I cope much better with day-to-day life when there’s something to look forward to. I hate feeling stuck, suffocated, just plain old “blah.” Even if it’s a special dinner planned or a cool day trip activity, anything I can look forward to keeps me cheery until it happens! I am totally excited to announce that the next month is shaping up to be chock-full of fun plans!

First, this coming weekend my Grandma and Grandpa will be visiting relatives in New Jersey, and C and I are going over there for some yummy food and cooling off in their swimming pool. Plus, it’ll be nice to see them! Next weekend is Fourth of July and we will be heading up to C’s family’s house for the weekend. Beach trips and pool days and tons of delicious food will be rounding out that weekend too. Plus - a long weekend! - who can beat that!?

I am most excited to announce that my younger brother and baby sister will be traveling to New York City to visit for a whole week! They will be staying with me in my apartment and I took off work to spend every second with them! This may not seem like a big deal, but in actuality, it is HUGE! My brother has visited twice before, but hasn’t been here for several years. My sister has never been here and is ecstatic to come. She’s finally just old enough where I think she’d truly enjoy herself and have a lifelong memorable time. The two of them coming together is priceless because then all the siblings - me, Brother, and Sister - will be hanging out without any step-siblings or half-siblings or parents pulling us in different directions - just us!

I am so, so thrilled that it’s happening. I actually did a very-generous-big-sister thing and organized (and paid!) for their entire flight itinerary myself, because I wanted them to come that badly. Initially it was going to be my sister, but she can’t fly alone without extraordinary fees added to her ticket, being an unaccompanied minor and all, but then I thought - hey! My 18 year old brother is an adult. He can accompany her! Perfection! And that makes the trip even more special. Just the three of us relaxing and having fun and exploring my adopted city together. I am so, so excited. So in three weeks exactly, they’ll be on their way!

Their impending trip gives me SO much to plan. Making lists of restaurants, activities, groceries, cleaning tasks - seriously, getting ready for stuff like this is half the fun! (Am I weird?) My adorable little sister is already getting into the spirit of making lists, researching places, and calling me to discuss her notes (she actually said “We can make a big list and then vote when we get there.” and “Let me get a pen to write this down.”) and get this  - she’s just eight years old! Too cute! (I’m kind of enamored with the little one. Love her.)

Anyway, July? You’re shaping up to be a fabulous one!

Friday night C and I enjoyed a delicious BBQ meal at Dinosaur BBQ, stuffing ourselves with pulled pork, chicken, ribs, spicy shrimp, mac and cheese, and chocolate icebox pie for dessert.

Saturday I packed up a picnic of leftover BBQ chicken, the biggest and best chocolate chip cookies to ever be found, chips, salsa, and other treats. We headed to Governor’s Island and as we floated away from Manhattan to what turned out to be a completely different world, I was extremely excited to seemingly get away. It was so close, yet so far.

The weather was gorgeous and although I am kind of an annoyingly obsessive photographer, whipping out my camera at every single opportunity, I like having documentation of well, everything.

The island provided ample views of Lady Liberty and we took our requisite posed shots.

After picnicing, we rented bikes and rode around for a few hours, eventually heading back to Manhattan to go shopping and enjoy the rest of our Saturday.

Sunday we decided to continue taking advantage of the weather, despite warnings of thunderstorms, and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Even though we’ve done this countless times, I pose like a giddy tourist at every opportunity and many pictures were taken. A feast awaited us on the other side at Grimaldi’s, and even though we usually split the large pie and leave with our bellies stuffed to the brim (hey, it’s really really thin crust, so it’s not that bad to eat half a pizza), this time we decided to try the calzone in addition to our usual order. Needless to say we departed with lots of leftovers and I enjoyed it for dinner again tonight. And we never even saw that supposed thunderstorm!

My weekend? Save for the random disagreement or discussion with C, which I’ve come to accept as par for the course in any relationship, it was exactly as anticipated. And overall? Absolutely fabulous!

Work has been extra hellish lately. I literally live for the weekend, and that gets hard. Not only is the work I do mind-numbingly boring, but every single member of the office treats me like a leper and gives me the cold shoulder. I don’t get it. I’m nice, I always try to strike up friendly conversations, but it’s probably clear that my heart is just not in the work. I’ve been applying to jobs like a maniac and hopefully I’ll find a successful fit!

