Julia Turns 39 Again

Mar 19th 2008
Julia LondonGoddess Grins

69 Responses to “Julia Turns 39 Again”

1. Kathy/Cookiedough on 19 Mar 2008 at 5:48 am #

   sorry sorry sorry sorry!!!
   I SO meant to wish you Happy Birthday on your day, but I was dealing with a four year old so sick she was zombie-like!
   No computor for me!
   I’m going over again in a few min, so I’ll start by telling you about my 11th birthday.
   My brother Mark was eating an apple while I was opening presents.
   Mom asked him what he’d gotten me and he hands me the half eaten apple. needless to say the table erupted- me in tears and my parents not impressed with their teenage son. He quickly takes the apple and shows me. He had scooped out the core and place a 5$ bill in there. all blue and pretty. yesm we have pretty money. haha. He had also pinned the apple back together and was carefully eating around the pins.
   awww. At the time I was mad, but thinking about it it was pretty cool.

2. Susan K on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:47 am #

   Glad you had a happy birthday, Julia!

   1. Do you like The Works on your birthday, or could you care less about the day? No I don’t like the works. Just dinner out with family and close friends.

   2. What’s the strangest birthday gift anyone ever gave you? Remember those singing fish you hang on the wall? Someone gave me one of those but instead of a fish it was a shark that had the JAWS theme.

   3. Does getting older bother you, or is age just a number? It only started bothering me recently.

   4. What’s the funnest thing you ever did on your birthday? My friends took me to a Def Leppard concert. They are one of my favorite bands and I had never seen them live. It was so awesome!

   5. What’s the most pathetic thing you ever did on your birthday? Most pathetic thing….well I can’t think of anything really pathetic but I don’t like it when my birthday falls on Father’s Day every few years. (Like this year!)

3. Freedom Writer on 19 Mar 2008 at 7:14 am #

   1. I like to have people quietly acknowledge that it is my birthday. I also like a nice dinner, but I am not into “The Works”.

   2. I rarely receive presents for my birthday except dinner out with DH and my mom, because her birthday is the day before mine. Yes that is right I wanted my own birthday so I was born at 12:15 a.m. the day after my mom’s birthday.

   3. Getting older doesn’t bother me. It’s a number, but I do look forward to the day I feel grown up. I figure that might come around about 80 or so. Maybe.

   4. I usually celebrate with my mother, and her idea of funny was to make me wear a black corsage on my 40th birthday. I know I am dull and boring.

   5. The most pathetic birthday was the year I turned 30. I spent the whole day alone in the library researching my subject for my college senior research paper. Then I went and ate a fast food burger, by myself, and spent the rest of the day sitting at my mother’s house by myself.

4. SuzyQ on 19 Mar 2008 at 7:49 am #

   1. I’m kind of in between with this one. I like cards and presents, but just with my family. I don’t need a big party. I also must not cook on my day, so I usually get breakfast in bed (if it’s a day off) and dinner at night.

   2. I have to say, I’ve gotten really nice gifts over the years and can’t think of anything that stands out.

   3. Age is just a number. My sister, on the other hand, has cried at every milestone - even turning 20 because she wasn’t a teenage anymore.

   4. The funnest thing I’ve done was be in Hawaii with my older sister for my 21st birthday. Enough said

   5. The worst thing that happened on my birthday was breaking out with chicken pox when I was 23.

5. SuzyQ on 19 Mar 2008 at 7:49 am #

   Oh! And Happy belated Birthday Julia!!!!

6. elsiehogarth on 19 Mar 2008 at 7:57 am #

   Happy Birthday Julia! I’m glad to hear that you had a good day.

   I have to say that I just love my birthday……I celebrate for a week leading to my birthday. To me age is just a number. Somedays you wake up and feel 21, some days you wake up and feel 80 and then other days you feel just right.

7. Sandy "Snik" White on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:08 am #

   HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA!!!

   I love for a big deal to be made about my birthday, but I am just as content to spend a quiet day with my daughter at home instead. The strangest gift I received was last year. My friend asked me what I wanted and since I don’t like to mow my lawn, I told her I wanted a goat or an alpaca. But I also told her I wanted some Sweetpea Body lotion from Bath & Body Works. I showed up at my party and there was a goat on the back porch. The good news? It has worked and I haven’t had to mow my back yard in over 6 months now. As for age, it isn’t bothering me yet. Next year I will be 30, and while my sister is horribly affected by the same milestone in her life this year, it just doesn’t bother me much. I love where I am in life right now. The funnest time I’ve had recently was a few years ago. My daughter and I got tiaras, blew up some balloons and ate cake and watched a Barbie movie. She sang to me and we took a nap wearing our crowns. It was a perfect day.

