My 30th Birthday

So my 30 birthday came and went.  I simultaneously feel totally different and exactly the same, it's so strange.  Do I look older?

Aging is such a complicated feeling to express, but I'll sum it up for you: it sucks.  Okay, that's not fair, SOMETIMES it sucks (for example: when I'm in a sitting position and need to get to a standing position or when I DON'T get carded somewhere-which used to be awesome when I was 20, but now is the ultimate insult).  It can be awesome too I suppose, but I don't have any examples of that yet.  If I'm being perfectly honest, it feels pretty much the same as 29, but I know I'm SUPPOSED to feel different so I'm really trying to accommodate that feeling and basically make shit up...so far it's not working (if you couldn't tell).  I know it's all relative: if you're older, 30 seems really young, but if you're just turning 30 (ME!!) then it's obviously the oldest you've ever been, so it's completely unfathomable.  I remember being 5 okay?  Now I'm supposed to be 30?!  It's outrageous!  

As far as wisdom, I have many people in my life who are totally on board with getting older and see it as a right of passage and swear they get more respect, I'm just not yet one of those people (I'll let you know if someday an older person passes me on the street and nods at me as a sign of respect, but don't hold your breath).  Don't get me wrong, I'm not clawing tooth and nail to get back to my 20's.  I'll never be one of those older women in the club, shoving my situation into a tube top, thinking I'm fooling anyone.  I'm perfectly content and happy with my life (and I believe that's a huge part of accepting your age), but it feels like a death to me, or let's compare it to a snake shedding it's skin (just to be less morbid).  There's this other person inside me I have to shed and that's kinda sad.  

WHEW!  Anyway, my birthday party was just as fun as it was depressing (okay, more fun than depressing).  Thank you mom and dad for throwing the shin-dig and thanks to everyone who came over during the day and/or out with us that night AND thank you for all my wonderful gifts!  I am so grateful to have people in my life that I know will push my wheelchair and feed me when I'm old(er).

Here's us on Shattuck in Berkeley:

A couple observations people have had:

1.  Why do I look like I'm digging in my crotch?  Honestly I was just trying to duck down a little and I have no idea what my hand is doing, it must have been warm in there.

2.  Who is the chick on the far right?  I have NO IDEA!  We got photobombed.  She is way too cool.

Okay, I have to give a special shout-out to my bestie Ashley and her hubby Kevin for getting me the most perfectly fantastic birthday gifts:

For our travels and my blogging, they got me 3 lenses for my iPhone, so I can take really good quality pictures without having to carry my bulky camera everywhere.  They're magnetic and super cool (I have no idea how to use them yet, but I know they're somehow the best!).  I also got a keyboard for my iPhone that folds in half, so as to be tiny and I love it!  Oh yea, and of course no birthday is complete without a Whirly Pop!  Thanks Ash and Kev (and of course baby Theo)!  Love you guys!

Another special shout out to my main man for taking me and my boys to Tahoe for the weekend.  It was absolutely the best!  We rented a condo at Northstar Resort in Truckee and it was fun for the whole family!  Here's me making dinner at the condo:

   And here are all my boys at the beach:

Overall, I had a most excellent birthday.  While I can't say I was over the moon about turning 30, the people in my life made it a mostly painless celebration.  Thank you everyone!  Oh yea, and another special shout-out to everyone at work for making me feel ultra special..you guys are amazing!

So, quickly before I go, just wanted to share a funny picture.  Last night, Aaron, my brother, his girlfriend and I went to the drive-ins to watch Ninja Turtles (it's a nostalgia thing okay? We're not weirdos).  I fell asleep, well...because I'm 30! and because they're morons they took pictures.  This one was actually kinda funny:

Those crazy kids!

Updates on travel plans to follow, I promise!