Today is 1 September, which, for those of you playing at home know, is the first day of
Birthday Week. Neal tried to argue last night that, technically, a
week is 7 days and if you count Wednesday to Wednesday, that is 8 days. Therefore,
Birthday Week should not start until tomorrow. I had to explain to him, using small words and speaking slowly, that Wednesday to Wednesday is one week and therefore
Birthday Week starts today. He finally relented, mostly because he fell asleep mid-sentence. If you are a
Birthday Week hater or you would like to argue Neal's case for him, I will kindly point you in the direction of his blog, as your kind are no longer welcome here.
Birthday Week starts today. Period.
And to prepare for such an event, I have located birthday pictures from the past 3 years. I'm not sure where the others are stored, but they aren't on the external hard drive and since I'm supposed to be packing and not blogging, it will just have to wait. Without further ado, the last 3 years:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawntDZJhpRi5N_sjUAqpYP0by2eC2DNiqr1g0yU-7LK40tJFA04Onuqv8H7cR8ow9u7_rh5lxN3BeOJPTQzS5n5cuw8Q28DBup-NjI18LVpQ9z11kpZMeboIfXmrHozpoe5bTZjJax7gU/s320/PICT0042.JPG)
This is me, Curly Sue, and our waitress at Don Pablo's. Apparently said waitress was a carrying a small case of the Bubonic Plague because sometime around midnight, I began to feel like I had been run over, backed over, and then run back over by a semi. Two days later, as I stumbled into the UTC, wheezing, sneezing, and leaking from all of my holes, I ran into Curly Sue sitting in the waiting room. There are not that many illnesses/injuries that will push you to the head of the line at a UTC. Low oxygen count
is one of them. Come to find out I had pneumonia.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3wIJ8WgWVHABHtzZDQVRWHFSaT7snzt0FZFE5wcTXOcmPAB5b_JhwmzBDmJ_zn4PZQwd72Jq3n5ZQIrfwXkfdDKulPlmHdsBNnvXayk8Oyj49YqDMXr4Fmi3IA3cYg3WtEGgEVLo51gb/s320/PICT0006.JPG)
Actually, it was double pneumonia which, as it turns out, is
not double the fun. Breathing treatments are the pits, especially when they refuse to give you a dragon face for your inhaler because you're "too old" or some such crapola.
Happy 29th Birthday to me!The next year, I fared better....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iqAJmKrkVc4NkcJTl4MpZpNlNgPfjllip8IkL-RMs10dQkOv7trcK8XAOUoc4xVW-Kn9p17Mxo0vwtYbxWjkCsXOJ6Pg6wBi4-sxpT6ChWeQH6Vt2tGugHI09Dbnn6ozhh736JycxtlN/s320/DSC01545.JPG)
Dinner at
The Black Tulip, before it met its untimely demise. Curly Sue and Mama Virgo and not pictured: Army Dad, Suzy Stepmom, and Grandma Gaga.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwNuU6Y5KiEf7WwSS9qKLgozbisKv2T1rhfDRzdAzqfkRSXML7kD8qNpU6e5wYDvWyAnAXif5W8uPmuBSSwSoYXHt0CtjV7yYhEwy6lzW4SLXSrLm8yPTNEmgvk6qd9EitgRKzcZyO0_d/s320/DSC01521.JPG)
I was also treated to fondue with the girls. Any reason to eat at The Melting Pot seems like a stellar reason to me. The food is so good, we had out-of-body experiences, apparently. Neal is noticeably absent from these photos as he was in Kuwait for that year. So, double pneumonia last year, husband at war this year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL89CZha1RIP54DQ7HpGwLtJB5wCbJy_SpAL-XIki9FOa3bnF-EzmvWwHh1vuzW1c2aIV64frUimoRgQhc7Qg4a3bpeWvToLs5Ybd2rSq5by5r8H3oyUHL7oN36GhEBbEJTpVbU5m5Wshy/s320/IMG_0134.JPG)
Neal thinks this photo is HI-LAR-EE-US....at almost 17 weeks pregnant, I was feeling a little like a beached whale...although Motherhood Maternity does a pretty decent job of selling clothing that makes you look less like one. We took a week trip to Philly and Baltimore to celebrate my birthday and our first stop was this Museum of Sciences in Philadelphia. As soon as I stepped in front of the fat mirror, Neal was firing off photos. Such a loving husband. Exactly 7 days later, Shepherd was delivered. If I had known then what I know now, I would have never made it past the state line.