8. Lisa H on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:11 am #

   Happy Birthday, Julia. My birthday was March 2 and I am still waiting for my birthday presents from my husband. He keeps saying, “I’m working on it”

   Yes, I like the works…going out to dinner, presents and lots of friends calling to wish me a Happy 29th (again) I don’t care about cake, but I know some women really do and that is okay too.

   My most pathetic birthday was when I turned 17, I came home from school to a dark house, my mother still in her nightgown. She was not feeling well and had no dinner made and the house was a mess. She gave me the keys and said I could go to Burger King which was my favorite place at the time. I drove over, ordered our food and found I had locked the keys in the car. My dad who was working the night shift had to leave work to come unlock the door and was not overjoyed.

9. Claudia Dain on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:26 am #

   HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIA!! Too bad if you don’t want a Big Deal on your birthday! I love a big deal and so you’re getting one!

   HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

   Look, it only comes once a year, the entire Earth is delighted that you’re here, spreading joy and love wherever you go (hey, it’s your birthday, I’m allowed some poetic license). We ALL want to celebrate the Wonderfulness of Julia.

   Learn to live with it, ‘k?

   My most pathetic birthday was my 9th. I was petting the cat, she scratched me on my eyeball, I had to go to the emergency room, got yucky eyecream, and was told that the cat had missed my retina my a hairsbreadth. But she missed! Ha! I’m quicker than you, Ginny! (She was a mean cat.) So, for my 9th b-day I got….an intact retina?

10. Karen Rose on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:26 am #

    HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIA!

    I celebrated my b-day at home for the first time in 8 years last summer. Normally I’m at RWA and will be this year when I turn 44. No, I don’t mind birthdays, but I really prefer doing it up for other people’s birthdays. Mr. R and I usually just go out for a nice meal.

    My most memorable birthday? 1983, I was 19 and Mr. R popped the question in the moonlight on the steps of the Senate Building in DC. Aaaah

    Worst birthday? 1990, I was 26 and Mr. R had just gone through chemotherapy. He’s all better now. 1990 was one of those weird years - best because oldest daughter was born, beautiful and perfect, and worst because I thought I’d lose my heart. But now I have them both, and I’m going off to find tissues.

    Oh, and the thing I hate most about growing older - the weird hormone swings that come with peri-menopause. I never know when I’ll either burst into song or tears.

    Have songs today, Julia - and enjoy that free tank of gas!!!

11. FreshEChelle on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:52 am #

    Happiest birthday Julia! Hope you are treated like a queen all week.

    1. Keep my b’day on the downlow. I like it acknowledge, not celebrated.

    2. Strangest gift? Can’t recall. Maybe the truly unwelcome stripper on my 30th who performed in a very inappropriate restaurant.

    3. The number doesn’t bother me, the list of things unaccomplished does.

    4. Best - was that 30th. Though unwelcome, the stripper was thoughtful from 3 friends & it harkended to a stripper 10 yrs earlier, at work I got a private performance of a children’s story told by a professional storyteller/actress, went to an outdoor rooftop bar in NY, then tried to go home but Mom made me come to her pool party (it’s was 11p by now) where she had a 3-D b’cake made in the style of my fave handbag. When I recall how so many people did so much to make it memorable it makes me happy.

    5. Worst - my 33rd, in Denver, learning some stupid software. The software co. went bankrupt soon after.

12. doglady on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:54 am #

    Happy Birthday, Julia!! I agree with Claudia. We are SO HAPPY you are here!

    1. Dinner and a movie works for me. Cake is not a big deal because I run a bakery.

    2. The strangest gift would be the one I received from my two younger brothers on my 40th. They sent a black funeral wreath to my office!

    3. Dosen’t bother me. I just keep celebrating the anniversary of my 29th birthday. Celebrated the 20th anniversary December 29.

    4. Went to New Orleans one year and everyone sang Happy Birthday to me at Preservation Hall. Good friends, good food and good music!

    5. Buried my 9 year old Rottweiler, Shadow. She collapsed with a massive stroke on my birthday. I carried a 100 lb dog up the hill and drove her to the vet, but they said she was gone when she hit the ground. Then had to come home and bury her alone. It’s been 8 years and it still hurts.

13. doglady on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:55 am #

    A free tank of gas??????? That man LURVS you, Julia!!

14. Julia London on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:23 am #

    Ohmigod, doglady, that takes me breath away! That bad birthday is hard to top. You poor thing — I can’t even imagine how traumatic that must have been.

    Thanks, everyone, for the birthday wishes!

15. KariE on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:26 am #

    Happy, Happy, Happy (Belated) Birthday, Julia!!!!!!

