Happy Birthday . . . to Me!

I took a little blog break yesterday to celebrate my birthday!  YAY!  (well, and to take mock boards at school, but that is a totally different issue, and NO celebrating was involved.)

That's right, we all know I have a slight, ahem, obsession with birthdays.

Luckily, I have awesome friends that are willing to give up some of their precious study time to help me celebrate!

After the dreaded event that was Mock Boards 2010 (listen, you haven't had it handed to you until someone has gone over your work with a digital caliper and judged you to the 0.1mm.  ick.) I had a job interview!  I will keep the details confidential, but let's just say this whole "finally entering the real world" thing became a whole lot more "real" yesterday.

After that, it was time to celebrate at one of my favorite places - Bhan Thai.  We were in our own room upstairs, which gave us plenty of latitude to eat, drink, catch up, and laugh a lot.

Megan and me at dinner

Of course, there was cake.  Everyone laughed because I made my own.  (Don't be distressed, my precious friend Jeni offered, but I had to share my Mimi's Chocolate Swirl cake with my friends ... I have it as my birthday cake every year!)

(Coincidentally, it was my breakfast this morning, too.  yes, I know I went overboard on the glaze.  That's your prerogative on your birthday.  :)  And sorry, folks, this recipe is a family secret.  Some things can't be shared, right?)

As we left we asked the bartender to take our picture.  After the first one he said, "wow, that was really good!"  I honestly thought he was lying. (they all say that, you know?)

NO!  He was telling the honest-to-goodness truth!!  What a great picture!  (This one is a framer, I do believe!)  It doesn't hurt that I have GORGEOUS friends!  (I do, don't I?)  Jeni missed the picture.  :(  She snuck off without us knowing!!

PS - Take a look a what my two bffs mailed me for my birthday:  

(sadly, they both live hours away.)

Cookbooks!  Do they know me well, or what??  I told one of them that this is called enabling.  Looks like lots of fun (and new recipes to post!) in my future!

PPS - the St. Jude Marathon is today!

(Please please PLEASE visit their website and learn more about this awesome hospital if you aren't familiar with it!)

What is especially cool about the marathon is that it ends right by my apartment.  Literally, the last turn of mile 26, as seen right here:

The half marathon finishes on the other side of our building.  There are signs everywhere that say, "Be a hero for Hanna!" and "Run for Devon!" I could go on and on.  

I have been listening to the 'cheerleaders' for the last few hours as the runners are finishing -- not conducive to studying at all but so so heartwarming.  They are clapping, yelling "YOU'RE A HERO!" (St. Jude is all about being a hero for their kids!) and being so encouraging!  There is one lady in particular who has been here for the past hour (they come in shifts).  She has the sweetest Southern voice and her "Woo" is more of a "whuu-ooo"; you know, she sliiiides into it!  And it's two short "woos" before a long one.  "Whu-oo, whu-oo, whu-oooooooo!"  (Goodness, I wish I had a video camera so everyone could hear.  Typing does not do it justice.)  I don't even know this lady, but I love her.  She is giving 100% for every single person that comes by!!  

Now that her shift is over, I guess I will have to get out the earplugs for the rest of the day and actually get some studying done.  

Back to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge later today!

Happy Weekend, everyone!