The birthday festivities have already started. I’m convinced that we celebrate birthdays so that we don’t cry over them. Just kidding…30 is monumental but not upsetting to me. Hey, I still get carded!

My first birthday surprise was a gift that arrived last week from David, Leslie, and Corinne…my brother and his family. It was the sugar and creamer set of my Christmas dishes. I owe my set to David since he’s bought me something from the Pfaltzgraff “Winterwood” pattern every year since I think I’ve been married. It just so beautiful and classic in styling. I love the green color, berries, and the little bird (which reminds me of the Maine state bird). I could use these all winter long and not just for Christmas if I wanted. Anyway, big thanks for kicking off my birthday with a bang! On top of this they’ll be coming down to celebrate at the party Joe is throwing for my birthday this coming weekend. This is the best gift of all…to be able to party with my friends and family.

On Friday night Joe said, “Let’s go for a ride in the new car.” So, we headed to one of our regular Friday night dates for Pho at “Pho 99″. For those of you that don’t know what that is…it’s Vietnamese soup. After that he drove me to South Coast Plaza and we shopped in the Metro area where Crate & Barrel, the Apple Store, and Restoration Hardware are. Joe bought me some really neat stuff for my birthday there.

He got me a leather belt case for my iPod so that I can wear it while exercising plus some iPod socks. That’s right, socks for your iPod to protect it but in stylishly colored socks.

As if that wasn’t enough, he found out that I wanted a mirror for the vanity that was my grandmother’s. It’s so hard for us to share the bathroom in the morning, due in part because he isn’t a girl, I’m convinced, because my sister and I did it for years…but I digress. Anyway, I’m always putting my make-up on when he needs to use the sink area and so I told him that if I had more light and a mirror on a stand, I could primp at the vanity. So, viola! Restoration Hardware had a double-sided, lighted extension mirror that is now mine! Joe installed it today for me and it’s just perfect! I can’t wait to use it tomorrow morning. I think my memere would be happy that the vanity is actually being used for something other than just storage. Don’t worry mom and dad…I won’t use nail polish remover anywhere near it. (That’s a long story for a different day…)

On Saturday night Joe and I met up with my friend Kim, her fiance Jason, and his cousin Anthony at The Yard House in Long Beach. Kim was nominated by one of her students for a John Hopkins grant for teachers. Today she was to receive her award. I’m so proud of her! Since she was already going to be in Marina Del Rey for this event she asked to take me out to dinner for my birthday! We met in the middle at the Yard House and had a wonderful meal that I ended with their fabulous Lemon Souffle! It was so great to see them! Whenever I see her I always realize how much I really do miss her. She’s a special person.

I’m looking forward to having my family visit and seeing our friends and family for the festivities this coming weekend. Everyone has been pretty good about keeping the details from me. You know that not having my hands it the details is just about killing me…but is so great at the same time. I’m off to prepare the house for visitors and to finish the laundry.

I probably won’t be posting much this week so have a good one.

To be continued…