    1. As long as my day is what I want it to be then I am ok with it. If I want the works then bring it on. If I want a quiet day at home with a book, so be it.
    2. I don’t really recall the strangest. There was a horse born on my birthday at the farm I lived on. That was pretty neat.
    3. I think age is just a number. Getting older is just a part of life. Instead of fearing or hating older age, I will embrace it. There is nothing I can do to stop it and worrying about it will only give me wrinkles.
    4. I am hoping that this year will be one of the funnest. Bon Jovi is coming to town ON my birthday and really want to go. I might go solo since eveyone I have talked to can’t afford it or will be out of town. *sigh*
    5. The most pathetic thing I have ever done on my birthday was cry. Oh, there was that one time that I walked into a pole at the zoo. My friends are the best because they manage to bring back that memory every year or so

16. Margaret on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:34 am #

    Happy belated birthday, Julia. You are in good company with being 39. My mother was 21 till the day she died. I only found out her real age when I had to deal with her estates. LOL
    Free, I don’t know when one feels like a grown-up, either. I’m only 69. Check with me in 11 years.
    It’s just another day and another #. Altho turning 70 might be a bit different. I like being acknowledged. Don’t need parties/expensive gifts.
    Most memorable present was a red 1952 convertible for my 16th in 1954. Loved that car!
    Worst and most embarrassing was taking myself to a Dallas strip club for my 30th. By myself. What WAS I thinking? It was interesting, but really…. If you ever saw the tv show “Hee Haw”, you probably remember Lulu. She was a featured “artist” that night. And she wasn’t a whit thinner. Maybe that was why I went. She was amazing and had quite a collection of admirers.

    Now you know my little secret. Nobody else knows about #30. LOL

17. Margaret on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:35 am #

    BTW, when any of you start getting blue about your new age on your birthday, just consider the alternative and be grateful. My motto.

18. Julia London on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:37 am #

    Margaret, noooo! HAHAHAHAHAAA! I’m going to say that was a bad birthday, LOL! But I admire your grit for having the courage to go by yourself. To see Lulu!

    BWAHAHAHAHAHA

19. Nicole Jordan on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:52 am #

    Happy Bday, Julia!!! Those gifts from your ward and hubby are lovely and just perfect.

    Until I turned thirty-five or so, I always wanted to be older. But after that I would have just as soon slowed down, lol.

    I don’t need the Works, just some personal quality time with my dh. Probably my most pathetic bday was when I turned a big number and no one in my family remembered except my dh, not even my mom. That was pretty sad.

    The most delightful gift I can remember was when t-shirt photograph first came out. My dh made me a t-shirt with a photo of my wonderful horse. Very special!

20. RachelG on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:59 am #

    Happy B-day Julia!!!!!!!!!!

    A tank of gas? Wow, you’re easy.

    The worst present I ever got was a diamond bracelet from Mr. G. I know that sounds ungrateful, but it is seriously unattractive. When he gave it to me, he was so excited. So, I pretended that I looooved it and was overjoyed. Every now and then I break it out and put it on just so he doesn’t suspect.

    rachel

21. amy1242 on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:03 am #

    HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIA!!
    I’m not big into celebrating birthdays. They seem to pass by without much of a fuss. Cards and gifts from my dh and kids, and I’m a happy girl. I was born on Thanksgiving Day, so I’ve always shared my birthday with a turkey and stuffing. One particular birthday (that fell on Tgiving), my mother was saying the blessing over the very dry bird, and thanked God for the guy I was dating at the time (he was there, and now my dh). Everyone said, “Amen.” I heard a ringing in my ears, looked at my boyfriend who was smiling from ear to ear, until seeing the look on my face. Mom still has never thanked God for ME at a meal prayer. A little bitter Amy?…HELL YES!! Now I’m 44 and mom and I laugh about it. At the time, not so much. Getting older has not bothered me yet. I’ll let you know if it ever happens, but for now, I’m really enjoying 44. KarenR, it’s a piece of cake! Julia, I’m glad you are who you are!

22. LauraR on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:15 am #

    Happy Birthday, Julia!

    I would rather not have a big deal made of my birthday. The number doesn’t bother me. As Margaret said, just think of the alternative!
    Here at work unfortunately they do make a big deal of milestones. When I turned 50 I thought I had successfully avoided this since I didn’t see anything posted in the area around my office. But then I come in at 7 and most everyone else comes in at 8. I knew something was up when someone came in the office and wished me happy birthday later. When I went out of the office and looked at the door there were pictures of me when I was a child. A friend had called my folks and the traitor, my father, had scanned some embarrassing photos and emailed them to my ‘friend’. She enlarged them and printed them on paper and plastered them on my door… in the stairwell… oh joy…

23. PJ on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:15 am #

    1. I like to celebrate but I don’t need “the works”.

    2. I’m sure there are weird gifts in my past but I can’t remember them. One of the benefits of getting older? LOL!

    3. I still feel young. Besides, I consider every birthday a good day because it means I’ve survived another year and am still here to experience the next!

    4. On my 40th, dh surprised me with a party with 20 of our best friends. My fav restaurant catered it, plenty of booze flowed and the gifts were very sexy. (obviously selected by the wives) My gift from dh was a gorgeous sapphire and diamond ring.

