Happy Birthday To Me!

My birthday is so close to New Year's. It's almost like my New Year's resolutions are birthday presents to myself--along with that really nice silver pendant I bought myself at the Kilkenny Design Center.

Some of these gifts are the gifts that keep on giving--like quitting smoking--again (22 days!). Other gifts are the kind that are on-going, forever promises that never quite seem to stick--like getting healthy or loosing weight. Who knows? Maybe 2007 will be the year that I actually learn to like exercise or brown rice.

Today has been awesome. Max went out at the crack of dawn this morning to get me tasty Irish breakfast in bed! I've received phone calls, emails and chat messages from all over the globe, and tonight Max is taking me out to a nice French restaurant and a movie. Perfect! I love going out for dinner and a movie.

But the best part comes in a couple of weeks...

Euro Disney and Paris here we come! Birthday trip 2007!

I Like My Meat Like My Men: Grilled and on a Sword.

In honor of APV's birthday last night, a bunch of us went out for Brazilian BBQ. Have you even had Brazilian BBQ? No? Well let me tell you, there's nothing like having a guy with a sword full of meat come up to you every three and a half minutes to offer you food. Nothing. In fact, for my next birthday, I would like everyone to pitch in and hire a guy to following me around all day with a sword full of grilled meats.

You think I'm joking?

To celebrate the birthday factor, a pasty guy in a blue oxford shirt came out from the back of the restaurant and blew a horn (looked to me like an elaborate shofar):



It's common knowledge that Adam blows. So it was no surprise when he persuaded Mr. Pasty Hornblower to fork over the horn.



What was surprising, however, was just how much Kevin Punzalanski loves cake!



Who knew! Not me. I do know how to shop for birthday gifts though. Check this bad boy out.

I'll end this with my first Photo Friday entry in a while: One.

There's grilled salmon, fried salmon, salmon scampi, salmon gumbo, salmon cocktail, smoked salmon...

I know this person who is pretty neat. I hold her in pretty high regards, and tend to view her words as law. Recently, she told me that I haven't been writing enough in my blog posts. Too many pictures, she says. They're nice pictures, sure, but she wants more words. To her, I say this:



and this:



That's right. You heard me.

Last Saturday, I attended a deep-sea-fishing-surprise-birthday-party for my friend, Silverman. Her boyfriend APV set the whole thing up. We set sail aboard the Captain Joey at 6 am, out of the Bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge, and we kept going until we were 30 miles (or 264 knots...or something) out in the Pacific Ocean. Then, we fished. For four + hours. And, surprisingly, I never got bored. A little nauseous, sure, but never bored. And the best part is, I caught a 20 pound Wild Pacific King Salmon (not the best part for the fish, I'm guessing).





What have we learned? Fish on both sides of the country fear me. And if you're a sea lion, you'd better stay the heck away form Capt. Mushy.

Gone Fishin'

Is it food or art?

As part of the week-long celebration known as Max's birthday, we had dinner at Benihana this week. What hibachi-style dinner show would be complete with out the Onion Volcano? Our chef took it one step further by topping the aforementioned Onion Volcano with an astounding second and third layer of oniony excitement:



For those of you who are new to the whole onion volcano concept: the onion volcano is constructed as shown above, and then oil--or maybe it's vinegar--is poured into the hole at the top and proceeds to sizzle rapidly on the hot hibachi surface, casing a stream of steam to rush forth from the mouth of the volcano. Awesome to the nth degree.

Awesome is a word that tossed around pretty liberally. Like in the case of this "awesome" decorative piece that Arthur brought into the office yesterday:



Dead alien babies are awesome.

There was this guy, see, and he lived in a bottle of Absolut Mandarin vodka

Just a glance into the "party now, ask questions later" lifestyle that I try to live.



I feel that the gold bra needs an explanation: the theme of the party was James Bond. The Bond movie "Die Another Day" contained a brilliant cameo by Madonna, who also wrote the theme song. Obviously, I'm dressed as Madonna. Early Madonna. Gold bra over 2 tank tops Madonna. Obviously.



By day, publishing professional. By night, Dutchess of Martini.

