The last day of my twenties...

Today was the last day of my twenties. It was filled with lots of uninteresting errands. I managed to squeeze in a quick nap at one point, which was lovely.

The most exciting thing that happened today....My sweet friend, Dara, told me she had two amazing seats for the Ray Lamontagne concert tomorrow that she can't use, so it looks like mom and I are going to dinner and a concert! I had thought of taking a trip, but didn't have enough money. I'm kind of glad I didn't though, because I'm really excited to spend the day with the woman who worked so hard to bring me into the world exactly thirty years ago. It seems very appropriate.

I've been so surprised by how many people have read this blog over the past twelve weeks, and how many people have sent me private emails of support/lovely thoughts about it....even some from complete strangers. I've also recently received some frantic messages from people asking that the blog not end on my birthday. While that is so incredibly flattering, I am not sure how I feel about that quite yet. It definitely started out a temporary project, and I want to try to honor the spirit of that, I think. Anyhow, I have decided to definitely continue posting through the beginning of next week. There are some pretty special things coming up (going to keep a few blog surprises up my ole virtual sleeve). Birthday festivities are stretching out through Monday of next week, and then I'll post a final blog post once I feel like I've fully arrived at thirty.

For now, it is time to put on that dance mix and get this house cleaned up before my mom gets here in the morning! More later tonight...

My horoscope for 9/20....

"You must understand that anything leaving your life at this particular time is only that which you truly do not need. Let it go! Persevere with strength and optimism and strive to become the best you possibly can. Only then will you have fulfilled the requirements of this time in your life."

Two More Days....

Planted some small rose bushes this spring. This one hadn't been looking good at all, and I figured it was going to die soon. I wasn't paying attention and planted it in a high traffic dog path in the yard. Let's just say it gets lots of yellow rain. I'm not sure when roses normally bloom, but neither bush has produced any roses yet. Then this morning, BAM....a pretty little red birthday rose. So beautiful.

“It isn’t what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it’s what we say to ourselves about what happens.” -Pema Chodron

Warrior Dash UPdate

the incident command center made us a wee bit nervous on our drive in...

free beer at the end.

giant turkey legs for lunch.

Right after this, Meredith said, "I was a debutante."

stretching post-dash

creepy dude eating a banana

shoes, beer & turkey leg

there was something so surprisingly enjoyable about getting this dirty.

driving home in our viking hats.

We survived! At the very start, giant turkey legs sounded soooo gross (I rarely eat meat). The obstacles were a little more intense than I expected, but I completed all of them! I am still in my 20's, after all. There was one point where I was at the top of a very tall obstacle and got the giggles while Meredith was still hanging from a rope...a very nice man in neon yellow came to her aid and hoisted her over the edge. (I still feel bad about getting the giggles....I tend to get them at very inappropriate moments in life.) I have to say, the jumping over fire part was the most intense challenge for me. I felt like a horse approaching a jump, but I forced myself to overcome fear and leapt with all of my might. Then I crawled through a pit of mud with barbwire. Afterwards, we felt like we accomplished a great feat, ate giant turkey legs (which all of a sudden sounded very tasty), drank beer & let the mud dry on our clothes. I'm so proud of us. It was a very enjoyable Saturday. Thirty, you better watch out...I'm ready & I have a fuzzy viking hat to prove it!

In the spirit of taking myself less seriously....

...tonight I worked at The James Gang. It is a place that my friend owns here in Nashville. Jesse James and his outlaw gang used to hang out there when it was a saloon & general store. Tonight was 70's disco night & also drag queen/country music impersonation night. Last time I worked at this show, I was asked to wear leather chaps. This time, I was asked to wear an afro wig. I don't own a fro wig, so I borrowed this pink one from another friend. Life has felt entirely too serious lately, so walking around in vintage bell bottoms & a pink fro helped me laugh at myself a bit tonight. Good practice for tomorrow's Warrior Dash, which is sure to bring forth some hilarious pictures. Stay tuned.

“Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of each wave 'til it gets to shore. You need more help than you know.”

-Rumi

I can't decide if I find this comforting or depressing. Haha. Either way, it is beautiful.