Guys, I’m 1 year old today!  Can you believe it??  A kernel of a thought that I had over a year ago has been materialized and is now the most fulfilling thing I’ve done in my lifetime thus far and actually exists.  You know what they say about the power of your thoughts.

I had originally started planning a giant birthday party back around Thanksgiving time but then the accident happened and everything kinda got shot to hell.  But if you want to come celebrate with me tonight and have a cookie and a beer, I’ll be at Singlecut Beersmiths around 10 hanging with some of the best peeps in the neighborhood, my friends that work there.  My love for them (and their beer) runs fast and deep and there’s nowhere I’d rather celebrate 🙂 So come up down (up, really), have a drink with me and let’s celebrate a kinder Astoria and world!  But first, let me take you on a walk through my morning…..

I woke up (waaay too late – talking with my bff on the west coast) and opened my door to trudge outside and move my car.  But what I saw puzzled me.

I stood there for a minute, already foggy brain from a concussion (yep, still having issues with that), foggy brain from the morning, pre-coffee no less, and thought, “Is it my birthday and I forgot?” Yes, kids, things are that bad in the morning.  Then my next thought was “It’s not Annie’s (my roommate) birthday, that’s in August.  Maybe she’s having a surprise thing for a friend after work tonight?  Huh, she usually wouldn’t mentioned that.  Ok, that’s cool”

As I drew closer, it was clear that it was for someone’s birthday, I just hadn’t figured it out yet.

 

As I turned the corner and saw this, I felt like I’d been hit with the most wonderful, loving, caring hammer.  And yeah, I felt a little dumb for my previous thoughts.  Like I’d forget my own birthday!  Well, apparently, I did.

 

My roommate had set up streamers and balloons…

….set out a ‘sweet’ gesture of sugar and an owl saying Happy Birthday….

 

….and a nice, big, eye-level-so-I-can’t-miss-it sign wishing me a great day.

 

I’d be terrible at surprise parties because I stood there for a moment, grinning and speechless, not sure what to do.  I, of course, have to give a huge thank you to Annie for doing this in the first place – I loved it! – and a ginormous thank you to all of you that have supported me throughout the last year.  It means the world, and I’m really looking forward to the year ahead.  I’m branching out into Manhattan next week (don’t worry, still continuing with Astoria) and have a lot of big projects that I’d like to accomplish in 2014.  But, for all my intentions, I’ll take it as it comes, because when 2013 started, I had no idea I’d be doing a TEDx Talk; you can never know what’s coming down the pipeline.  Kinda like my birthday surprise.  🙂

And that, my friends, is what makes living life so joyfully exciting.

 

PS – See you tonight!