I am infatuated with my birthday. I don't get hung up on numbers or what it all means to be "in my 30's." I'm often mistaken for someone 5 years younger, so what does it matter how old I am when I am not pegged for being in my 30's? Aside from the whole "biological clock" thing that has gone from a windchime to Uncle Ben in the past 6 months, I'm pleased as peaches to be turning 32 next week. I can't imagine being any other age. Besides, now that the average life expectancy has exceeded 70, I still have more than half of my life ahead of me. And what better day to start celebrating than today? Oompah! It's
Birthday Week!
Happy 8 days until your birthday darlin'!
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that this year's birthday is free from illness and sadness and filled with Neal not being in a war zone!
ReplyDeleteBirthday week! birthday week! Wednesday to Wednesday is TOTALLY a week and don't let anybody tell you differently. I celebrate mine for at LEAST that long, if not longer. Do it to it, girl. Hope it's a great one and a nice, happy, relaxing 8 days...or more if you want. :)
ReplyDeleteyay!! happy birthday week lady! i am all for birthday week- hell i would even go with birthday month! hope it is a fab week filled with lots of champagne!! every night is champagne night during birthday week.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Week, Ally. A wise man told me - when I was 19 and he was nearly 40 - that the 30's are the best decade for women. Way sexy, according to him. I'm just saying...
ReplyDeleteSweeeeeeeeeeet! Girl, I don't know what you're talking about with birthday week... I go all out with a birthday MONTH. :) But only because Jason does and I should get at least everything that he does. Ha.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what this week (and year!) holds for you........
totally a week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY kinda. cant wait to see this year's pics!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday week. And I have always thought you are as young as you feel. I'm only 25 (heheh really 53) but I feel and play like I'm 25.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned your birthday MONTH starts today!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK, GORGEOUS!!! I wish I was there to celebrate. You know...your birthday and my half birthday. :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I had your outlook on age! I'm turning 27 on the 16th and that is freaking me out!!
ReplyDeleteHooray for birthday week! I love it! I'm like you when it comes to birthdays. The number doesn't count! I don't look my age anyway, so who cares? Plus, it's a blessing to receive the gift of another year of life. It deserves to be celebrated! I can't wait to see what adventures your birthday week has in store for you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Darling! <:D
A whole week of birthday fun! Yay! You seriously look so adorable in that yellow maternity top. :) But then you even look cute in that pneumonia shot!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK! I'm glad you celebrate in style. Just try to stay healthy this year, okay? I liked being in my 30s. I think it brings more confidence, a sense that you are who you are meant to be (not just on the way to being who you will become), stuff like that. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK!
ReplyDeleteThe thirties are the best! *high five*
And you don't look a day over twenty two, anyway!
Kelly
Well, a very happy birthday week to you! We're just about the same age and I learned long ago not to worry so much about the numbers either. That actually happened when I turned 30 though. Maybe it's because we're closer to where we want to be at this age? In any event, I hope you have some fun stuff planned!!
ReplyDeleteLOL, your hubby cracks me up.
Happy Birthday Week! I was raised with birthday week. My father always insisted on it, and really, who is anyone to argue with Daddy?
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday week! I hope this is the best one yet!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Week!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to find you something truly fabulous now!! Hugs!
I like that your birthday is kind of like Hannukah.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that these have been some 8 crazy nights!
Also, happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK DO YOU DARLING!!! I Hope you have an amazing one that will blow those others out of the water!!! oxoxo
ReplyDeleteWHERE ARE YOU???????????
ReplyDeleteI hope everything is ok.....worried over here!