After 364 days of waiting and reminding you guys, my big day is finally here!  I lurve having birthdays even if it means I get older. 

Happy Birthday to me.  Happy Birthday day to meee.  Happy Birthday dear Natalie, happy birthday to meee. 

Yay!  Now I'm off to have a delicious breakfast, get a manicure and facial, play some poker, eat some cake, and catch up on my journal!

I'll catch up with ya'll later.  I hope husban-dito doesn't have a crawdad with a candle in it served up to me at dinner tonight.  That would be scary--but I would be sure to get a picture for you guys!!!

*UPDATE: The B&B where we're staying brought out this lovely dessert breakfast for me and everyone sang to me!  :)  Love that Southern hospitality.  :)

and but for the slight headache from a wee bit too much wine, I feel great

I had a wonderful day yesterday, help in no small part by the fact that I have an amazing family and fabulous friends!

here's how my day went:

slept in until 7:30 (hey, when you usually getg up at 5:30 during the week THAT is  a huge sleep-in, and besides, I had things to do!) and opened presents that had been delivered - cashmere from my mother (of course), a dvd movie of my life from my sister (I am trying to figure out how to imbed it in this post, stay tuned), a cordless drill and, wait for it, A PINK ARTISAN KITCHENAID STANDING MIXER. 

yes, I cried

then I went to my first spa appointment of the day - mani/pedi at the Hotel Vancouver.  Now I get this done on a pretty regular basis but at the cheap place on the corner.  You know, the $50 for both variety.  Now I know why people pay the BIG BUCKS (I didn't as it was courtesy of a gift certificate). It was amazing!!!  and the best part? the BEST part was when two of my girlfriends showed up with 6 mini cup cakes and a glass of Blasted Church Pinot Gris- at 11:30 a.m.  and yes, of course I drank it - it was my birthday!!

the it was lunch with the girls before heading on to the next spa appointment (stopped in at home to find the other present from my parents - my dad had one of his family crest cufflinks made in to a pendant for me.  I cried. again)

the next spa appointment was a 1 1/2 hour signature massage at Spa Utopia courtesy of yet another girlfriend and that was a little piece of heaven

home again for Kir Royales and a viewing of my movie - two flower deliveries had arrived while I was out, again GORGEOUS! - then we were off to dinner at Lift, which was amazing.  We were on the deck and it was a gorgeous night.  Lots of yummy cocktails and delicious food - our lovely waitress bought me an amazing glass of red wine t go with my steak frittes and I really wish I could remember what it was but I can't so I will have to go back and find out - and one of my bestest friends called my from Sydney, Australia at the restaurant so I felt a bit like a rock star.

It was a truly amazing day and I have truly amazing friends and family.

Turning 40?  I highly recommend it!

Today is my 35th Birthday!  THIRTY FIVE!  You know some people 'hate' turning 20, 30, 40, 50.  But I 'hate' turnring 25,35,45,45.  It is the birthday's that end in 5 that I don't like. 

I now have been out of school longer than I was in.  I don't think I 'feel' 35.  But Lord knows, I look it.  I was born on this day in 1973.  On my Parental grandparents Anniversary.   I weighed in at 8 pounds even and 22 inches long.  I was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma and my mom's Doctor was Dr. Ingram.  He is actually related to us.....although I am not sure how. He is no longer practicing Medicine.  He retired about 5 years ago I believe.  He also delivered my sister.

My maternal grandfather named me.  I am named after a German woman.  And my middle name is my mother's middle name which is 'Jane'.  We are both named after my great grandma Ross.  Her middle name was also Jane.  Unfortantely, my daughter's middle name is NOT Jane.  Had to compromise in the naming of my daughter.

I grew up in the small town of Eakly, Oklahoma. There were only 8 in my graduating class.  And 6 of us were girls.  Needless to say we didn't have a very good selection of boyfriends.

As I grew up and reached 15 years old, I began baby sitting my Aunts kids.  And then I baby sat a little girl named Britany and Luva for a time. After Graduating High school I worked at 3M in Weatherford making 5" floppy discs.  I did that for 2 summers.  While going to college in the fall and spring.  I also worked in my grandparents farming business at King's Irrigation in Eakly.  My cousin Justin also worked there as well as several other of my cousins.

Then I meet and married my husand and have been with him for 14 years.  And the rest is pretty self explanatory.

Anyway, I don't know what the post is suppose to serve other than to draw attention to myself and let you all know that I am another year old.....YAYAY!!!!.......NOT!

Have a wonderful Friday and a safe weekend!

George is back on the market - the man has come to his senses and dumped the cheap tart

and guess what?  so am I!! (back on the market NOT a cheap tart!)

is that timing or what???

