the dirty 30

As I sit here typing this birthday blog I am reminded that I only got 3.5 hours of sleep last night.

 Guess what that means?

Yep. You guessed it.

I did my 30^th birthday up right.

The entire weekend was a blow-up-mega-double-dose birthday weekend bash.

If that didn't make any sense I was trying to say, is that…

My birthday was out of control….in the best way possible of course.

I had the privilege of spending the entire weekend with just about every single favorite person I have in my life today. There were a few missing (Cathy and Eric) but for the most part, I got to see every one that is near and dear to me and well…

Gosh golly…

I felt so loved.

I really did.

I felt like a magic mega roman candle the entire weekend
 (thanks, Patrick).

Friday evening my dear sweet precious amazing talented friend, Tammy, had the most lovely birthday bash for me at her home. She has become really close to me this past year and is such a blessing. I have the utmost admiration and respect for her and I am truly lucky to call her my friend.

Her pumpkin cheesecake was the best drug thing, hands down, I have ever eaten.

Tammy, thank you once again for making me feel so special and so loved. I’m looking at the most beautiful basket of flowers I have ever seen (and yes, I remembered to water them) and my heart is just filled with gratitude and joy.

And thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with me. It really did mean so much to me.

Saturday afternoon, (my actual birthday) my sweet Lydia and I headed on to Meridian to celebrate with my family. Lydia and I have been close for over 10 years now and she had never been to Meridian with me! I loved having her home with me.

 It was extra special with her there.

Before we left, I got to have a special birthday lunch with my main Jackson man—Malcolm White.

His friendship not only means the world to me—it’s also so much fun.

Once in Meridian,

My family and a few close friends enjoyed dinner at Sake Sushi.

It was so awesome to have all my siblings home. 

 It was, as usual, a crazy Nanney show-down where many stories were told and laughs were heard….(throughout the entire restaurant, I’m sure.)

I want to highlight a few friends that were there...

Josh has been a friend of mine for years and years….we grew up together in Meridian and I’m so happy that he’s still in my life. Josh is a real sweetheart. Such a gentlemen. Such a Catholic. Super funny. And a little quirky. And I’m so glad that he was there to celebrate with us.

Patrick and I have known each other for years. I really don’t remember not knowing him…..but we were never close until the past year or so. My family so graciously and gently reminded all of us about the time Patrick came over for lunch 11 years ago….in which case that story deserves its own blog entry... but let’s just say Patrick has always had a very special place in my heart and I truly am so honored to call him my friend. 

He is one of the most amazing male friends I have. He’s so kind. So humble. He literally exudes creativity and I have never seen an imagination work quite like his. He has been so supportive of me and I just don’t know what I’d do without him.

Theresa has been with me through thick and thin. Our relationship is a true testament that tough love works. She is family to me and I can’t imagine life without her (and of course it goes without saying that I feel the same way about Josh and the kiddos).

I also must confess to you that I had a little relapse with my smoking.

After being surrounded by smokers for a few hours, I decided I should be able to have a cigarette on my birthday. And so I did. And of course I didn’t have just one…..i had about 20 in a span of 3 hours (yep..that is truly how I role).

And let me just tell you, after over a year and a half of being a non-smoker—it didn’t taste nasty. It tasted amazing and delicious and reminded me that smoking is pretty much one of my very favorite things in the world. I never coughed and my throat didn’t feel like complete shit today. I guess I was just born to smoke. Ha!

But before you get mad, upset, or judgmental---(hold on to your white horse)….It was only just for that one night. I haven’t had one today and I don’t plan on having another one ever (well…maybe until I turn 31;)

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Faraway Places (as usual)...

I had lots of compliments on my green blouse—courtesy of The Orange Peel.

I can go ahead and already tell you that I love being 30 (and one day).

I could go on and on about how thankful I am. How grateful I am. How blessed I am.

But….

Somehow, I think you already know that.

To ALL of you who wished me happy birthday via facebook/texts/phone-calls/cards/messages…

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!

It made this ole gal feel so special and loved.

And isn’t that what birthdays are for?!?!

And now it’s back to reality for me.

I think I’m going to have to go in hibernation mode for the next few weeks to gather back my social graces and get serious about this semester…(hello, Neuroanatomy! I hear you knocking and I’m about to answer you…tomorrow).

Here’s to you my friends—for making my life so full of joy.

Here’s to you, 30! You’re already rocking my face off.

 My 30^th birthday portrait taken by none other than Lydia Grey.

And yes, that is the red couch in Weidman’s bathroom.

mini- mid- life crisis? or is it just my personality? i can't tell.....

I have to tell you that I’ve been having a really strong desire lately…..

A desire I didn’t want to tell you about because my 30^th

birthday is just around the corner…

And I know when you hear what this desire is that you are going to chalk it up to me having a mini-mid-life crisis…

But, I’m still strongly considering this….i don’t think they can kick me out of school for it.

I’m quite positive I won’t be able to keep it when I get a job one day though….

OH! I almost forgot to tell you what it is!!!

I want a lip ring.

Almost enough to actually go and get one.

And although I know I won’t look like Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the DragonTattoo….

I want one.

I think I’ll sleep on it for a few more nights though.

I guess that’s one thing age has done for me—I’m not near as impulsive as I used to be.

Thoughts? Comments? You know you have an opinion about this one.  

looking forward (and backwards)....

Well, I meant to post this earlier on today…..but now that it’s almost tomorrow…..

In one week from today (almost one week from yesterday if I don’t publish this in 38 minutes)…

I’ll turn 30.

Yep. The big 3-0.

I was really apprehensive about it 6 months ago….

But now that it's just around the corner,

I’m getting to be more okay with it.

A new decade will be a good thing for me.

And to be honest with you, I really didn't know that I would survive my 20’s.

So, I feel like next Saturday I should get a t-shirt that says,

“you did it! You’re still alive—miracle of all miracles”

That is, if I live until next Saturday.

I guess after the devastating Saints loss tonight, anything is liable to happen.

I was going to do a countdown to my birthday—maybe doing a post a day about things I learned in my 20’s. I was actually going to re-live each birthday but I can only find pictures of my 20^th, 25^th, and 29^th. 

So, if you’re reading this and you have pictures of me on any of my birthdays, send them my wayJ Unless of course, they are incriminating…..you can just delete those.

I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in the past decade is that if you aren’t sure of who you are, a lot of shit is going to happen, and if you’re lucky and you survive, you’ll find out who you really are.