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January 03, 2006
Happy Birthday? Yes, Happy Birthday!
I am 29 today. And really, that's cool, it's not like that means I'LL BE THIRTY IN A YEAR. No, no, not worried about that at all, nooney-noo, nooney-noo (an Ursula expression, she who sent me that cute b-day card above).
But you know, JUST IN CASE turning 29 does in fact mean that next year I'll be 30, I'm taking some preemptive measures (e.g., see NY's resolutions) and I'm doin' some research.
I mean, what does being almost 30 MEAN?
Do I have to stop watching Laguna Beach? Is it wrong that I only waited until 11:55 p.m. on my birthday's eve before opening my presents? And that I only achieved that degree of self control because I hadn't removed the gifts from the trunk of my car since my mom gave me them over Christmas?
Do I have to stop wearing mini-skirts and cowboy boots? Because let me tell you, that will be a HUGE BLOW to my self-confidence because that is the only time people ask me out in grocery stores. And I really NEED to be asked out in grocery stores because I hate going there and having a Hercule Poirot look-alike tell me he wants to take me to dinner makes it much more bearable.
Will this be the year that all my friends get engaged and/or preggers and I have a mini-meltdown?
Does this mean I can never dye my hair jet black again or get my tongue repierced? Answer: YES, but only because that would be SO WRONG.
Is this the point when I no longer look like I'm playing dress-up when I put on a suit?
Ack. I just extinguished my desire for research.
Anyway, 29 years ago, my mother, then aged 29, had me.
And even though she had been married and a home-owner for four years at that point, our 29-year-old selves share some similarities. She was also going back to school after years of doing something she wasn't particularly fond of, didn't really cook (that came later), and was still searching for SOMETHING (also came later).
And now, she and my dad are still giving me ridiculously generous birthday goodies.
As long as I'm not too old for that, all is well. Happy birthday to me!
Posted by jen at January 3, 2006 12:19 AM
Comments
Happy 29 Birthday Jen. Enjoy your last yeat of, sniff, youth. Because SOON SOON SOON you will have to cross over to THE DARK SIDE...
Posted by: Sammy at January 3, 2006 02:21 AM
Happy birthday, Jen! As a fellow 29-year-old staring in the face of imminent (gasp!) old age, I salute you. If you need a shoulder to cry on, or to borrow some Metamucil, let me know.
Posted by: Logan the Great at January 3, 2006 03:05 AM
Happy Birthday! Of course this doesn't mean you will be 30 next year...this means you will begin to have anniversaries of your 29th. :0)
Posted by: Bliss at January 3, 2006 05:21 AM
Happy birthday! I too am hitting the big two-nine this year, so I'm right with you on the fear of 30 thing. Best I can say is don't go changin'!
Posted by: Steve at January 3, 2006 06:18 AM
Happy birthday! And don't worry. 30 is wonderful.
Posted by: Dagny at January 3, 2006 06:55 AM
Happy birthday! Don't be silly, you never have to give up anything because of age. I mean, here I am, still watching the Smurfs and drinking my OJ with straws.
I LOVE the Steingarten book, it is one of my most favourite ever. I almost applied to be his assistant a couple of years ago when the spot was open.
Posted by: Gloria at January 3, 2006 07:55 AM
Happy birthday!! Don't worry, you will never be too old for Laguna Beach. And if it makes you feel better, I was too old to get my tongue repierced at 23, when I realized that a) I actually cared about the damage it would do to my teeth, and b) I would have to PAY for said damage myself. Really, you're not missing out on anything there.
Posted by: Gwen at January 3, 2006 08:18 AM
Happy Birthday!!
and don't worry about any looming anniversary of your 29th birthday... 30 on is great!
enjoy your day!
Posted by: rg at January 3, 2006 09:29 AM
Happy birthday, darling Jen! NEVER stop wearing your cowboy boot ensemble- even though that means I end up feeling particularly troll-esque walking next to you on spiffy mini-skirt days. Also, by Poirot look-alike, did you mean egg-shaped, elaborate mustache...? If there's a Belgian accent involved, I'd go for it!
Posted by: Neeta at January 3, 2006 09:41 AM
Happy Birthday!!! I wish you a wonderful and prosperous 2006!!!
Posted by: ~drew emborsky~ at January 3, 2006 10:29 AM
as someone who turned 29 a bajillion years ago, it really does get better. (and it's not some old person's rationalization -- at least i don't think so).
Posted by: maryse at January 3, 2006 11:13 AM
happy birthday by the way!
Posted by: maryse at January 3, 2006 11:14 AM
Happy Birthday Jen!!
30 is a piece of cake. You are only as old as you feel, and at 33 I can say I like the 30's better than the 20's. Maybe I won't say that as I get closer to 40.
Posted by: jillian at January 3, 2006 11:14 AM
Happy, happy birthday! I hope your year is wonderful. Enjoy it!
Posted by: SpaceCase at January 3, 2006 12:51 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: laurie at January 3, 2006 12:58 PM
happy bday girlfriend. you are much younger than your age. :)
Posted by: carolyn at January 3, 2006 02:04 PM
happy, happy birthday! if it makes you feel any better, i turn 30 a whopping 28 days before you do!
Posted by: jenny at January 3, 2006 08:17 PM
Happy Birfdy!!!
I think being almost thirty means that another year has passed, and not much more. :)
Hope you got pampered, spoiled and farted, at least once, in public (elevator preferable).
I actually did that the other day... I had a little conversation with myself and decided that an empty house is better than a bad tenant and let one fly in the elevator at work.
Next floor down the elevator stops and pretty much a max load capacity worth of people climbed in. Each shooting me evils as they embarked on 5 stories of holding their breath!
Although it tested my ability to control my cheek-flushing at the time, hindsight (ha) saw me enjoy the moment thoroughly.
Hope you have a wonderful day!!!
Posted by: dan at January 3, 2006 08:43 PM
jen, you live in la i am sure you can still wear mini skirts and cowboy boots when you turn 30...i mean seriously, how many 50 year olds have you seen running around in track suits down here? love ya, sista! can't wait for this weekend!
Posted by: Penny at January 3, 2006 10:33 PM
Happy Birthday, Jen!
Wishing you a wonderful last year in your 20s :-)
Posted by: lynne s of oz at January 3, 2006 10:54 PM
Jen, you have the exact same birthday as my husband--same year and everything! He's also been talking about the "almost 30" thing. But he decided to adopt the attitude that 35 is the new 29 so you can still have birthdays up to that point and it is no longer necessary to be "29 and holding." I just hit 27 in December and I'm trying not to think how fast the next 3 years are gonna go...
Posted by: Lori at January 5, 2006 03:59 AM
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I feel much better!
Posted by: jen at January 5, 2006 10:23 AM
Great baby pic! Isn't it weird to look back and realize that you were actually alive when all of this stuff happened that you can't remember? What? Hostage crisis? Gas shortages? You were there, baby!
Posted by: DDJ at January 5, 2006 11:29 AM
Happy belated birthday!
I'm going through the "everybody's engaged/married/preggo but me" meltdown right now. It's not so bad once you start playing confidante to your wedded friends and you discover that being married and having babies isn't exactly all roses all the time.
And anyway, 40 is totally the new 30 :)
Posted by: parikha at January 6, 2006 07:16 AM
Nice Blog and Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Bob Merlin at January 9, 2006 06:20 PM
Jen, just came across a contest for you.
http://thebosh.com/archives/2006/01/contest_stranded_on_a_desert_island_with_a_laguna_beach_star_who_would_you_pick.php
Yep, pick your fave Laguna Beach star.
Posted by: Dagny at January 15, 2006 07:05 PM