Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. I am 40. Wow - that sucks! 40 always seemed so old!! Now, it doesn't. I don't feel 40...but then again, I have no idea what 40 feels like since I've never been it before. I wonder if everyone who turns 40 feels like they are still in their 20s or 30s. Well...maybe not 20s, but definitely not 40! 40 is for old people and I am definitely NOT old!

So...I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you 40 random things about myself. It's an awfully lofty ambition since it's such a big number. Keep in mind this is in NO particular order whatsoever! Let's see what I can do...

1. I was born in New York. I did not live there long (10 weeks or so) but I can still claim it as my birthplace!
2. I hate tomatoes and will not eat them. I *do* eat tomato products (sauce, ketchup, etc) but not soup or juice.
3. I dated The Husband for 6 ½ years before we were married. My parents were not particularly fond of him but, in time, they realized he really is a great guy.
4. I met The Husband on a blind date. He was home visiting for Christmas and his sister decided we just *had* to meet...so we did.
5. The Boy is 10 months and 3 weeks older than The Girl. I know - crazy. It was not planned that way but I swear I would not do it any other way now. It worked for us.
6. Wow - this is already hard. I'm a talker by nature and I'm having a difficult time with this! (and don't tell me that doesn't count...it does!)
7. I have an amazing group of friends I met online when I was pregnant with The Girl. We still keep in touch and it's been a blast watching our kids grow up "together."
8. I really like my job right now. I work with some amazing people in my department and they've made my life so much better.
9. I have always wanted to make a quilt and promise that one day, I will. Several years ago, my neighbor (at the time) was a quilter and I was always in awe of her talent.
10. I am fortunate enough to have three amazing best friends without whom I do not know how I could function on a day to day basis, despite the fact that none of them live nearby.
11. My favorite color is green, which is funny because I remember telling my mom I hated it when I was younger.
12. My bridesmaids wore navy blue at my wedding (despite my love for green as mentioned above!).
13. I love yellow roses (pale yellow...not bright yellow) and daisies. They are my two favorite flowers.
14. I never intended to go into the profession I am...I sort of fell into it through a whole bunch of coincidences!
15. I am not particularly happy where I live right now and I know a large portion of that is due to the fact that I miss my friends and my kids miss their friends so very much.
16. This is still REALLY stinking hard and it is not getting any easier the farther along I get. (Yes, that does TOO count as another thing!)
17. I always knew I wanted to be a mom...except I wanted 4 children - 2 boys and 2 girls. I am one of 4 but I have three brothers and no sisters; I wanted my kids to have at least one of each.
18. I only have two children because I could not have any more. The doctor advised us not to get pregnant again and when The Girl was 3, I had a hysterectomy.
19. I'm crafty. My dear friend, Nichole, introduced me to the art of stamping and paper crafting and I was easily hooked. When I'm on a roll, I make some cool stuff and I've even been published. Twice!
20. Once upon a time, I wanted to be a film director. I even majored in film when I went to college.
21. I grew up in New Jersey and always dreamed of moving away and how fun and exciting that would be.
22. I moved to Indiana just before I turned 16 and realized moving away was not the "romantic, exciting" adventure I was expecting!
23. I bite my fingernails and cuticles! It's totally nasty and I've done it all my life. To this day, if I don't have fake nails on, I will pick at my fingers until they look as though they've been through a meat grinder.
24. I have a fan club on Facebook.
25. All my life, I hated watching sports. Now, I LOVE sports - particularly football. I love to "lay up sorry" and watch football all day on Sunday!
26. I love to bake. I'm not the best cook out there but I can bake. I got the rumored "Neiman Marcus" cookie recipe - or whatever it really is and for whatever reason, when I make them, they're better than when our friends do.
27. The Boy is named after my mom's father.
28. The Girl is named after my mom's mother.
29. I am not named after anyone.
30. Can I be 30 again? I'd be done with my list if I was. There is nothing wrong with that. 30 was a good year for me. It was the year The Girl was born.
31. My favorite season is autumn and not just because of my birthday. I love the smell of the crisp air, the color of the leaves, the cool breezes, and the hint of the chill to come.
32. My favorite weather is sweatshirt and shorts weather.
33. My parents are really cool. I don't tell them that very much at all but I totally should. They have been married for 45 years. I hope to be married at least that long.
34. My brothers are also really cool. I hear about people who are not on speaking terms with family members and it seems so incomprehensible to me.
35. My favorite gemstone is an emerald...which is not surprising since it is green and my favorite color.
36. My mother, The Girl, and I were all born in October.
37. Secretly, I've always wanted to be a writer. Guess that's not a secret anymore. Still...it is something I'd like to be.
38. Despite the fact that I'm completely compulsive, my desks (both at home and at work) are complete messes. I know where things are but other people would get annoyed. Heck - even I get annoyed with the mess!
39. I love music from the 80s (obviously from my playlist). I also like alternative music. Actually, I like everything except country music.
40. The Husband likes country music - a lot. He's a redneck. We are musically incompatible.

WOOHOO...I'm done! That was so much harder than one would think!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! And no...I won't make another list next year!