Happy Birthday Sucker!

I had a great birthday.
Being sung to and taken out for coffee

lunch

and ice cream

were wonderful, but later that night.... I got home from work still in my towel and swimsuit from teaching swimming lessons and my roommates and a few friends

blindfolded me and dragged me into the backyard. They pulled the blind fold off and told me to read the words at my feet... That's right "Happy Birthday Sucker!"

I read this aloud and as I realized I was standing on a freshly painted target, I instantly felt the sting of a water balloon missile. Right next to me was a laundry basket overflowing with ammo and all around me were six friends strategically positioned throughout the yard ready for war! It was amazing. I have to say that I felt quite victorious when all was said and done. I mean, I took some hits, but I let them have it! Sadly, I have no pictures of the actual fight since, you know, there was a lot of water involved. After we went in and dried off, we had birthday cake and played games till about 1 or 2 am.
The b-day shenanigans didn't end there though. The following Sunday Katerina and Dustin threw me a party at their house with many other dear friends. Dustin bbq'ed venison burgers for everyone. We just relaxed and hung out together. Some friends from California were passing through and were able to make it too! Also, Kurt sang "I'm A Little Teapot". I had such a fantastic time.

What a blessing to have loving friends who take the time to celebrate with me. Thanks to everyone who was with me and all those who sent birthday wishes from far away, for making my day special!

Happy! Happy!

Well, it's my birthday. Today I am 28. I don't really feel older than I did at 27. I guess that right now it's more the anticipation of turning 30 that has me feeling older than anything else. Not that 30 is necessarily old mind you... It's just one of those intangible things I guess. Please don't be offended you over 30's it's all relative.
So far I have had a nice birthday. I've received many happy phone calls from kind people who love me. It was our first day back at school and everyone sang Happy Birthday. Between classes some friends took me out for coffee and after class some other friends took me to lunch at my favorite sandwich place Dean and Deluca. It's a good place for sandwiches and SO MUCH MORE. Delicious! If you've never been, I highly recommend it.
Later on, my roomies have something sinister planned. I don't actually know what it is, but during their planning meeting I heard a lot of evil cackling. I'm pretty sure it involves some strange clothes and public humiliation of some kind. So, it should be fun. Pictures to follow. :)
I have to say I do so miss California birthdays. Until I moved out here to the middle (of the country) my birthday standard had always been the beach bonfire. It's tough being land-locked, but here's a couple of pictures of one of my favorite birthday spots, Salt Creek.

Beware the Teapots!

So, at the urging of one or two friends and because in different situations I often find myself thinking, "If I had a blog, I would write about this," I have decided to start said blog.
I have been thinking about how it might be fun for a while now, but was deterred by my lack of digital camera. Thanks to one very generous Leo (mom's husband), who got a new camera and handed down his "old" (pretty fantastic) camera to me I now feel that there is not much stopping me.
I don't really have a plan or direction for this thing other than sharing my random thoughts and musings or just anything I find generally entertaining. Lets begin with the latter shall we?
I stayed with my aunt Kerry for a couple of days this past week at her house on Coronado Island. We had a great time. On Thursday morning we walked to a cafe for breakfast and then walked around the edge of San Diego bay and home. On the way back I spotted this bumper sticker:
The message is clear: Just say no to teapots people! They are bad! They are out to get us!!!
My question however, is why?! Why must you shun the mighty teapot? It's not as if they are starting an underground resistance movement. They have done nothing but provide cozy cups of hot water for tea and hot chocolate. What did the teapots ever do to you? Oh sure, it seems benign, harmless even, a simple protest sticker, but what's next? The spatula? The oven mitt? Or even the food processor?! Is no kitchen appliance sacred to you? Do you have no soul???
By the way, is there anyone out there that actually knows how to read whatever language this is? My guess is Russian, but I'm also leaning slightly towards Greek. I don't know, but I sure would LOVE to know what this really says and why the owner of this car is so vehemently anti-teapot.