Oct2

My birthday month, part 1

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My birthday month, part 1

On September 6, Hubby and I drove 45 minutes to see a Pearl Jam cover band we’d seen once before on what was one of the best nights of my life. Their set was shorter this time, so only slightly less awesome.

They had an opener–a cover band for Creed. I only knew half the songs, but I loved those songs. Also, the singer performed on this small stage as though in front of a massive audience. He was so thrilled by the dozen or so people gathered on the dance floor in front of him.

It was charming. A little sad. But still charming. I was pleased he walked by me later so I could tell him he had done a fantastic job, because he really had.

This guy got suuuuuper into dancing and working the stage. More than one form of entertainment going on here.

A woman dancing off to the side made me think, “I wish I was as uninhibited as that cool chic.” Then she turned around and I thought, “Oh! Grandma!”

I did a subtle scan of the room and leaned to Hubby. “Is it me, or are we bringing down the average age of this crowd?” He likewise did a casual glance then nodded.

Our musical tastes are ahead of our time, apparently. But these older folks knew how to break it down. It gave me hope that I’ll still be fun in my 60s.

A larger crowd gathered for the Pearl Jam band. The singer stepped onto the floor to sing right next to people who were filming.

“I’m going to get in on this,” I told Hubby. So I hopped up and, sure enough, the singer got next to me so I could film the two of us as he sang a portion of “Black” directly to my screen.

When I sat down, eager to see the footage, I found that I hadn’t actually hit record until he was walking away from me.

Facepalm.

Back to the stage he goes.

Since this was at a bar, Hubby asked what I wanted to drink. “Hmm… What’s on my drink bucket list? Oh! (I thought of Mark.) An Old Fashioned!”

“Okay, what’s in it?”

“I have no idea.”

“Alright.” Hubby went to the bar and came back with a delicious drink and said, “He asked me what kind of whiskey I wanted, so I told him he could choose.”

“Uh-oh,” I said.

“Yeah. So he reached for the top shelf.”

“Of course he did.”

Maybe this is blurry because my hand was shaking when he told me the cost. It was either $11 or $14. We can’t remember.

I told him, “That’s okay. I just decided to add ‘get a top shelf drink’ to my bucket list. And now I can cross it off.”

The Big Day

If I use my Starbucks card somewhere during the previous year, I get a free drink on my birthday. Hubby retrieved it for me that morning, so I woke up to this:

Who else is thinking the barista could have lined that up better with the drink hole? But it was free, so I’m not quibbling.

I tried to go for broke with my morning Wordle.

Apparently the NYTimes didn’t get the memo that it was my birthday.

My lunch was made and waiting for me in the fridge, along with a love note–one of many scattered throughout the house.

Here are three of my favorite notes:

I totally did correct the spelling. Anyone else?

My seven-year-old made a card.

He drew a “Meaw party” complete with a “disco meaw”–a cat head disco ball. No idea how he came up with that. (Mildly disturbing, but he’s 7. And a boy.)

The house was also decked out.

The window above my desk.
Heading into the kitchen.

Hubby got me goofy gifts.

Mouse Rat is Chris Pratt’s band in the show Parks and Recreation, which we’re currently rewatching. (P.S. I happen to be wearing this shirt as I type.)
A close up of the stickers, which came as a bonus with the shirt. I put the left one on my water bottle and the right one on the van gas cap.

And a less goofy gift:

A random assortment of delicious coffee.

The Annual Birthday Coffee Date

Apparently I really like coffee. A couple of days after my birthday, “Hillary,” Neighbor, and I went back to that Panaderia we stopped at for Neighbor’s birthday. I loved that place’s old world charm.

Giant mixer.
Some other old thing. No idea.
A dollar a piece for each of those pastries.
The 50c cabinet. I grabbed a lemon muffin on the right.

Neighbor and I both got a small coffee. That, with my muffin, came to… are you ready? Want to guess first?

$3. The coffee wasn’t good coffee, but you get what you pay for, so it was fine.

It was too hot to sit inside, so we ended up on a bench outdoors. Then the sun hit us, and it became uncomfortable before long. (We were at the tail end of a stupid, ridiculous heat wave.)

Since our coffee date was truncated, Hillary requested a do-over. I’ll get to that in Part 2.

Trivia Time

The $149.99, 26 pound candy is a gummy bear. {Shudder.}

New question (somewhat related): This sugary company is the official sponsor of the London Eye Ferris wheel.

Hint: Think beverage.

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81 responses »

  2. That sounds like a great birthday over all.

    Well, except for that sad sack singer. I’m sorry, but I just cringed when I read your paragraph about him being happy about a handful of people. Second hand embarrassment is real! 😦

    Total guess, but is the company Coke?

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    • I’m also all for birthmonth! Who was crazy enough to relegate such an important occasion to just a single day? To quote the immortal Asterix & Obelix “these Romans are crazy” 🤪

      And it gives me the opportunity to join in the festivities despite my absence and missing the day the celebration started 🎉 🙌 🎈 🙌 🎉

      I LOVE the random notes. Once, after a visit to my mom’s, I left a bunch of notes around, some easy to find, some that she would only find days later (amongst canned goods or in the bottom of the laundry basket, for example). It helps with the theme of “birthmonth” 🥳

      And I noticed the cute tshirt helped in the signing of the book contract, love that!

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  5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

    I often lower the average age of an audience when I show up, concerts are getting grayer by the year.

    and Coke Cola was the sponsor from 2015 until 2020 when it changed to the travel company lastminute.com … which is when I normally go looking for hotels and concerts, at the last minute. 😉

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  9. Dang it. I really, really wanted to see the “Black” video. You know what they say: pics or it didn’t happen!

    How’d you like the Old Fashioned? (I once paid $14 for one, in Wyoming of all places. Here they’re typically $9 or so.)

    Annnnd, happy belated birthday. Love the Mouse Rat shirt! Too late to try for the trivia, I see. Good to know that Coke is it.

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  10. Happy Birthday! Or should I say ‘nappy birthday’ 🤣🤣🤣I love your creative gifts and I might add that the Double Donut Hazelnut kcup is delicious!!! Next time I’m in SoCal, we are meeting up for some cheap pastries🤓🤓🤓

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  14. Happy Birthday! A birthday month? Damn. I only claim a “birthday weekend.” Clearly I’m doing it wrong.
    Of course I corrected the spelling. I teach English for a living.
    That sounds about right for a cocktail. By “right” I mean “typical, but ridiculous.”
    Parks and Rec has been on a constant loop in our house for several years. The Husband has that same t-shirt!

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  15. Age is just a number, Betsy. I bet you will be dancing without inhibition on that dance floor in your 60s one day!

    Haven’t heard the name Creed in a long while. Takes me back!

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    • I haven’t listened to Creed in ages, so it was fun to hear again. Both singers sounded like the original singers to a decent degree too, which made it that much more fun.

      Hopefully in my 60s I’ll care less what others think and will dance my heart out! Thanks, Ab!

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Coke is correct according to my trivia book, though that’s outdated according to Andrew’s comment, if you want the 411.

      The $3 would be normal for a muffin these days, BUT that $3 was for the muffin and two small coffees!

      The notes are the best. I’m a lucky girl. 🥹

      Liked by 1 person

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  22. Things we have in common: 1) We’ve both tried an old-fashioned (do you know many people get it wrong by calling it an “old-fashion”,?) 2) Our morning coffee comes from little pods (mine are Nespresso), 3) We both play Wordle (and please tell me “happy” is not always your starting word), and 4) We are both love San Diego (and I am endlessly jealous you get to live there all the time while I am subject to the availability of our family’s vacation home). As for the dancing scene, I’m closer in age to “Grandma” but closer in reluctance-to-breakout to you 😉 Happy Birthday, Betsy!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Lol! No, happy has never been my starting word except on that one day. 😛
      Where is your vacation home? You rent it out as an air bnb type thing? Or you have a standard air bnb house you rent?
      I think I’d be closer to dancing if I’d had a second Old Fashioned. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Our house is in Del Mar and our extended family uses it enough to where Airbnb wouldn’t make sense. My dad grew up in Escondido and bought the property at a time when Del Mar was just a race track and a train station. Today it’s quite the chic little seaside village, of course. I have endless happy memories from my childhood on the beach. It is my summer go-to for my annual fix of “coast”.

        Liked by 1 person

  23. Glad you had a good birthday. And yes, you can still have fun in your 60’s. Even your 70’s and 80’s. Even an old great-great grandma like me can still shake it and have fun! Of course, if I shake it too much I will probably be in bed the next day. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  27. Pingback: Wake me up when September ends. -Green Day | Motherhood and Martial Arts

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