    5. The morning of my 50th my husband took a turn for the worse and the doc told me there was nothing more they could do. Instead of joining my girlfriends for a celebration lunch at a winery in the mountains I spent the day crying at his bedside. He died 7 days later. That was the birthday that wasn’t.

24. PJ on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:17 am #

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Julia! Sounds like you had a wonderful day. Props to your dh for that tank of gas. I’d LOVE it if someone gave me one of those for my birthday!

25. LauraR on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:19 am #

    The funniest birthday I had was when my mom forgot to call and sing to me. I waited all day long and no call. I finally called and when she answered I asked “Aren’t you going to sing to me?” She answered “Why?”
    “It’s my birthday, Mom” hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha I loved that I could tease her about it.

26. Kim on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:22 am #

    Happy Birthday Julia!!!

    Birthdays are big deals for me. At the factory I used to work at each year I saved one of my precious vacation days for the day before my boss’s b-day. I’d spend the day making homemade taco meat and cream puffs. Enough for about 70 people! Every year my mother in law would make homemade flour tortillas for everyone. YUM!

    This year a dear friend was going through a rough time at her b-day so I made her my famous Milky Way cake and shipped it to her:D

    I have one of the worst birthday’s on the planet. It sucks. Everyone is so busy with a certain holiday that I usually get forgotten.

27. amy1242 on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:23 am #

    Oh, PJ, that gave me goose bumps! I’m so sorry for your loss! How terrible!

28. Kim on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:27 am #

    1. Do you like The Works on your birthday, or could you care less about the day? I like about mid-way. I expect a bakery cake that is all birthday, no other holiday.

    2. What’s the strangest birthday gift anyone ever gave you? A Little Mermaid card from my mom that arrived a month too early. I was 30!

    3. Does getting older bother you, or is age just a number? Not really. 30 was incredibly hard.

    4. What’s the funnest thing you ever did on your birthday? Honestly, I can’t think of anything.

    5. What’s the most pathetic thing you ever did on your birthday? Every year! I spend it baking and cleaning house from very early in the morning until evening when we go to my in-laws until about 1am. So, I’m up almost 24 hours and very exhausted. Every year I say I’m going to revolt and say no but I hate to let everyone else down.

29. PJ on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:31 am #

    Doglady, I’m sitting here in tears. It’s always heartbreaking to lose one of our beloved animals but to do so on your birthday and in those circumstances is just awful. My heart aches for you. Sending big hugs.

30. Julia London on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:36 am #

    Laura, I live in fear of something like that happening. But fortunately, I was born in an era when slides were really popular, so unless you have a slide projector…hahahahaha!

    PJ, that is incredibly sad. What a tragic loss.

31. Gannon on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:41 am #

    Happy Birthday, Julia! A celtic charm bracelet and a tank of gas sound like fab gifts! I feel your pain with the whole premium gas dilemma! I keep saying I’m going to start riding a bike!

    1) I’m pretty easy to please where my birthday is concerned. A party is fun, but not necessary. As long as there is cake and ice cream, I’m good.

    2) I can’t really think of a strange gift, so I guess that’s a good thing.

    3) Getting older doesn’t really bother me–just takes a little more concealer to cover the circles under my eyes! I’ll be 42 next week, and I have no problem admitting my age.

    4) I can’t think of the funniest thing I did, but for my 40th birthday my sister threw me a big party when the kids and I went to Seattle to visit–my dh was deployed. It was a ton of fun!

    5) This wasn’t pathetic on my part, but on my 23rd birthday, my mom, grandmother and I went to see my sister in NY. No one said Happy Birthday to me until late in the afternoon! I was pissed!

32. Gannon on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:42 am #

    Big hugs to you, doglady and PJ!

33. Ellen on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:54 am #

    Happy B-day my fellow Piscean. I turned 49 (REALLY!) on the 13th. Oh…and YES I was born on Friday the 13th. Anybody surprised?

    I so loved my birthday that I celebrated it twice a year in college. It was always a great way to get free drinks. However, my roomie cured me of the public celebrations by bringing the most inebriated-disgusting-can you say toothbrush-types of guys over for a birthday kiss.

    I also have a big fear that might be unique to Mt. Oly. I can’t handle the birthday song. As a child I would hold my breath and wait for it to finish. “How old are you now” was always good for an almost fainting scene.

    Rather than getting over this, I now get the shakes every time those damn waiters come blasting out of the kitchen in song, with one of those pathetic little cupcakes in hand. I practically dive under the table in fear that they are coming over to me.

    My husband and son know better than to tell anyone to sing to me, but it doesn’t stop their laugher when I react to someone else’s song.

34. Ronlyn on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:58 am #

    Happy birthday yesterday!

