Happy Birthday To Me!

My sweetie pie woke me up this morning with a card and a gift certificate to Head to Toe (he helped my folks too, who also sent me a gift certificate from there).

Then my buddy CB texted to say happy birthday and that she would pick me up. Well, okay fine. We made a quick trip to Metropolitan Market, where she made me pick out a cake and then a flower. She said, "Just act like you're not with me.....which cake do you want?" She's so sweet.

And my co-worked who hates decorating baked me chocolate chip cookies. And then CB and I went out to lunch. A good day, indeed.

Nothing much went on this evening. Except I get the next two days off. And since we're going out to dinner and a show tomorrow, we're just staying in and going to bed early tonight.

That's never a bad thing.

You Said It, Girlfriend

Thank you, TBFE. For the laugh.

And the nightmares that are sure to come tonight....

RAWK STARS

My rawk star birthday party was last night.

I got a tat just for the occasion.

(Oh, calm down, ma. It's fake.)

Luckily, things went pretty smoothly and we didn't have any incidents. The staff did a good job. Even though Doug the Doorman passed out on the job.

How ya like them shirts? TBFE goes all out for these theme parties. There were badges and buttons, too. And you had to get your hand stamped at the door.

Kayleigh was on duty, as well. She's become our staff photographer. She had the video camera last night.

We haven't had a chance to watch the video footage yet. I'm scared. If the camera adds 10 pounds, how much does a videocamera add?

Johnnie Cross and his woman showed up.

(My co-worker, and girlfriend, who really didn't have to "dress up" for the party. They're just that cool all the time.)

Kayleigh eventually skipped out on her duties to belt some songs on Rock Band.

Her voice is trashed today.

She also helped me learn how to play the guitar, while Ms. Johnnie Cross sang and Todd hammed it up for the photographers.

I finally got the hang of it.

All in all, it was a small, but lively party and the last guests left around 1:30am. Cause we are CRAZY PARTIERS like that.

Johnnie says, "Thank you, and GOOD NIGHT!"

More photos here.

Random Thoughts

Foot season is upon us. People are starting to wear flip flops and sandals to work.

And I am not at all happy about this.

I do not like feet. They’re right up there with birds. Once I get to know the feet and if the feet are clean (no wirey hair or toe jam), then I can accept the feet and maybe even touch the feet. Maybe.

I have a pedicure tomorrow. So my feet look pretty. I don’t much like my feet either. Maybe it’s just the toes. I don’t know. But it takes a lot of gumption to get a pedicure. Don’t like people touching my feet.

So there.

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We had a beautiful couple of days this week, but now we’re back to 50 degrees and rain. Rumor has it, this weekend will be sunny and warm. Which is nice because…..

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I’m sleeping in tomorrow, then going to get a little breakfast on Alki, then have a mani and a pedi, then a few cocktails at happy hour with Jamie, then it’s time for my birthday party. I couldn’t take my actual birthday off (see: -2 hours vacation time in the bank) so I’ll do my dip in lake me on Saturday.

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We’re back to looking at houses again. A few have popped up on the market that have gotten us excited, but then after looking at them, I just get depressed. One house was unacceptable because the beams in the ceiling we low enough that Todd would smack his head on them. Fantastic.

Our real estate agent has now added 7 foot ceiling requirements to her search for us.

Speaking of giants, did we tell you that Tyler is 5’9”? And I’m 5’2”?
Yeah, how intimidating can I possibly be, as I’m pointing my finger up at him?

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Astrological Forecasts for 04/14/2009

Aries (March 21-April 19): Today is a 7 -- One thing after another doesn't go as you expected. There are detours and other complications at every turn. In this situation, it's OK to procrastinate. Wait until tomorrow.

Oh, okay. This is why we didn’t get to go to the aquarium (DMV took two and a half hours), didn’t get to ride the water taxi (the sign said they don’t accept FlexPasses, even though their website says they do, and the times were confusing because we forgot there was a Mariner’s game) and therefore, didn’t get to eat dinner on the waterfront (no way in hell are we driving downtown at 5pm to look for a parking spot under Aurora).

We ended up having dinner at the Bamboo Bar & Grill on Alki. Which was fine. Just not anywhere near the original plan.

I did get a very hot bath later and was asleep by 9:30pm. So, the day ended on a high note.

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And now my day is almost done. We’ve got some last minute food and drink shopping for the party this evening, then movie/pizza night. I think Bolt is on tap. I don’t have very high hopes for the entire movie, but the preview of the little hamster in his plastic ball, saying “I have a ball” is just freakin’ hysterical. I’ll watch the whole movie just for that line.

Okay, time to finish up and get out of here.

Happy, happy weekend!

Happy Birthday To Me

Can I just say how awesome my co-workers are? Even though they're trying to make me fat?

I arrived at work at 7:00am this morning (I know!) to find Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Co-Worker with three boxes of cookies, a card and a handful of chocolate for me. So his new nickname is Sweetie Pie.

Sweetie Pie and my other co-worker, Metabulor (he’s 6’4” and skinny, skinny, skinny) invited me to coffee with them so they could buy me a birthday treat. Who am I to say to no to a birthday treat? So they bought me to a spinach feta croissant. Yummy poo.

Upon returning from our coffee break, we noticed a large collection of balloons rising up from my cube. CB, my yoga buddy (ha! We don’t do yoga anymore), and another co-worker had decorated my cube all up!

