my birthday:

woke up, had coffee and opened presents. (digital camera--the first working camera i've owned in nearly three years--and some kitchen gadgets. i will have a kitchen to envy this fall.) ate coffeecake and drank more coffee.

went to the local gardens. they've nearly quadrupled since i used to take my campers there for hour-long jaunts. my parents and i spent three hours there and we still blitzed through the place. i could spend a whole day there if it weren't so damned hot! they have a butterfly wing you can walk through where 5000 butterflies are flying, eating, and makin' babies all around. i felt like i had to move so slowly and be so cautious...one of the rules of the enclosure is to look before walking or sitting to make sure you don't crush any of the precious insects. it was amazing. i felt so happy being around all that nature.

then we had a delicious lunch at the cafe. hummus plate, veggie sandwich, caramel hazelnut cheesecake. home for a nap and a shower.

i drove back to town and went over to erin's to try to rev up some energy. went across the street to hear some guys, um, rap. it was really surreal. this new guy we've been hanging out with is 46 years old and he's obsessed with tigers and celestial patterns. he finds awesome ashtrays at good will. and all his clothes are st. louis sports teams logos.

then i had to try to organize some people for supper. allen, natalie (yay!), clint, and i went for mexican and a bucket of corona. then they crashed out and played video games while i had drinks three and four. i was so proud of myself for not starting really early in the day and doing dumb drunk things. we went and got all dressed up and then started out. we were going to go dancing but nothing was going on so we went someplace a little more intimate. the bartender became my new pal and there was an awfully attractive boy who actually seemed interested in talking to me and i was wearing an awesome hat. we invented the phrase, "i'm going to go visit my jewish friend now." it means whatever you want it to mean. but it did have something to do with the bartender, and the awfully cute boy, and maybe smoking something in the bathroom.

we cruised around a little more before deciding to get gyros and then go home. i walked the whole way back barefoot, as did natalie. damn girly shoes.

fell asleep for seven lovely hours listening to the thunderstorm. met my mom at the grocery store in the morning, came home, prepared sweet corn for freezing with mom and dad.

not too bad of a night. calmer than it could have been, and many times better than last summer's b-day disaster.

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i got my chicago apartment assignment. one bedroom, furnished. just what i wanted.