    I LOVE my birthday and insist on it being celebrated by everyone around. I’ll remind people it’s coming up for about a month in advance. LOL. When I was 15 my parents “forgot” my birthday. they were in the midst of a messy divorice, and it was simply overlooked. I was crushed and vowed never to let it happen again. That was the year I adopted the additude that I can’t complain about not getting something if i don’t ask for it.
    Strangest birthday gift would probably be a haircut. It’s what I wanted, so it’s what my mom got for me. LOL.
    Getting older sort of bothers me. In all honesty, I have to think about it when I’m asked how old I am. I stopped keeping track around 24. This year I was at a spa on my and spotted eye wrinkles and just about went through the roof.

35. anneriailin on 19 Mar 2008 at 11:12 am #

    Happy Belated Birthday, Julia! Party on….and enjoy your tank of free gas!

    1. I like my birthday to be acknowledged but I don’t need all of the hoopla. Celebrating with family and friends is good enough for me.

    2. I’ve gotten some pretty unusual gifts from the office people, but that’s what we do…give unusual gifts. lol

    3. Getting older doesn’t bother me. Age is just a number and it’s better than the alternative.

    4. The funnest birthday I’ve ever had was my 50th. A friend of mine arranged for tickets in a Suite at Yankee Stadium. We were in the suite right behind home plate and we even got to park in the VIP parking lot. It was ubber fantastic and I felt so special.

    5. Most pathetic–I’ve had several and most were spent alone or at work.

    –dorothy

36. Julia London on 19 Mar 2008 at 11:35 am #

    Gannon, I have a really hard time admitting my age. I don’t know why!!! Yes, part of it just sheer vanity, but I will spend $$$ to take care of that, LOL. I think its the notion that life is flying by and I am so not done yet. I feel like I am just getting started, and I want everything to slow down, slow down, slow down.

    But since I have discovered this morning that a lot of people lived through the era of slides, I will admit that I…that I….that I have a lot more in common with Ellen than I knew. :-).

37. Suzanne Enoch on 19 Mar 2008 at 11:55 am #

    Happy birthday, Julia!

    As for me, as long as I get chocolate cake, I’m happy. *g*

38. amy1242 on 19 Mar 2008 at 12:03 pm #

    OH! I just thought of what I want for my next birthday. Spanx! I don’t think you can get it in this part of Wisconsin, as I have never found it anywhere. Maybe my out of state friends could find it somewhere. Now I can look forward to turning 45! Do any of you have any experience with it?

39. Lisa H on 19 Mar 2008 at 12:10 pm #

    Hi Ellen - Happy Birthday late…I have missed you!

40. PJ on 19 Mar 2008 at 12:15 pm #

    I also grew up in the era of slides. We have boxes and boxes of them. Thankfully, the bulb for the slide projector broke and I’ve managed to convince everyone that they don’t make bulbs for that particular (old) projector anymore. hehehe

41. ct009ct on 19 Mar 2008 at 12:51 pm #

    Happy Day after your Birthday, Julia!

    Will pop in later to answer fun questions. Me and the grands are off to the park!!
    After two days of rain and being cooped up in the house for spring break - we’re outta here. Gonna feed some ducks, hang at the playground and walk walk walk. (and of course, pray it doesn’t start to rain again)

42. Emmiebee on 19 Mar 2008 at 1:09 pm #

    Happy Birthday Julia!
    I know that I’ve mentioned it before, but I love my “Birthday Season” so much! Betwen June 16th (DH’s B-day), and mine on June 27th, all small indulgences are permitted as we celebrate ourselves. Dinners out, pedicures (me- ha), books, movies, i-tunes- it seems that we’ve declared this time more of a Summer Festival than just a birthday. This makes it fit around my crazy work schedule as well.
    Age isn’t bothering me yet- what fine lines?
    My most memorable gift was when I turned 18, my best friend filled my whole car with wonderful, jewel-toned ballons! So much fun!
    And deepest sympathies to all who have lost loved ones on a birthday. It must be difficult to try and celebrate the love, and not the loss, on those days.
    -Emmiebee, youthful sprig forever

43. KariE on 19 Mar 2008 at 1:16 pm #

    amy- I just checked out the website. I want one!!! They have a listing of retailers by state. Have you check that out yet? One of your stores might have them and you just not know. I’ll be happy to hook a fellow goddess up if not.

44. colinfirthfan on 19 Mar 2008 at 1:19 pm #

    Happy birthday Julia!

    My mom used to make a huge fuss on our birthdays. It was soo much fun! Everyone would come into your room early morning and sing to you. She made all your favorite food all day. Even after I got married she’d send me a surprise gift. Once she and my Dad flew into to surprise me. They had set it up with my DH. It was definitely the best birthday.

    My best birthday present would be the puppy I got for my 10th birthday from my aunt.
    Worst birthday present - sonic care toothbrush from DH (love the toothbrush didn’t want it for a birthday present!).

