Yay Me!

Someone told me today that I need to toot (that word kills me, it really does) my own horn. So what the hell?! (FOUL!)

Ha ha!

Anyway...

Happy Birthday to me!

I spent most of it writhing in pain (UTI) and feeling like a loser for having such a lame birthday. It got much better after Mom gave me some sort of heavy pain medication and I slept the afternoon away. I did wake up and go to the venerable Dos Mas -- the place where I have celebrated untold numbers of birthdays and miscellaneous events -- both mundane and extraordinary. One of my favorite waiters was there. He spoke to Annabelle in Spanish, which seemed to scare her.

Mom, Dad, Mimi, Papaw, Andy and Annabelle were all there. We missed Auntie LeeLee, but she has a long commute. It was great to have three generations of women all together and, the grandpas and daddy too.

I received some lovely gifts and warm wishes from friends. All in all, despite being sick on my birthday, I feel -- and know -- I am blessed.

The Big One

Well, it's not really The Big One, but tomorrow is my birthday and I am inching ever closer to The Big One. You know, the one where people give you black balloons and put "Over the Hill" signs in your front yard?

I try not to let silly numbers affect me. Yet they do:

• My age.
  
• The number of homeless people.
  
• My weight.
  
• The number of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  
• Money.
  
• The size of my pants.
  
• The number of dogs and cats that are euthanized each day.
  
• How many goals Ilya Kovalchuk has scored this year.
  

Obviously the numbers I worry most about are the numbers that are, clearly, the most trivial. Perhaps if I -- I daresay we -- spent less time on unimportant numbers and more on the other ones I'd be better off. For sure.

More pictures coming up in the Photo Albums

HBD!

Happy Birthday to the one I love. My dear, Andre.

Also, a big Happy Birthday to my lil' sister, Kelly.

Love you both lots!

XoXo