Clear Epic

Okay - wow. I just announced my birthday! That is so unlike me - I used to get beyond annoyed in high school when this one girl in particular would walk around with a bag of candy and tell people, “You have to tell me ‘Happy Birthday’.” Then she would give them candy. I would always think to myself, “Really? You’re that cool?” But apparently I’ve joined the ranks. Ha!

I attempted to get up earlier today to have some extra time to myself with my coffee, my bible, and my computer - a wonderful combination if you ask me. But I also decided that the Birthday Girl should get to sleep in a little bit - and R was so warm and cozy, it’s hard to roll out of that! But I am here and have a few precious minutes left to think and enjoy the quiet.

So I will admit to you - I was not looking forward to today, until today. There were many factors. One: I’ve been working REALLY hard on a specific contract. I pretty much dedicated the last 2 years of my life to getting this one in, it’s the crowning achievement in our industry and in my professional life - it’s not the top, because you can’t settle at the top - but it will be nice and I’ve loved all the work I put into it. Anyway - I have for the past 3 or 4 years wanted to take a night and go to the casino with just a few friends for my birthday. I dropped all sorts of hints over the past few years which never really made their way to the right person (ahem…. hubby…). So this year I decided that if this contract came in - that was the plan. Financially we’d be comfortable and we would take a night to celebrate not only my birthday but this hard work.

Welllll….. it’s still a to be continued achievement So mentally I had to re-adjust. No problem - because I felt good about sticking to my decision of not celebrating until there was something to celebrate (you know what I mean) and that we would have dinner at our house - nice, easy and relaxed. R invited some of his friends (and wives/kids) from work because they are amazing people and we have a good time together. I thought, “Wow. Okay - I should invite some of my friends over too.”

It doesn’t take me too long to get through the list. You see, I know a lot of people. I do and I have a circle of relationships so when I’m at work, I get along with 99.9% of the people I work with and enjoy being around them, at church I love the people I have met and am getting to know. When it comes to doing something to hang out - I discovered I only can make about three or four phone calls. Over the course of a day or two they came back with three “sorry - but no” answers.

I have such a sensitive spirit - I need to toughen up really. It was nothing personal and all three had very legitimate reasons why they could not come - but I don’t take rejection well, in any form. It’s something I’m working on, don’t worry (I have a running list).

But today my friends is a new day - I am going to have a great one. After a couple of hours of conference calls (thank you Diego for being my child’s entertainment for just a bit), Miss P and I are going to get ready and hit the town with a fabulous lunch and then - hold on to your seats… pedicures. In -degree weather, with a 2 year old. We shall see how this goes!! But the cleaning girls are coming late this a.m. so we need to get out of the house and I think she’d get a kick out of having someone paint her toe nails… oh don’t worry. I’ll have the camera.

And tonight - tonight isn’t going to be a “thanks for coming and being my friend b/c I don’t have any of my own” moment. Nope, it’s going to be a “I’m really glad you could come. I’m excited to get to know you - and maybe next time I’ll have FIVE phone calls to make instead of four” evening

So, I have a great life. I have the best hubby a gal could ask for. I have a wonderful Savior who blesses me in every which way, shape, and form. I have the most wonderful, funny daughter who makes me laugh about 1,000x/day. I have a great job that I enjoy going to. I have fabulous friends both local and not local who I know would celebrate with me in person if they could.

Happy Birthday to me - the big 2-9 is gonna be a great one.