Posted June 29th, 2004 by Michelle

My birthday was a ridiculous affair. Three days of good fun, unbelievable presents, outstanding friends and family. Truly amazing. I would have written a blog about it much sooner but I’ve been chomping at the bit to get pictures from my new digital camera on here and I have yet to figure out how it all works. This whole “resizing” thing is a bummer.

But, yeah, I got a new digital camera. It is an Olympus, and it couldn’t be cooler or easier to use. Just last night I figured out that I can take movies as well as pictures, and I stumbled upon that without ever reading the handbook. My mom took me to a wonderful dinner last Thursday, and as we sat in the late afternoon sun I opened her gifts: The Oz Clark Book of Grapes, The Pirates of the Caribbean DVD (because Johnny Depp himself will not fit into a box), and then this wonderful, light, easy, perfect camera. I was beside myself.

The next night, Jon whisked me away from my place of work and drove me through Alexander and Knights Valley, heading towards Healdsburg for a night out with Elizabeth and Matthew. Oh, what a night. Terrific dinner at Manzanita and then drinks and pool at the local dive bar. I’m proud to say that Matty and I ran the table all night, even with the tequila (oy! Tequila!). At 2 AM, Jon and I were too wired to crash, so he took us on a drive under a sky so littered with stars it almost seemed dirty, like if I could have run my hand across it I could’ve wiped away a million little stars so only the big ones remained. We were frolicking between Cabernet vines, and then staring at the sky, and then apparently I fell fast asleep.

The next morning was as painful as any post-party morning in college. I managed to rally enough to get through breakfast, but then the drive back over the mountain found me curled up in a fetal position in the front seat of Jon’s car. But after a nap and a good swim, I was ready for my pool party. Again, big fun. I found that the best cure for a hangover is a swim and a glass of rose. As soon as my friends all arrived, my dad ran back to the house and then wheeled out his birthday present to me: a wine fridge. I’ve been coveting my dad’s wine fridge since I learned the importance (and coolness) of them years ago, and now I have my very own which I hope to fill with German Riesling and Italian Amarone. And then I opened my brothers’ and sisters’ gift: an iPod!!! Have you ever heard of a more spoiled birthday girl?!?! It was simply outrageous.

Jon and Matty both blessed me with much-needed stemware, and Elizabeth hooked me up with the most wonderful skin care products imaginable. More than that, though, was just the time spent. These wonderful people gave me their time, their energy, their love, and god knows plenty of their wine to make my weekend wonderful from Thursday to Sunday. Sunday was particularly nice- mostly on my own, playing with my new toys.

So, yeah, a little lost in my world here. I start my new job essentially tomorrow when I spend the day with the woman whose job I’m taking. She’s been doing it for four or five years, and I have one day with her. And then, two more days here, a three-day weekend, and then it all begins. My mom was saying last night how crazy these two weeks are, how stressful and overwhelming, but I have to say, I’m thrilled. I will finally be in a position where I might have the ability to create change, where I can help make things happen. I am not remotely scared by how hard this will be. I can’t wait.