I remember, when I was seven years old, being hid in the back bedroom of a house with all the other kids. Those kids' parents were throwing my mother a surprise birthday party. They thought it would be cute to theme the party "Over the Hill."
My mom turned thirty that day. I remember hearing them all yell surprise through the bedroom door.
Two days ago I turned thirty. There were even a few close friends who yelled surprise when I opened the door. Except I don't have a 7 -year-old daughter waiting in the back bedroom. I babysit a 7-year-old.
My earliest experience associated with thirty is also associated with the words "Over the Hill."
Hmmmmm.
I don't feel anywhere close to a hill.
I was a little worried about thirty. Mostly because when my mom was thirty she had two kids who where 7 and 5. That makes me feel like I'm late on a few things. But I already like thirty. It's liberating. Who cares what everyone else thinks when you're thirty. Everyone else can kiss ass. See, I even said ass when I knew a good bit of you wouldn't approve.
I'm embracing the thirties.
I went to a yoga class today and the instructor had this to say: "Don't fixate on the goal. Fixating on the goal leads to negative feelings towards others who reach the goal and negative feelings towards ourselves if we don't meet the goal as fast as we hope. Instead focus on the present, how you feel in each pose and in each movement. No judgment. Wherever you are today is exactly where you should be."
That's kinda what thirty feels like to me. It feels good.
Showing posts with label Happy Birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happy Birthday. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Why We Need A Savior
I'm in an elevator. Enter a 6-yr-old and his mother.
6-YR-OLD: (to his mother) "Buy a dog! Buy a dog! BUY A DOG! I can have whatever I want! YES I CAN!! WhatEVER I want for my 7th birthday. I can have whatever I want and I don't need to ask Abba if I can have it. Because I can have WHATEVER I WANT!"
And why I think that child should get duct tape for his 7th birthday.
6-YR-OLD: (to his mother) "Buy a dog! Buy a dog! BUY A DOG! I can have whatever I want! YES I CAN!! WhatEVER I want for my 7th birthday. I can have whatever I want and I don't need to ask Abba if I can have it. Because I can have WHATEVER I WANT!"
And why I think that child should get duct tape for his 7th birthday.
Friday, October 31, 2008
He Likes It!
Happy Halloween.
And Happy Birthday to my hunk of a husband.
I gave Seth his birthday gift(s) 36 minutes ago, and for 36 minutes we haven't spoken. You know a husband likes a birthday present when, after you give it to him, he is so enthralled with it that when you begin a story and then stop MID-story, MID-sentence, MID-word, and he doesn't acknowledge you even started a story. Sethie likes it! He likes it!
It's a book about Star Wars.
Go figure.
Hasn't looked up once since he pulled it out of the bag.
Not once.
You know how they say men are like children?...
OHP!! He just spoke.
Seth: Cool. Did you know the phrase "May the force be with you" was derived from the Christian phrase "May the Lord be with you and your spirit" which St. Paul sometimes uses as the end of his letters?
Me: How do you know that's true?
Seth: Cuz it says here in the book.
And Happy Birthday to my hunk of a husband.
I gave Seth his birthday gift(s) 36 minutes ago, and for 36 minutes we haven't spoken. You know a husband likes a birthday present when, after you give it to him, he is so enthralled with it that when you begin a story and then stop MID-story, MID-sentence, MID-word, and he doesn't acknowledge you even started a story. Sethie likes it! He likes it!
It's a book about Star Wars.
Go figure.
Hasn't looked up once since he pulled it out of the bag.
Not once.
You know how they say men are like children?...
OHP!! He just spoke.
Seth: Cool. Did you know the phrase "May the force be with you" was derived from the Christian phrase "May the Lord be with you and your spirit" which St. Paul sometimes uses as the end of his letters?
Me: How do you know that's true?
Seth: Cuz it says here in the book.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Driving a Standard
Starting the 13 hour drive to Kentucky today. Stopping at Seth's parents for dinner and good night's sleep. We celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday last night. And now I'm off to Target for the last bit of essentials. Man, I love Target. Target is the bomb dot com of all supermarkets. I also went to (drum roll please) Chick-fil-A the first chance I got. Mmmmmm.