    Now that I have hit the grand old age of 35…. I am not looking forward to 40. However, I don’t really care if people know my age. I will happily volunteer the information. I still feel like I am 21 so that has to count for something.
    

45. PJ on 19 Mar 2008 at 1:26 pm #

    Emmibee, the first couple birthdays after my husband died were really hard but he believed firmly in celebrating life, not mourning death and that’s a great way to live. Nowadays my birthdays are filled with smiles, laughter, good friends and really great memories.

    I love the “youthful sprig forever”!

46. DebMarlowe on 19 Mar 2008 at 1:47 pm #

    Happy Birthday Julia!

    I love Emmibee’s Birthday Season. It’s remarkably similar to the Birthday Week that Claudia introduced to us to! Lots of fun outings, movies, lunches.

    I recently celebrated a Significant Birthday and Claudia and Sabrina, Liz and Caren made it super special! We even had a birthday cake in the shape of my first release! My webmaster should be updating my site soon with the pics. There’s nothing like good friends and family to make you feel good about birthdays!

47. Ellen on 19 Mar 2008 at 2:21 pm #

    OMG Juzie…It takes a ton of courage to admit that you are similar to me in an open forum. You know what they say, “the first step to recovery is admitting a problem exists.”

    However, they also say “ignorance is bliss!” Have a blissful day. WoooWhooo.

    I miss you guys so much. I’ve been on the road so much lately. I promise to check in more from the road.

48. Ellen on 19 Mar 2008 at 2:22 pm #

    Thanks Lisa. I feel the love, girlfriend.

49. Kim on 19 Mar 2008 at 2:31 pm #

    Amy–I’ve never used Spanx but several of my friends have. They all love it and swear by it. I know Catherine’s carries it. Do you have one close to you?

50. amy1242 on 19 Mar 2008 at 2:42 pm #

    Kim, we don’t have a Catherine’s around here, but KariE, I will check out the website and see what I can find. Thanks for the info!

51. Paula M on 19 Mar 2008 at 3:27 pm #

    Happy belated Birthday Julia

    Kim, I can sympathise as my birhday is the day before yours and yes people do forget as it is the holiday season. Like my elder brother last year , he sent a card but I didn’t get my usual birthday phone call.
    As my birthday is a few days before christmas we don’t usuallly do much.
    Getting older doesn’t bother me, It is just another number and I don’t feel 40.
    The best birthday I have had recently was my first birthday as a mum.

52. Meg on 19 Mar 2008 at 3:52 pm #

    Happy Birthday Julia! Glad to hear you had a good one; what great gifts!

    My birthay is July 7th (my mom says that I ruined her 4th of July weekend that year ) and so I like to go big–so it can be distinguished from the other holiday. And off course all of the fireworks are just for me. *G* I love fireworks.

    Right now, getting older deosn’t bother me. However, when I think that this year I will be 29, it is hard to believe that I am that old because I don’t feel how other people say what being almost 30 is like. Does that make any sense? I mean I still don’t sit at the “grown up table” at certain family gatherings.

    I can’t think of the wierdest gift, or even the funniest birthday. The best one had to be last year. My mom and I flew to Boston to visit my sister and we went to the river and watched the fireworks from right in front of the barge that they were shot off from. It was sooo awesome! As a matter of fact, we are doing the same thing this year!

53. Marie on 19 Mar 2008 at 3:56 pm #

    1. Do you like The Works on your birthday, or could you care less about the day?
    I want my b-day to be HUGE!!! Well, perhaps that is because I’m turning 21 on my next birthday. Heck yes!!!

    2. What’s the strangest birthday gift anyone ever gave you?
    I don’t know. Polly pockets are what bug me the most!

    3. Does getting older bother you, or is age just a number?
    Heck no it doesn’t bother me. I’m 20 for petes sake. Okay I’d rather stay 18 forever, but until I hit 30 age won’t bother me.

    4. What’s the funnest thing you ever did on your birthday?
    Mom got me a bike and so I ran all over my little town on it. It was the best b-day gift ever. I was 8 and it meant freedom.

    5. What’s the most pathetic thing you ever did on your birthday?

    I did absolutely nothing for my 19th. Until later and I guess that was my worst. But it was also my best. I got my nose pierced, got a new haircut, and started being more independent.

54. Judy F on 19 Mar 2008 at 3:58 pm #

    Happy Birthday Julia… Mine was March 6.

    1. Do you like The Works on your birthday, or could you care less about the day?
    Secretly I would like the works but I am in a family that doesn’t do much for bdays. But I had a great bday at work.

    2. What’s the strangest birthday gift anyone ever gave you? I really can’t think of anything or I have blocked it.

    3. Does getting older bother you, or is age just a number? It used to bother me some but now I am 48 and I don’t care

    4. What’s the funnest thing you ever did on your birthday? On my 30th bday diff friends sent me a dozen roses I had about 5 dozen. It was great.

