Hey all !!
I had a great birthday !
Some of you might recall that ever since I was a kid I've had a thing for ties, so yesterday I wore a new pair of jeans with a black button-down shirt and a fuschia colored tie. I felt kind of bad sometimes, knowing the struggles my friends here have, and that I as a woman could get away with wearing guy clothes with barely a second glance from anyone. I only had one guy look at me kind of weird as he drove past me; but even that could have been, "If she's gonna' wear a shirt and tie, she ought to do it right" or, "what's with that obnoxious color tie?" And one guy for some odd reason, couldn't look me in the eye went he walked past me....again, that could've been anything. Everyone loved it, actually.
Breakfast with PaCo at a place I had never been to before, was very good, and PaCo insisted that I not pay for my birthday breakfast.
At work I had some well-wishers, and had a slice of b-day cake that HR had for all the February birthdays. Even my customers were nice to me, I had no meanies that day!
Dinner at Friday's had a greater turn out than I expected-- I had invited the campus ministry group from my church to join me, as well as a few friends from work and a couple people from school. Only 6 had RSVP'd by this morning, but 2 told me at the last minute they'd be coming and 2 more came unexpectedly. Everyone that came was from church, except one--she's Jewish so I can't really say I know her from church, but I know her because she's the partner of a friend from church.
I had the sizzlin' chicken-n-cheese with vegetables.... and without the cheese-- and their mashed potatoes came with it; for dessert I had Oreo madness (yum-yum!!). I got full, but not the kind of full that makes one need to unbutton their jeans. Just before dessert everyone decided it was time to sing 'Happy Birthday', and I'm sure I turned bright red, though I did enjoy the attention.
When I sent out the e-mail invitation, I had told everyone not to bring presents. They honored my request... And at dinner, I gave them all something I had begun writing a few days ago, and finished up yesterday, titled, "What I want for my birthday". I will post it in another thread here later.
One of the group was having a wine-n-cheese party, but his roommates got strated kinda' late, so I only was there for a few minutes before I had to go.
I went downtown to a theatre that is housed in one of our historic buildings (oh you should just SEE the elevator!) and saw, "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings". Cute play, though some of the acting seemed as though the actors were trying a little too hard....
Starbuck's was across the street from the theatre, so I walked over & ordered an iced almond chai, sat outside in the cool air and watched the world go by for a few minutes. A quick run to the parking garage to put my programme in the car, then it was off again to the club.
On the way there I was stopped by a homeless woman; I gave her a couple dollars and chatted with her for a few minutes. She wanted to know if she could come cook or clean for me. I told her "no thank you". I don't trust strangers in my home or near my children (AKA, my cats), and I sure as heck can't afford to pay a housekeeper. I called my mom before I actually got to the club--she hadn't called yet as she knew I was running around all day, and I wanted to talk to her while it was still my birthday.
Now I don't typically do the club scene, as I've said earlier. Last time I went was maybe 2 years ago. You won't find me flirting or dancing or getting drunk here. I rarely drink, and even then, I don't drink to get drunk. The atmosphere is so sexualized & even if I could get over the fact that I have no rythym, there's no way you're gonna' find me grinding hips (which seems to be the only kind of 'dancing' here these days) with strangers, or even aquaintances.
I went cause I was just kind of in the mood for the loud music and the lights and such. I got in free cause it was my birthday
I could have very well done without the cigarette smoke. For some reason I forgot that I would be immersed in it. I'm a bit senstitive to it, and my eyes burned for a long while after I got home. I saw a few people there that I'm aquainted with, but they were almost on their way out. One of them was a girl from work who is rumored to be quite a gossip and one who spreads rumors herself. So I don't know if the rumors are true or not, but I guess we'll find out if she starts anything interesting about me
Rumors don't very much scare me--- those who know me will either not believe them or not care.
They had a couple of drag performers, and I must say I enjoyed the kings a great deal more than the queens. The drag kings were much more realistic, while the queens were over-exaggerated. On my out I ran into a neighbor and his girlfriend, and someone told me to come back out tonight for a drag king show....we'll see...
haven't decided yet.
And then, the best thing ever-------
I CAME HOME, CHECKED THE SITE AND LEARNED THAT TERRI-GENE IS DOING SO MUCH BETTER !!!!!! I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR ANYTHING BETTER!! 
The funny thing is, earlier this week I was thinking that I wish I could tell Terri that Friday was my birthday, and to give me a good birthday gift by getting well-- but I would not have wanted to place that kind of pressure on her. So seeing the news was very welcome surprise. *sigh*
XOXO,
Valerie