George - we will be at Lift Friday night, reservations at 8:30 under my name - we'll save you a seat :)

happy happy joy joy (channeling my inner Wren & Stimpy)

I have this fabulous friend, Jocelyn, and her best quality is that she is ever so slightly (or maybe NOT so slightly) crazy

certifiable even

but that makes her super fun and one of my most favourite people in the universe

seriously, this girl can make cleaning sewage lines seem like the BEST. THING. EVER. to do on a Saturday night

in honour of my 40th birthday she has been sending me numbered letters, containing very random and hilarious things

I suspect there will ultimately be 40 of them - to date I have received the following:

1. a barf bag from her flight to San Diego "got this card special for you on the flight down to San Diego - Happy Birthday Lady! xo me"

2.  a promo tent card for Red Bull Air Race May 3 & 4 "Happy Birthday consider this your 2nd present - it folds together for a really nice decoration. xo me"

3.  a mothers' day promo tent card for Ben Moss Jewelers "Happy Birthday enjoy your jewelry xo me"

4.  a Papas & Beer bumper sticker (I don't have a car, or drive for that matter) "I knew you always wanted a sticker (papas = chip, french fry) Happy b-day :)"

5.  a pack of Excel Inferno gum "must shove all in mouth at same time H.B.D."  (written on the back of her business card

6.  a spiderman lanyard  " 'nuff said "

7.  a groovy multi-coloured pencil finger grip "finger grip for your pencil or someone's very veeery small (drawing of a penis) xo  Happy Birthday"

8.  a copy of Eating Well With Canada's Food Guide "this is not just any old Canada food guide ... it was my placemat I used when eating my big mac xo Happy Birthday"

9.  a note pad from the Gaslamp Plaza Suites in San Diego "Happy Birthday Kate Casey!  Do you realize that we have been friends for 21 years!  Holy crap!!  Hope u have use for this lovely little pad xo me"

10.  a tissue "for emergencies"

11.  a card with a yellow lab pup on the front "It's your birthday" and on the inside " couldn't you just pee from the excitement?"  "sllllluuuurp!  Happy Birthday Kath!  xo me"

12.  a golden retriever puppy photo card written entirely in dog-speak " ruff ruff ruff ruff ... ruff ruff  ruff ruff ruff ruff ... ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaathryn ..... ruff ruff ruff ruff ... ruuuuuff ruuuff! xo me

13.  a business card from a mental health professional (???)

14.  a package of sparklers "need I say more ... again  wasn't sending 40 either"

15.  paint chips - desert spice and almonds & honey "Happy Birthday couldn't decide which one to give you ... so you get both! xo me"

16.  a t-shit tag OLD GUYS RULE "sorry, had to give the shirt to Carson's (her BF) dad , Carson.  But this is a really cool tag you could wear Happy Birthday xo moi"

17.  $0.05 Canadian Tire Money "please put toward your very own patio set with BBQ.  You will have to figure out where to put it"

this means that ther are 23 more letters to come ... and have I mentioned how each letter has been addressed slightly differently?  left hand, drunk, French, funny names, weird illustrations

yes, this is indeed fun!!!

p.s.  if you are wondering where to send the Pink Kitchen Aid Artisan Standing Mixer that you got me for my birthday, email me:  finn.644@gmail.com :)

But then are weekends where the fun to getting things done ratio is perfect and you're just like...alright! The weekend ending sucks but that's okay because I made a good use of my time.

Yesterday was Baltimore which was...awesome. Let's ignore the fact that my team lost but minor detail right?

Boyfriend and i on the Inner Harbor before we had food. The sun was in my eyes thus me looking like an idiot. Yes we're wearing matching Yankees shirts. Mine's Cano and his is Mantle.

We saw this one the walk back over to the ball park...are they really dissing the O's and the Yankees?? Is this is a PRO-red sox church? Crazy Methodists...

This kid was sitting just in front of and caught a foul ball. I was sipping my beer. Good thing i didn't get hit...

Joba Pitched!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty ball park....

Our seats were pretty awesome :)

I friggen love Camden Yards. Seriously, it's one of the prettiest ball parks EVER. We had a bunch of cider on the inner harbor before the game, by the end of the game we had had two more beers and boyfriend and I had each run into a friend randomly.

Today, we woke up after movie night last night, I was going to go meet M down on the mall for the OAR show but umm...it was raining. And by raining? I mean by the time I was going to go meet her, it was POURING out. So we got a zipcar and brought some computers over to an ECycle event at Freedom Plaza then did some grocery shopping...and it was STILL pouring out. Thank you mother nature for waiting for today to shit all over the DC area.

Also, we did a lil rejigger of the living room furniture since I bought us ANOTHER new sofa (well...loveseat) that matches the chair we recently picked up from Ikea. Ironically enough, I found it on craigslist but it turned out it was a girl I knew from college. Gotta love when stuff like that happens. Eh?

Now, I'm about fifteen minutes out from meeting up with two of my coworkers from the gym for a late night nightcap and then tomorrow? D challenged me to meet her for a 6:15am spin class. I need to start biking anyhow and since I haven't yet bought a bike...this is my next best thing. The other day I swam about a half mile in about 20-25 minutes or so.

But the weekend? Was just awesome. Getting to baltimore was a bit of a whore, but you win some you lose some and we didn't have to pay for the bus ride back so +1 for heidi! This week is going to be exciting, class tuesday, work wednesday, MY bookclub on Thursday (speaking of which I need to figure out where we're going to meet...) and then a Nationals game on Saturday night.

