I can’t wait to get this week over with because I have soooo much to look forward to during the holiday season, especially since I’ve taken Dec. 21 to Jan. 3 off from work. YAH!



Sure, there’s Christmas and all, but the day after that is much better in my world because that’s my birthday! Yeaaaaaa!



Dec. 26 is Boxing Day, and when I was younger, I thought that meant that Canadians sat around and watched boxing all day. Boy, was I wrong.



Since my birthday is the day after Christmas, it pretty much sucked for me when I was younger because I never received separate gifts between my b-day and Christmas. When I was really young, my family tried to make the best of my birthday by renting out a room at Chuck E Cheese, but it dumped snow the night before and no one showed up. I was so miserable that I was lying in the plastic balls all by myself throwing them one by one against the net wall.

However, my birthday got much better when my family decided that we weren’t going to do Christmas anymore, and we spent every Christmas season in Hawaii. Mele Kalikimaka!



Then my birthday improved exponentially when I went into the college years. Most of my friends went out of state for school, so my birthday was considered to be another national holiday for all of my friends to get together and party on down.



Even though the baby Jesus kind of stole my thunder all my life, this year for my birthday, I’m gonna jack it back.



My first line of duty on my birthday will be to sleep in and relax! Ahhhh. My ear will also be glued to my cell phone because a steady stream of calls always come in with a mix of well wishing and confirmations on the plans for the night.



So what are the plans, you ask?



I’m going to fancy myself up in the evening, and I’ll be meeting up with my dearest friends for dinner at Asado. Here’s who’s on my birthday dinner celebrity guest list: Natasha, Kake, Pappi Swarner, K-Love, Nate-Dog, The Husky, Jen, Awesome Andi, Little Liz, Ian, Colin, Ginger Knoxx, TK, Joe, Tate and Mama Mia (hopefully). AWESOME!



All of the people above are a mix of high school, Tacoma and Seattle pals. I’m especially stoked that Best Friend Colin is heading south and he’s going to spend the night so he can have as much fun as humanly possible. This will also be the first time that I’ll be laying my eyes on high school Best Friend Tate since he and the beautiful Mama Mia got married in Maui.



After what I know will be a cozy and delicious dinner, we’re going to head to no other place than the Top of Tacoma to meet up with any and every one of my other friends in this city, and something really, really good might be in store.



The amazing DJ Pedro contacted me and offered to spin at my birthday party for free. What?! What?! He’s been working on the details with Top of Tacoma proprietor Jaime Kay, but even if it doesn’t work out, I’ll remain completely honored by the offer.



If it does work out, this is going to be the most slammin’ birthday I’ve ever had. What girl has a

DJ on her birthday? Carmen, that’s who!



As if that’s not enough, on Dec. 27 the F***ing Eagles will be playing at the Top of Tacoma, and I’ve been looking forward to that ever since Jaime Kay told me it was happening.



On Dec. 28, I’m going to receive a special dinner with C Bill. He’s taking me to the Melting Pot to make up for the fact that he can’t make it out for my birthday party.



Really, it’ll just be a birthday week, which is going to be very, very nice.



I still don’t know what I’m going to do for New Years, but I don’t really care, either. The events leading up to that night are shaping up to be so wonderful that coasting into 2008 should be no problem at all!



I sincerely hope that your holiday season is fantastic, too.



Feliz Navidad!