The greatest birthday month anyone could ask for

It used to always be a bust. Having your birthday two days after New Year's Eve. Everyone is pooped after the holidays, back to school, back to work. It's never really been a great time to have a birthday...but all that changed this year.

2009 will go down as the single best birthday celebratory year for me - ever. I've had more birthday parties, dinners, and drinks than I can count. It's truly been the most special year in that regards and I really enjoyed feeling what it was like to have a birthday month. I used to joke about people who would insist that the month of their birth entitled them to 30-days of celebration. But after experiencing a birthday month myself ...I'm sold!

It all started on Friday Jan 2nd, when Matt conconcted a truly clever plan to suprise me with a trip to the Roller Rink! Yes...skating! SO GOOD! Oh my god. I hadn't been roller skating since I was 12 or 13 so it was retrofabulous. He arranged for a big van to take 13 of us to the rink - we skated for about 1.5 hours and then we piled in the van to finish the party at Wilma and Andrew's place. It was truly the best birthday surprise I've EVER had. One of the best parts was doing the hokey pokey on skates. Matt wanted me to wear leg warmers and short-shorts but I was too nervous about looking crazy among all the twelve-year old girls. Everyone skated and did awesome! It was like riding a bike. It was so great. The most original and surprising birthdays I've ever been to - or been the guest of honor. Good one Matt! That one goes in the books and you've raised the bar for amazing birthday surprises. Thank you so much :-)

Then, the next eve, actually on my birthday, Wilma and Andrew threw the best and fanciest dinner party. Fine china. Champagne, wine, and martinis (of course). Great friends including Pandy, Matt, Andrew R, Myk, Monika, Jason, and Ashley. And a 4 course dinner of homecooked food they spent ALL day preparing. I have to share the menu cuz it was so delish. Course 1: Mushroom and onion soup. Course 2: Beef Burgenion with potatoes. Course 3: A cheese course with breads and nuts (SO DECADENT). Course 4: Bread pudding. Now, it was ALL amazing... but that bread pudding sent shivers through me. Foodgasms for days. We had an amazing evening and it really was such a great way to celebrate my actual birthday.

So to Matt, Wilma, and Andrew, thank you three for putting so much thought, effort, and love into making my birthday truly the best ever. I felt so special and loved.

The rest of the month seemed like it was an ongoing "Oh, let me get that...since I missed your birthday." or "Let's grab a birthday beer!" Let's not forget dinner with my family to celebrate me mid-month since I was out of town for my actual birthday. My mom even made me lasagna which she hasn't made for us since we were kids. I got to bring a whole pan of it home and got to continue the birthday love each night that week with yummy leftovers.

Then Don took me and Pandy out to an amazing evening to celebrate our collective birthdays. It was and eve of drinks then a nice dinner at "Orson" a hip newish place in SOMA - where the owner of the restaurant, Elizabeth Faulkner, actually came over to our table and started talking to us (she had to share her appreciation for the way I was eating her signature hamburger...God, what I must have looked like for her to be so compelled to approach us, hahaha). Then it was back out to the Pilsner to hang out with a bigger group of friends.

Then last week I went to a dinner and play with Ed, Vicki, and Louis, and he offered the dinner and play as my birthday gift! So sweet!

So I think I deconstructed the perfect formula for the optimal birthday month.
1. Birthday occurs at beginning of the month, kick starting the month as YOUR month. Sorry those of you with birthdays on the 20th and after.
2. Birthday occurs near a holiday, when people are busy, so they schedule alternate events later on
3. Spend it out of town with friends, so you can celebrate with friends - and then celebrate often later, when others try to "catch up with you" when you're back.
4. Tell everyone what a wonderful birthday month you're having so they feel compelled to participate in the love fest ;-) jk jk

In all seriousness, I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful friends that wanted to spend some time with me and celebrate the day I screamed out my first "Heeeeeey Grrrrl!!"