Kind of bummed I missed OAR, and bummed I didn't make out to Um...Yum's party out in Fairfax but it was just...way too far for me to travel out to on a Sunday evening when i have to be at the gym at 6am,

How was YOUR weekend?

The seats were awesome.

The game? Not so much.

Now we're at home watching The Last Kiss.

Pictures and more tomorrow :) At least Joba was awesome!

Two of my pals from Boston sent me this, it got delivered to the wrong house Saturday, to the wrong house again, and finally my neighbors accepted it for me yesterday and brought it down to me last night.

I am so lucky to have some of the greatest friends ever. Seriously.

I decided I was going to go up to Target mid afternoon. This was after around 10am I got a call from a florist who was trying to deliver flowers to my old house and it took me all morning to figure out who the flowers were from until i got a call from J while I was eating lunch at potbelly asking what my address was. Kind of funny. I finished Felicity season 1 on DVD, and also met up with boyfriend for a nice dinner, which he showed up 45 minutes late to. Granted, it was a wee out of our control as he's doing a training at the RNC but still...Heidi no likey being made to wait.

Not that I cared since I'm reading "Something Blue" the sequel to "Something borrowed" by Emily Giffin (which is AWESOME by the way. They should make it a movie. it would be great. Cameron Diaz could play the snotty girlfriend who the best friend steals the fiancee from because she plays snotty, materialistic girls oh so well) Maxie weren't you reading that book - "Something Blue?" What did you think of it??

So yesterday, I got at Target, 2 pairs of Capri pants (tan and pink!!)

and

And I also got a couple of new bras (always fun and where else can you find cute ones for like...$10!)

Then a couple of things for the house, some new makeup, etc..

Tonight? I'm going back to target. To get another pair of capri's (probably in blue) and this sweater...because I am obsessed with argyle these days.

Again...only $15!!!

Gah. I'm surrounded by awesome deals! I still do want those yellow pants from Gap but I know i need to try them on before I buy them.

In other news, one of my coworkers brought me flowers today - love the tulips! Make that...three bouquets? One of which is still en route.

So Pretty!!!

Today? Gym. Getting things done at work. Target (again!). And relaxing at home. I want to finish this book tonight :) I'm on a roll!!! (i'll make a second attempt at that horrible book that one of my two bookclubs is meeting about next week - tuesday and thursday next week i have book clubs. One is the one that i started where we're reading "London is the best city in America" (i need to figure out where we're going to meet) and Tuesday is a new bookclub I'm joining where they're reading "The Post-Birthday World" which I couldn't get into on first attempt. I should try it again but it's like...a gazillion pages and while i like descriptive books, I can only take so much descriptions. There is such thing as too much detail in my opinion. So we'll see.

Anyhow, it's still my birthday week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that always puts me in a better mood) so ima go, and pop over to run an errand and then pop down to the gym or something.

Somewhere around 9:30 my friends kind of bailed. Somewhere around 11:30 I fell asleep, after boyfriend and I got home at 1030 from a delicious dinner on 8th street at Las Placitas where we sat outside and I pretty much froze my ass off.

Prior to that though, we had gone to get beer. Boyfriend picked up an awesome ice cream cake during dinner (the perks of sitting outside?) We went to a wine tasting, we went for a long walk, we slept in and he made me an awesome brunch.

Somewhere between Friday night and now, a friend of mine made me out to be the bad guy in the demise of our friendship which is funny because I see the exact opposite. And perhaps saying "too much has happened between us" is the easy way to describe it. There's a lot of back history here. I'm not going to get into it, it's not worth it but uhhh me yelling? Because I get an email at 5pm saying someone can't be here for some mundane reason? Should not...hurt you. When ummm...I've lost weekends waiting for you with no phone call. Just because one learns to call to say they can't make it? Does not a good friend make. I've written about it here. In case you want some background. Not much has really changed since then in case you were wondering. I guess this answers the question about friendship break ups.

I'm angry. I'm bitter. I'm resentful. But most of all? I'm pissed that it's being blamed on me.

Did I mention I got my first anonymous comment? ha! I sent an angry email back calling them a douchebag for posting anonymously. Cowardly bastard.

And it's still my birthday. Says me.

So? I went to Target. Like any bummed out girl would. I got a cute pair of pink capri pants, a new pair of tan capri pants (i need them for work), two new bras, some make up, a couple of other things and some food. Then I went to CVS after getting off the metro and got a couple of other things.

I had a couple of good conversations with sister, boyfriend, and J - a friend from college who I found out sent me my mystery flowers but sent them to my old house. So I don't have them yet but wow! Two bouquets of flowers? That's freakin' awesome. I adore her and might be going up to Boston over memorial day weekend to see her for her wedding shower! Yay! Impromptu second bachelorette for J!!! :)

Ugh, now i'm watching season 8 of ANTM with freakin' Jaslene. Gawd she annoys the crap out of me. Latin America's next top model my ass hole whore.

