The (25th) Birthday

All in all I had a pretty awesome holiday. I spent a lot of time with family and enjoyed some laughs. At times though I wasn't getting much sleep and I became slightly irritable through out it all, but- over all: good holiday. I got too many presents. I am very fortunate. I got several things I wanted, some things I didn't expect to get, and some things I didn't know I wanted.

I'm pretty exhausted from all the activity, and I don't really care to take the time to go into details. Bottom line- Christmas was celebrated.

Well, as I have mentioned before, my birthday is Sunday. I will be 25 years old. Every year since I was 17 years old, I made a list of good memories from that year. What started as a spur of the moment reflection has grown into a long standing tradition. I have butterflies in my stomach right now as i type this. Here goes:

24 Things I Liked About Being 24

1. getting engaged- obviously. I don't know about you, but there were so many times in my life when I doubted if I would ever get the chance to get married...then I started to doubt if Mike was ever going to get around to asking me...but he did...and it was one of the best moments of my life

2. television...yeah...lame...but, this year has been a big year for TV for me. I completed watching the Gilmore Girls seasons this year along with: The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and Lost...I started Stargate SG-1...I also follow several tv shows every day. Again, I know that to most people this would sound really silly...but I really like tv.

3. Twilight. This series has become one of my very most favorite and I have enjoyed sharing that with both Kashmir and Charlsie...and getting to go see the movie on opening night at midnight. I feel like a teenager again when I wrapped up in the goingson of Bella's life

4. Goldfinger show in St. Louis. I went with Ryan and Judy in July. It was one of the first times I really got to have much one on one time with Judy and we had a pretty good time. When Goldfinger started playing we managed to stay together and found our way up front-ish row and a little offset so we weren't being drifted away by the mosh pit. I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure at one time I made eye contact with the lead singer...but I could be making this up. My only complaint was that their set was extrememly short- but they made up for it by playing really good songs.

5. Getting Zoe...Jeannette moved to Texas in March and when she left, Mike and I got Zoe. It has been an extreme joy having her in my life. I feel so much safer in my house and I enjoy the companionship...she is extremely well behaved, I couldn't have asked for anyone better!

6. all of my achievements in school this semester- I have run on and on about them too many times already...so I will stop there

7. Weezer's new album this year...it is amazing...my favorite track is called Dreamin'....check it out

8. Mike's two month vacation...after having him gone on the road for weeks at a time, it was really nice remembering how normal and comfortable it is having him around. We had lots and lots of fun this summer...I wish he could be home everyday

9. scheduled date nights....mike and I made it a point to do this every so often...aleast once a month....just to do something romantic to celebrate being with each other...I have had a lot of fun doing this tradition and I hope it keeps going

10. board games...we love them...I love nothing more than getting together with a group of friends and playing games...this year I have learned how to play buzz word, scrabble, backgammon and many more

11. Jef coming home from Iraq...he was gone for 14 months....it was a long time and a struggle not having him here, I was so happy for his safe return home

12. Kashmir's visit in August....I hadn't seen her in several years before this and I had started to believe it would never happen again...I was sooo ecstatic for her to come home for a visit...sometimes, it's like things never change, we picked right back up from where we left off...I love her like a sister

13. election night...it felt so good to be apart of something so much bigger than myself

14. the 48 hour film festival...I was very fortunate to have a bigger role than last year...I got to be apart of the writing portion and I did some extra things for the shooting...I really felt like we were making a movie and I was very proud of Ryan's result. We won best in our genre (horror) and that was good enough for me

15. Dirty Dancing Movie in the Park...it was the first time I saw that movie...a group of us including Jackson and Nik went to cenntinal park in Nashville...it was such a good venue to see a movie in...the crowd was totally into it...there was cheering and booing...a good all around experience

16. Sex and the City Night...on the night of the premier of the movie me and my friend jessica and a friend of hers went to see the midnight showing. we went to the cheesecake factory before hand and got cosmos...of course...I really like doing special outings like that

17. starting a new blog...it feels really good having an official "home" for my writings...it's kind of a goal for myself to write as much as possible to nurture that need within myself...I may not write every day or even every week....but I love knowing I have a place special for this to do it

18. lunch trays....i started eating my meals on these lunch trays I have...I did it for dietary reasons and for the aesthetic reasons as well...it gives me an excuse to eat healthier foods and to take neat pictures

19. mending relationships....this year I have tried to sew up my loose ends in life...I had a brief period when Nik and I stopped talking...but we patched things up...and I made peace with Jackie and my friend Stephanie...I haven't seen either of them in person since....but I like knowing that negativity isn't out in the world anymore...I also like knowing that if anything were to happen...they both know I still care about them

20. the anticipation of going to Rome....my parents revealed to my this year that for my graduation present in the summer of 2010 that they would take me and Mike with them to Rome...I am so excited to get to go...I will be able to see such a huge part of history and live out a dream I never thought would come together

21. the fall....it's my favorite season and I lived it up to the fullest I ever had...from decorating...to fall playlists...to Halloween celebrations...pumpkin carving...to haunted houses...Thanksgiving...pumpkin spice lattes...I did everything fall I could...it was a perfect season...with the most perfect tree in my front yard...

22. tiny litte burgers...I know that sound silly...but I recently discovered these tiny little burgers at Chili's...lemme say...I HATE krystals and white castle...onion steamed buns? GROSS!!!!! But, chilis have these tiny little burgers that are to die for...and I found them at OCharley's and even Burger King...they are some of my favorite foods

23. Jef's mini birthday road trip...in January for jef's birthday we went to see Johnny Cash's house and grave and then we topped off the evening with going to the Adventure Science center...it was fun getting a short get away and pretending we were kids again...

24. all the times...the laughter...the friendships...times spent with family...growing older...learning new lessons...proving new things to myself...coming out a winner on the otherside...concuring fears...strengthening myself...I have had an amazing year with amazing people...I couldn't have asked for anything better....

Happy Birthday to me