For my sister-in-law's birthday, I got her a real cute bag and put lots of random stuff in it, like jellies. (gellies?) Remember those? They were on sale at Target. I bought myself a pair, too, and I'm wearing them today and I can't wait.
I learned to drive a standard. We're driving my brother's car to Kentucky, and it's a standard. My dad took me out and taught me, and I learned it pretty quickly, if I do say so myself. Except then later, when driving to dinner around rush hour time, I thought I'd show off my new driving skills. So four of us piled into the little car. Me in the driver's seat. Dad front passenger side. Mom and Seth in the back. Seth hadn't seen me drive yet. I was ready to show him how cool I looked driving a standard.
Except that I came to a stop on a HILL, wedged between a long line of cars in both directions. I had to keep inching forward on the hill because we were all waiting for people to turn left. I was scared to death because I had only practiced on a hill in our neighborhood with nobody around. My dad said just do everything normal. Just do it quicker so you don't roll into the person behind you.
So I went into first gear quicker, except I also pounded on the gas every time because I was scared, so everytime we moved I squealed the tires like a bat outa hell and went two inches and had to stop again. This happened I think six times in a row. My dad kept yelling at me to stop and I kept yelling at him to stop stressing me out. And mom and Seth were laughing in the backseat. And some funny smell started seeping out from the car.
I had on bad shoes, OK? They were weird flip flop like shoes. When I learned and practiced on the hill in our neighborhood I was wearing gellies. So obviously, the shoes were bad. I'll just wear my jellies when we drive to Kentucky.
My brother and his wife gave me a late b-day present. A book of poetry by Brian Andreas. I love love love it and was up way too late reading it last night. Here's one I like:
Whenever she stood
in line at the bank
or while waiting
for the bus, I noticed
her feet.
The right always in
front and perpendicular
to the left just so.
Even after 2
children she
still dreamed
of being a
dancer.
Title: Ballerina Mom
And looked what happened in New York today. Yeesh.
For my sister-in-law's birthday, I got her a real cute bag and put lots of random stuff in it, like jellies. (gellies?) Remember those? They were on sale at Target. I bought myself a pair, too, and I'm wearing them today and I can't wait.
I learned to drive a standard. We're driving my brother's car to Kentucky, and it's a standard. My dad took me out and taught me, and I learned it pretty quickly, if I do say so myself. Except then later, when driving to dinner around rush hour time, I thought I'd show off my new driving skills. So four of us piled into the little car. Me in the driver's seat. Dad front passenger side. Mom and Seth in the back. Seth hadn't seen me drive yet. I was ready to show him how cool I looked driving a standard.
Except that I came to a stop on a HILL, wedged between a long line of cars in both directions. I had to keep inching forward on the hill because we were all waiting for people to turn left. I was scared to death because I had only practiced on a hill in our neighborhood with nobody around. My dad said just do everything normal. Just do it quicker so you don't roll into the person behind you.
So I went into first gear quicker, except I also pounded on the gas every time because I was scared, so everytime we moved I squealed the tires like a bat outa hell and went two inches and had to stop again. This happened I think six times in a row. My dad kept yelling at me to stop and I kept yelling at him to stop stressing me out. And mom and Seth were laughing in the backseat. And some funny smell started seeping out from the car.
I had on bad shoes, OK? They were weird flip flop like shoes. When I learned and practiced on the hill in our neighborhood I was wearing gellies. So obviously, the shoes were bad. I'll just wear my jellies when we drive to Kentucky.
My brother and his wife gave me a late b-day present. A book of poetry by Brian Andreas. I love love love it and was up way too late reading it last night. Here's one I like:
Whenever she stood
in line at the bank
or while waiting
for the bus, I noticed
her feet.
The right always in
front and perpendicular
to the left just so.
Even after 2
children she
still dreamed
of being a
dancer.
