enJOY it

Firstly, I am only showing you this unflattering photo of me because it is my birthday and no one would be so rude as to say "You look like a creeper" on your birthday.

Secondly, I can officially say that going to photo this morning was probably not the best idea.  Being in the darkroom hungover is a lot like walking around DC in the freezing cold.  Except instead of trying to keep your lips on your face, you are trying to keep your head from exploding.  And then there is the focusing part.  I could not tell if my prints were blurry or if my eyeballs were revolting.

Thirdly, Jack and Diet can be your best friends or your worst enemies.  Unfortunately, when I invited them to my party, I thought they would be coming as my friends.  Turns out we are in a fight.  I think it is because I did not add them on Facebook.

But none of that matters because IT IS MY BIRTHDAY!!  And not just any birthday but my GOLDEN ONE!!

I have always wanted to turn 22 on 2/22.  It has been a dream of mine for a really long time.  Like for over 21 years.  And now that it has arrived, I feel like I should celebrate or something.  And I will.

In honor of the fantastic 22, I developed this print on Tuesday:
I know you are all scrambling over to my Etsy store to buy an autographed copy.  And before you ask, yes, it is supposed to be crooked like that.  And no, I did not mean for there to be water stains on my negative.  And yes, those are flamingos.  And yes, that orange card is my new craft project.  But that is a whole nother post.  (And no, I do not have an Etsy store, and I am just kidding.)

But seriously, I am kind of obsessed with that photo.

As you already know, I am also a little obsessed with greeting cards.  And I got some extremely quality ones today.  Birthdays are a lot like going into Hallmark and getting to take things without paying.  Which, like turning 22, has always been a little dream of mine.  But thank you, friends and family, for the wonderful cards and emails.  Seriously.

(And while I am thanking people, I need to thank Breanne for this thread on twopeas.  Very sweet, love!)

Okay, okay.  Enough words you say?  You want photos to accompany your air cake? 

@ traddies:

With my lovely birthday partner:

The 9-0 got a new scanner since I turned 21:

We are still in a fight:

Seriously, please explain to me what is happening in this photo:

What are we doing?  Are we trying to spell Chanos?  Did we just meet a really cool guy named "C"?  I know there is a story here.  Memory Patrol, get back to me.

Edited to add: We are doing "C" for cruise.  Because we are going on one.  And there is this new rule where to get on the boat you have to make this sign.  So this photo was captured during our practice time.

I have a ga-billion more photos and will take 2 ga-billion more tonight.  That is why birthdays are the best.  If you want to stand on a chair in Traddies and take a picture, you can.  If you want to eat a whole plate of nachos, you can.  If you want to type the mother of all blog posts, you do it.

Did you finish your cake?