In the meantime, let it be known that I really don’t like writing about work. I think it’s boring and no one wants to hear bitching that can’t properly be explained without lots of recap. Plus, why would I want to spend more energy on work? Yuck. I’ll save the work complaints for the privy folk who get have to endure my bemoaning whenever my $%^&*(& boss strikes again.

The good news to all of this is that in a few hours it will be the weekend! Tonight I am very excited to be leaving work and heading up to Dinosaur BBQ for a fun and casual dinner with C. Located in Harlem, it’s quite a trek, but the prices are reasonable, the food looks yummy, and it’s an adventure in the making!

Saturday, if the currently gorgeous weather holds up, I want to go to Governor’s Island, which is a mere 8 minute ferry ride from downtown. I don’t know if there’s tons to do there, but it’s free, and they have a park we can bring a picnic to, and the scenic views of Manhattan will be fun to capture with my new camera, which I finally am beginning to understand thanks to -gasp- reading the manual!

Sunday I want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and get pizza at our favorite place, Grimaldi’s. It literally is so fabulous that I could eat it every day, but since it’s out the way, it makes it an even more special treat when we do go!

Lots of outdoor activities, lots of delicious food, obviously some quality time with C…it sounds like a great weekend is in the making! I’ll try to ignore the fact that weekends are far, far too short and continue with my optimistic attitude!

Mise-en-scene is the arrangement of everything before the camera in cinema.

I love capturing photographs to treasure forever, but if there’s an errant person in the background or stray object in the foreground, I won’t be completely pleased with the picture. I am very particular about what exactly is documented in each and every frame I use.

When I went to Paris for film courses, we showed our final films on the last day. The instructor commented on everybody, and to me in particular, he noted my remarkable sense of details; how every single aspect of all my work was there for a specific reason. I favored locations with sweeping views and only essential actors to crowded Parisian streets filled with throngs of “extras” in the background that I couldn’t place within the frames as I wished.

During college, continuing my study of film, I never understood those students who were so “free” with their work. They didn’t care if somebody was being distracting from the story they were telling off in the background of their shot, and they didn’t notice if little details were incongruent with the plot at hand. They simply were careless and lacked the observation I believe is essential to making every single aspect of a piece of art relevant.
—
It’s no secret that I really like control. Feeling out of control is not something I do. This is probably why I never did drugs, this is probably why drinking alcohol is only fun to a point. It’s probably why I get off on things like planning a huge trip or organizing a dinner party. Sometimes, I believe that my way to do things is the model way to do things. No, I don’t think I’m always right. However, I research incessantly, constantly learning from masters of their craft. I may be bossy, but my intentions are always purposeful and for the benefit of others.

Being observant falls exactly in line with control. I literally will notice everything: every expression on every guest’s face, every secretly exchanged glance, every positive or negative detail that presents itself during every second of my life. It’s actually exhausting, my brain ticking and thinking and sometimes, unfortunately jumping to conclusions about whatever I am noticing. C pointed out that sometimes I should take things for what they are. Try not to think so much. And he is absolutely, 100% right. Yet I don’t exactly have an On/Off switch.

Thinking about the little pet peeves that bother me and the comments others have made about me took a rather interesting turn the other day. I had an epiphany! I’m not a control freak. These personality traits are not OCD. Although I may overthink things sometimes, I still know when to take a deep breath and relax, and I do let things be. I do go with the flow. I may always express an opinion, but at the end of the day, I won’t fight about it. If there’s an argument, I will be the first to smooth things over. If somebody does something wrong, I do forgive people and I value second chances and fresh starts. But if somebody is negative, if somebody truly does not mesh with me and fit into my world? Why should I have them around as extra baggage in the background? In my eyes, I am merely applying the principle mise-en-scene to everyday. I am simply trying to make my one shot at life as beautiful as it can be.

He gave me my blue eyes, adventurous spirit, and wacky sense of humor. I inherited his cleverness, knack for coming up with random ideas, and his endless love. I got his sensitivity and his creativity. Even the emotions that I wear on my sleeve with no abandon clearly come from him.

He’s a writer, a comedian, an entrepreneur, a father figure to many. He’s someone to look to for advice and is incredibly wise to the world. Although he never went to college, he is one of the smartest men I know.

My dad is definitely the most unique and loving father a little girl could ask for. He comes up with crazy ideas and has a neverending glimmer of positivity in his eyes, even through the worst of times.  His upbeat, almost motivational-speaker nature may drive me nuts sometimes, but having a personal cheerleader through everything, good or bad? I’m truly blessed to have him. He’s never judgemental and never yells at me for doing wrong, he only tries to instill values and teaches me to be strong and constantly improve my life.

