lucky duck

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! I had an especially happy (birth)day because of the great mood I was in... but that's not even the half of it! I rushed home after work to have my Japanese dinner with my family before my sister had her dance rehearsal. My mom called me as I was going up the street to make sure I was on my way. I was about 30 seconds from my door when she called but I expected her to call since they've held me late at work all night and she would check in to make sure I didn't get guilted into it again. Anyway I let her know I'm almost there, get out of my car, and walk up to my front door that she's standing at. This is where it got odd. Why would she be waiting at the door for me? Hm, I thought perhaps my grandparents were coming for dinner and they wanted to surprise me. I walked in and asked if the food was here yet. No, not yet, she replied, still watching me. What was up?! I had no clue but I figured I'd investigate more once I changed out of my clothes and put my stuff upstairs. I ran up the stairs and was talking to her as I opened my door, then I turned into my room and... OH MY GOD! On my bed sat my two very best friends from school with cameras in hand documenting my surprise. One is originally from Syracuse (5 hour train ride) while the other is from Boston (6 hour train ride) and they both were/are/are going ti be here! Turns out they had planned on coming, everyone knew (my family, other friends, even the boy) about it but me! They are going to be here the entire weekend! Now if you don't quite understand the magnatude of this surprise let me provide some perspective: I was bawling when we said goodbye this year because with all of my traveling in the next year I would most likely not see them for 15 entire months and even counting my friends from home these 2 girls are at the top of my list. They are obviously amazing friends, they're in my sorority, they lived up the street from me all year at school, and they knew how much I adore surprises. I wasn't exactly feeling sorry for myself yesterday but it crossed my mind once or twice how sad it was that I was spending my special day working and then I wouldn't even be able to do anything of real significance because my friends from home and family were busy. Was I kidding me? I was thankful yesterday but wow, this was one of the best birthdays ever, and although it technically is, it's not over yet! Anyway! I haven't gotten my laptop yet but I'm running in to Apple this morning to check on it, I just wanted to share that with you. Nothing like that has ever happend to me before, if anything I'm usually the one planning things like that, like when I surprised my French friend two winters ago at Christmas time. Now onto my eats :) the part I'm sure you really care about. Breakfast: Peanut Butter Banana Flax Oatmeal, Lunch: Roasted Vegetables in a Whole-Wheat wrap from Jean Jacques, latte, blueberries, Dinner: Miso Soup, Steamed Vegetables, Salmon Roll, Birthday treat: Chocolate ice-cream with peanut butter, fudge, 1/2 usual amount of cookie dough and 1/2 usual amout of brownie in a waffle bowl from Cold Stone. I'm glad I ate pretty light and healthy throughout the day because my dessert was beyond a splurge. I don't think I could have chosen a more nutritionally void dessert, but hey, it was my birthday, right? That only comes once a year and I got in a ton of nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits. Now I'm off to wake up my friends, have breakfast, do a few morning errands and then go into the city to continue the birthday festivities. I really cannot get over how lucky I am. I'm not sure what I did to deserve it but I sure am appreciative of whoever is looking out for me. I wish everyone as incredible a Friday and weekend as I'm sure I will have! :D