23.

A delicious birthday today as had the entire day with my favorite. Went to the Central Park Zoo, Tiffany's, Macy's, then Tffany's again for the first thing I tried on. Had a dinner in Little Italy and ate nothing but crap today whilst wearing fur shoes. Poor James came along everywhere, never questioning. I knew I was getting away with murder. Jen said he must have been running off the bus after we got back, I dragged him around like I did, but I didn't care. I got my day with him and the perfect commemoration. (I pick it up tomorrow.) He's off to Lousiana, (the other L.A.) tonight, so hopefully my neurotic behavior will be wiped out in the drink. I have too much guilt for no reason. He's funny.

Irish grandpa gave a good gift, Jen sent hers, and Italian grandparents donated to the cause as well. Irish and parents gifts go straight to Bloomingdales to fund my own gift to myself, but really I ought to put them in Fidelity. (Irish grandpa is always crazy generous and this year is no exception. Though I won't tell S & Skeeve my gift was double theirs...)

So the big birthday weekend is upon us and I'm so over it. PMS has me with my usual indecisive melancholy. I'm not myself. Sher called and left about 17 messages about all the things we must do. Friday is the movie with Genevs, Sats afternoon LWL and yoga, Sats night is out with Sher. We're going to the sex shop to pick out some new fun (Sher says I need color and O is the only way to go, according to her, so I'm given the limit of 9 inches and up... ) then off to the clubs at 3am. Ever since I was 18 it's been the same way. I'm extremely grateful for Sher, I really am. You need that one friend in your life who just doesn't give; Sher gives me that freedom. I wonder if she remembers like I do, Washington Square Park at 5AM, 81st and 3rd at 8. The way all the lights shone when we got in. The entrances she taught me to make; you know she bought me my first mixed drink? I was 17 and we were at Favia, a Modori Sour. We've been trying to track down the waitor ever since, Sher's mysterious Mr. Right.

But that seems so long ago now. I look at all the photos we took, silly girls. There is the one where I'm on the fountain in the Theory skirted suit with those Parade shoes, the water coming up in geysers behind us. It was taken just minutes before I fell in and the British soccer team dragged me out, ("cahnIgibyoooooooooa ahand DAHHHHHHLING?") We got in the car and just drove, drove. All the lights were up and everyone was out, the air was cool and we were soaked anyway. We never made it back to the apartment to sleep, we stayed out until 3pm the next afternoon. I don't even think I gave Jen an explaination; she didn't ask back then. The next year we went out with the Yuppies, I was single that year and properly unhappy about it. Sher ended up topless in a cab and I was at cafeteria taking to our cameraman. I watched the videos recently, eyes shimmering with MAC I look like a Las Vegas drag queen. The next year I was in London, drank wine in England's oldest bar with my newfound friends. When I got back, Sher and me went out, but it lost its lust after it was legal. I had on a fedora and silk shorts with suspenders and pink garters to hold up the stockings. I saw Madonna and drove a Mustang. There are pictures of that somewhere, Sher's eyes, just full of fear, sitting in the passenger's seat, Mike the Doctor in the backseat, happy to give Sher his car. The next year I threw a party and the British financials came through.

And this year, I have accomplishments:

1. After 10 years, I met up with and have been enjoying being with my childhood crush.

2. I got a job and a promotion.

3. I became a better person.

4. I learned to relax more.

5. I joined and have kept a habit of going to the gym.

6. I made new friends and went new places.

7. I learned to enjoy beer.

8. I got rid of Chrissy.

9. I bought everything I wanted.

10. I got my Tiffany signature piece!!!!!!!!!

11. I got my liscense.

12. Everything I wanted to do, I went for it. Full speed.

So a wine spritzer for all, and a happy birthday to me. Many more, many more.

"Drink comes in at the mouth, Love comes in at the eye, I lift glass to you, and sigh." -Cherry