Since I was a child, he taught me to be an independent and told me he only wished my life to be the best it could be. I was always left to my own devices, making my own decisions about the choices I made… yet he was always there as a support system. Even though his loud booming voice may sound scary, he never tells me what to do, but instead presents each side of an issue while letting me make the ultimate choice.

He was only 23 when he found out I was on the way. Married for three years already, his 23 seems worlds older than I feel at the same age. Pictures of us together when I was little make me laugh; he was simply so young and baby-faced; he literally looked like a cool older brother to me and my blond pigtails.

He always has been the most fun dad. He planned surprise Hawaiian vacations and told us mere days before we were leaving. “Do you want to go to Disneyland?” he asked another morning. “YES!!!!” my brother and I screamed in oblivion, drunk at the thought. “OKAY THEN! Let’s go!” and we’d make the two hour jaunt for a fun-filled day. His spontaneity and zest for life is contagious.

I got my exquisite tastes from him. Fine dining, designer clothes, and aesthetically pleasing interior and exterior design? My dad is more knowledgeable than anyone I’ve ever met. Combined with his love of sports and appreciation for a good steak and beer makes him a cool combination. He’s a “man’s man” that also can see eye-to-eye with things women typically value. He’s sensitive and understands things. He picks out the most unique gifts for me; if the typical dad doesn’t “get it” and instead buys his daughter a gift card, I can’t even fathom that, since my dad has always had the best style and impeccable eye for anything artistic. My dad will never take me to a thoughtless dinner and knows things like “the BEST sandwich” or “the MOST AMAZING lasagna” around. I’m certain that my love of food and fashion comes from him.

He’s so health conscious and runs many miles every single day. He loves the outdoors; the beach is his favorite place. He doesn’t eat junk but instead indulges in a quality porterhouse steak or amazing sushi, while at the same time holding an equal appreciation for a delicious cheeseburger or to-die-for chocolate chip cookie. In fact, I mailed him cookies overnight from my favorite cookie bakery here in Manhattan, just because I knew he would be the one person who saw them not as a mere cookie, but as something phenomenal to treasure.

My dad is truly cool. He doesn’t wear “Dad clothes” and he isn’t embarassing to be around. He wears designer jeans and embellished shirts and limited edition sneakers. He knows current events and as time goes on, he’s becoming more and more technologically savvy. He’s smarter than he knows, and can hold a conversation about pretty much anything. Instead of knowing a lot about one thing, my dad knows at least a little about most things. And that’s pretty cool.

He is so generous. He has always been the first guy to pick up a group tab and never ask for anything in return. He always goes above and beyond when he can, celebrating birthdays in style and being so enthusiastic and excited for the accomplishments of others. Lately, he hasn’t had the financial means to do what he loves to do, spoil those he loves, and I know that’s been hard for him. Yet I hope he knows that his personality and courage and drive through everything makes up for any shortcomings he may feel.

He is hilarious; his humor is dry but biting; sometimes his  observations literally make me fall over in laughter. He’s openminded yet sticks to his values. He’s a dreamer. He will always support someone following their dreams, even if they are far-fetched. He never gives up, no matter how difficult things get. He tries so hard. He may have his faults, but he is mindful of improving himself every single day, just like he teaches me to do. My ego may seem large at times, but he’s the one who taught me to love myself and to always be positive, while at the same time being thankful for what I have and taking stock on how to improve myself. The energy and constant life lessons he emits are remarkable.

Like a fine wine, my dad is only improving with age, just like he teaches others to do. I’m truly lucky to be my father’s daughter.

The Universe likes to laugh at me. Remember last time I wrote, when I was all chipper and happy and giddy? Well today I am still feeling those feelings. However, this past week? Lots of shit went down. Lots of uncertainty presented itself in C’s life, not including me, of course, who has been a dutiful girlfriend through it all. However, this uncertainty leads to stress for me as well, because, um, hello? We’re kind of a team here. A duo. He’s one half of my future. (I am the other half, obviously).

So anyway, why am I still happy despite all of the past week of stress? Oh and maybe there was a meltdown at one point (dutiful girlfriend perhaps just 90% of time), OH and some 100-degree humid temperatures thrown in there too for good measure?

Because I want to be. And I control my own destiny. And there is no use stressing over things that are simply out of my hands.

