all birthdayed out

So yesterday was my 27th birthday. I got a bunch of emails wishing me a happy 30th birthday, sent by those apparently thrown off by the overly realistic fake ID in my previous entry. Boy, nothing gets past you guys, huh? tee hee

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Anyway, so I'm not 30. But for the first time in my life, I feel closer to 30 than pretty much anything else. Which is a bizarre feeling, considering that I've spent my whole life trying to be older than I really am.

Having been born in October, I was always the kid in school catching up to everybody else when it came to the yearly milestone. You Virgos, Libras, Scorpios, and Sagittariuses know what I mean. I started kindergarten at 4, couldn't drive till junior year in high school (the horror!), wasn't a legal adult by graduation like everyone else, etc. etc. Frequently had to explain my unfortunate situation when asked "did you skip a grade or something?" My baby face never helped matters either. When I was 18 and bagging groceries at Fiesta Market in Sebastopol, customers used to ask me if I was getting paid under the table, since I was so obviously under the minimum age to legally work in California. I know, I know, totally complimentary- but try to tell that to the little girl who wants so badly to be taken seriously.

Well, I'm never gonna be 21, 25, or even 26 again. But that's ok. There are so many reasons to be a happy 27 year old today. Here are ten:

1. I have a great job

2. I have fab friends

3. I can rent cars

4. I can finally date someone my own age and not feel like the underage twins

5. Yes, Kevin and I are the same age

6. My mom says her 27th year was just ok, but her 28th year was amazing. So I have that to look forward to

7. I love my family with all my heart

8. I'm about to move to a new pad with one of my best friends

9. I get carded and it makes me blush instead of making me feel dumb

10. I've been drinking long enough to know that alcohol is poison and we're all better off without it

Happy birthday to me! By the way, don't let anybody tell you when Columbus Day is. It's the 12th. It's always the 12th. Forever and ever. And quit with the whole thing about how Columbus Day isn't really a holiday. Just let me have my holiday birthday!

You may kiss the bride, and then you will pay.

My friends Kathy and Ryan are getting married! They're very, very happy. Now the questions fly- where will it be? Who will attend? What will we all eat?

After watching various friends go through "the year of hell," also known as the engagement period, I've come to a conclusion. Weddings have gone completely insane. And it's not the flowers. Or the dress. Or the cake. Or that dance with Dad. It's the burden of payment!! My god!! Just the location alone for a few hours will have your pocketbooks running for the hills. Want a wedding in the city? Get in line. How about a nice villa in wine country? Please. I've actually had friends laugh in my face when I rationalize that there must be a way to make $20,000 stretch for 100 guests. I mean, how can TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS not be a hefty enough budget? Seriously... where am I?

In other news, it's almost October! A special month for me and Librans everywhere! I've been asked what I want to do for my birthday this year. Hmm. Sure, every birthday's a momentus occasion. But once you hit 21, haven't you pretty much passed your last milestone- assuming of course, that you didn't already have a fake ID and 21 actually meant something? Anyway, I'm sure my loved ones will find ways to make me a special kid for a day. Mom, if you're reading this, I want go to to Chuck-E-Cheese like we did when I was 7. Save the date. Just kidding.

This ID lasted me 3 years, which is unbelievable. Take a good look at my name. I think we can agree that this is the worst ID ever made in the history of the world. And nobody ever noticed. A couple years ago, I watched the same corner shop that took my eager $40 get busted on the local news for churning out fake IDs.

I'll show you some skin

I love to take on little projects now and again. Find my latest creation at www.simeter.com in the skins section.

I loooove this program! It runs happily along the lower right hand side of my screen at all times and incessantly monitors my not-always-so-perfect system.  I feel like I'm spying on my digestive tract.

Take a gander. My skin is so the best! Clearly, technology needs more pink.

Heatwave

It's like 90 degrees in SF today. And yesterday. And the day before. It's HOT. I can tell by the flags that the wind's blowing straight offshore. You surfers out there know what I mean. Epic!!!

Tomorrow I'm going up north to visit my folks and take their brand-new kayaks out for a spin on the Russian River. Can't wait, except for the fact that if it's 90 degrees here, it's probably 100 degrees there. Let the sunblock commence! And where's my damn hat?

A year ago, the mere thought of my parents owning kayaks would have me choking on my Heritage oats. Why? Dunno, we've just never been one of those "boat" families. Who has the time and money for silly water toys?

Well, a lot can change in a year. My dad's been battling stage 4 cancer since last December when doctors told him he was pretty much doomed. I won't go into the grim details of chemotherapy and sickness. Just don't believe everything the experts say, because miracles do happen. After many grueling months of pain and patience, my dad was recently awarded the presitigous title of REMISSION!!!! Holla!

There's something about looking death in the face that makes you view your own fragility in ways you never could before. Even I still don't truly understand that kind of power. But for my family, time has proven itself life's most precious commodity. Why wait? There are trips to take! Oceans to gaze upon! Food to savor! Hugs to give! Love to share! Kayaks to plunk down in the river for a lovely aquatic picnic smack dab in the middle of nature's finest!

And so tomorrow, we'll go and have a ball and be glad that we're lucky enough to look up at the sky and blow a kiss to whoever is responsible for another fabulous day in the fabulous world. We are SO a boat family.

It's HOT outside. And it feels great! Enjoy today, wherever you are.

A Picture is Worth...

a thousand comments.

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Happy spying!