A Life Worth Celebrating

Ah… the birthday: no other occurrence is first so loved and later so dreaded. As kids we just can’t wait for birthdays but as adults we loath them, avoid them, ignore them- whatever it takes to pretend to ourselves and others that our lives are suspended in a state of constancy.

I ordered what turned out to be a monstrous steak that barely fit on my plate.
It got a little cold outside at Log Haven once the sun went down so I used my napkin to keep me warm; it didn't work too well.

Luckily for me I don’t have issues with these annual events. Unlike many of my fellow adults, I see life as a blessing at any age and I don’t intend to waste any moments of it lamenting the end of another year, especially when I could be out doing something cool instead of pouting. Sure, I have a few more wrinkles now than I did a decade ago and they will only increase as time moves forward but I’ve enjoyed the years and smiles that brought me those lines so I have no regrets.

This fantastic cake was made by my friend Robyn. It depicts my glorious
This fantastic cake was made by my friend Robyn. It depicts me gloriously conquering the half marathon I'm running next month.

Since I don’t view my birthdays as a curse, I have no problem celebrating them with gusto. Why squander a chance to get together with the people who have added love, meaning, and laughter to your life or eat yummy food until your stomach is ready to mutiny?

Robyn and her girls are some of my favorite ladies. Yes, they are her children.
Robyn and her girls are some of my favorite ladies. Yes, they are her children. I know, I know- she looks way to young to have children that age. You'll just have to believe me.

Fortunately, I have a husband that doesn’t believe in skimping on the celebrating either. He made me a delicious Cabo style birthday breakfast, which took him so long to prepare that it turned into more of a late lunch. And then, as if I hadn’t already snarfed enough fresh salsa and grilled sausage, he took me to Log Haven for dinner. We ate our delicious meal out on their patio with the grandeur of the mountains all around us. It was lovely. The evening was completed by the lighting of a series of fireworks at my in-laws’ and dancing around their hypnotic glow like a bunch of deranged tribesmen.

Jeremy, Jason, and I barely pulled off the wallyball tournament victory.
Jeremy, Jason, and I barely pulled off the wallyball tournament victory. I am proud to say that my spike was involved in our winning point. It was probably the only useful thing I did for my team the whole time.

The next day Jason had planned a repeat of last year’s wallyball/ping pong/billiards extravaganza with all of our friends. This event was held in the same two rooms at Noah’s as last year and it was a lot of fun again the second time around. I lost miserably at pool to my friend Robyn and then lost miserably at ping pong to pretty much everyone. But my wallyball team pulled through, probably no thanks to my skills, and won the grand tournament finale. There were no broken fingers or other injuries to speak of this year so I guess things must have been a little tamer on the wallyball court this time.

This little guy was all ready to party.
This little guy was all ready to party.

Even after that wild wally get-together my birthday festivities were not over. A few days ago my family held their usual quadruple July birthdays spectacular. Since Jason and I have July birthdays, along with my sister and her husband, my family does one giant party every year for all four of us. It’s always a memorable experience and one that the nieces and nephews particularly seem to enjoy.

After we stuffed ourselves with pizza and cake my family walked to a nearby park so we could all spin
After we stuffed ourselves with pizza and cake my family walked to a nearby park so we could all spin on the playground until we puked, all part of the bulimia plan for the passive.

So now I’m another year older, maybe another year wiser, but definitely another year celebrated!

My family insisted that I take that entire chunk of cake that bore my name.
My family insisted that I take the entire chunk of cake that bore my name. Needless to say, I still haven't eaten all of that giant piece.

Tour de Riverton (Men Suck)

Jason felt a little left out when I biked Goldilocks a few months ago since he was prohibited from participating in this ride because of his obvious lack of femaleness. I therefore decided to sign us up for a coed ride called the Tour de Riverton so his tired muscles could convince him that he never needed to feel like he was missing out on anything ever again.

Ive never heard so much clicking in all my life.
When the ride started all of a sudden hundreds of bikers connected their fancy biking shoes to their pedals. I've never heard so much clicking in all my life. It made me laugh a little.

The Tour de Riverton, a 25 mile ride, took place bright and early last Saturday. Although this event, like Goldilocks, was “noncompetitive” the presence of men had the obnoxious effect of making it a lot less laidback than Goldilocks. Sorry men, sometimes your competitive intensity is simply not cool.

Jason too had a hard time quelling his urge to beat out whatever guy happened to be pedaling next to him but I made it clear from the start that if he decided to turn this ride into a race he was on his own and I would just continue to mosey along at my own pace and enjoy the lovely morning. I guess my husband does love me because he wasn’t too tempted to leave me to meander the course by myself. He’d say he wasn’t tempted at all but I know better.

The course followed a lot of the same paths as Goldilocks did, which was okay with me
The Tour de Riverton course followed a lot of the same paths as Goldilocks, which was okay with me because Goldilocks went through some rather scenic farmland.

My critique? Although I got to spend nearly 3 hours biking with my sweet husband during the Tour de Riverton and I enjoyed it, I liked Goldilocks better. Goldilocks was so chill and relaxed. You could tell the participating women weren’t there just to bike; they were also there to hangout and socialize with one another. When men were added to the mix for the Tour de Riverton who was ahead of you seemed to become far more important than who you were riding with. What can I say men, sometimes you suck.

Total Eclipse

Vampires, werewolves, and screaming 40 year old women… oh my!

Jason and I went to the Twifest, an Eclipse premier party put on by a local theater chain, last week with my friend Wendy. It had all the fixins of a good time:

Vendor booths where you can blow lots of money on frivolous cutesy stuff and cheesy Twilight merchandise? Check

Lots of crazy fans running around wearing red contacts and black capes like the loopy leftovers of some Halloween gone bad? Check

Tasty drinks named after tasty men? Check

The good company of my own hot man? Check

Lanyards accessorized with an abundance of Twilight character pins? Check

A girly companion to giggle and scream with? Check

This sidewalk chalk art looked pretty cool.
This sidewalk art looked pretty cool...and I looked pretty idiotic groping it.

And did the movie satisfy?

Lots of feelings and talking about feelings? Check

Buff men who run around shirtless even in the middle of blizzards? Check

Sparkles? Check

The ever classic werewolf-vampire-human love triangle? Check

Wendy and I were happy to play the part of the half-crazed Twilight fans
Wendy and I were happy to play the part of half-crazed Twilight fans for the camera. Yeah, we were only acting. Uh Huh.

I liked the movie even though it had a few problems. The special effects were only so-so; considering the amount of money that baby is sure to bring in they could have done much better. And the pacing was completely off during the scene at the end where Jacob gets hurt; it felt rushed and unrealistic. Yeah, I know this is a movie about a bunch of werewolves and vampires so realism isn’t exactly paramount but still… also, if you pay attention you’ll notice Jacob phases back into a human with his shorts on in that scene. How is that supposed to work, eh???

Despite my grievances I enjoyed the flick and had a lot of fun being among the flock of fanatical twerds.