32

Folks, this is my first post as a 32-year old.   

What's that?  You want to know all about my birthday?  Well since you asked nicely...

Last week was a collision of fun times - an elegant dinner out at Paris Bistro with my handsome fellow's family, a Yelp event at Rice Fusion Cuisine and Sushi Bar, and 9 to 5 the Musical at Hale Centre Theatre.

Then came my birthday.  This year I had taken note of all of the crazy amounts of events happening around my birthday and had decided I would just play it cool and spend the evening with Rob (yeah, handsome fellow I keep alluding to has a name - who knew?) instead of making myself another chore on everyone's to-do list.  My friends had a different idea.

I arrived at my 1/2 day of work to decorations, my favorite co-worker produced baked goods - caramel brownies, and a Nordstrom gift card.  Everyone was so kind and sweet in spite of the extreme work-stress we've been under recently. 

After work, my next agenda item was a 5-mile run at the gym.  Some of you may think this is rather odd, especially because my legs are about two inches long and I am not, I repeat not, a runner.  But this is a benchmark run for me each year because I don't think I can get too far off the fitness path if I can run five miles in under 50 minutes at least once each year.  I was a little further along in my training for the run this year and managed to beat last year's time of 43:25, running my five miles in only 41:45!!!  I was so proud of myself and exhausted.

I didn't let the exhaustion wear me down too much because Rob (have I mentioned he is the best?) booked a 90-minute massage for me.  You heard me.  I've never had a real, professional massage before and had no idea the ecstasy I was in for.  I had no idea 90-minutes could pass so quickly or that my mind could be so empty.  Imagine my surprise as I stumbled out of the massage room in my semi-coherent state to hear, "You have a delivery."  Rob had dropped off flowers for me at the front desk!  I must have lit up like the sun as the therapists exclaimed various renditions of, "You have the best boyfriend ever!"

Upon arriving home, I cleaned up a bit, took a little power nap, and made myself pretty for the evening, which would first involve heading to a DJ meeting with Rob for his 45-minute presentation.  Before you think that is also a weird thing, I thought nothing of it - I love knowing what is going on and helping out where I can with his business and I also think it is nice to do something sweet for him after he had spent the whole day making sure I was spoiled.  Little did I know the spoiling wasn't over.

We left the meeting after his presentation and after I asked where we were headed he said, "Well, I forgot my wallet at your house."
"I have money.  You can pay me back, I don't care."
"It's your birthday.  I would feel better if I paid.  What do you want to eat?"
He clearly knows talk of food will divert my attentions more quickly than anything. 

As fishy as this wallet debacle was, I clearly had not suspected anything up until that moment or I would have made sure to eat before I'd left home.

I walked around the corner into my condo to this gloriously unusual non-happy birthday song:


I may be acting entirely silly in that video, but I was brimming so fully of love that it almost spilled out my eyes if you know what I mean.  I could not believe it.  I love all of my friends so much and to know this many people were able to sacrifice the precious little time we all have just to come and wish me a happy birthday (which is always weird because it isn't like I actually did anything to be born), is overwhelming.  What an amazing sight.

Apparently Melissa and Rob had been planning this soiree for weeks.  Good one Guys, good one.  The guests came and went over the next four hours, each new face causing me to squeal with joy.  If any of the guests are deaf now, my deepest apologies.  My day and my heart were full beyond what I ever could have hoped for or done for myself.

And if all of that wasn't enough, the next morning Rob dropped by my office to meet all of my co-workers and wish me Happy Birthday yet again.

Not to sound cheesy or cliche, but my life is richly, fully, explodingly blessed.  Thank you all for being on this journey with me and so selflessly giving me your love every day.  Here's to the next 32!!!

My Fella and Me, 1950s high-school style for Yelp's back-to-school event

The flowers Rob delivered while I had a 90-minute massage

Shayla knows I don't like cake, so she and Laci made this amazing Rice Crispy Treat peanut butter cup/pretzel concoction for me!

Amy, me, Melissa - the last ladies of round 1 at the surprise party

Me, Chris, Megan, the true last guests to the party

The man of the hour and just about the best man that ever there was

Aloof Adorable Amy, me-clearly-not-ready-for-a-photo-and-rather-skeptical-about-something, and Hottie Keri working it - love these beautiful, energetic, glowing women!

Catnip

Dare I admit that for my birthday I was gifted a cat toy?   More accurately, I guess the tiny tiger was gifted a toy.

I had my bag of loot on the dining table when I left for work.  I came home to find the bag overturned and the cat toy, still attached to the cardboard, on the floor several feet away.  Looks like Conor loves opening presents more than I do.

She followed me doing her, "I am cute and swooshing my fluffy tail and purring" nonsense the whole time I readied her new gift.  I couldn't figure out why she wanted the toy so badly, as she has never acted so attentively interested before.  She has also never encountered catnip before.

Within two minutes of handing her her new mouse, the whole thing was drenched in drool.   I tried to take a photo, but she simply wouldn't hold still, so you get the below blurries.  I couldn't help but wonder, "Is this healthy?  Is my cat high?"  Alas, I continued laughing and am proud to report that Conor's first catnip encounter was full of entertainment for both of us.

Gift from Gym

I thought, after all these years together, Gym knew me better than to give me this gift for my birthday.

My birthday is always the day each year I run five miles (43:25 this year) to reassure myself that I'm not getting out-of-shape again.  I'm so not a runner, so if I can do that, I can do anything.  Gymy dearest, you should know this!

Birthday Blunders

Hey, Everyone!  I'm one digit richer!

And I have a confession.  An embarrassing one.

Yesterday, I cancelled my birthday celebrations for tonight.  Don't worry, less than three hours later I reinstated the plans.

You may be wondering, "But, Larissa, what sort of crazies would grip a person's mind and make them do this?"

What luck if you are - I have an answer!

First of all, let me state how awkward it is to throw your own birthday party.  "Hey, Everyone!  I'm awesome!  Come celebrate me!  Hosted by me!"  Feels strange, right?

Second, of the forty or so invited, only four people responded positively.  I began to feel I was merely burdening everyone with yet *another* birthday thing they felt obligated to attend.  I can relate, I'm a little burned out with the seven (or is it eight?) birthday parties I've attended in the first eighteen days of the month, but I love my friends and feel incredibly guilty about the ones I miss (sorry, Toni!).  I also began to feel unimportant as some of the excuses were trivial.  "Oh, yes, walking your chinchilla is more important than me." 

Third, I thought back on the past couple of years about what a horrible friend I've been.  I had this sinking feeling that I've been such a terrible friend that maybe no one really cares any more.  Dumb, I know.  I do all I can, and I know my besties know this, but I also let guilt eat away at my conscience.  I just used to...I used to be the person whose parties no one would dare miss.  I would throw parties so crowded you'd have to crawl over people to get anywhere and you were jammed in like sardines.  I'd buy a dozen pizzas and bake dozens of cookies and not a crumb would be remaining.  And then I started performing again and gradually they've all fallen to the wayside.

After I cancelled, I received at least a dozen e-mails from people (most from people who can't come) who were determined that I needed to celebrate even though hardly anyone can be there.  So, of the handful of people who can show up, doggone it, it'll be the best party ever.  Party of five!  Or more, perhaps?

A few die-hards have even committed to indulging my stupid shark movie fantasies with a post-party rendezvous to "Shark Night 3-D."

Happy Birthday to me!  Maybe this year I'll actually grow up:-)