30 ROCKS!

Just like I knew it would ;)

Alright - now that I've got that out of the way, I figured since my crafting time has been desperately lacking, I should probably at least post and let you, my fabulous friends, know how much your friendship means to me and how truly unnecessary but completely appreciated your birthday wishes and gifts were!

First and foremost, I was spoiled! Holy bananas, was I spoiled. MrP arranged a bit of a decoy so that I might lost my cool a little, but his wits proved to be no match for mine. I was up on Sunday morning to get ready for my 10K run with my run club and he got up and brought me a boxed gift that contained the beautiful black lululemon jacket I'd said I was going to get myself....oh In Stride jacket, how lovely you fit. I then headed out for my run with my trusty protein powder & water ready to be drank once I finished so I could then treat myself to my favorite Starbucks drink that I've had to all but cut out with my new dietary limitations - a black tea lemonade. The run was a bit of a faster pace than our usual speed, but I finished and enjoyed my shake, then Starbucks.

Once home, I noticed a bike covered with blankets beside MrP's car in the garage - but I could tell it was not a road bike. Once showered, he blindfolded me and walked me to the garage. I think the video is too large otherwise I'd post (he recorded my reaction, hoping it would be....let's say...."colorful") I pulled off the blankets and it was this....

If this is what your bike looks like, then it's a beauty, but it was NOT what I asked begged for. This, my friends, is a touring bike. Or, in MrP's case, a $269 Walmart decoy bike. I liked the green, but that's about it. This in no way resembled the speedster road bike I had envisioned, but alas, I am too smart for MrP! As much as I'm a snob with certain things, he is undoubtedly a bike snob...so I knew there was NO way he would 'let' me ride a Raleigh. As he said once he was bored with my lack of reaction, "Well we all know there's no way I'd let you ride a Walmart bike...your real gift is on the patio" and when I went back out, I saw the reason I'd been blindfolded to get to the garage.

HELLO GORGEOUS! Now that's something I can get some speed on. And I did - after getting fitted for it and practicing with the clip in pedals. I could post the video of my epic first fall, too, but then you'd see the complete spectacle I made of myself for the neighbors to mock while I unclipped one side, then for whatever reason, shifted my weight to the other and proceeded to take a side nosedive into the pavement of the sidewalk. Yep - it was special!

Anyways, after I dusted off my bruised ego (and buttocks), we went out for a quick loop around the big neighborhood block (4K), then changed and out for supper at a local wine bar & bistro that has Sunday night movies. The King's Speech was the highlight of our visit, as the food wasn't all it was cracked up to be. No wait - the highlight of our visit was MrP's final surprise, which wasn't a birthday gift per se, but he thought it might be the best way to present it - at a wine bar, drinking a California wine. We're heading back to San Francisco in October to celebrate our five year anniversary! WOOHOO!

Alright....now that I've bored you to tears, grab a kleenex and finish up this rubbish... ;)

You, my friends, also spoiled me. Along with tons of well wishes from my fabulous buddies, I received fabulous stamps and my most favorite chocolates! It seems you all know me too well. Marissa shipped over a gift certificate for some Vervey goodness (that I can't believe hasn't already been blown, but my excuse is the crazy week I've been having), Maureen gifted the set I'd attempted to order through her, who's shipping was the bane of her existence for quite a while. I love a woman who's impatience for shipping delays is surpassed only by her love of the product (and the super talent she showcases that product with!). Andrea, another PTI using superhero of mine, offered to pick me up any PTI stamp set (oh the choices!) and yesterday I received from my super thoughtful friend from Parma, Ohio, Karin, sent me another of my PTI wish list sets along with two of my favorite chocolate bars that are only available in the US...oh almond joy, you are the most delicious bites of chocolate, coconut and almond ever invented!

And here's the worst part, my computer at work is a P.O.S. For whatever reason, it's blocking my attempts to visit all of my favorite bloggers, so I've been relegated to doing it at home. I will make it over for some blog visiting soon!

We are hosting an open house this weekend to celebrate and after that, I hope to get into my craft area, plus use the new Kobo eReader my mom picked up for me and the fabulous cooking gear from superstar friend on her way to her second half marathon this weekend!

See - I really was spoiled and I blame all of you for enabling me to act like a princess for a day week  month. =) Thanks for letting me share.