Completing years...

I'm not usually big on birthdays.

I'm just not.

I mean... yeah, we were born.

Whoop. dee. doo.

Remember the Alanis Morisette lyric?

"... dying since the day we were born..."

"Yeah."

And then, for the rest of our lives, we have this day that celebrates US.

Because that's just what we, as selfish, self-celebrating, self-prioritized people need...

A day for just US.

[Conveniently forgetting the other five zillion people born on the same day.]

[Who are just as special.]

[Who are just as talented.]

[Who are probably annoyed that they have to share a birthday with us.]

And if you live in Mexico, you get a cake in the face!

Yeah!!!

Let's celebrate by caving someone's nose in!!!

Frosting up your nostrils...

Smeared across your face...

In your hair...

... who doesn't want this??? ;)

I know this girl.

She loves her birthday.

She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES her birthday.

In fact, she has been known to have count-downs to the big day.

I still love her...

... but I think she's nuts.

Some people say it's just because my birth was so close to Christmas...

... that that's why I don't enjoy it as much.

"People just give you one gift for both don't they?" they commiserate.

Completely oblivious to the fact that I am not a total moron...

[contrary to popular opinion sometimes]

... and that it has occurred to me that people will totally use that excuse

[cough]

[Blonde-haired, pigtailed girl in 2nd grade... cough, cough]

[insert: women don't hold grudges... didn't ya know???]

...but I have an amazing family who always made it a special separate event.

And yet... I still am not huge into birthdays.

[Yes... I took into account that I will probably never receive gifts after this post from any of you. After deciding that life maybe would go on, I continued typing.]

Personally, I've just always been glad I wasn't born on Christmas.

Or born a male.

For various reasons, but this has to do with my name.

"Stephanie Leigh" I can handle...

"Nicole Noel" or "Forrest Paul" would have gotten me beaten up in school.

And deservedly so. :)

But this year...

Ah. Well.

This year was different. :)

People obviously "make" the celebrations special;

And that is the one grace of birthdays -- you get to have everyone together.

And this year...

I was given an incredible dinner by an incredible woman. ;)

And so... this is my thanks, dear friend.

A sardonic write-up, a few pictures, and a lot of enjoyment...!

My taste-buds are still singing happy songs... ;)

Jenean prepared an awesome dinner.

The menu (derived from what she knew I liked, what she figured I would like, and what she figured Jenna wouldn't like... lol) was as follows:

Apple, pear, gorgonzala cheese, walnut appetizer
Marinated shrimp
Rutabaga soup
Chips with blue cheese, mushroom and garlic on top
Mushrooms with clam filling
Rosemary-lemon chicken breast
Pork tenderloin with fruit salsa
Bruschetta boats

and
Spiced apple cheesecake with coffee

Mmmm.

And for Jenean's parents... has she shown you these pics of Candi?!?

Since I know you are so fond of these food items... lol.

We went out to eat one day, and (like me) Candi finds the grilled onions a highlight of the Mexican taqueria experience... ;)