25th Birthday Week

As I mentioned in my last post, October wasn't very good to us, but we're trying our best to stay positive and move forward with painful lessons learned.  I had to work the late afternoon/evening shift on my birthday, but Jason and I made plans to go out to lunch beforehand to celebrate.  I had been looking forward to a delicious birthday lunch at Roll On Sushi Diner, but when we got there we were informed they were closed in preparation for a large private event.  I was pretty disappointed, but they made up for it by giving us a couple of coupons for free rolls next time we make it out there.  Instead we ended up going to a place I'd been wanting to try after driving by it a few weeks ago - Clark's Oyster Bar.  Jason and I both love raw oysters, so this place was right up our alley.  We shared a few different selections of oysters from both the east and west coasts.  For our main entrees, I ordered the clam chowder and Jason chose the burger.  We were both happily full, but not before dessert - a cherry cake and a chocolate butterscotch cake with banana ice cream.  Mmm mmm mmm.  I'm sure we'll be back at some point in the future.

As for Halloween, I had to work again, but it was pretty fun getting to see everyone all dressed up headed to Sixth Street.  I'm glad I don't work the overnight shift because I'm sure last night was a challenge for those guys when all the guests returned inebriated.

Gifts-wise, I did pretty well.  Jason got me two of my favorite albums on vinyl - Tame Impala and FIDLAR.  My mom sent me a birthday "care package" with a really sweet card from her and one from my sister, lots of candy, Michael Kors Gold perfume I'd requested, a Target gift card from my mom's friend Randy and she even threw in a little beer flight glass for Jason, the "brew master", haha.  I felt really special opening everything she sent me.  When I got to work on my birthday, my coworkers surprised me with a birthday cake and a balloon!  It was the sweetest thing ever!  My boss even brought me some cupcakes from my favorite south Austin bakery, Sugar Mama's.

Tomorrow, my dad and my grandparents are coming up for a late birthday celebration lunch before I go to work.  I'm looking forward to spending some time with them!

Overall, it was a pretty decent birthday week.  I'm a lucky lady to have all of this love and support from friends and family!  Even the last minute Facebook birthday wishes meant a lot to me.  It's nice to know people are thinking of you, even if for a split second.

The Opposite Of Euphoria

Unrelated TxCSM Poster - wallpaperhere.com

Remember at the beginning of the month when I posted this update (load of crap) about how everything is just so wonderful?  Well, I suppose I jinxed myself because, overall, the month of October, typically my favorite month, has been an absolute disaster.  (Random side note: as soon as starting typing up this entry, the song "(Things are) Lookin' Good" by Say Hi To Your Mom came on Spotify. How ironic.)

(Warning:  If you don't like to listen to and/or read rants on soap boxes, please discontinue reading and move on to something else.  Don't want to ruin your day.)

Jason lost a family member quite suddenly.  Our search for a rental house has proved to be way more challenging than we were expecting.  We are both rather broke.  Just found out I'll be working the evening shift on my birthday AND halloween.  And speaking of work, it's been a nonstop wreck for the past couple of weeks.  I have encountered some of the worst people on this planet just in the past few days.  I'm talking cold-blooded, soul-sucking narcissists that feel like it is their personal quest to destroy the self-esteem of others.  I know, I know.  I'm not supposed to take things people say personally.  "They're just venting."  "They just want someone to hear their frustrations."  "They're not mad at you. They're mad at the situation."  I DON'T CARE.  There is an appropriate way to voice your problems/concerns/opinions/criticism, and it's not screaming at someone who has nothing to do with the real reason you're such a black hole of death.  You don't talk to someone like they are the trash you stomp on.  A few weeks ago, right after someone finished up a malicious yelling fit directed at me, another guest leaned toward me and quietly said, "I think everyone should be required to work in customer service for at least six months to see what it's like to be treated like that."  I totally agree, sir.  This job has seriously changed me.  It has made me realize how many self-entitled jack-bottoms are out there.  Now, I just automatically expect the worst in people.  What fun.  It also doesn't help that I am a scorpio through and through.  I am super passionate about everything.  When I like something, I am obsessed.  When I hate something, I hate it with every ounce of my being.  When I'm happy, I am ecstatic.  And when I'm mad, you better run.

End of rant.

Have a lovely week, friends!

My Love Affair With October

For as long as I can remember, I've always had a little thing for October.  I can't quite explain it, but every year on October 1 I just feel this great sense of relief and comfort.  It's like every stress, large or small, that I've been bearing in my mind or on my shoulders just eases up a bit, and everything is fresh and fancy-free.  It sounds so silly, I know, but it really is the best time of year.  October also brings my birthday, as well as a few birthdays of friends and family, my favorite holiday, red and orange leaves, a cool breeze, the delicious scent of baked sweet potatoes, Russian sage and aster, memories from the past and Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins!

As for Halloween - people seem to either love it or hate it.  Well, say what you will about the day of "devil-worshipping", but there are some really wonderful aspects to the spooky holiday.  For me, it has always been such a beautiful example of community togetherness.  Yes, there have been negative cases regarding trick r' treating such as awful people poisoning candy and/or putting razor blades and other harmful substances into kids' goodies, but nothing like that has ever happened to me or anyone I know so excuse me while I reminisce the good.  When I was little my whole family would come to Nana and Pop's for my birthday on the 30th, and many of them would stick around for Halloween and take me out trick r' treating with my mom.  Then, when I was a little older but still young enough for it to be acceptable to participate, I would go around the neighborhood with my close friends collecting candy, laughing at the funny costumes, crying at the scary ones and just relishing in the moment, wishing time would come to a stand still.

It makes me excited to think about the future when I have children of my own and get to celebrate this magical time with them.  I hope they adore all the wonder as much as I do.  I also hope they aren't little sour-pusses like I was every year on my birthday.  It's so strange that I would get so grumpy all of the sudden on my special day and almost always end up getting a spanking or, at the very least, a good talking-to.  I think I would just get overwhelmed by all of the emotions I was experiencing - excitement and delight to be surrounded by everybody I love, the opening of all those pretty little gifts.  And I've always gotten really anxious when I'm with opposite sides of the family at the same time and friends from different friend circles.  I always feel like I'm not giving each person enough attention, or giving some people too much attention.  I'm silly like that I suppose.

Let's see if I can remember all of my Halloween costumes.  I've been a witch, Jasmine from Aladdin, Meg from Hercules, Dorothy, a clown, a '50s diner waitress, an angel, a can-can dancer, Marie Antoinette, a vampire princess, Linda from The Evil Dead, the Virgin Mary, Courtney Love...and that's about all I can think of right now.  I'm sure I forgot quite a few costumes, but those are the ones that seem to stick in my memory.

So there you are, kids.  Now go enjoy the beginnings of Fall and that fresh October air we all love so much.

xoxo

Playlist Post: October 2012

HAPPY OCTOBER, EVERYBODY! 

I have had this monster of a playlist completed for about a month now and have been listening to it quite a bit already.  October really is the perfect time for a playlist put together my moi because I get to have fun and throw in a lot of Misfits, Dead Man's Bones and Say Hi To Your Mom as well as other dark, eerie songs I listen to year round.  So here it is - 142 songs to meet all of your October music needs.