297/365 Recipe for a Teen Birthday Sleepover

3 Chick Flicks

2 trays baked ziti

1 case diet coke

2 dozen cupcakes

2 lbs M& Ms

1 bag each: Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos

Prepare ingredients mid afternoon. Add half a dozen friends. Warm thoroughly in hot tub. Finish with liberal dose of gossip and giggles.

283/365 50 Virtual Birthday Cards

50 Birthday wishes on my "notifications" flag. The best part is that I set up my phone to send me a text when I have a facebook comment, so every time someone sent me a wish, I recieved a text with the message. It was like getting birthday hugs all day long. Even though I was working and away from home, my presents kept coming. I even received a personalized birthday song from a delicious little girl via digital technology. I was smiling all day long. Thanks for all the birthday cheer!

282/365 The end of my 43rd Year

(No photo...photo booth seems to be missing from the Macbook. I thought these things weren't supposed to break???)

Alone in a hotel room, arriving from the airport just before the strike of midnight...

What an eventful 43rd year. Rediscovering my voice, almost losing my best friend and soul mate, helping my child navigate the start of high school. A tumultuous year, but I still feel like the luckiest S.O.B. in the world. Alive, healthy, and a life full of loving friends and family. Waking up to start year 44 is all the gift I need.