Happy Birthday to Me! (and Lisa)!

ok....so...yesterday was my birthday...and Lisa's, too. She was my 3rd birthday gift! And, of course, we've always thought that made us special! lol She went to Galveston Friday and is spending four days with Kari & Warren. I should have gone. Instead I stayed home and mowed the lawn (and am getting calluses on my delicate fingers from it!!), watered the plants, worked on a doll for Averie (who is scheduled to arrive Thursday unless she decides to arrive on her daddy's birthday tomorrow--that would be special), read a book, cooked myself a special birthday breakfast, did laundry, and napped...I had birthday calls from Lori and Lisa at 7 AM! (they were on the beach---just wanted me to know! ha), Kari, Mother, Lindsey, Tricia & Ray and e-mail from Natalie.

Saturday I rec'd cards in the mail from 2 cats, Mother, Lisa and Lori....and a special package....it had a specially made tiara just for me!!!! It was made by Kris Hurst in Georgia (http://krislhurst.blogspot.com/ and http://www.shurst.etsy.com/). I granted her rights to use some photos from my Flickr account and she felt the need to not only send me three image CDs, but to also make me my very own tiara! Now you know that I've always thought I was born to wear one! LOL (and, btw, it is not easy to take a picture of yourself wearing a crown!)

Yes, I had to shower and put on make up (even mascara!) and get dressed just for this picture! (Ok...the truth is that I finished mowing the lawn and I needed a shower...and I was thinking I might go out to school and start weeding---yes, this requires make-up, too--SR staff are so much more clothes and personal appearance conscience than staff at Carver that it is like night and day! I never put forth the effort for Carver---my effort went in to enduring a 45 min. drive one way every flippin' day for two years! Don't get me wrong--I was very grateful for the job--I just hated the drive.)

Did I say which birthday...ok 51...because if I don't tell you then Lindsey will certainly make sure it is known! I'd planned to throw myself a 50th birthday party this year....but I haven't lost all the weight I want to lose....so the party is postponed until then....could be next year...could be the year after....but it will still be a 50th birthday party...no matter how old Lindsey says I am!

And I want to say Happy Birthday to my dear friend James today! July is THE month as far as birthdays....our dearest German friend, Alexandra Biederbeck's is the 7th (it has been 10 yrs. since we've seen her, but we keep in touch and hope to see each other again someday), Rickey's is the 14th, Warren's the 17th, mine and Lisa's the 20th, James' the 21st, Brent's the 22nd, newly arrived Averie McGinnis is the 24th, Lindsey's the 25th, Vickie's the 26th, and my sweet departed friend Victor's was the 30th....and I could name a dozen more people I know who were born in July.

July people are special....and some of us like to wear tiaras!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Once I was gainfully employed again last year and receiving insurance benefits, I decided that I needed a really spectacular birthday gift to myself in the upcoming year. Why? Well, because it is the big 5-0 milestone, that's why. What better gift to give myself than one of better health with half of me gone!!

In late October I googled for lapband surgery in Dallas. I looked no further than the first hit that I received and immediately e-mailed them to sign up. On the following Monday, I had a follow-up phone call from them and I signed up to attend a required seminar with the surgeon on the next Saturday. Kari and I attended and we both felt very comfortable with the level of care, attention, and follow-up that is provided. So....began the journey.

I've been planning to throw myself a birthday party to celebrate the milestone achievement and invite family and close-est, best-est friends, but with all the juggling that has been going on all summer with trying to get final approval and pre-op and surgery scheduled (not to mention my full-time summer job with Edison--I could NOT turn that down!), not to mention the weather---who knew whether it would be 110 like the past several years or flooding? I've decided to "wear the crown" and put off the party until next year. If the Queen doesn't have to celebrate her birthday on the actual date, then neither do I! I'll feel better, look better (ok...there is a touch of vanity showing here!) and not have all this scheduling mess going on at the same time.

So....happy birthday to me....today!!

P.S. I did not just admit my age, did I??