tea berry-blue

Tomorrow is my birthday. I know birthdays bring ambivalence for a lot of people, but several years ago, someone very wise said to me that birthdays should be about celebrating the miracle that each one of us exists at all. And I’ve carried that sentiment with me, and it’s brought me a lot of joy.

Looking back at this year, it has been a really important one for me. It’s been full of turmoil and triumph in equal parts. But I’ve become a more confident, more self-assured, braver, stronger, person this year. I have made new friends who’ve made my life richer, forged stronger bonds that turned friendly acquaintances into true friendships, rekindled relationships with old friends without missing a beat.

A year ago, I was in Texas, and Katie threw me a party. It was one of those moments when I knew that the distance between people doesn’t have to mean that we have to be distant, that there are tiny points of love around the world leading back to each one of us.

So I want to thank every single one of you. Whether I haven’t spoken to you in years and you still take a moment to comment on my internet posts, or you’ve been physically there to pick me up when I’ve been crushed under the weight of dark days, you mean something to me. You are important. Whether you’ve helped me shoulder my worst struggles and told me that things would get better, or showed me disinterested and unexpected kindness, I value it. You’ve been patient when I’ve made mistakes and stubborn when I needed a push. You’ve believed in me, shown me compassion and challenged me to go further than I would have been able to on my own. You’re the reason I am braver, stronger, better than I was a year ago. And if you are sitting there reading this, and wondering if this is about you, the answer is yes. Yes, it is.

Thanks and love.

I am going to be 33 this summer!

People! I would like to do something awesome for my birthday. Make recommendations. Plausible recommendations are dependent on budgetary consideration and the assumption that I can take two, maybe three days off work at the most. I do have a weekend birthday this year, so figure that means four or five days of excitement.

Local people, feel free to recommend local whatnots, which can probably be done independently of anything else I do, as I would of course love to have birthday shenanigans with all of you!

Let's talk about what a nerd I am. Here is my list of things I want for my birthday:

1) a new desk chair
2) a cask from Tuthilltown (which is where I went for my birthday last year)
3) Pretty much every bitters sold at Cocktail Kingdom sells that I don't already own.
4) A real gelato maker, so I'm not stuck with my $25 ice cream maker for the rest of eternity.
5) Original art for my walls.

Is that too much for a lady to ask for?

all i want for my birthday, i've decided, is for someone to perform the jack black birthday song from SNL. is that so much to ask?

note the song selection. i listened to it on repeat all day at work for the past 2 days.

i want a gin palace.

all i want for my birthday, i've decided, is for someone to perform the jack black birthday song from SNL. is that so much to ask?

note the song selection. i listened to it on repeat all day at work for the past 2 days.

i want a gin palace.