Title: Ballerina Mom
And looked what happened in New York today. Yeesh.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Birthday Fun and More
Mom and I had a great time in the city. We saw Gypsy with Patti LuPone Saturday night. Wow, what an actress. I love the moments when I'm at the theater and I get a chill up my spine. More like a chill up the neck and behind the ears and then...gone. I wait for that moment. It's when the actor and the music, or the set, or the lights, come together at just the right moment, and this indescribable...thing...happens. What you see is real. Not imaginary, but real. Real life. But better. More powerful. Magic. Patti LuPone made magic on Saturday night.
We had tea at Alice's Teacup. The best scones around. Not me and Patti LuPone. Me and my mom.
We had dinner at Taboon, where my mom couldn't help but tell the waiter it was my birthday, and the waiter couldn't help but put a candle on our chocolate lava cake but to my relief, refrained from singing, and the table next to us couldn't help but start singing anyway, and then the whole restaurant was singing, and then my mom yelled out, "Her name's Amber!"..."Happy BIRthday dear...AMBER!" they all sang, and I couldn't help but bury my face in my hands, and then the old man with shoulder length grey hair came to our table and toasted my youth and my mom for spending it with me, said "his poetry tonight was my youth," (woah - pretty deep stuff there), then he couldn't help but assure me youth doesn't last. Bright smiles. Big toast. Thank you's.
Youth doesn't last.
Thank you for reminding me, dear old man.
I joke about it, but really, is that a necessary reminder?
We shopped at the local thrift stores. I'm telling you, you can score big in these parts.
I got a new pair of running shoes (not at the thrift stores but at the DSW in Union Square) so I no longer have an excuse for not running the park. Ugh. I'm doing it, but I hate running. I'd much rather take a dance class, but wow, it's expensive. My last pair of running shoes lasted me about 8 years. No lie! Obviously, I didn't run in them much.
We killed a roach the size of my big toe - with Pledge and Seth's shoe. The only roach I've EVER seen in this apartment. With Pledge because I didn't have any Raid and it was the quickest solution. It worked! Slowed him down enough for mom to smash him with Seth's shoe while I stood on the couch barefoot. I don't smush roaches. I just can't. I hate that crackling noise when the shoe hits at just the right place.
And my stairwell smells like an animal crawled up the wall somewhere and died. Either that or someone in one of these apartment's is dead and nobody knows it. Creepy. The smell is disgusting. Not in my apartment, thank God, but definitely in the stairwell.
Gross.
Thanks Mom, for a fun-filled (roach and all) birthday weekend. Love you.
We had tea at Alice's Teacup. The best scones around. Not me and Patti LuPone. Me and my mom.
We had dinner at Taboon, where my mom couldn't help but tell the waiter it was my birthday, and the waiter couldn't help but put a candle on our chocolate lava cake but to my relief, refrained from singing, and the table next to us couldn't help but start singing anyway, and then the whole restaurant was singing, and then my mom yelled out, "Her name's Amber!"..."Happy BIRthday dear...AMBER!" they all sang, and I couldn't help but bury my face in my hands, and then the old man with shoulder length grey hair came to our table and toasted my youth and my mom for spending it with me, said "his poetry tonight was my youth," (woah - pretty deep stuff there), then he couldn't help but assure me youth doesn't last. Bright smiles. Big toast. Thank you's.
Youth doesn't last.
Thank you for reminding me, dear old man.
I joke about it, but really, is that a necessary reminder?
We shopped at the local thrift stores. I'm telling you, you can score big in these parts.
I got a new pair of running shoes (not at the thrift stores but at the DSW in Union Square) so I no longer have an excuse for not running the park. Ugh. I'm doing it, but I hate running. I'd much rather take a dance class, but wow, it's expensive. My last pair of running shoes lasted me about 8 years. No lie! Obviously, I didn't run in them much.
We killed a roach the size of my big toe - with Pledge and Seth's shoe. The only roach I've EVER seen in this apartment. With Pledge because I didn't have any Raid and it was the quickest solution. It worked! Slowed him down enough for mom to smash him with Seth's shoe while I stood on the couch barefoot. I don't smush roaches. I just can't. I hate that crackling noise when the shoe hits at just the right place.
