amazing still it seems, i'll be twenty three

my birthday this year found me at the exact same place as it did last year, and also at a different place entirely.

22 was a good year. we completely renovated our little house, got married, went to california, came back, played about a million games of trivial pursuit, got our first Christmas tree, and met our very first niece.

i rung in the first day of 23 roasting in the burning sun with barclay, holding his hand and listening to some sweet music. the rays drew a blotchy, fire engine red pattern around the edges of my clothes and shoes, and i had to squint hard to see the performers on the stage. finally, i gave up and closed my eyes. good thing you can still hear with your eyes closed. 

AND! it was father's day. i like celebrating father's day on my birthday. considering they're somewhat completely connected.

as expected, i got my dixie cup of ice cream, saw lots of friends and family, and listened to scads of music, as well as saw the best tour bus i think i've ever seen [owned by one of my favorite bands maybe ever].

on our way out of the valley, we stopped at the top of the hill to just check out the view. i pretended it was the grand canyon. it was easy enough to do because i've never been to the grand canyon.

all day, barclay kept pulling small birthday presents out of his backpack. a freelance whales cd, some small notebooks, clodhoppers, stuff like that.

my favorite:

the pencil crayons are made of rolled up chinese newspapers. they are the nicest thing i've ever seen this week. he said i can use it for my paper rants. i love my husband.

so i'm off. to write a paper rant on my new paper with my new pencils while eating clodhoppers and listening to freelance whales. so best.
how was your weekend?