    5. What’s the most pathetic thing you ever did on your birthday? I guess it would be the time I had the flu. lol

55. Julia London on 19 Mar 2008 at 5:00 pm #

    Thanks, everyone, for the birthday good wishes. That has made this post a lot of fun for me :-).

    Marie, you’re so young I want to kick you. I just hope I’m still breathing when you turn 30, LOL.

    Paula, if it makes you feel any better, I forgot my brother’s birthday just a few days ago. It had nothing to do with the season, but everything to do with my memory being a big hunk of swiss cheese these days. So maybe that was your brother’s reason.

56. PJane1031 on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:42 pm #

    Happy Be-lated Birthday, Julia!

    So, my birthday is on Halloween, which I ABSOLUTELY love!! Typically I try to celebrate with family. I’d love to have a ‘big bash’ at least once, but I don’t need that to enjoy my day!

    I don’t know that I’ve gotten any really strange gifts. Because of the holiday birthday, a lot of friends tend to give me gifts that follow the theme, and that’s fine. My house is totally decorated up–BUT, I’m more of a Wendy/Casper type decorator at Halloween, not Haunted House/scary, so the skull/crossbones stuff I get from friends really isn’t my style, but I still put it out! They made an effort to get me something they thought I’d like, and I do appreciate that.

    Getting older really doesn’t bother me, but for some reason my 30th was really hard for me.

    You’ll think I’m strange, but I actually LOVE working on my birthday. In college I frequently took shifts so that others could go out and enjoy the night.

57. PJane1031 on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:50 pm #

    I remember one time in college I took an EMT shift, and got a medical page. This kid had been out drinking, and had fallen and had a cut on his leg, above his knee. His costume? When asked, he proudly claimed he was dressed as a WOMAN! (think navy blue polyester dress with a white wooden bead necklace!) Trying to ‘treat’ his wound and ‘protect’ his modestry (thankfully for me he had shorts on under the dress) was a bit of a challenge, but it was a fun call! Strange, I know!

    Most pathetic birthday? Probably my 19th. But it also turned into one of the most fun. I was in my first year of college, and that was supposed to be my first weekend home. Unfortunately a HUGE blizzard hit, and I was stuck at school. I didn’t even realize I was homesick until then. So, I spent most of my day bumming because I couldn’t go home. The cool part? Since the entire campus was snowed in, we had an impromptu DJ dance in one of the cafeterias that turned out to be a blast!

58. Gannon on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:54 pm #

    OMG, slides! My dad has boxes of them, and I remember many interesting slide shows from my past. Zzzzzz! LOL!

59. Sabrina Jeffries on 19 Mar 2008 at 7:17 pm #

    1. Do you like The Works on your birthday?

    I like the works. I rarely get it at home, but I like it. *G* Usually we just go out and my dh buys me a nice present. But Claudia, DebM, Caren, and Liz Carlyle always make it very special by going out to dinner with me. My siblings send presents (always late, which is fine, because mine to them are always late, too), and they usually call.

    2. What’s the strangest birthday gift anyone ever gave you?

    Hmm, I can’t think of anything that stands out.

    3. Does getting older bother you, or is age just a number?

    Age is definitely just a number to me. Birthdays never bother me.

    4. What’s the funnest thing you ever did on your birthday?

    I had a surprise party when I was 12, thrown by some of my girlfriends. It was the coolest thing ever! I love surprise parties, which of course means that no one ever throws me one.

    5. What’s the most pathetic thing you ever did on your birthday?

    I honestly can’t think of anything.

60. doglady on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:49 pm #

    PJ big hugs back your way. Having lost my hubby I know something of what you are feeling. My thought is that I am living for him too so I try to do as much as possible to live to the fullest because he was so young when I lost him.

    Shadow was an amazing dog and the blessing was that she went so quickly in the middle of doing something she loved - walking me to the mailbox. Nine is old for a Rottie and I always say she loved me too much to stay long enough for me to have the make that awful decision.

    I am in charge of remembering family birthdays and I got in trouble one year because I forgot to call my SIL to remind her of Mom’s birthday! The other SIL always remembers everyone’s birthday. And she has assured me there will be no funeral flowers in December when I turn 50. I, however, who did nothing to either of the boys when they turned 40 fully intend to get even when THEY turn 50!

61. Santa on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:53 pm #

    No works for me. My kids make a fuss and that’s fun.

    The strangest gift I ever got for a birthday present were wooden cows my dh got me from the dollar store. I’m afraid he’s a bit ‘bling impared’.

    Getting older doesn’t bother me at all.

    I had great fun at my surprise ‘happy un-birthday’ party my boyfriend and college roommate threw for me. I have a summer birthday and so in the middle of February they threw me a party. It was a blast!

    I don’t think I’ve ever did anything pathetic on my birthday.

