magic happens secret?
Thanks, JM! And I was JUST telling Louise I mentioned it in one blog post last summer, but I think an “Ode to My Craft Room” post might be in order…
Here’s the pic I posted: https://goguiltypleasures.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/aug20craftroom.jpg
P.S. – SATURDAYYYYYYY. I’m SO excited you’re coming!!!
Me TOOOOO!!! Love your craft room!
Thanks, JM! FIVE MORE DAYS. OMG.
Awe that is too sweet and it seems your hubs is well deserved in the sweetness as are you (he better whisper sweet nothings in your ear as you DO deserve it). You guys are too cute! I love the picture of the taco man. Happy Birthday to your man and what a great pair!!! I’m ready to read your “Virgin” book, I remember that from a previous post and, well, I have a craft room and was virginal for a long time myself…I’m wondering what else we may have in common 😉
Thank you, Kristy! 🙂 I seriously wish I had something to give you in return for the amazing and heart-warming comments you leave.
Er…I still have some slap bracelets…? 🙂
Something tells me we have a LOT more in common, too!
The heart-warming is reciprocal and giving more than enough. This world is such a web and finding someone one can relate to is such a miracle. I did see photos of a girl showing where she took her slap bracelet and I would be honored if you gave me one! I believe we do have more in common and am delighted to discover such in getting to know you 🙂
Kristy, thank you so much and I totally agree 🙂 If you email me your address, I’d LOVE to send you one (Julie.Davidoski@yahoo.com)!
Do a lot better?! As if! That’s not knocking him, by the way. That’s all about the awesomeness of you.
Happy birthday, Peppermeister!
Deb! I was wondering why no one else pointed this out. I am taking a screen shot of this comment in preparation for my 4-year wedding anniversary post next month. This year instead of blogging about how lucky he is, I’m going to blog about how lucky he is AND include statements from witnesses. Thanks in advance.
Happy birthday, Peppermeister!
He is the tops, Jules — I can tell. I love everything you wrote about him — I’m simply wild about him now! Can he be my second husband? Oh, never mind. I already proposed to Shaun Cassidy last week. I forgot.
Thanks, Ang! I’ve been thinking maybe JP should be my new second husband. I can’t stop thinking about that cat kid pic.
That is really something right there. Oh, Jules. Wow. Things could really take off from here and reach a whole other plane of comedy — but, alas, we both live in a PG-rated blog world and I can’t allow myself to go any further. *Biting tongue, tears flooding my eyes.*
Guh. Almost ALL of my very favoritest bloggers have said this week something that leads me to believe we need to create pen names and blog freely somewhere else in Rated R Land. Maybe Speaker can help us out? I think she’s getting sick of those Shades books (but I’m not getting sick of her posts on them! OMG). Genius).
Yes. She and my dearly-departed blogger buddy Les at Best Bathroom Books (quit blogging in May) are never afraid to push the envelope and steer the car out of nursery school and straight down the street to the nearest night club for a martini. I’m going to sit and eat graham crackers for now. You can pass me the vodka flask under the table though.
Deal. As long as you add marshmallows and chocolate to this equation. You don’t even have to answer if your mouth is full. I have faith in you.
Hell yeah. I love the way you think.
If those cupcakes don’t scream Happy Birthday, I don’t know what does.
I mean, there are sprinkles on them and everything.
Peppermeister won’t notice if one is missing, will he? I’ll be right over.
Oh, Jackie. I meant to link to the recipe. They are like what champagne is to booze.
Listen. There’s a few extra in the garage fridge. My lips are sealed.
Take four minutes for the birthday celebration!
I think he was more excited about the cupcakes, Nancy.
So, we all have Peppermeister to thank for your blog? Thanks and Happy Birthday Peppermeister!
It is so true. And by the by, I’m behind, but your slap bracelets are officially ready to mail out now! Hee! 🙂
Oh my god. Amazing. Seriously why don’t we know eachother in real life. IT’S MEANT TO BE!
L! I knowwwww. I can’t wait to get caught up on your blog (I’m on vacay starting next week, thank GAWD!)! I miss youuuuu!
OoOOOH I get vaycay end of august! Enjoy yo-self laydee!
Sounds like a catch! Especially impressed by what he did with those chicken tacos.
Thank you so much, Julia! When he sent me that ‘taco face’ text message, I had a moment. A definite moment. 😉
Wow! A mustache and a musician. You are the luckiest girl ever!
“A mustache and a musician.” Even hearing those words makes me all a’flutter.
Happy Birthday, Pep!
Warped Tour…wow…that takes me back. I haven’t been in years.
Thoughtsy, I wasn’t even remotely cool enough to go see the Warped Tour when I was the appropriate age to do so. But having ‘backstage passes’ a few years ago in Vancouver was pretty great.
FIVE MORE DAYS.
This was beautiful. I laughed, I cried, I reminisced about Warped Tour…EVERYTHING I COULD ASK FOR in a post.
You kill me. You just so kill me.
Happy, happy birthday! He must be a very special man to have won so fair a lady as you, Jules (gawd, I’m even making myself sick!)
That’s some heavy-duty wrappage coming out of your craft room. You the Glue-Gun Goddess!
My dearest Peggles, do go on.
Oh-hoh boy. You don’t even KNOW what I can do with a glue gun. I even repaired our brick fireplace.
He plays the harmonica, and I’m only just now finding that out??
Linda, I am really ashamed about that, actually. I’d post a video of him playing harmonica, but Uncle Jesse goes to town “singing” along, and then I realize I’m the only one who probably enjoys the cacophony of that combination.
Cacophony. There’s a word I wish I got to say more. Thank you.
Yppah yadhtrib ot uoy! Yppah yadhtrib ot uoy, Yppay yadhtrib !!!! raed Rm. Seluj, Yppah… yadhtrib… ot …uoy!!! I love your sense of humor. Well done Jules
LOL! Okay, I’m going to have to be totally honest here and admit it took me FAR too long to realize that was the “Happy Birthday” song spelled backwards.
I am ashamed, but not so ashamed that I can’t thank you for being awesome.
That T-shirt gives me hope for humanity.
Your sense of humor gives me hope for everything.
Happy birthday Peppermeister!! Love the taco text. Your husband is dreamy! 🙂
Oh, well, he’s not going to like this comment AT ALL.
Thank you so much! 🙂
😉 A little birthday gift!! I’m just a sucker for food texts!
Aww, he’s a cutie patootie. Happy birthday, Peppermeister!
Aw, love the taco text! he cooks for you AND he makes you laugh: perfect 😀
Has Le Pep caught on? ? I can’t believe its on the front of his card!! xx
PS – happy birthday Le Pep, go forth and grow more peppers! Love this post lady 🙂
He sounds like a keeper 🙂
You amuse me and I’m happy he amuses you. Go chipmunks! And peppers! Why not. 🙂
A belated happy birthday to the Peppermeister. I couldn’t imagine a sweeter birthday gift. You two crazy kids make me all misty!
Belated birthday wishes to Peppermeister! He sounds all sorts of awesome– hopefully he had a great birthday. (Then again, how could he *not* with a gift like that?) 🙂
Thanks, Dana! You would marry me too if you tried those cupcakes. Hmm. Well. They do say everyone woman needs a good wife.
Well, you know what they say about both cupcakes and wives– the more, the merrier! 🙂