Tanjoubi Omedeto, Mon!

I drank two pitchers on my birthday
I drank two pitchers that night,
I drank two pitchers with my buddies
and it made them feel ..... well....


so yes, it was my birthday, and i have 'issues' with my birthday - because I hate being the center of attention...I also think it has something to do with the much more important things that I share that date with....

I tried to minimize it at work by taking that day off... I know for next time not to let my coworkers know I plan to take my birthday off...they rallied the troups in advance and decorated my workspace, bought flowers, planned to order in Japanese for lunch, got me cupcakes and generally bathed me in attention.

It was really nice... but I really would have rather just not. I think I worry that I don't do enough for other people on their birthdays... or forget all together!

eek! like just now - I was thinking of all the people who sent me messages for my birthday, and the one that stood out - the girl we used to work with at my office who transferred to the Geneva office. OF COURSE SHE REMEMBERED MY B-DAY - ours were a few days apart... I totally spaced it... what a jerk I am... see? the issues are well grounded.... eek!

anyway - on MY BIG DAY (erp.)
I raced to the DMV (yeah.. meaning I woke up before 11 and realizing I'd have to get my picture taken, spent 40 minutes infront of the mirror make-uping and face making to prepare!)

finished that in under 20 mins...YES, at the DMV - that ALONE was a birthday gift!!

Afterwords - another gift - I discovered that the new suburban-eque shopping centre across from the DMV not only houses a DeLessio annex - complete with BUBBLE WRAP CHOCO!!! but that it's the new home for a shoppe that was near and dear to my heart when I lived off Fulton near alamo square many moons ago - Faletti's!! Welcome back guys! (they used to be where the Albertson's on Fulton & Divis was before it was sadly torn down and turned into a new condo development with a dumb corporate market in the storefront...) It's like Andronicos or whole foods but smaller - family owned and friendly!!

then I came home changed and went to Kabuki and enjoyed the baths before getting a relaxing massage! It was fantastic - I have to remember to go there more often - it's exactly like an onsen in Japan.

Then I met Mere back at my place to swill some of the Chardonnay - yes Chardonnay - ... that my boss got me for my birthday (as if I needed to find another 'cult' winery to worship-- sheesh!)

We headed over to meet MB and other friends at an old fave ChaChaCha and swilled sangria, scarfed Cajun Shrimp (tm), Chomped Calimari, and generally had a much too loud much too fun time for our own good... (but really? swaying - I say... MORE PRACTICE!!! who's with me!?)

The best birthday party I never wanted to have in the first place ;)

thanks guys!!! You're the best!

Little vs. Big a cautionary tale... (or DuelII)

Fashionably Commuting to work today - I saw, at a stop light a cyclist (one of SF's famous, I'm sure...) pounding on the passenger door of a Semi truck (tractor only - no trailer)... and yelling and gesticulating wildly... older woman about 50ish... grey hair, slight build. yelling and yelling...

I was shocked, as I saw her start to ride off as the light turned, and the truck was trying to turn right, that the truck could have so easily side-swiped her, and claimed she was in his blind spot. Even mounted on the bike, she was barely big enough to be seen out the passenger window from the driver's side... as she made it thru the crosswalk, she turned back and flipped him off (or the equivalent), and then did the c'mon sign with her hand, egging him on to 'bring it!' ....

stupid stupid woman... I know.. we SHARE the streets, and it's dangerous out there for the two wheelers but at the end of the day, especially in this situation, can't we realize that size DOES matter - and that the smaller has to yield to the bigger? Everyone knows that inertia certainly comes into play here, and sheesh... hasn't this woman ever seen Duel?

Dennis Weaver will tell you - never piss off a semi driver.... this poor woman doesn't even have a rear view mirror!