The Second Amendment, Observed

The weekend came. Birthdays were celebrated. Good times were had by all. In celebration of L's birthday, we had a day of Bond-skill training and general secret agenting. We started things off with a good old fashion trip to the shooting range. That's right, yours truly learned how to take control of the business end of a .22 mm semi-automatic pistol. Turns out I'm quite the shot! L. was great, don't get me wrong, but I just may have to join the secret service at some point.



After the gunpowder giddiness wore off, we went to the gokart arena to learn the second Bond skill of the day: race car driving. Also learned at the gokart arena was bond skill #3: blending into walls, as demonstrated by S:



A nice party where the guests all dressed as James Bond movie villains ended the day off with some real class. Pictures of the event in question will be posted in the next day or two, with identities changed to protect the innocent (of course--what kind of future secret service agent would I be if I didn't protect the innocent?).

A day of well-wishing and thinking good thoughts

A big, frothy cup of birthday wishes to my good friend and soon-to-be traveling partner, DRB (known in some circles as little db). There few people in this world that my dogs like better, and there are even fewer people in this world with whom I'd rather be stuck on a desert island.



This is a picture of DRB in her natural habitat. A hiker by day, and a camper by night, DRB took me on my first and only backpacking trip back in 2000, for which, someday, I will forgive her. Actually it was one of the better vacations of my adult life, despite the name of the location--Desolation Wilderness--complete with dogs, swimming, and large rocks. I've know DRB since my college days, and she will forever be my favorite tree-hugging dirt-worshipper. Plus, she has 4 cats: 2 twin girls, one
a former ninja and one with a taste for blood, a big fluffy boy who regularly hits on my boyfriend, and one rescued stray with a detatched retina (detatched retina = one rather noticeable bug eye, Don Knots style). And you just can't argue with that! To celebrate the anniversary of her birth, I will go see M. Ward tonight, who is also from Portland.

Why are beautiful places always guarded by blood-sucking monsters?

I know you're all just dying to know how my birthday went, so I won't cause you anymore agony. On Friday, Dedi and I found a beautiful little trail called Morses Gulch Trail, just north of Stinson Beach. It's not terribly well known, an it was a Friday morning, so we had the whole place to ourselves. The dogs and I were fascinated with the salamanders and lizards, while Dedi was particularly taken aback by the huge and majestic walnut trees growing along the meadow near the trailhead. Once we reached the creek leading up to the waterfall, it was all over for Nanna. Have I mentioned that she's part river otter? Much fetching and splashing ensued.



The one drawback to our little waterfall paradise: ticks. Not something us city dwellin' folk are used to.

Next stop: Stinson Beach, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Once we reached the water's edge, it was all over for Nanna. Have I mentioned that she's part sea otter? Much fetching and splashing ensued.



Saturday was the day of pretty feet. There's nothing like a peppermint soak, a gingerbread exfoliating scrub, a warm lotion massage, and a moisturizing chocolate wrap to make your feet smile.

Happy Birthday To Me

Yes, I know I'm jumping the gun. My actual birthday's not until Saturday. But I just love the festivities and celebratory atmosphere surrounding a birthday! Strike that: surrounding my birthday. We kicked it off yesterday with an all-office lunch at our local sushi bar. I even got to wear the official birthday boa and tiara. Talk about festive!



Tonight, my good ol' college pal Dedi is flying in from Portland to spend the weekend. Tomorrow, I get to indulge in what I think is the absolute best part of The Planning Shop's benefits package: you get your birthday off! Which means Dedi and I get to take the dogs hiking somewhere fun--and since it's a weekday, it won't be too overcrowded with weekenders. Perfect.

But Saturday is the absolute day of decadence: my good friend Miriam will join us for pedicures at this super cute spa down the street from my apartment, then we're off to Alcatraz! We simply must take advantage of this beautiful weather we've been having. Besides, history is neat!

2005 Back In Action

January is the month of birthdays. Think about for a moment: is there anyone YOU know who's having a birthday this month? Maybe a niece, a colleague, a friend or neighbor...I'm pretty sure that the traditional gifts for January birthdays are white gold, mail-order bacon and gift certificates to upscale sushi restaurants. Just in case you were wondering.

A great big cheer for 8 big years!

This week, my dog Nanna celebrated her 8th birthday!



OK, she didn't do all that much celebrating. I suppose we spearheaded most of the celebratory activities. But she did turn 8, and she received a new shiny red Kong! Yay, Nanna! Here's to 8 more years!