I really should go to church to make myself feel better. I know I will but I don't...really feel like it. Oh well. I'm going to go eat some of my birthday cake that boyfriend managed to melt...he put it in the fridge instead of the freezer last night when we went to bed. Booo. Silly boyfriend. A for effort though! He knows how much I love cake :)

Yes I yelled it at the bar at midnight last night.

Yes I had a blast.

The Yankees won too! Which was even better. I sense we'll be hanging out at Sign of the Whale more often :)

My roommate and boyfriend dragged me to a strip club. I was NOT impressed.

Tonight? Will be totally better. I think I want a cake too since roommates are going to pregame here with cards...old skool style. After boyfriend and i go to Lauriol Plaza for dinner. Mmmm mexican.

Thanks everyone for the facebook messages!!! You all freakin' rock my socks off.

Yesterday? I spent the day shopping after a nice lunch with boyfriend downtown. My goodies?

Then, when i got home, I had these waiting for me! :) Boyfriend is quite possibly the bestest.

I also realized that because i haven't yet set up voicemail on my new phone, no one can leave me messages. In turn? My mother tried to call a few times, my father called and my sister called. Whoops? I put my phone on vibrate when I woke around 9. We rolled out of bed about an hour and a half ago.

So far...so good :)

xoxo

Showering next, taking puppy to the tennis courts, then popping to the gym to go tan (i nixed the workout. it's my birthday and with all the shopping i plan on doing in georgetown...i'll get a workout there) then getting my nails done, bringing puppy out again then boyfriend is taking me out for a long lunch.

Following that will be shopping in georgetown, and then maybe target? Maybe??

Then home to get dolled up for my big night out!

Wahoo!!!

and and and...the raise was in todays paycheck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) hi to me extra $$ to go shopping with!

IT'S ALMOST MY BIRTHDAY BIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boyfriend had the alarm go off at 7am, boyfriend got out of bed at like...7:55. Then, when I tried to go back to sleep? Puppy started licking her butt in my ear. Gawd I hate that. So I'm up...it's not even 9am. Ever find that you wake up easier on days off? I NEVER can get my butt out of bed at 7am on days when I have to work. Eff me. Oh well, earlier start for me!!! :) :)

Tonight...

Work @ gym - 8-11:30pm

Bar 11:30-I feel like it. Okay, scratch that...wine and trashy teevee. Even. Better.

Tomorrow

Gym - whenever I feel like it. Hopefully sometime around 8:30-9ish. I hate pissing away days off.

Pedicure - after gym. And shower. And taking puppeh out.

Shopping - following pedicure.

Lunch with boyfriend - again when I feel like it. And/or when he gets off work/when I get hungry

Newseum - it's opening tomorrow. And it's free. After that? $20. Eff that!

HAPPY HOUR!!! - 5ish - till it ends

KARAOKE - directly following happy hour

SATURDAY - THE ACTUAL BIRTHDAY!!!

Drunk Brunch - when i wake up. @ Finns. $6 bottomless mimosas? I think yes.

BBQ - College pal living on the hill is having a bbq, i think it's a great opportunity to announce to the world that IT'S MY BIRTHDAY MOTHER SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!

Dinner - with boyfriend. @ Lauriol Plaza in Dupont. I love mexican food in a bad way and their margaritas? To die for.

Skee ball!!! @ Rocket Bar - 9ish or so? Till I feel like passing out. I expect dancing. Skeeball. And any bar that will play...shit whats that song..."Numa Numa" by the OZone. If you haven't heard it? YouTube it. Seriously.

Sunday?

Boyfriend will be at a training all day so I suspect, church, mayhaps brunch with some gals, then shopping. Yes more shopping. I have been dying to go shopping all week and finally I will have the $$ and the time to go. Don't hold me back bias! Then catching up on TiVo, relaxing and recovering from the previous two nights.

Upcoming birthday events? IT'S STILL MY BIRTHDAY on April 19th when boyfriend and I trek to Camden Yards to see the Yanks whoop the crap out of the O's. Hopefully. Go Yanks! And of course, whenever my office decides to take me to my birthday lunch and have my coldstone birthday cake. I expect these to be sometime before the end of my birthday month.

So yeah. My birthday weekend? Is going to be totally awesome.

I've gotten:

1. my new blackberry. Woo!!

2. The Green flowered trench coat (i ordered it the other night)

and today...

I GOT A 20% RAISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am...in the money. This year? Is going to be a very very very good year. I'm pretty sure when my boss told me, my eyes MUST have turned to dollar signs. It's all I can think about. I'm practically spending the money that I haven't even gotten yet even though I have about half a dozen things that need to be paid off first.

Soo. Effing. Excited.

And if you didn't see me in today's Washington Post Express? I was in the blog log. Again. I'm convinced it's simply because I'm awesome.