And my stairwell smells like an animal crawled up the wall somewhere and died. Either that or someone in one of these apartment's is dead and nobody knows it. Creepy. The smell is disgusting. Not in my apartment, thank God, but definitely in the stairwell.
Gross.
Thanks Mom, for a fun-filled (roach and all) birthday weekend. Love you.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
29 Years Old
My birthday's tomorrow.
29 years old.
I think I'd rather turn 30.
29 seems blah.
Very depressing.
My mom's here for my birthday, so I'm a bit distracted from the blogosphere, which is always nice once and a while.
Seth's out of town for my birthday, but I'm TOTALLY fine with that because it actually means I can stay 28 for a few days longer. I don't REALLY turn 29 until I celebrate with him.
I made that rule up.
I like it.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Birthdays
I was in a cab the other day, and I remembered this thing my best friends and I used to do. I had this group of friends in college...we sang together. Traveled the country together, actually, singing and selling our records. But we did more than sing together. We were all a part of each other's lives in this beautiful way, a way in which we could all make a difference to each other. We were a family, really. The "family" sort of extended outward, I guess you could say, and a bunch of people were brought together. I was remembering something we used to do for birthdays and wishing my actual family would have done this for my brother's birthday.
To celebrate birthdays, we used to get a bunch of people together at someone's apartment, have cake and ice cream or whatever. Then we'd pull up chairs into a cozy fashion of sorts and have a "time of affirmation" for the celebrated person. That person sat while everyone took turns saying something affirming about him/her. Something about his or her character, something that person had done, anything at all that encouraged that person in who he or she was. In that way we celebrated his or her life. We remembered how thankful we were that God had placed that life in ours. There were always a lot of laughs and a whole lot of tears. But it was the best present anyone could get. On your birthday you knew more than anything that you were loved.
I wish we would have done that for my brother this week. I look forward to making new friends here and carrying on the tradition.
Thanks, Brody, for Positive Post Tuesday. I may not be diligent enough to remember to join in, but thank you for celebrating the lives of those you love and encouraging others to do the same thing.
To celebrate birthdays, we used to get a bunch of people together at someone's apartment, have cake and ice cream or whatever. Then we'd pull up chairs into a cozy fashion of sorts and have a "time of affirmation" for the celebrated person. That person sat while everyone took turns saying something affirming about him/her. Something about his or her character, something that person had done, anything at all that encouraged that person in who he or she was. In that way we celebrated his or her life. We remembered how thankful we were that God had placed that life in ours. There were always a lot of laughs and a whole lot of tears. But it was the best present anyone could get. On your birthday you knew more than anything that you were loved.
I wish we would have done that for my brother this week. I look forward to making new friends here and carrying on the tradition.
Thanks, Brody, for Positive Post Tuesday. I may not be diligent enough to remember to join in, but thank you for celebrating the lives of those you love and encouraging others to do the same thing.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
It was a Good Try...
8 and 1/2 hours to Tulsa, Oklahoma. 8 1/2 hours back. 17 hours total. That's how many hours we spent in the car this weekend for my father-in-law's surprise 60th birthday party. Only to find out, upon arrival in Tulsa, that the party was no longer a surprise. Someone accidentally spilled the beans.
At least they didn't tell us before we arrived. When you drive that many hours in a short amount of time, it helps to know that when you get there, you'll get the satisfaction of seeing a 60-year-old man flip out when he realizes that his family drove from across Texas to tell him they love him.
AHHhhhh, oh well. I love my in-laws, so I was excited to see them, surprise or no surprise. And my father-in-law was grinning from ear to ear the entire party.
He couldn't have cared less if it was a surprise.
At least they didn't tell us before we arrived. When you drive that many hours in a short amount of time, it helps to know that when you get there, you'll get the satisfaction of seeing a 60-year-old man flip out when he realizes that his family drove from across Texas to tell him they love him.
AHHhhhh, oh well. I love my in-laws, so I was excited to see them, surprise or no surprise. And my father-in-law was grinning from ear to ear the entire party.