Also? Tomorrow is Friday. C and I, despite the turmoil in his life, are amazing. Friday evening we will make dinner together, or perhaps go out to eat, either way, dining al fresco, aglow with the feeling of a weekend finally arrived. I don’t need to know what we’re doing specifically, as long as I know we’re doing it together.

Saturday marks the first weekend morning neither of us have early plans in months and we can both sleep in together. When we rise, we will not jump out of bed, rushing a shower and hurrying out the door, but we will lie tangled in my down comforter, air conditioner blowing, nestling into a cocoon and chatting and laughing until we feel like getting up.

We will grab brunch, or perhaps lunch, and enjoy each other’s company while trying to remain cool. We will head back in to get ready for our night out. We will head to a Japanese restaurant for not only some good eats and good company, but for some much-needed fun with something called a sake-bomb and perhaps karaoke with the other couple we are going with.

Sunday is Father’s Day, and while C initially mentioned that I was invited a few weeks ago, I haven’t heard anything since, except that he’s going up there for the day. And you know what? I’m okay with that. I’ve been invited up there for Fourth of July already, a beach and BBQ weekend planned, and I’m looking forward to the long holiday weekend.

The beauty of our relationship is while we’re there for each other unconditionally, I’m learning that a day without him is less something to cry over and more of a chance for some me-time. A single day? Great! But an entire vacation without me again? Hey, I may be more relaxed, but let’s be real here: I’m still me. Yet I’m learning to enjoy it every second.

I sat in the park today, half tanning my legs to even out my base tan and half sweating from the beating sun, listening to my iPod on shuffle. It’s always on random. I prefer it that way. While I find myself skipping songs more often than not, when a song comes on that I wasn’t expecting, I am literally transported to that time in my life when the song was important/popular/a favorite/when I first heard it/etc.

Today I was just thinking about nothing really, (is that daydreaming?), when I remembered sophomore year of college. There was a messy breakup with my freshman year boyfriend right before the fall semester began, iniated on my part, but was complicated for months on his part seeing as (A) he didn’t know how to let go, (B) I didn’t know NYC without him and stupidly thought we could be friends, and worstly, (C) we lived one floor apart in our dorm, giving him easy access to my everyday activities.

It was a large building, very luxurious, and one of the first days of living there I was prancing around the lobby in a typical outfit of the time, perhaps my pink terrycloth sweatsuit and a pink playboy bunny baseball cap. (I KID YOU NOT! It was BAD, looking back!) I don’t remember the details, but I met another resident at some point. He was one year older, extremely attractive, and incredibly smart. I don’t even remember his name, but I know we corresponded briefly online after meeting, and at some point I asked him to help me set up furniture in my room and he obliged. We drank together for a few nights and laughed, chatted, and had fun. I wasn’t looking for anything, at all, and was just hanging out, having a ball.

For the first time in my life, I had this sense of power; a skyrocketing confidence I reached after breaking up with my (freshman! first! Ex!) boyfriend. Apparently when The Ex saw me and Hot Older Guy correspond in the building, he realized that We. (The Ex and I) Were. OVER. and flipped a shit. I didn’t know what to do. It was all new! TWO GUYS?! Score! Hot Older Guy was a bit miffed when this all came out, though, even though I still don’t understand the logistics of that. I came clean about just being out of a relationship, and to make a long story short, our flirtatious rapport and helpful furniture building sessions were cut short by his scathing comment: “When you grow up, give me a call.” WHAT?! Had I just played two guys! And then gotten a bitter rejection?! It was a first. It was kind of awesome. I didn’t even like EITHER. I had used both of them (Hot Older Guy! Pathetic Ex!) for attention.

So I’m recollecting this little situation in my mind today (Note: it actually took about two seconds to think about and smile about and move on from, but I tend to get wordy in my blog posts. Deal with it.) when I realize I’m listening to the EXACT album that was my OBSESSION at the time these events occurred. And even before having realized what I was listening to, I was remembering this totally random and inconsequential series of encounters that honestly mean nothing to me now. I don’t even know WHY I was thinking of them. When I realized I was listening to the song, I became convinced that I was subconsciously affected by the music.

When I first began this blog, it was called Life is a Song. I changed the title, thinking it was more unique and fitting to me, but in many ways, that’s still the most apropo summation of my life. Music means so much to me. Individual songs take me back to a time and place and I’ve expressed myself through favorite lyrics for as long as I can remember. You know AIM profiles? Like, in middle school and high school and even through college? I was a big fan of the “lyrics to sum up my big fat wah wah emo thoughts” profile. It’s always seemed that songs can explain my feelings better than I ever could.