1. Race in a Triathalon/2nd marathon

2. Pay off a credit card

3. Get a promotion

4. Take a graphics design course

5. Send my mother flowers Mothers day 2008

6. Go hiking at least once

7. Visit a new ball park

8. Write a freelance article

9. Swim in the ocean again

10. Visit somewhere new. Anywhere.

11. Try three new bars in DC (0/3)

12. Give blood 3 times (0/3)

13. Visit Yankee stadium

14. Visit new Yankee stadium!

15. Go to the Kennedy Center

16. Go on a real vacation

17. Send a written note once/week. yes that's 52 letters.

18. Fly a kite

19. Visit three new museums

20. Go to a concert. Any concert. Augustana - May 22, 2008

21. Finish NaNoWriMo

22. Become a trained/certified physical trainer

23. Host a dinner party

24. Apply to grad school/Take the GRE's

25. Visit VT at least twice (Christmas and Thanksgiving do not count)

26. Run a race for charty

This picture of me and one of my bff's S was taken shortly after midnight on my 21st birthday which was almost 4 years ago. Facebook informed me that one of the hockey players that I ended that night with, is now engaged. Crazy. That home page feed on facebook is the devil in disguise.

So this week? The winners are...

A bike. With a basket. Well maybe not the basket. But I want a bike that will serve as a. a way to commute/get in shape and b. triathalons! Yes kids, I am determined to race a triathalon this summer. This weekend? Boyfriend and I search for the bike. This way? I can save $60/month in metro fare. (I'd still get some as i wouldn't want to bike on days when it rains and days when I work at the gym)

My new obsession is yellow. I don't know where it came from as much of my wardrobe is pink, white or green but I've been likely yellow lately and am convinced that i need these yellow shoes. [Target.com]

And umm these. Did i mention I've been freaking out over all the cute shoes at Target lately? Seriously like where did they all come from?! [Target.com]

How cute are dress! You would look divine with the shoes right above you! Indeed. Yes you would. [Target.com]

Remember that seersucker dress from last week? Well I want it in green instead. I like green better than blue. Don't you think?  [Target.com]

I freakin' love tube tops in the summer time. I loove this one in a bad way from Victoria's Secret. Not sure what color I like best but that's okay. [Victoria's Secret]

I like this skirt. A lot. And it goes with the whole SHOW ME YELLOW theme in my life. I briefly considered asking boyfriend if we could paint a room in the house yellow as well. See? Obsession. [Victorias Secret]

Mmmm preppy madras print. I <3 JCrew in a bad bad way. I lurrve this bag. And the pink and tan one that they have also.  [JCrew]

So far? I've gotten the blackberry, I'm being reviewed on Wednesday so RAISE FOR MY BIRTHDAY! Annnddd I'm likely getting the bike. Rather...a bike. Not to mention I took next Friday off for my birrrrrttthhhddaaay. So I can do ME things...like sleep in. Get a pedicure and go to the opening of the Newseum with boyfriend. And then sing mad karaoke. Yes. Lots of Karaoke.

Life? Is very good.

For those of you in DC that are not facebook pals?

Recessions. Friday April 11 5:00pm till whenever. Cheap beer in huge mugs. And of course...karaoke starting at 9pm. I'll be there in my birthday dress.

You'll see me sing bad karaoke - likely Journey. Maybe some Bon Jovi. Even some "Pour Some Sugar on Me" if I'm feeling motivated.

Consider this an open invitation (to the bloggy pals in the greater DC area that is!)

At first glance, 25 was the uneventful year sandwiched in between two far more exciting periods in my 20s.

At 24, I got my current job--a huge promotion and a position which I wasn't totally qualified for. I met my boyfriend, AS, three months before I turned 24, so that year was also the beginning of our relationship. We were giddy in love.

At 26, I applied and was accepted to graduate school, moving on from the great job where I'd ended up succeeding. AS and I are on the verge of a long-distance relationship while simultaneously so ready to move to the next step--cohabitation, engagement, something.

At 25, though, I was getting the hang of my job, learning more and more every day. I made the decision to apply to grad school and started thinking through my how I would position my application. I was growing in my relationship with AS. We had our first serious conversations about the future, about where we would ideally live and raise children, about the differences between our families and how we were raised. 25 was certainly less dramatic than the year before or the year after, it was a year of great growth, new confidence and much happiness.

Whether 25 (or 26, or 27, or 30) is eventful or boring, though, I think my newly minted late 20s are wonderful. Sure, sometimes I still feel as lost and confused as I did at 16. Sure, with the impending weight of grad school debt, I'm not as financially stable as I'd like to be. But, you know what? I really am a grown up. I like that.

I like that AS and I could go off to Vegas next weekend and get married and no one would question it. (Sure, feelings might be hurt, family might feel left out, but no one would deny that we're mature and old enough to be married.)

I like that I could accidentally get pregnant tomorrow and, though it would be rather inconvenient and unbelievably scary, I could raise a child. I am grown up enough to be a mother.

I like that I don't stand for crappy friends any more, and downgrade them to friendly acquaintance with a minimum of drama.

I like that I know who I am. I like that I don't apologize for getting up at a ridiculous hour of the morning to run or for geeking out over LOST gossip or a great new novel.

