Pirates, Princesses & Patience

We are back from our 5-day birthday extravaganza, unpacked-ish, laundered-ish, and very sleep deprived. I am now facing a barren Christmas tree in my living room, Thanksgiving decorations scattered throughout the house, various memory cards to be emptied and uploaded, as well as a couple of blog posts to write (sorry Stel, your birthday letter comes late this year). Oh, and there are those pesky Christmas presents still to buy. Stay tuned. Hopefully by the weekend I’ll have performed some sort of mid-holiday miracle.

But for now, I must sleep.

Ended with a bounce.

As I have alluded to – off and on – for a couple of days now, my birthday managed to linger for quite a spell this year. I blame it on momentum, and the fact that it fell on a Thursday, and the fact that tequila was ever invented.

Thursday I worked and did all the usual rounds, however Steve and the kids had thrown together a little surprise party with pizza and presents. We all went outside to enjoy the day and Ranger helped himself to the rest of the pizza in the box that we ignorantly left hanging over the edge of the kitchen counter. How’d ya like them jalapeños, pal?

birthday decoration

Friday, I opted to take the day off and Steve and I used that precious time together by going to the dump. I can feel your jealous stares. I did manage to spend a good portion of the afternoon reading one of my new books. My mindless new books with no purpose other than to entertain my shallow and empty brain. Even Vanity Fair can’t do that for me. As it turned out, Friday was also the summer solstice which, this year, came complete with a gigantic thunder and lightning storm. It was as though Mother Nature herself was sending over another round on the house.

Saturday found me lunching with my friends (mmmmm, desert martinis), then shopping, then home for more cocktails and reading. I think there is a commandment somewhere addressing the importance of not stopping while you are ahead. You find it yet? Yeah, that one.

dore, natalie, jodie, andrea

Sunday was a little of this, a little of that, then off to the Baker’s for more food, more friends, more fun, PLUS a trampoline. See? Momentum. Let’s just say that by the time I dragged my butt out of bed on Monday, I was feeling sufficiently celebrated.

natalie, stella
(click the photo to see the entire set)

10 Years Ago I…

  • had just moved boyfriend into my dungeon-like, one-bedroom apartment. Co-mingled kitchen appliances and engaged in pre-marital sex.
  • didn’t have a college degree or even a decent way to put one to use. Er, legally, that is.
  • wrote all my stories on PAPER!
  • was employed in a job that taught me everything I DON’T want in a career. Office Space anyone?
  • had a complicated relationship with my lone cat, Betty.
  • provided the common meeting place for Friday night happy hour…and Disco Night…and…
  • was still vehemently convinced that I would NOT be having children. When would I have time to buy shoes?
  • had no clue how supremely awesome it would all work out.

natalie

natalie