Let it be known that I may very well be the most untalented person, musically, in the world. Pitch - what’s that? Tone? I’m tone deaf! (Are pitch and tone the same thing? Don’t ask me!) Reading music? You might as well ask me to decipher Chinese characters. Singing? Nails on a chalkboard. Honestly, there’s no raw musical talent there. But there is an immense love of music. However, it’s different than most people’s appreciation in that I love music for the lyrics. Awesome guitar riff? Oh wait, that was a bass? My bad. Oh, those are those drums? I was SURE they were just cool guitar sounds. (SERIOUSLY! Baaaad.) But, poignant words I can relate to in some - any - form? That’s what gets me excited! This explains my penchant for “emo” music to depict my feelings; this also explains while even a country song can bring a tear to my eye. However, let it be known, for the record, that I also love a good rap song. Dancing to ghetto music alone in my room is one of my favorite hobbies. In fact, I’m just winding down from a dance party session right now. (Download Flo Rida - “In The Ayer” and thank me later).

I’m so happy right now that I am actually at the really ridiculous point of “WOW I’m going to enjoy every SECOND of my LIFE from now on!” I don’t know, I’ve been in such a chipper mood lately. Warm weather, summer fun on the horizon, new and renewed friends, and a family actually getting along are making me a thrilled girl.

Now why am I even bothering to write out all of of these nonsensical factoids? I beat to my own drum. And you know what? It’s really fun.

Thanks for all of the bloggy birthday wishes! How was my day? Thanks for asking!

After working, which was lame and boring (per the usual), I arrived back at my apartment to see that I had a package waiting. A FedEx had been overnighted with my name on it, and I love receiving mail. Especially mail that contains presents! My dad, stepmom, sister, and stepsisters all signed a beautiful card from Papyrus that said “Today is all about you!” with a girl lying in a hammock. My dad said that they looked through like a hundred cards and that one suited me best. Now why would he say such a thing!?

I grabbed a cupcake from the stack my roommate prepared, partly to eat since I had been saving my appetite all day for the special restaurant C and I were going to, and also for the “birthday ambiance,” tore open the gorgeously wrapped package (seriously, they coordinated EVERYTHING to match…even the contents!) and found the following inside:

• Bloomingdale’s Gift Card! My dad wants me to go to lunch there and get the frozen yogurt… I enlightened him into the yogurt when I was back in California and he’s obsessed with it now too! Yum! When I called to thank him for my gifts, he suggested that I take C along, and instead of paying for both of our lunches, I should buy something pretty for myself and let C pay for our lunch. He was joking, but I like how my dad thinks!
• An adorable outfit. My dad has amazing taste in clothes and him and my stepmom worked as a team to pick out a pair of Theory shorts and an Ella Moss top. They wanted something summery and Californian…and I think they succeeded! The top is yellow, as shown, and the shorts are a dark charcoal grey/blue color (I couldn’t find a pic of the exact color online!) I LOVE the braided straps of the top and the floral applique detailing and the shorts are of exceptional quality (Um, they better damn be for the outrageous price!)
• 

C came over to my place with a cake and presents in tow around 6:15 and after kissing me hello and doting on the “birthday girl” (yay!) we headed over to the restaurant, Mesa Grill. We were seated and ordered SO MUCH food, it was ridiculous. We had both starved ourselves the entire day, so perhaps our eyes were larger than our stomachs. We ordered the following:

• Goat Cheese ” Queso Fundido” with rajas blue corn tortilla strips
• Barbecued Pork Oaxaca Cheese Quesadilla with hot sweet cabbage relish
• Grilled Red Snapper with red chile, tomato sauce, crushed avocado, barbequed onion
• Spice Rubbed New York Strip Steak with house-made mesa steak sauce
• Mashed Potatoes with cilantro pesto
• Anaheim Chile Relleno filled with white cheddar cheese, black beans, rice
• Chocolate, Dulce De Leche Layer Cake with tres leches ice cream

As if you care, I had the snapper and C had the steak. I didn’t care for the dessert and only ordered it because I felt obliged, like “OMG it’s my birthday, I should!” (Despite the fact that C definitely had brought over a cake he picked up at a lovely bakery… yeah, that’s sitting untouched in my fridge as of now!)