He couldn't have cared less if it was a surprise.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
I don't believe in signs or anything, but I saw a link on Yahoo that I couldn't resist. It was a list of famous people with the Taurus sign. I clicked on it hoping to find Audrey Hepburn shared my birthday, or someone really great like that.
Guess who I found shares my birthday?
THIS guy!
Great. That's just great.
Guess who I found shares my birthday?
THIS guy!
Great. That's just great.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Happy Birthday to me!
I turned 28 yesterday. That sort of depresses me, but I know it shouldn't because that's still really young. Everyone has assured me that 28 is still really young. That doesn't change the fact that it depresses me. But, despite that, having such an amazing husband and family sure makes my birthday fun.
We went to the zoo! I've been wanting to go to the zoo for a whole month, ever since my 7 year old piano student's mom told me she took her kids to the zoo. So Seth, Mom, Dad, and I met my beautiful sister-in-law and her two kids at the Houston zoo. I've never been to the Houston zoo before, but I thought it was great! Much better than the Waco zoo where it takes about 30 minutes to see all the animals.
When we got there it took forever to find a parking spot. My dad tried to out drive every other person on the road to find an empty parking spot. Mom gasped and braced herself. Seth and I just sat in the backseat laughing as we watched my dad's gray curly hair flying from one side to the other as he whipped his head from side to side, looking for a spot to snag. Finally, my mom, yelled, "Well you're not going to find a parking spot going 55 miles per hour! Slow down!" She talked a little sense into him. He slowed down to 50.
Dad was a real trooper. We like to call him Gandalf The Gray. Here he is, equipped with map in hand. Already asking for directions 5 minutes into the park. Lead on, wise Gandalf!
We finally found my sister-in-law. Here's me and my sweet niece.
We saw lions and sea lions and elephants and monkeys and giraffes. My favorite was the baby elephant rolling around in the mud. And the giraffe, who looked right into the camera for me.
Of course they all paled in comparison to the crazy elephant that broke out and went after Seth!
But don't fear, fancied friends. Seth got away just in time to sit down to a healthy and wholesome lunch of Hot Dogs and Cheetos.
Not too long after lunch and a carousel ride, we went home to rest, and then off to Michaelangelo's for the birthday dinner, which was quite yummy. Seth and I had lobster and spinach ravioli for dinner complimented by a delicious Pinot Noir, and a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake for dessert. Very tasty and the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Thanks Mom and Dad for spending the day with us. Love you both!
We went to the zoo! I've been wanting to go to the zoo for a whole month, ever since my 7 year old piano student's mom told me she took her kids to the zoo. So Seth, Mom, Dad, and I met my beautiful sister-in-law and her two kids at the Houston zoo. I've never been to the Houston zoo before, but I thought it was great! Much better than the Waco zoo where it takes about 30 minutes to see all the animals.
When we got there it took forever to find a parking spot. My dad tried to out drive every other person on the road to find an empty parking spot. Mom gasped and braced herself. Seth and I just sat in the backseat laughing as we watched my dad's gray curly hair flying from one side to the other as he whipped his head from side to side, looking for a spot to snag. Finally, my mom, yelled, "Well you're not going to find a parking spot going 55 miles per hour! Slow down!" She talked a little sense into him. He slowed down to 50.
Dad was a real trooper. We like to call him Gandalf The Gray. Here he is, equipped with map in hand. Already asking for directions 5 minutes into the park. Lead on, wise Gandalf!
We finally found my sister-in-law. Here's me and my sweet niece.
We saw lions and sea lions and elephants and monkeys and giraffes. My favorite was the baby elephant rolling around in the mud. And the giraffe, who looked right into the camera for me.
Of course they all paled in comparison to the crazy elephant that broke out and went after Seth!
But don't fear, fancied friends. Seth got away just in time to sit down to a healthy and wholesome lunch of Hot Dogs and Cheetos.
Not too long after lunch and a carousel ride, we went home to rest, and then off to Michaelangelo's for the birthday dinner, which was quite yummy. Seth and I had lobster and spinach ravioli for dinner complimented by a delicious Pinot Noir, and a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake for dessert. Very tasty and the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Thanks Mom and Dad for spending the day with us. Love you both!
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