And she brought a box of ooey gooey donuts and a lovely beautiful smelling plant that, after buying it, she realized it was an Easter plant – a Star of Bethlehem. Very funny. Let’s see if I can keep it alive.

And while my co-workers are awesome, let me tell you how awesome TBFE is. After arriving home last night, I found a hollow chocolate Easter bunny on the bed, with a sappy birthday card that brought tears to my eyes. He’s taking us to the aquarium tonight, then to dinner afterwards. And then this weekend will be my birthday party. That I didn’t even know I was having until I saw it on the calendar.

I love my Scotsman.
Thanks, babe.

Doesn't it look like I'm covered with gray hair? That's kind of how I feel today....sigh.

It's actually a bittersweet day today. Last night, I started a downhill slide into ick. But I think I've finally pulled myself up out of it. I have a habit of remembering back to where I was a year ago, at any given day, and sometimes that makes me sad. Not because I'm not happy now, but because things are so very different and, in some ways, unfamiliar. There were a few other contributing factors, including the thought of Steve's dad, who passed away in February and with whom I share a birthday. I'm still close with Steve and his family, so I can't help but think of them and how sad they must be today.

Anywho, we're on the up and up now. I'm leaving at 2pm today, I've had lots of sugar, I have a beautiful plant, I have lots of sweet cards, I got a Habitude gift certificate from a couple of fantastic people and my fantabulous honey is going above and beyond by throwing me a big ass Rock Star party this weekend.

What on earth do I have to be sad about?

Bring on year 34!

Cause I'm A Giver.....

I gave out party favors at my birthday brunch-spa extravaganza.

The Presentation-Is-Everything Perfectionist strikes again.

I bought cute little magnets, one for each gal. They were all from the same line. This is the one I got Cyn. Mine says "I don't do perky."

Just wanted to scootch that uber-grrr post down a little bit.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Well! What a wonderful weekend!

Friday, I was up early and spent the day shopping. I met up with Jamie at Macy's and bought a cutsie new dress for the spa day. How did I choose out of all of the dresses I tried on? It was the only one that didn't make me grunt in the dressing room. Perfect! After shopping, we met up with some of her co-workers for drinks. Home early and in bed to rest up for Spa Day.

Which takes us to Saturday!

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Part I of Raechelle's Birthday Extravaganza!

Aren't we a group of hotties? From left to right, we have Val, me, Jessica, Nichole, Cyn, Jamie and Rachelle. Kim joined us for brunch and the spa, but had to run home in between to tend to Milo. He was sick.

We gathered at my place at 11am, then caravaned to Volterra for brunch. We finished up earlier than I expected, so we grabbed some coffee and lounged in the sun for a bit before heading to the spa. That's when this photo was taken. We were attracting all kinds of attention in our little spring dresses.

At the spa, we got buffed, massaged and polished. A few got facials, a few got pedicures and one choose a manicure. As we left, I made the comment we were a gaggle of polished beauty! Nichole laughed her ass off and said "That needs to be the title of your blog post!"

We caravaned back to my place. A couple of the gals needed to head home, but a few stayed and K-Ski came over since she missed out on the brunch and spa-ing. We sat and bonded and ate cake that Jamie made (from SCRATCH! That was FANTABULOUS!) and drank champagne for a few hours. I was asked to gaze at the cake for a photo op.

This is a gift from Nichole that was too perfect not to post. A martini glass with red undies all over it. And the recipe for the Red Panty drink.

After cake, champagne and presents, it was time for Part II of Raechelle's Birthday Extravaganza!

My Sheauns cooked me dinner. I was supposed to be at McP's at 8pm, but after drinking champagne for three hours, I called for a driver and Darragh was sent over to chauffeur me. We ate out in McP's backyard under clear sky with bright stars. There was bread with tapenade, salad, baked chicken, a rice pilaf and, of course, more champagne.

After dinner, and yet another chocolate cake, this one from Dilettante's (oy but yum) we watched The Big Lebowski and played with my digital camera. Here's a few (out of 42) photos for your enjoyment.

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Nothing blogworthy happened on Sunday.

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I was up earlier than preferred this morning so I treated myself to breakfast at Vera's down in Ballard. And since today was my LAST DAY OF SHOPPING OH MY GAWD, I splurged (as much as you can splurge at Ross) and bought a red throw for the couch, a couple of tank tops and new baskets for the bathroom. Now, I have a basket on the back of the toilet for my hair stuff and a matching basket under the sink for my bath stuff. I am very happy.

After arranging baskets this evening, I cooked my birthday dinner - sea scallops on a bed of lemon herb couscous with asparagus. And wine. Yum.

And there will be cake later. You can bet on it.

Ah.......now I'm looking forward to taking a soakie with some lavender bath oil, a gift from K-Ski, and reading more of Obama's book, and having my last glass of wine.

Then I go back to work tomorrow. Poo.

All in all, not a bad start to my Christ year, doncha think?

FYI, My Birthday is April 14

I totally feel for this guy. No one calls him on his birthday and he flips out. I get that. It hurts. My grandma used to send me a birthday card every year with a $10 bill in it. The first year she forgot (I think I was in my mid 20s) I was devastated.

Remember, I'm quite fragile this year. You could be reading about me in your local Weird News the week of April 14th.

I'm just sayin'.......