So, when we first sat down, I had a bit of an exciting moment when I looked over and saw Bobby Flay (you know, the celebrity chef/Food Network star) in the bar wearing his chef’s whites. My inner monologue was like “Hey, that kind of looks like Bobby Flay. OMG I’m in Bobby Flay’s restaurant. OHHH, it IS Bobby Flay! COOOOOOL!” (That all happened in like .2 seconds in my head). It is his restaurant, but being that he is more of an entrepreneur/”chef-lebrity” than chef nowadays, I didn’t think he’d actually be there!

Obviously, I became obsessed with the quest to get a photo with him, even though that’s silly and ridiculous. I needed it. IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY after all! I debated back and forth, mulling over the scenarios, when finally, I was like “Screw it! It’s my birthday, dammit!” (are you noticing a theme in my thinking) and simply walked up to him at the bar and requested the photo. He was nice enough, a little awkward and rude-ish actually, but he was smiling in the photo after I checked the camera’s viewscreen! He was probably thinking, “SIGH, ANOTHER crazy fan. Sure sure, girly” and obliged me. I don’t care what you think of the guy, I am not like an uber-fan, but I still thought it was WAY awesome that I was in his restaurant on my birthday and he was there. I think I even bumbled on about “I’m not a crazy tourist it’s just my birthday and I live in New York and my boyfriend said I shouldn’t bother you but it’s my birthday and can I have a picture um please?” or something. Um, and I love the Food Network. So yeah. Yay for me!

After dinner I was stuffed to the brim and we headed back to my apartment. I opened my presents from C, which were very thoughtful and I love him for his versatile gifts. I got two cards (one funny, one sweet one that made me tear up!), and some incredibly thoughtful things:

• A beautiful framed photo of us in California for my desk (I didn’t have any pictures of us, only like, COLLAGES, practically, of my sister - hey, I see him every day almost! - and I think he was tired of that fact).
• Rainbow Sandals (the brand, not the color scheme) in pink, which I’ve wanted for a long time (Hey, they mold to your foot! And are apparently the best flipflops EVER!)
• A Brand New Digital Camera!*** My camera was about three and a half years old, and even though it worked still, and took lovely photos, C wanted to get me something sleeker that obviously takes superior quality pictures. He said this was highly recommended by consumer reports, etc., and did extensive research to purchase the best camera possible for me. I love him for that. Thank you lovie!

All in all, a fabulous birthday!

*** Hold that thought. I maaaaay have had a slight meltdown when I learned that the gorgeous camera he bought me comes in pink, also. There may have been tears. After a slight little weeee argument, he suggested returning silver one and ordering the pink one online. But I already have the silver one with me. So, what would you do? Return the silver one and wait for the pink? Use the silver and be happy and thankful and not a greedy biatch? OR, wait for the pink, because it will make me smile each time I see it because it’s all pink and happy? I’ve already been a brat to C and he’s probably over it (I LOVE YOU BABY!), so either way, the meltdown has been had. I just like the piiiiink one. Also, if I didn’t KNOW there was a pink one, or if they didn’t make a pink version, I literally wouldn’t give a shit. BUT I DO KNOW. Damn the internet sometimes.

What to DO!?!

Last week I received birthday cards and gifts in the mail from my mom and grandparents. They’ve been decorating my room ever since.

Yesterday I received another present from my other grandparents. My card display is growing! Last night when I came out of my room in my pajamas, my roommate presented me with a glowing hot pink candle in a chocolate cupcake. She made an entire batch of cupcakes just for me! This morning a beautiful card was set up in the cupcake display. Yay for nice roommates!

My dad called last night and my little sister was on the line chirping “Hi! It’s me!” and then a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” started up with my dad, stepmom, and little sister/stepsisters singing into the phone. I was smiling ear-to-ear. So adorable. And then my dad got on and said “this is an EARLY birthday song!” and excitedly informed me to check my mail today. So cute.

Today I am rocking a ruffly dress and a pink cardigan at work. It’s so obviously my birthday, because I would never usually wear this out! I really need to invest in a tiara… hahaha!

Tonight I will go home and change into a hot pink barbie-esque top and crisp white pants. C and I will head over to Mesa Grill, a southwestern restaurant I’ve wanted to try for awhile. We will dine on delicious cuisine and fabulous cake of some sort. I will open presents and relish in the fact that today is all about me!