62. Kasey on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:40 pm #

    Julia - I hope you had a Happy Birthday!

    1. I don’t need the Works but it is nice to have someone bake a cake and to get a few small presents.

    2.I don’t know if I have had a “strange” present. Not one I remember anyways.

    3. It bothers me a little…

    4. My roommates and I drove to Applebee’s in a blizzard (even our college called of classes)and we there were only about 3 other people in the restuarant. The roads were super bad and we were sliding all over the place. Not so much funny as rememberable. Another year I went on a road trip across the state with a friend to visit another friend. Oh and one year one of my friends at college fell of the bunk beds and almost landed in my cake. That was funny.

    5. Pathetic…how about wen to work. I don’t know.

63. ladydawgfan on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:51 pm #

    1. Do you like The Works on your birthday, or could you care less about the day? I like the day at least being acknowledged, and I usually have a cake with family.
    2. What’s the strangest birthday gift anyone ever gave you? Can’t remember one.
    3. Does getting older bother you, or is age just a number? Just a number, but frankly, the thought of growing old alone scares the hell out of me.
    4. What’s the funnest thing you ever did on your birthday? Go-Kart racing with my brother when I was 11.
    5. What’s the most pathetic thing you ever did on your birthday? Neither of my big “0″ birthdays (30, 40) were ever acknowledged by anyone, family or otherwise. Would it have killed someone to send me a black balloon or an “over the hill” card or a gag gift of some sort?? It seemed like I turned these momentous ages and my family shrugged their shoulders, mumbled “oh, well,” and found something else to do that day.

64. Julia London on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:45 pm #

    Ouch, Ladydawg. For all my “it’s not a big deal,” I would be hurt if they didn’t acknowledge the big ones. Especially since the big ones are getting bigger and scarier, LOL.

    My sister informed me she has been saving the red hat I gave her on her 50th and intends to use it publicly and loudly when the time comes. I hope she means on herself and not me.

    If you tell me when the next big 0 birthday comes, I will make sure its acknowledged properly!!

65. evlqn on 20 Mar 2008 at 12:34 am #

    Happy Birthday Julia! Do you think your DH will give me a tank of gas for my B’day? Just wondering.
    I’m a basically no big deal person, but a chocolate cake is a must!
    I am coming up on 59 and I don’t mind the number at all. I worked very hard to get this old and now I’m going to enjoy it.
    Can’t remember any strange gifts my husband usually gave me small appliances for b’days and Christmas. The kids would give me Dragons.
    Funnest would be the year my sons made me a wooden plaque with a handwritten Best Mom award, it still hangs on my wall.
    Don’t remember any pathetic ones,maybe it’s because I’ve been struck with old-timers.
    We threw a wake for my sister’s 30th b’day for the death of her youth, complete with ashes from the fireplace and a sign that read “Don’t I look like myself? I was an ash in life and I”m an ash in death.”
    Doglady I’m so sorry about your dog. Not a day goes by that we don’t miss Tanner,he was nine also.

66. Aspen on 20 Mar 2008 at 12:52 am #

    Hmmm…
    1. Depends. I am an introvert most of the time so like intimate gatherings opposed to big partys. However my most memorable was my 20th with my brother at the beach. He’s 32 and his bday is 2 days before mine. To put it lamely, he throws wilder parties.
    2. Age? I am 21 now. I am stressing about how old I will be before I actually het to have a life and have it all worked out. Good news my academic advisor said I’ll be out by 30.
    3. Most pathetic? My 21st. Spent it with my brother in San Francisco. We went bar hopping. I was the designated driver. It wasn’t that bad. Okay maybe it was…lol

67. cail on 20 Mar 2008 at 9:42 am #

    i always have a big bbq for my birthday. it’s not always on the actual day, but it certainly celebrates it. my strangest gift? not sure. mostly things that I wouldn’t think to be strange, but others would. getting older doesn’t bother me, but then i’m still young. i can’t really pinpoint something that was the most fun, or the most pathetic for my birthday, but i’m sure both involved some alcohol.

    sorry for the late response, its been a weird few days, and i’m not around a computer much.

68. Lismore on 20 Mar 2008 at 11:05 am #

    Happy belated Birthday, Julia!

    On my 16th birthday, I was told that my present was in the driveway. I went tearing out of the house to find a model kit car in the middle of the driveway. It wasn’t even one of those remote controlled ones. My family still laughs about it.

69. Pesky on 27 Mar 2008 at 3:01 pm #

    Birthdays weren’t ever a big thing in my house. I did throw some awesome themed parties for my birthday as a teen and had a great 30th b’day party.

    Now? Hmmmm…well my nephew was born two days after my birthday and I gave my family permission to expend all their birthdayness on him. I didn’t want the whole “joint birthday” thing to get in the way of his big day. So birthdays these days are quiet. But I like it that way.

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