The Half Century...done right

The plan was to fly to Seattle on April Fool's day and be taken to a surprise destination for a spring break birthday celebration. After I said good bye to Mars on March 14th, I looked forward to this very happy distraction from my quiet house.
So I'm picked up from the airport and we start things out with champagne, oysters (check out that bowl of shells!), fun friends and lots of laughs...fun gifts and a recipe for my favorite Lemon Drop (it came with a great birthday glass!!!)

There's this huge wrapped box - I got me a box of my favorite naughty snack - POTATO CHIPS! You know someone really understands you when they give you the best kinds, too! (Thanks G T!)

You have to have your favorite naughty-talking girls at the party, too...

...because all the best parties have them.
Usually there's a Mom at the party.










She gives me this fab book of pictures that she's collected with a help of my pals...

And as you can see, the book was an intense read...probably going to be a best seller! The guy on the right was basically worn out contemplating my life's mysteries, it took a lot of concentration!

But the surprise isn't even here yet.

I'm thinking that we're off for a road trip to Crater Lake or somewhere in Central Oregon, maybe Eastern Washington - but my brother tells me to zip up my bag. Our driver patiently waits on his own AZ departure to assure ours. So we fly off to Los Angeles.
After an arrival dinner in Los Angeles, we're off to Palms Springs the next day for a luxurious week of lounging by the pool, dining on all the finest and sunning ourselves as we see fit.
Oh yeah, and we held Olympic trials in the Grapefruit Toss,






















Noodle Golf,

Some competitors come with natural skill...(not!)
WOAH! Let's talk talent!
Croquet...the view from the leaders' perspective.
Clearly, you can see why this athelete is a leader. Nice Form!



Some of the Croquet gallery were a bit skeptical of the game, and others just wanted the picture to turn out nicely (in her new fab sun bonnet).



We sounded the end the games (you see the guy "sounding"), thus wrapping up the day's events.

As if to complete the surprise, our driving friend texts us that he is waving as he drove by Palm Springs. Immediately, we diverted him back into our company with the promise of fajitas and a cold beer after all that driving! How crazy is that?! Days later and hundreds of miles away...

To top off a lovely week in the desert, we spent an afternoon hiking around for a bit of time in Joshua Tree National Park and recharging ourselves with authentic Dates Shakes.















As you can see we were very excited by the Date Shakes!


Back in LA, we stopped by the Griffith Observatory, the location of many historic film sets and a great stop for star gazers, scientists and all lovers of the planet.


We had a lovely lunch/dinner on the way to the airport on a sunny afternoon in Hollywood and then flew back to Seattle and then I flew back home the next day.

I'm sure right now you think we posed like we were having all this fun...but I'm telling you now - this group travels like a well-oiled machine and we have a fantastic time together.
THANKS FOR THE AWESOME SURPRISE TRIP, YOU GUYS!


The Birthday day itself was noted by many far and wide. Phone calls, emails, telegrams, horsecarts - okay maybe not some of those - I got showered by Mother Nature and my colleagues each in their own special way.

I gathered folks to W.A. Frost's for a happy hour downstairs in their lower level - sorry, no photos of that debauchery (you got the nice headdress shot and that's enough).


...and then there's Betty, who made my birthday dinner something a little more than just dinner. She was a smartpants the way we like all our girlfriends! Betty, you're a scream, girl!



One of my friends gave me a bottle of Israeli Rose...can't wait to try that!

I got bangles, wheat pennies, lunches, dinners, reading glasses (very funny!), bunches of flowers and the love...man, the love.



Looking outside one of my windows (after complaining that I had birds building a nest in the rotting frame), I discover that the problem has been solved in a very patriotic way. (I noticed it a full WEEK after it had been installed!)

I got instuctional guides from those who think I don't know what to do now that I'm fifty, car washes, flasks, shot glasses and many memories of how many people keep influencing me with their stories, their humor and their involvement in my life.



And THIS gal, yes, this gal is probably going to make fifty an even bigger month than I have. (and I'll be there for it!)

I want to thank all my family and friends for their hand in all the fun it's been this month! (I'm fond of saying that I'm 18 with 32 years experience... Ha!)