Happy Birthday to me! I was born at 1:44pm in sunny Southern California back in the mid-80’s. I know, aren’t I just so young and fabulous still? Totally.

Me in the dress from today: Picture with a pale pink cardigan for work. I know it’s really girly, but it’s SUCH a birthday-party-dress, I couldn’t resist wearing it today. (I’ve worn it…once before. And felt very childish.)

This weekend was full of fabulous fun.

A: Amazing Adventure. On Saturday we headed out of the city and did something very outdoorsy. And no, I didn’t wear fancy jeans or Kate Spade flip flops. I did wear new clothes purchased for said adventure, but they weren’t designer. SO THERE. And yes, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!

B: Bloggy Friends. So, I met this one bloggy friend awhile ago. And since then, we’ve hung out quite a few times. Our boyfriends have met and I’d like to think we all have a good time together. So, since I consider her not as a bloggy friend anymore, and just simply a friend, I won’t be linking to her in that ridiculous bloggy fashion. Because after this weekend? Where we spent like every day together? And took a day trip out of the city together? And our boyfriends came too? And it was like, super duper fun? And we braved whitewater rapids and had a picnic and locked keys in the car and even almost broke the law (See Letter “N”)? And we all drunkenly sang karaoke? Well I think it’s safe to say she is my “REAL” friend. And I am very happy for that!

C: Cooler. We lugged this thing all around. The damn thing literally traveled from Manhattan to upstate and back and still had all of this fresh food we had packed. I think it crossed like three state lines in the process. The best image was seeing my friend’s boyfriend carrying it on his shoulder across a main street in midtown Manhattan, with C behind him lugging a portable grill, and the girls schlepping bags and bags of carefully selected groceries. We all looked so displaced and lost. Who comes TO MANHATTAN with this stuff? And treks through the streets? I loved it.

D: Delaware River. We braved the roaring rapids (Okay, maybe they were a wee bit smaller than roaring, but still!) and paddled for miles down the serpentine water of the Delaware in our little rubber boat.

E: Excellent Menu. We had fabulous turkey sandwiches on artisan bread, homemade guacamole, pasta salad, lots of fresh fruit, homemade chocolate chip cookies, chips and dip, and other yummy things for lunch. For dinner we added some burgers and hot dogs to that mix. All in all, a perfect menu of treats!

F: Fell Flat on my Face…. Yeah. So as I was dancing sluttily into C/twirling by myself, chugging my water with lemon and trying to sober up from the only TWO drinks that got me sliiiightly tipsy (understatement of the year) (See Letter “M”), I may have took a dramatic tumble backwards. And cleared a table’s sharp edge by mere centimeters. And C may have dramatically tried to catch me and poured beer into some random guy’s lap in the process. And I may have gotten up and ran hysterically from the bar. This may have happened.

G: Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It, by Will Smith. This may have been rapped by C in a random bar to a bored crowd, with me laughing hysterically into the microphone alongside him. Maybe. (See Letter “K”)

H: Hype Girl… You know those rappers that have the hype man on the side that just yell things like “YEAH!” or “Wooooo!” to rile the crowd up? Yeah. That was me during the karaoke song “Step By Step” by New Kids on the Block. I kid you not. In my drunken laughter, I actually requested the song for my friend. She pulled me on stage too, and since I had never heard the song before, it wasn’t pretty. Additionally, it may have been the absolute worst song to EVER choose, seeing as it has neither a proper beat or lyrics. So I entertained the crowd in other ways.

I: Ideas/Inspiration. I have so many fun ideas that I want to do this summer, and this weekend inspired me to plan many more exciting things. Even though I have work (booooo!), that doesn’t mean I can’t still love summer and make the most of it!

J: “Just a little.” At one point in the car ride, C actually looked at me and whispered for me to calm down “Just a little.” AS IF I GET HYPER?!?! What is he even TALKING ABOUT?! I have NO idea. All I know is I was very offended. Whaaaat? So I have lots of energy! (*GIGGLES AND RUNS IN CIRCLES*)

K: Karaoke… After retreating in embarrassment from the bar where I took that little tumble, we headed to a random bar across the street. They had karaoke set up! If the fall hadn’t told me already, I knew I was drunk when I willingly sang. And people, I DO NOT do singing. Like, C says, “I would rather hear nails on a chalkboard 7 out of 10 times.” BUT IT WAS FUN! And perhaps I wasn’t half bad.