I like that I actually like wine and beer and vodka sodas and rarely find myself choking down a slightly warm, slightly flat Natural Ice in a red keg cup.

I like that I am fitter than I have ever been and that I pay attention to my health and not just my appearance.

I like that I still have "room to improve" - I like trusting that some day I won't let work problems get to me; that my running can still get faster; that some day I'll look back on this period of my life and think, "Well, I was okay back then, but I'm a helluva lot smarter now."

After reading this? I realized she's right. I am grown up. I pay my bills (for the most part on time). I have a great relationship. A great job that's giving me more and more responsibility each day. I have my life in my hands and I have a lot of control over it and the inconveniences that would have overturned my life three years ago? Well, I could handle them now. They'd still be inconveniences but I know that I'm in a better place than I was back then.

Twenty five is only scary if you make it. And I? Need to take twenty five by the balls and say I WILL NOT BE YOUR BITCH QUARTER LIFE! I WILL NOT!!!

So everyone? Go tell Laurel how freaking awesome she is.

You see...boyfriend had promised a curve for my birthday. He and I were going to go halfsies via T-mobile but while I spent the day sitting in a workshop about clinical comparative effectiveness. Which if you don't know what it is, you don't want to because it would take me a whole day just to describe it to you.

Instead, I got out of my workshop today around 4 (whats up skipping the closing remarks and the final q&a) and ended up walking up to Gallery Place. It was there that boyfriend told me he had spoken to someone at AT&T on the fone and did I want to consider a refurbished Curve for $50? Well....no. I'm greedy and superficial and I like being materialistic.

So after hanging up with him to have him meet me so we could go see the Colbert Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery before they take it down on April 1, I booked it up to the AT&T store and had one of the better customer service experiences of my shopping career. I mean, it helps when you bond with them because you have the same birthday and you mention your possible purchase will be a birthday present from your boyfriend. You can imagine my surprise when the total turns out to be about $100 less than it was supposed to be. This does not include the mail in rebate which may or may not have made our purchase today...well...free. Free birthday present from boyfriend?? Oh hells yeah.  April 2008 my friends? Is going to be a great great great month.

One item on the wish list...check. Now if only I could work on that raise.... I think I might treat myself to something on my list, but I should probably wait till after NEXT WEEKEND!!!!! Yep...TWELVE DAYS!!!!!!! *squeeeeeeeeee* Yes. I squee. I'm really five when it comes to my birthday and making sure the whole world knows about it. Hear that world?? IT'S ALMOST MY MOTHER F*CKING BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! (for those of you who knew me in college...you'll appreciate that)

I am oh so very behind in bloggy world...who knew that having a life would detach me. But alas, I have not NOT failed Blog365 yet. Cause I? Am awesome.  But i am catching up on my google reader which is out of control and considering the next two days are going to be ridiculous at work...I don't see it letting up any time soon.

Tell me what I've missed gals (and guys)??

Ok not really, I'm only half serious.

So what do I...little ole Heidi....want for my birthday?

1. A raise. A big fat 10-15% raise would be nice. Realistic? Probably not. But hopeful considering my review is way over due and my boss wants to sit down with me soon. If she wants to give me more work? Well, she's gotta give me more bling.

2. A pretty new cell phone, namely...this gem.

Ohhh blackberry curve...you will be mine. Soon. [Tmobile.com]

3. This pretty dress. Summery and who the hell doesn't love some seersucker???

[Target.com]

4. These. Since I grew out of my damned rain boots.

J Crew has such cute rain boots. Seriously... [JCrew.com] Although someone really has to explain to me WHY WHY WHY their ballerina flats are like...$145 and up. Seriously. Ridiculous.

5. These. Because I want more color in my wardrobe and my second, no third favorite color only to Pink and Green...is yellow. Or as my family members call it during a good ole fashioned game of lawn darts - yeller. What do you want? I grew up in Vermont...

[Gap.com] too bad they don't have my size...whorebags.

6. I need a camera case. I like the dooney and bourke ones...mostly cause they're reasonably priced.

[Dooney.com]

7. Lately it's been springish type weather in DC. Too warm for a winter wool coat but too cold to go without any coat. Needless to say, I've been on the prowl for a new spring trench. I like these. Target is so awesome!

So Springy no? [Target.com]

8. I like skirts. I like skirts a lot. I like this skirt!

[Target.com] Can you tell i'm obsessed???

Anyhow I'm getting the go that I can peace out of this jizzoint. Onward! To happy hour!!

Hello there, I'm Blogging Barbie) and our darling Heidi asked me to contribute to her "Quarter Life Crises" series. Happily, I obliged.

I've always been the baby of my grade. The youngest, always the "last one to turn" with a summer birthday. The monumental "13" and "16" and "21" flew by for others, while I simply waited in the wings.

It all began a year ago, when I believed the quarter life crisis monster would creep about, and began his sneak attacks on my girlfriends. I couldn't understand at the time why they were suddenly freaking out about being single, or not being okay with where they were in their relationships. Or, why some of them wanted to start grad school all of sudden...switch jobs. Moved. Settled down with the wrong person. I just. Didn't. Get. It.

