Happy happy happy birthday - a belated blog entry

I've been rather sick of late - nasty congestion and all - just in time for my vacation leading up to my big 3-0 birthday! My continued neglect of this blog hasn't had a chance to bother me too much I've been so busy. Where do I begin?

I took a few days off from work since my birthday was upon me and taking vacation worked out pretty well with my work schedule. I spent that time going out mingling in smokey bars which proved to be my downfall. I got hit with a sinus infection Thursday which I ignored. I was too busy with birthday affairs to be inconvenienced with a cold. I told myself to eat a lot of spicy food and see if that helps anything. Perhaps it will go away... Right. In any case, Thursday I spent with the fam. My younger sister and her beau paid me a surprise visit for dinner. They've been on a whirlwind tour of the midwest prior to their moving to Florida. I thought they would be unable to celebrate, but they pulled it out for the big day. I received motorcycle themed presents from my parents and some cherry jam from Michigan.

Friday was the actual anniversary of my birth, and I celebrated with a facial at an Aveda salon. My facial expert was highly informed she herself reported often and a bit shrill. However, I can't argue with results. And really, a facial that starts with me hopping into a bath robe and receiving a foot bath can't be all that bad. I ended up buying a boatload of essential facial products and pledged to go on a regimen that surprisingly enough includes repeat trips to the spa for more facials. My inner cynic is telling me that this is just a scam to get me to buy expensive soap and "sonic treatments", but I'm letting go of that voice in an effort to combat my adult acne which I'm told should be totally clear within 6 months. I can give it that much time and money. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. I'm excited to go back when I'm not so congested to enjoy the aroma therapy.

Since my massage was cancelled the prior day I decided to finally scratch an itch I've had since I was young and do something wild with my hair. I had called a few hair salons to see if they could fit me in for an appointment Friday afternoon and if anyone on their staff knew how to create a faux-hawk. That's right. I lopped off my locks for a spikey ridge down the middle. Shockingly, all the stylists I spoke to asked me to describe the fauxhawk which left me a little concerned for my hair. Especially, since I ended up making an appointment at a salon that had never seen me or my hair. I had a moment of panic prior to the procedure when I perceived my stylist's reaction to my new hair cut was less than warm. Her shoulders slumped, her face fell, and she quickly asked for a photograph. Apparently, the receptionist had not clued her into what was going down. While I was sitting at the head sink to get a shampoo I was thinking "I can end this right now. This isn't such a good idea." But I stuck it out, and I'm glad for it. I now have crazy short hair that can be sculpted into all sorts of different ways. At times I look like Yunsung from Soul Calibur 2.

I was a little concerned about how I could pull this look off at my fairly conservative office, but my concerns were unfounded. I can sculpt this just about anyway I wish, and for the office I'm going for a slightly edgier version of Annette Benning circa the American President. But as far as Friday was concerned I was straightup coxcombing it with a little punk 'tude in tight blue jeans and girly Honda motorcylce T with red shoulders and red sneakers. I hopped on my gixxer and rolled off to the Rathskellar to meet up with friends HR, sister, beau, and A for Beer-biddly beer and brats. After the Rathskellar - where I had a fabulous run-in with an old college prof we were off to the Metro to meet up with more people and meet some new ones along the way. I met some fabulous guys through the nurse who just happened to be at the Metro. And DeeDee showed up with her latest project in hand. It was time to go off to the Ten.

By the time we got there my voice had already dropped an octave due to cold weather and smokey conditions. I was feeling a bit wretched, but I was determined to sally forth! Afterall, what's Saturday for if not recovery? I got into some line dancing for the first time ever, and of course, lil sis was down for that. And was I glad to have stuck around. Instead of the booty shaking contest this Friday had a wet T-shirt contest. And my oh my the hottest straight girl in the bar decided to kick up her heels and disrobe - quite literally. She changed at our table, and was given a talking to by a staff heavy. She claimed that she had never stripped before, but she was a natural. Vicky, the MC queen, had to remind her often to watch it as she was nearly tearing her tank top right off. And after she won the contest she gave me a birthday lap dance. How sweet. Straight girls slay me. I'm not particularly attracted to them in any meaningful way, but I'm not above the titillation they provide.

In a rare turn of events I drove HR home because he was trashed. I was glad to do it. My voice was then at frog levels and I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I paid for it Saturday, and well, I'm still paying for it, but I had a great time.