I had a wonderful Birthday this year. I turned 40! Yes, I was excited to turn 40. I figured I had 2 ways to go with this. Get sad and depressed about being 40 and a loser, or forget the loser part and just be excited that I made it to 40 and had at least proved to myself that I do okay all on my own.

But back to my birthday!

I had a wonderful time! I arrived at The Homestead early Friday morning to find a little bitty prezzie on my pillow. I was a little surprised there wasn’t a cat sleeping on it, as one of them seems to like my pillow and I am sure would thumb wrestle me for using rights if he had the thumbs. The gift was nicely wrapped with a note written on the outside. The inside contained

an iPod Touch!

I believe I am being assimilated, and *pauses for a moment* I don’t think I mind all that much. *grin*

The best part of the gifty was the inscription he had put on the back. It says “Ti Amo Tanto, Bimba” which translates to “I love you a lot, baby”. I think I spend more time looking at the back of the ipod than using it. Le siiiiiiigh!

The second best thing about the gifty was it did not come with lectures about proper care and maintainence, how delicate the device is, blah blah blah. He assumed I was smart enough to figure that part out all on my own, and so cut straight to the “wanna go play with it?” part. I think he was as excited about it as I was. Maybe more. Hehehe!


We went for an overnight stay at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. If I remember correctly, it is an old Masons building that McMenamins Brewery bought and converted into a hotel. There is a treasure hunt set up that takes you all over the grounds and hotel, which is a great way for people to become familiar with the history as well as the layout of the place. The décor is fun, with little faces painted on the pipe corners and fun, goofy paintings everywhere. The rooms are themed, there is a Japanese spa to soak in, the beer is fabulous and the food was good. I felt the service was slow, but it looked like they were having a few corporate Christmas parties, and I think most of the restaurant help was pulled pretty thin. The atmosphere was light and relaxing, and other than the rude, annoying, drunk girls and their drama in the room next to us, I have no complaints. The company was sexy and fabulous. Michael looks fine in anything he wears, at least to me. I had the opportunity to break out my little black lace dress (which I have owned and fit in for almost 20 years), my Mary Janes, and wear the beautiful tiara Autumnbear purchased for me. We had dinner around the same time the wandering carolers were in the building, and they sang me happy birthday. Michael spied 2 other women with tiaras on our way out, so I asked them if they were having birthdays, too. They beamed, said yes, and one of them asked me if I was also turning 30.

I could have kissed her!

I proudly informed her I was turning 40, and then Michael said to them “This is what you have to look forward to”. I could have kissed him right there! He always says such wonderful things, at such perfect times. I did kiss him, but later.

The rest of the weekend went wonderfully, with my Christmas gift being found and purchased, snow making his place all pretty, kitties snuggling with us, us snuggling with each other, and and and.
It was a great birthday weekend, and I enjoyed it so much! Maybe I can turn 40 again next year.