L: Love… This weekend was full of love. C and I were getting along great and had some loving moments, and it’s also really sweet to see your coupled friends interact with their loved ones. So adorable.

M: Margaritas…SO, when I casually requested “fruity frozen drinks,” it was suggested that C and I meet my friend and her boyfriend at a Mexican restaurant on the Upper East Side. The place had them all right. I had ONE strawberry margarita and was done for. Then, I decided to get one more, because I had to try the peach flavor. We all know what happened next. (See Letter “F” and Letter “K”).

N: No Grilling Allowed. So after the river adventure, we decided to go to a national park in NJ to have grill hamburgers, hot dogs, s’mores, etc. for dinner. When we realized it was like 3pm, and the national park was windy and cold, we headed back to Manhattan for a proper roofdeck BBQ. We lugged all of the coolers and bags and the grill out of the car and across town and prepared for what we thought would be perfect. The grill was lit, the places were set, when all of a sudden…the doorman of my building comes hustling up to the roof, panting, screaming that no BBQ’s are allowed. Something about a Fire Hazard? Who knew. We were all seriously disappointed, and I felt guilty since it was MY roof (even though I had NO idea!), but the crisis was averted when I just made the hamburgers and such inside and then brought them up to the roof. A good time was still had by all. And I still love my roofdeck.

O: Obsession. My friend and I were OBSESSED with the little old man who ran the rafting company. He was SO sweet. He drew us a map and was so kindhearted and adorable that I kind of fell in love with him. I think the sun made us so delirious that after our trek we were actually following him around and saying goodbye and thanking him profusely. He probably thought we were like, psychotic.

P: Picnic… We had a lovely lunch on the banks of the Delaware (See Letter “D”), all intensely organized courtesy of me and my friend (See Letter “B”). There were typed up charts, people. (See Letter “X”) It was the picnic to end all picnics.

Q: Quintessential holiday weekend. I loved it! Seriously I am gushing but the sun, the picnics, the water, the tanning, the love and the friendships… good times with good people = just that! A quintessential holiday weekend.

R: Rafting… Early Saturday morning, C and I were picked up by my friend and her boyfriend. We all drove about an hour and a half away and arrived at Port Jervis, New York, where we paid for our rafting excursion and were escorted to the Delaware River with our raft, oars, huge cooler and supplies in tow. We spent the next four hours enjoying the scenery, laughing a lot, and getting very sore arms!

S: Spice Girls. C and M (friend’s boyfriend) requested “Wannabe” at the karaoke bar. Apparently this was some effort to make their girlfriends laugh. Instead of laughing, us girls literally took over when C & M did not know ANY of the words. I whipped the microphone out of C’s hand so fast and started channeling my inner Spice Girl immediately. It was hilarious.

T: Tanning… On Saturday I started to get tan while rafting down the Delaware River, by Sunday I had a base tan down pat, and on Monday I laid out again in Central Park! And now I am positively glowing.

U: Ugly Lifejackets. Um, I wasn’t a fan of the life jackets we had to wear. They made me look bulky. Also, it was cold for awhile, so I wore a sweatshirt over it, and I looked like I was in a straitjacket. Made for some hot pictures, let me tell you. As you can see below, I didn’t exactly wear it the entire time.

V: Voice… After a day of literally screaming in excitement, shouting giddily, chatting for hours, and making “baby piggy” squealing noises when getting river sludge on my feet, I lost it. My voice, that is. It was completely gone. Saturday night I retired to bed at a ridiculously early hour sans voice. I think C was kind of cherishing the moment of silence, haha.

W: Weather…it was absolutely gorgeous out. Sunny skies, balmy temperatures, slight breezes coming through every once in awhile…loved it!

X: Excel Charts….There were excel documents with the menu for the Whitewater Rafting planned out weeks in advance. Seriously. I LOVE organizing stuff. It’s an addiction!

Y: Yelling. We were kind of verbally abused (I kid!) and told to “PADDLE! PADDLE! PADDLE! PADDLE!” repetitively by my friend’s boyfriend. My poor arms were DYING. Whenever there was any sight of a rapid, he would get so excited! And so would we! And we would all be working hard but he demanded MORE work! My internal dialogue was like “Please go faster arms, please go!”… I suppose he was one anchoring all of our efforts. It sure did get me moving though!

Z: Zodiac sign… um, this isn’t exactly relevant to my weekend, but, we all know I’m a Gemini, and this is important because… MY BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW!