Allow me to take you back in time several weeks. Hop aboard.
Sep28
Category Archives: My birthday
Oct31
Wake me up when September ends. -Green Day
I could also call this “My birthday month, Part 2… No, really!”
Yes, I know it’s nearly November. I’m behind at life. Also, I must clear Mrs. Instructor’s name by stating that she was in no way demanding I post my stories about her. Unlike her predecessors, Chex Mix Guy and Sensei, she has not become an attention monster. You know who else hasn’t? Surfer Dude. He knows full well about this blog and has never, to my knowledge, checked out what I’ve written about him. Wouldn’t you think he’d at least be curious? Amazing.
Okay. On with the pics, etc.
When we last saw our intrepid heroes, Heather, Neighbor, and Ilsa planned a coffee date do-over, this time at a joint called Archer’s Arrow, totally chosen by me for the name alone.
Oct2
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.
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!”
Apr6
Our neighbors are moving and a time capsule
Calm down. Not Beloved Neighbor, but others we really like too. It’s super sad. Yesterday she texted our little mini neighbor group that there’s stuff in their garage anyone is welcome to.
We stopped by.
Let’s just think of it as us helping them out, keeping them from making multiple trips to Goodwill, rather than perusing someone else’s junk for freebies, mmkay? We were happy to lighten their carload. Goodwill isn’t that close, after all.
I HAD been thinking about getting a Dustbuster. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find the charger, so I’ll get to use it for so long as the battery holds. What to do with it after that? Errr. No idea.
There was also one of those cool cupcake carrying bins that would’ve come in handy in the past, and now will in the future. Outdoor Christmas lights? Sure, why not? Some Hardy Boys books I hope Joe will enjoy when he’s older. A couple of sleeping bags that may prove useful. And then…
Sep11
Birthday shenanigans
From my BBBB (Beloved Birthday Blog Buddy) Ju-Lyn: Can’t wait to see what Birthday shenanigans you get up to this year😆🤩
Me: Oh, I will shenanigan like the wind, Ju-Lyn!
First of all, remember Snowball Man, whom I ran into another night The Band played? We exchanged emails, so I was able to invite him to BBBB. (This time, Betsy’s Birthday Band Bash. Keep up.) He wrote back:
You just made my day! Will make sure that day is clear and will wear body amour. I tore the muscle in my throwing arm unloading a 300 lb tub so I’ll have to throw left handed……………which should make it fair this time.
Then three days before the big night, he wrote:
I got rescheduled to work Saturday. Was going to go shopping all day for your present but now I’ll have to rush into Pic and Save and hope something is left on the blue light special table. Hopefully I’ll get there while there are still some tables (within throwing distance). Don’t want to miss you……….. with a snowball of course.
And he really did get me a gift. I was surprised and impressed.
Then I saw the envelope:
Apr7
From snowballs to softballs
Last Friday, when Hubby and I attended a gig for that local band I’m fond of, I spotted someone who maybe sort of looked familiar.
“Do you see that man over there in the white jacket?” I asked Hubby. “Is that the guy I had the snowball fight with?”
Hubby wasn’t sure, but he knew who I meant. For my birthday two years ago, I booked the band at a brewery where I was friends with the bartender. I had gotten permission from him to bring 150 fake snowballs. One man in attendance that night was particularly into the ensuing fight, especially when it came to throwing snowballs at me.
“Should I ask if it’s him?” I said to Hubby.
“If you want,” he said, not nearly as perplexed by this mystery as I was.
But how to broach the subject with this possible total stranger? “Did I have an epic snowball battle with you nearly two years ago?” Or perhaps I would start slower: “Have you heard this band play before? Do you remember a time they played and there was a snowball fight?”
Without fully figuring out my approach, but curiosity getting the better of me, I announced, “I’m going to go find out.”
Sep21
My Birthday Part 2: What Actually Happened
One great thing from last year’s birthday that I WAS able to preserve this year was having brunch with two of my besties, including Neighbor. I checked off a minor bucket list item of finally trying an açaí bowl. It did not disappoint.
And, Neighbor got me two of my favorite guilty pleasures:
That evening, since my Grand Band Plan didn’t work out, I invited friends to hang out at a restaurant. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly (not in that order):
I opened the restaurant door on my foot, thus cutting my toe. I’ll spare you yet another foot injury pic. It didn’t bleed or hurt much, so whatever, but it wasn’t a terrific start to the night.
To the 20-something waitress who showed us to our table, I said, “I like your nose ring. I thought about getting one too, [note to readers: not seriously. Just making conversation.] but I do Jiu-Jitsu, so I’d have to take it in and out before and after each class.”
“Oh, yeah, and they close up so quickly,” she said. “That’s awesome you do Jiu-Jitsu. So did my mom.”
And just like that, I go from relating to a 20-something to being compared to her mom, which, to be fair, is more accurate.
We were given two outdoor tables: numbers 9 and 10, which I thought appropriate, since my birthday was 9/10. 🙂
Our time at the restaurant was pleasant, and the weather was unnoticeable, which is to say, it was perfect. I was surprised that many friends gave me cards. Here are a couple (slideshow) from a fellow pun-lover and a friend who also appreciates the joy of randomness:
Writing and Martial Arts 