Caterwauling

Dawn and Ian, originally uploaded by tbridge.

Today we celebrated Tiff and Tom’s one-year wedding anniversary with a barbecue at their place. I am not overly sure why I’m posting this pic — perhaps it’s to subtly threaten Steph for capturing me on film when I clearly did not want to be. 😉

Had a blast. (Of course — look who we’re talkin’ about here — the best hosts ever!) It’s been neat to not only be around from the day their relationship began, to watching their wedding just one short year ago and now being able to help celebrate the first of many anniversaries. You cannot help but root for these two, and personally, I hope my own “happily ever after” unfolds just as wonderfully as theirs.

The whole set of photos is online here, and I’m expecting for there to be more to come, because Wayan’s painted toenails put Steph’s and mine to shame, and the evidence is lurking around there somewhere. …

In any event, thanks for the terrific party, friends, and I’m looking forward to what the next 50 years will bring to you. To say that you’re something to aspire to is the understatement of the decade!

It’s one of those days in which I really, really want to private-blog, but since everyone under the sun has my password, what’s the point of that? 😉

(I may change the password. I know, how’s that for a flash o’ genius, huh?)

I’m trying to figure out what exactly it is about birthdays that makes me want to be sad. I don’t know why. It’s just another day. Well, I guess it’s the fact that it’s a day that’s supposed to be special but it oftentimes gets overlooked that gets me going. An old friend and I used to do these two-week-long celebrations — before and after — by treating ourselves to everything we ever wanted because nobody else was going to pony up and do it for us. New skirt? Happy birthday treat! Hell, get four — it’s my birthday, after all!

I can’t complain, though. I came in to bagels in my honor from my beloved D., and a wonderful card signed by all the usual suspects. I do appreciate, in ways I cannot adequately convey, the way my team never lets a special occasion pass by unacknowledged. Even though they all signed the card, there’s a big ol’ “Happy Birthday” banner over my door and I’ve gotten a stream of cheerful visitors, wishing me well.

It’s hard to be glum around here — even though I did spend my holiday here yesterday and missed out on Sabre’s soiree, it’s all worth it. I look forward to spending the next year of my life right where I am, so that has got to count for something! (Hell, for all the work I have on my to-do list, I might not be able to get up out of this chair for the next year. …)

In which I gently remind myself that I am just another day older, although the calendar says it’s another year, yes, today we celebrate Goddess’ arrival into the mortal world.

We also celebrate the fact that her age is now a palindrome, although perhaps “celebrate” is the wrong word in this scenario. 😉

Usually I’m kind of blue on birthdays, or else I craft a to-do list for the next 40 years to help me to “catch up” to where I think I’m supposed to be. But right now, I’m just content to be where I am and to know that the universe has me standing here for a reason.

Don’t get me wrong — I have plenty of wishes for when I blow out my candles, but this year they’re simply for things I’d like instead of things I need. Or maybe I do need them but there’s the added bonus that they’re welcome whenever they arrive or decide to stay.

Besides, I always said 34 will be my year, so hey, I’m a year away from the blissful delight I’m anticipating. Of course, what’s wrong with enjoying the here and now?

And in that, there’s my birthday wish — to keep on having fun, and to continue to enjoy and even expand the circle in which I do just that.

The other day, a colleague of mine was singing an old Prince song (“The Beautiful Ones” — one of my all-time FAVORITES). And of course I was inspired to load it into my MP3 player.

Wouldn’t you know, I was getting on the elevator this morning, listening to my headphones, and the same colleague got on with me. The irony? Not two seconds later, that same song started playing. Strange but true.

Just wanted to give a shout-out to Erica and Mel with a big ol’ “Happy Birthday” wish to my girls!!!

It’s also my friend’s dad’s birthday, and yesterday was my boss’ birthday although we celebrated today. I don’t know — all the April 30 babies I know are very special folks, so we’ll consider this a very blessed day in the universe, and I’m happy to know all of you! *mwah!*

So Imus gets fired, but Ann Coulter remains free to spout her idiotic opinions wherever she can. Humph. Interesting.

Speaking of marshmallows for brains, check out the WaPo’s “Peep Show” contest.

My favorite? “I gave her my heart; she gave me a Peep”:

I used to feel hungover the day after holidays because we’d had a big family dinner and there would be leftovers coming out the wazoo. Now, there’s really no reason to go all out, because the people in the family (i.e., grandparents) who appreciated the efforts are gone now.

I drove up to see Mom this weekend. It was low-key and perfect in that regard. Sad, of course, without my grandfather. It’s like we’re always looking to see if he’s still around — that if maybe we do the same things and go to the same places, we’ll somehow see him.

This was a weekend for reconnecting with a lot of people, for me. Not to abuse the Easter theme, but I found that I put a whole lot of eggs into not a whole lot of baskets in regard to relationships and friendships of late. And that’s fine, for the most part — I invest in those who are worthy of it. But quite a few have fallen off the radar for myriad reasons (my own neglect being one of them), and it’s wonderful to type up an e-mail or a text message and get an instant response.

Good things come to those who wait, I guess. But more importantly, good things WILL wait until you’re ready to come to them and give them the effort you previously couldn’t.

That’s an important lesson for me right now, as I’m wondering whether some things are worth fighting for, and/or if they even existed in the first place. But I’m worth waiting/fighting for, too — and I’ve got all the proof in the world that I need of that. Like I tell all the boys, get me now while I’m still young and cute! 😉

It’s one of those rare days in which I have nothing to post because nothing’s going on, instead of just keeping stuff to myself. Ran a million errands and am getting ready for a big night ahead. It’s a gorgeous day in the metro D.C. area, and I’m enjoying it. Sad to say, that’s what passes for big news ’round these parts! 😉

My niece just got a toy cell phone, and at age 3, she’s wise beyond her years. My friend (her mom) always greets me a certain way, and now when her daughter plays with her phone, she answers it just like her, pretending that I’m the one calling her. How cute is that?

They sing a goodnight song whenever she’s getting ready for bed. And they have to sing goodnight to about 40 billion people, as that’s how the song goes. So she woke up one night and wanted the song sung to her, but my friend said, “Immediate family only, kiddo,” just to cut down on the time it takes. So they sang goodnight to just the people in the house, but my niece wasn’t satisfied with that. “Mommy,” she implored, “Aunt Goddess is part of our family!”

Is it any wonder I send her tons of presents? She just earned a whole new batch. … 😉

This is officially the best fucking day of my life. Seriously. I don’t even know where to start, so I’ll just leave it at that. Woo!

I could write about people who piss me off and who act busy whenever I need them but who expect me to revolve my life around them (*slap*) but instead I want to give a big THANK YOU to S. who drove me to work, D. who took me to deposit my paycheck and buy cat food/litter, and C. who drove me home and tried to help me carry my plethora o’ shit over the mound o’ ice that is my sidewalk.

It’s a metaphor for my life — three fabulous people to one useless one. Three friends to each oxygen thief/obliviot. I am blessed … and I didn’t even sneeze. 😉