But then? Then, something happened. Specifically: my half birthday happened.

(Yes, my half birthday. Go with it.)

Ever since February 11th and the realization that OMG I'm going to be 25 in six months, its sort of like my mind has been kicked into overdrive. Over questioning. Over thinking. Over worrying. I've even dedicated my own category to it on my blogchild. And for what?

I'm well aware self reflection can be good...but am I driving myself crazy laying awake at night? Thinking about finances? Am I making the right choice about my savings/401k/investments? Is it wrong that I'm not settled down yet? Much less have a serious boyfriend? Don't get me wrong its not alll about men and money, there are some other reoccurring thoughts thrown in there, such as OMG I NEED TO GO ON A SEPHORA SPREE LIEK WHOA.

I know, important life choices we're discussing here.

But for real. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I think the reason why perhaps we find ourselves looking back, questioning our choices and our future, is because we've finally reached that point of no return. We are adults. And thats scary. To quote my homegirl Meredith Grey: "We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?"

It's scary because we are now in the same category as our parents. The realization that they are human too. The fact that they're trying to make the best life choices, and get through the day, just like us? It's a stark realization. A far cry from the pedestal omnipotent parent we saw as little children.

Now, with this new category we're in, there are responsibilities. Decisions that have implications much more serious than a grade on a paper. Or whether or not we can play flashlight tag after dinner. We are now at the point where its up to us to take a step back and realize...hey...maybe this might not be fun, but it's called growing up, and this is what I need to do.

I'm not saying we shouldn't enjoy the ride. Because the fun is in the detours (oh hai, can we JAM aaaany more cliches into this post? Le sigh. Just...go with it...be adult, and don't make fun....and go with it. HA.)

...But also, its a time to reflect about where we've been, where we're at, and where we're going.

At 25, the world is bigger, and its not just us that are affected by the decisions we make. And at this point, I think we're finally mature enough to understand that there is something bigger than us going on, and we are simply a part of it. How we choose to make our path, and the situations we go through to get there will vary from person to person...but in all honesty, I think this "diet pepsi of chronological life crises" is needed.

Why? It helps us to understand who we are. And who we're becoming. It gives us a chance to make a bold move toward the future, but not forget our past. It's about maturity...which I believe is best summed up here, by our dear old friend Ann Landers:

Maturity

Maturity is many things. It is the ability to base a judgment on the big picture, the long haul. It means being able to resist the urge for immediate gratification and opt for the course of action that will pay off later. One of the characteristics of the young is "I want it now." Grown-up people can wait.Maturity is perseverance -- the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks, and stuck with it until it is finished. The adult who is constantly changing jobs, changing friends and changing mates is immature. He cannot stick it out because he has not grown up.Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle the differences without violence or destruction. The mature person can face unpleasantness, frustration, discomfort and defeat without collapsing or complaining. He knows he can't have everything his own way every time. He is able to defer to circumstances, to other people -- and to time. He knows when to compromise and is not too proud to do it.

Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And when he is right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so."

Maturity is the ability to live up to your responsibilities, and this means being dependable. It means keeping your word. Dependability is the hallmark of integrity. Do you mean what you say -- and do you say what you mean? Unfortunately, the world is filled with people who can't be counted on. When you need them most, they are among the missing. They never seem to come through in the clutches. They break promises and substitute alibis for performance. They show up late or not at all. They are confused and disorganized. Their lives are a chaotic maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that somehow never materialize. They are always a day late and a dollar short.

Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. Immature people spend their lives exploring endless possibilities and then do nothing. Action requires courage. Without courage, little is accomplished.

Maturity is the ability to harness your abilities and your energies and do more than is expected. The mature person refuses to settle for mediocrity. He would rather aim high and miss the mark than aim low -- and make it.

Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change, the courage to change that which should be changed, no matter what it takes, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Yes, quarter life crises bring about a lot of questions...but finding the answers? That's a part of finding and taking the sweet with the sour. And learning the delicate balance of the mature, with the carefree child, in all of us.

(OMG. The cliches! The cliches! Out of Control.)

...so if you excuse me, I need to go fluff my hair that I just chopped off a couple days ago. Whaaaaat. I "needed a change."

Personally, I'm starting to be less afraid of my quarter life. I'm in a good place, I have nothing to be afraid of in the future, I have nothing that I regret from my past (except maybe a couple nights at Our House East in college...) but overall, I look back and think at my sister calling me shortly before her quarter life in tears. She was upset because she hadn't done anything with her life and was essentially in the position that I'm in. But, doing what I do best (ah-hem, compare myself to my older sister) I did pretty good for myself. So with that, I leave you to ponder your own quarter life crisis' till next week!

Next week (or friday...whenever i feel like it...) we'll have another guest blogger (who shall remained unnamed) so I know you're all excited about coming back for that :) No I'm not whoring out my blog. I don't know what you're talking about.

