EastGirlsWest

Okay, I know it was a week ago, and I promise this is the last you’ll hear from me about my birthday. But I just got this great photo from Angela, which was taken at my birthday brunch, and requires some explanation.

Reflected in my sunglasses are the five incredible women I shared brunch with. Not sure I can list them exactly from left to right, but they are Angela, Michelle, Aaryn, Pam, and Gayle. We dined at Cafe Chloe, and I sat in the midst of more talent, brains, wit, charm, kindness, insight, generosity, bravery, vibrance, creativity and stunning beauty than I’ve ever seen.

All I could do was look at these women around me and revel in the good luck that helped me get to know each of them since moving to San Diego. I felt very fortunate, and inspired, and it was the best possible way to begin my 35th year.

P.S. Nice photo here of me and The Boyfriend later in the birthday, which he also played a significant role in making absolutely perfect.

I don’t just have a birthday day. I like to streeeeetch it out over many days, at least a weekend, up to two weeks if possible. While I don’t particularly like getting older, I do love celebrating. Because “celebrating” means food, wine, gifts, socializing and getting final approval over the celebration plans. It’s the best.

Celebrating can also involve pampering oneself, so Angela and I kicked off Birthday Eve with a trip to the spa for facials. What better than glowing skin and lingering scent of lavender in my nostrils to help face the onset of The Big Three Five? Plus, Robert the esthetician raved about my skin to me, which was very kind. The Boyfriend pointed out that I was paying Robert for his services, and it was probably a strategic retail decision for him to rave about my skin. To which I said shut up, he was totally being sincere.

Saturday night brought a differnet kind of celebration: the annual Emmy Awards ceremony for the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The Boyfriend was nominated, along with our uber-talented friends Michael and Nick, the charming and inspiring Will Marre, and many other colleagues. Turned out to be a big night for our crew! Michael and Nick each made multiple trips to the podium - once with The Boyfriend - winning for this show and these spots. When you get to the spots, watch the one labeled “Sisters” - it’s the winner, and damn good, in my humble opinion.

Now we have a pretty gold statuette in the house. And I got a second chance to wear a really fabulous dress that I bought for a wedding last year. So pretty much a successful night.

And then we went home, where I enjoyed my LAST hour of my 34th year watching a procedural crime drama on the DVR.

So while I was in Orlando, Angela produced a fantastic These Days segment on mommy-blogs, and landed my Number One Blog Hero as a guest! If you haven’t read Heather Armstrong’s blog, dooce, please click here immediately and revel in her hilarity, sarcasm, brains, photography skills and great haircut. While her blog certainly has a strong focus on her daughter, she’s been blogging much longer than she’s been a parent. Even it you’re not with child, you WILL be amused. I’m still green with envy over the fact that Angela got to do a pre-interview with Heather, which invloved a long, one-one-one phone conversation.

The lovely and talented Aaryn called in to the show with completely appropriate dooce gushing - which I would have done myself if I had been in town (and by the way, I haven’t told Aaryn this yet, but her blog is so good that she’s running a close second to dooce). Other guests included Aaryn’s friend Samantha and this wacky dad who tracks his daughters development with all kinds of charts, graphs and statistic. It’s worth a visit to his site for the diaper telemetry alone.

Listen here.

Hi Mom.

It’s your special day, the day for moms, that day of the year when we all say the nice things to our mothers that we really should say all year long.

Tay and I were talking on the phone after our trip to Austin a couple of weeks ago. I asked her “How was your visit with Mom?” and she simply answered “Great! Mom is just so great.”

Well, it’s true.

We’ve put you through a lot in the past year - seems we always do, I guess. There have been moves, health problems, and emotional breakdowns. You’ve traveled great distances to visit us, and slept on beds and futons in various dwellings. You’ve held our hands through tremendous change, and sat next to us in the front seat of the car as we drove you through the mundane rituals of our day-to-day lives. Through it all you are easygoing accepting, and so genuinely interested in experiencing and understanding who we are.

I’m sorry that despite all that you have the kind of daughter who waits until the last minute to FEDEX your Mother’s Day gift, then realizes it’s just too damn expensive and has to get your gift to you late. But I KNEW you didn’t want me to spend that much money to ship your gift. Besides, what more could you want for Mother’s Day than a post written in your honor on a blog that’s read by about 30 people?

So thank you Mom, for all you do, all the time, to make me feel loved and listened to, and to make my life a little easier and better. You are one super cool woman - selfless, smart, strong, and unconditionally supportive, and I know every single day how lucky I am that you are my mother.

Happy Mother’s Day.

All my love,
Jess

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to all of my dear friends who are mothers. Barb, Hope, Jen, Aaryn, Pam, Tara, Marina, Judy, Kim, Colleen, Peggy and anyone else I forgot to mention. You’re doing a fantastic job!

Today is my sister’s birthday. Happy Birthday Tay! Since it’s your special day, I’d like to take this opportunity to let all 5 people reading this blog know how much I love you. Not sure how we both ended up being in our 30s. It’s shocking, really…

When you were born on Easter Sunday lo those many years ago, I remember seeing bunnies hopping around the yard. Mom and Dad were at the hospital, Grammie was there with me, and she let me eat jelly beans for breakfast out of my Easter basket. It was a fitting start, because having you for a sister has meant only wonderful things - candy and bunnies being the least of it. You are my best friend, my reality check, my audience of one. My mirror, my truth, my history and the safest place to be. I would not be me if there was no you.

As a tribute to the day of your birth, I just ate a piece of licorice before 10am.

You are more beautiful, talented and wise with each passing year, and this one will be no different. Hope you get to ride your horse AND eat your cake today!