Selfie Times Two

I love this Mexican restaurant and when they sing for you on your birthday!

One minute this hat was on the wall, the next it was on my head! I was the second birthday of the night- the woman at the table next to me wore the hat too. I did not even inspect it for lice or dust bunnies before putting it on, that is how excited I was to wear it!

Nice Peeps

I have some of the nicest friends. I really do. You know that day once a year when you wake up and there is a different number assigned to your life? Well I am having that experience today.

Working at a College has kept me young and I do not take myself too seriously. But for some reason this year's number is hard to swallow. I think because it is the start of a new milestone countdown. I realize that numbers do not mean much and my gray hair and crow's feet were telling my story before I opened my mouth, so in honor of today I have come up with a list of the top ten (or six) reasons the people I know are the best.

1. They buy me ice cream cake! I love ice cream cake. No matter the maker or the flavor. It is my hands down favorite things about birthdays since I have gotten older.

2. They drive from far away to see me for lunches or craft projects. Or to share ice cream cake. Or to surprise me after they go to China One.

3. I have great friends to talk me into walking 5Ks (exercising in general) or volunteering with other projects that I always end up enjoying.

4. I have mystery candy deliveries in my mailbox on important mornings like this. Whoever dropped those delicious reeses pieces in my mailbox you are my hero. Breakfast...check. 

5. I have voicemails and text messages already and I am not really awake yet. That is dedication people. 

6. I am lucky to have such a friendly office too. I work with some pretty sweet people that make sombrero wearing the best time ever. I go to the same Mexican restaurant every year for my birthday with the ResLife staff. I love refried beans. This year I got to wear the sombrero while they sang Happy Birthday. It was awesome.

On a scale of one to ten today I feel like an eleven. I feel pretty great for an old broad.

What Happens When Your Brother Gets Married

Well this weekend was quite the weekend. One of my little brothers got married in MI and I traveled back to be part of the festivities. This is the first time that one of us three kids got hitched. Lucas is a bit young still, but there were bets out there that he will be next. I am rooting for ya kid.

Here are some things I learned that I think will help the rest of you when your next sibling takes a trip down the marital aisle. This list is probably the most comprehensive list out there so please feel free to pass it along to your friends :)

1. Try not to forget your deodorant or your bling in a different state. If you do you will have to take some trips to Wally World on the big day. I bought bangles for the junior bridesmaid and myself.

2. When choosing books on CD for the trip be sure to pick up Penny Marshall's memoir, "My Mother Was Nuts." She is pretty funny. I love Carole Brunette too, but she set me up for a catnap in the McDonald's parking lot. I am saving that one for shorter trips. 

3. When you spend the night at your Dad's house bring your own sheets. He might forget to put some on the bed in the spare room. Believe me, after fighting with him to stay until the last dance he will not be willing to find any when you arrive home either. 

4. If the other bridesmaids are decorating the hall and you are a new smart phone owner- you should take lots of "artsy" photos instead of helping.

5. It is probably a good idea for any of your cousins who might be angry with your uncle to leave early, or just to be reminded to keep their dukes safely tucked away for a stranger's wedding. Also be sure to calmly inform the staff when one of the guests vomits in the bathroom before the reception even starts as to not alert everyone else there. For a few minutes I felt like I was at work with all of those shenanigans.  

6. If you have to walk down a set of brick stairs, thank yourself for buying flats.

7. You should also know the difference between a gazebo and a pergola. Otherwise you will not be able to correct your Aunt or the classical guitarist who played the ceremony music. Knowledge is power.  

8. Stand as close as possible at all times to the person who looks most like you in the room. People will tell you how cute you are all night!

9. Engage in conversation about corsets and wedding gowns while silently giving too much thought to the class differences in olden wear-a-corset-everyday times. Be thankful that Downton Abbey has another season in January too. There are corsets in that show. Make note to be sure you do not ruin any spoilers this season by looking at Wikipedia too...darn internet. 

10. Most of all, spend the evening not giving much in the way of cares when your brother's friends get upset that you spill things, take photos, talk too loudly, dance wildly, or overall are obnoxious. I mean honestly-didn't they hear me the 15 times I yelled that I was the groom's sister? I repeated it often just for their benefit. It was necessary to get across the "I am more important than you tonight and I am related to half of the room" attitude out there early. 

It was a pretty fun evening. My family is not one sponsored by dull moments so I am glad to be home in the recovery stages. Oh- I forgot one last tidbit: when you are setting up the sibling picture with you and the groom, do not forget you have another brother there. Because that is embarrassing when you have to redo it and admit in front of him and the rest of the bridal party that you forgot you had two brothers. He probably felt like chopped liver but his facial expression never moves on his 19 year old face. He always looks distracted, disinterested and annoyed at the same time. Poor guy. That is his natural resting facial position. We started a program at the reception though to work through it. His smile steadily improved throughout the evening.