One of the first gals to respond to me shared her story which I found fascinating, in part because she hails from Washington, DC. Her guest post comes from an excerpt of a book she's writing about her quarter-life experience (I'll add that one to my collection of Self Help books on the Quarter Life crisis, none of which I've read yet) and she was willing to share her experiences with me so I felt more than inclined to share them with you all. A perfect segue into my quarter life series which btw will be happening every Wednesday and Friday between now and April 12. Anyhow, like I said, Shannon is a DC Blogger and blogs over at Disaffected Scanner Jockey here's what she had to say about her own quarter-life experience:

On my 25^th birthday, I was living on a fairly sketchy block in Southwest. And when I say sketchy, I mean the ice cream truck had bars on the windows and never came to a complete stop.

I had a job in political consulting, and it was so demanding I kept a blanket and pillow under my desk for the nights I had to sleep over. I had a new boyfriend, cool friends, and a pretty good life. All in all, 25 wasn’t that interesting. The interesting part is everything that happened next.

I got dumped. Then I quit my job. Or, rather, my sister was so sick of me hating my job that she loaned me money so I could quit. I contemplated sending in a resignation letter that just said, “So long, suckers!” in crayon. But I took the high road, gave two weeks’ notice, and moved on.

Then I took every road that I could think of. I found a new job, and got laid off six months later. I found a new boyfriend, a diplomat. But we split up when he moved to Bogota. At the same time as the breakup and the layoff, my sister moved across the country. Somewhere in there I turned 26. I took temp jobs, struggled, and tried to figure out What To Do With My Life. It seemed like every time I picked myself up off the tracks, another train would come on through.

And so began a full-on quarterlife crisis. How do you deal with these things in a healthy manner? Don’t ask me, because I resolved the whole thing by leaping into a starter marriage. I got married in Vegas, by an Elvis impersonator, to the diplomat I’d only dated for six months. Then, to heap goofy on top of foolish, I followed him to Bogota, Colombia. From there we went to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He stayed there, I came home to DC, and that was that. Divorced at 29, which completes the cycle of late 20s cliche. (The average age of a woman at her first divorce is 29.)

Nowadays, I once more work temp jobs, I live in my old neighborhood (albeit on a better block), and I still have the same friends. At 31, I’m back at the beginning. I couldn’t be happier. Starting over is the best opportunity life will ever give you.

So what’s the big lesson? What’s the advice I can offer? Don’t move to countries with lots of land mines and a history of war. Don’t get married by Elvis. Don’t follow someone else around, find a way to forge your own path.

Good answers all, but here’s the real takeaway: As you age, and life beats you to a bloody pulp, the big issues get broken down into manageable chunks. You stop thinking in terms of What To Do With My Life, and you learn to let life happen. Have dreams and goals, but remember that the world won’t conform to your schedule. Oh, and screw up as much as humanly possible. You’re still at a point where your age is an excuse, so take advantage of that. And, most important of all, don’t let fear guide your decisions. Once you give in to being afraid, your decisions are no longer your own and your life no longer belongs to you.

But whatever you do, don’t live where the ice cream trucks won’t stop.

-Shannon can be found at Disaffected Scanner Jockey. Go check her out!

Considering how I still haven't gotten out of my head that just because I'm not married, don't have a graduate degree or a six figure salary doesn't mean I'm a failure. I've learned that things don't always happen as you plan, hell if they had, I would have moved to DC with my ex and likely been married a year later in a relationship I could never let myself be 200% happy with. I'd also be working on the Hill for next to nothing instead of a non-profit on a similar salary. But things now, since I've just let life happen, are better and well, I'm happier. I just need to get it out of my head that just cause my degree didn't equal six figure salary right away, doesn't mean it won't ever happen...after all I'm a liberal arts major.

Anyhow, after a few emails with her my mind was, instead of contemplating my failures and planning my life map, now contemplating how I can accept what I've done as success and asking the "so what" question. So what if I've been fired from two jobs post graduation and had 3 temp jobs and only as of last July was in a job that I could see myself growing into? So what if I wasn't married at 25, so what if I'm not engaged yet, the main point is that I have a man in my life that I have a future with...and a future I'm excited about at that! So what if I can't pay half my student loans, work two jobs and can still barely afford to live? But I'm not living home, I'm not stuck in some po-dunk town in Southwestern Vermont and I'm not in a relationship I'm unhappy in. I'm living my dream, one day at a time.

Thanks for the inspiration Shannon, I for one, can't wait for the book! Stay tuned for more guest bloggers in the coming weeks!!! If you're interested don't forget to email me!

Beautiful, aren't I? I don't know how I do it. Anyway, I'm posting at this ungodly hour because I've quite spectacularly agreed to do a sleepover at work tonight (someone's got to every night, it's nothing unusual and I will be sleeping in a bed, not an office) so will actually be paid to wake up a twenty-six year old, which is a fact as remarkable as the very existence of the cosmos. You may wish to leave messages of congratulations, respect, celebration and awe in the comments section of this post, or even have a party made of words. I'll be home eventually to join in. Happy my birthday, my dear friends.