cupcake.

Whew. I have been so busy at work, I haven't had any time to write about my birthday weekend! Recapping my birthday seems hard and like it was a very long time ago since it was such a break from the routine. I had Monday off as well, which significantly contributes to this feeling.

Well, it was great. No Olive the pug, but lots of other great things. All week my mountain of pink and silver presents were beaming at me from the window, just torturing me. The anticipation was so good; now it is so, so disappointing that it's over. My parents got me the three presents I asked for. A sweater, silver ballet flats, and new jeans. The jeans were not quite what I wanted since I already had the same pair which is one with a unique butt design, so I really only need one in my life. The idea was to get a more basic, but still my favorite brand, in a size bigger. The ones that came were the right size, the same size as the other ones. I am quite difficult and picky about the jeans, as everyone should know. But, mom said I can exchange them for whatever other ones I want and that she'll pay the difference, which is nice. My brother got me a Targ*t giftcard, but when I went to use it on Monday, there turned out to be no money on it! So I put my purchases back, called my mom to complain and she simply responding by asking why I didn't just put the items on her credit card that sits in my wallet untouched. This never would have occurred to me and I was very frustrated that I would have to mail it back and wait for it to return. I have gotten so used to my independent adult life, I completely forgot that their credit card was there, let alone an option for such a circumstance.

My Pickle did the best job with the presents. They were coordinated pink and silver, like I mentioned, and she had rubbed on silver transfers saying Happy Birthday, and my name on the pink ones with silver letters. On Saturday morning before my Birthday, in bed, I got to open one present. It was a case for my nano! The very case that protects all parts of the nano and you can still use all the functions with. Saturday Pickle baked cupcakes (vanilla with vanilla, my favorite) which is an impressive gesture because Pickle hates cake. hates. it. I went to Forev*r 21, my favorite store ironically, since I am no longer be 21 and was going there for my last 21-year old shopping trip for a $12 birthday top. I knew that the only store I could find a party top for $12 was FEver 21...Pickle cleaned the house while I shopped. We got ready for dinner and were joined by my sister, brother-in-law, and 2 friends. We were expecting more people to show up (3 more!) but they didn't. I was disappointed since they left us under the distinct impression that they would be joining us and frankly, it is just plain rude since we had a table for 9 or whatever. After dinner was champagne and cupcakes which got an additional friend, but lost my sister and BIL. 2 bottles of champagne, many sprinkled cupcakes later, the 4 of us were ready to go out! And we got as "out" as 4 blocks from home. One friend lost her cellphone (it was actually at our house) and her jacket, Pickle left her credit card at the bar where she had a tab open (the last place we were at), and I threw up. I thought it was a great birthday! It is also possible that I lost my keys, but I am pretty sure I didn't bring them out at all and they are lost in the house somewhere. The keys are still missing and I have called the bars already and they are still lost. I really really don't want to change the locks. It would be so expensive and that is the only way since we can't make a copy of our front door key since it is that special security kind where you just have to change the locks. So annoying. Well, since I haven't gotten sick from drinking in a while, if any time were appropriate, my 22nd certainly was!

Sunday I opened the rest of my presents and we went to brunch and had taco night! The other presents were from Pickle, and I got 5 glass candlesticks from cb2 that are different bubble-looking like things, but 2 of them match in case we want formal ones. She got me a janet cd (I had to return since I had it, but that was OK) and I also got a new polka-dot strand bag and the best present of all--a real coffeetable book on my favorite artist Elizabeth Peyton!
On Sunday we went to celebratory brunch, Pearl R*very Mart to buy a Wok and cheap decorative bowls, and Beacon's Closet for cheap jewelry. A birthday day well spent!

Now, I am back to adult life where Pickle and I are working on cutting down on our drinking. It is a strange transition since everyone drinks every night in college. Or at least, all of us did by the end. I don't want to change the habit of having 1 cocktail after work + a bottle of wine with dinner, but usually that is the minimum and I know it would be better for us and save us money, but at the same time, we buy our wine for $3 at TJ's, so not much and also, we don't really go out so it is my compensation. But I know we should, I just don't want to. Do I really need to worry about health that much? I quit smoking, for goodness sake! Therefore, I should be entitled to drink as much as I want. It is usually the case, too. But, then, when I ask Pickle if I can have another, she always says yes because there's no good reason to say no since I can most certainly make sure I can go to work in the morning by myself, and because we don't have anyone to moderate us. That is the thing about being an adult. No one is here to tell you to moderate. There aren't any rules! Mwah hah hah! I can do whatever I want and I think (to a certain extent) I should be able to enjoy that new freedom for a while before I have to make so many rules just for myself and for the fact of making rules. I'm rambling and not making much sense, but it just seems silly that at 22 (barely!) I should be so worried about drinking too much. It seems like everyone else is encouraging me to be 22 and that I have much more time to worry so much.