It was my birthday on Saturday, but I was on an airplane with my family. Let's pretend that I was at home on Saturday and I had a big birthday party with all of my blogroll friends.

(Working my way down the blogroll from the top.)

Auntie M was the first to arrive, with a fresh plate of chocolate chip cookies in hand. We chatted pleasantly about the latest museums she had visited in Paris. As we were discussing the interestng folks in Auntie M's French class (now finished), A Touch of Style came in and gave me advice on getting butter out of my bedspread. She advised me to go easy on the summer makeup and I ran upstairs to wipe a bit off. Next, Amber walked in with her kids and started a game of turtle tag with the other children in the backyard. Claire of Being Me came in from Bristol and seemed anxious to know if there was a way she could catch the latest episode of Big Brother 5. She settled for some 90s Alternative music, instead. Bonnie turned the music off, took out her cello and started playing Chamber music with some of her children. We were all very impressed and eager to hear about her trip to Michigan.
Franchini came in fresh from a run. I was eager to ask her if she had ever been to a Wimbledon tennis tournament, so we chatted for some time. Birdwoman came in from Philly with an armload of mocha Moolate. It was delicious, but we all got headaches. Next, Melody came with little Monet on her hip. When she put her down she immediately crawled and started playing with the VCR player. We decided Monet might like playing with the kids in the playroom (which was about 10 times its regular size for this party). When I complimented Melody on her brown Kathmandu slacks she said, "Brown is the new Black." Damn, I thought blue was the new black. When we emerged from the playroom, Angie had arrived with an armload of freshly made jam. We had a lot to talk about, since I sometimes dream of living of a farm, and she sometimes dreams of getting a doctorate in history.
Blog Boy came to help with the babysitting. I showed him the playroom and I heard him telling the kids about the movie Madagascar. Two thumbs up, he said. I let him know what a great big brother he is. CCAP came with pictures of her ultrasound. We talked about her upcoming trips to Calgary and NYC.
Catherine Newman came with family in tow and a nice plate of appetizers. Michael happliy played with the kids on the floor in the playroom. I believe I saw a pair of earplugs in his pocket. Catherine and I had a good laugh about that and other things as Birdy fell asleep in her arms.
Arjun came, happy to relax after an intense set of exams. He told me all about his trip to Australia. We talked about Australian art, which he found to be very original. Stephanie came in with Jason and little Sydney about 20 minutes later than she had planned. She mentioned something about a lost sippy cup. We had a lot to talk about and it was great to finally talk in person.
Tamara came through next and started to monkey (wink) around with the magnets on the refrigerator and babygirl gave me a few very interesting art projects and said "That sound like a good deal?" Dahlia started a great discussion when she rattled off some very quirky, but interesting statistics about relationships and marriage. The discussion ended when Daisyhead walked in with Bubby, who gave everyone a lovely description of his new room with his "big boy bed."
Dave was late because he got another traffic ticket. He was very excited to tell me I was his 10,000th visitor. We all had a hearty laugh when Vegie read her masterpiece "An Affair to Remember-Summer in Paris 1949." Then she had us cheering with her rendition of the her club's theme song. Meredith came next with sweet little Eli and her husband, Joe. I thanked him for his service to our country. Meredith and I talked about Japan while she was busily preparing a very interesting meal from epicurius.com.
We were all so happy that Honestyrain was feeling better. She came with humongous bag of fruit snacks "for the kids." They're healthy, right? She confirmed this. Elle sat down with me next and helped me interpret some of my dreams. Quite a talent she is, in so many ways.
Kenju wasn't sure if she was going to be able to make it because her nails needed clipping and her pillows needed fluffing, but she came with a lovely bowl of tomatoes from her garden. We enjoyed the smell of the tomatoes together. Garnet came in and opened a bottle of champagne in honor of her second wedding anniversary. She met her husband in an internet chat-room, but they had gone to high school together! Kimbofo breezed in and after giving a big hug to her sis, Melody, and niece, Monet, ?
burgh, one of my favorite cities.
Tammy/Average Mom came in with Boy and Girl Terror, who were not terrors at all. I offered Tammy some oranges, she declined. We brought the children into the playroom and showed Boy Terror a few chairs he could play with. Tammy and I talked about her years in Korea. We were joined by Kismet with a basketful of peonies. I took her out to my sad looking flower pots and asked her for advice. We compared notes on raising four year olds.
KristyKbrought lots of photographs of her large, beautiful family. She gave me copy of her new sock rules, as requesteed and I took them up in the laundry room. When I came back downstairsLassa was telling a hilarious story about not being able to catch her siberian husky. She brought her four beautiful children with her. Thankfully, all of the children in her neighborhood did NOT tag along and start helping themselves to popsicles from my freezer.
Last Girl On Earth arrived in style, walking out of her limosine in a gorgeous black evening dress. She brought her band with her and we all danced. Then, on request, she sang the Meme song.
Laura was there by now. She was a great help entertaining the children in the playroom. She was very relieved to have finished her exams. Lima Bean, who rode his bike to the party, sat down with Laura to explain the video game, Halo 2.
When I emerged from the playroom, I noticed Mal reciting Robert Lowell's poetry to a small group. I introduced myself and we chatted about Norm, who he has been visiting through a community volunteer program.
The room fell silent when Michele walked in, looking stunning in a little black dress. Mr. Wonderful was with her, and his magnetism filled the room. Everyone was eager to talk to them. There was a crowd around her so I decided to come back a bit later. I caught her eye and we waved and blew kisses. When I turned around J & J's Mom was there and I gave her a great big hug. We showed her sons the playroom and we were leaving, we heard J-man # 1 singing his little heart out. I asked J&J's Mom about her preparations for teaching in the fall. We had a great, passionate conversation.
While we were standing outside the playroom door, Christine walked towards us ushering Gabriella and little Alexander towards the room. Rachel was so excited to see another four year old with blond curly hair. They hit it off immediately. Christine, J & J's Mom and I walked to the kitchen where we saw Mrs. Darling arranging the beautiful cakes she had made. I thanked her for the wonderfully detailed cake-making tips that she offered before Rachel's birthday. We talked about the struggle to keep our blogging addiction under control as we introduced her lovely children to the other kiddos in the playroom.
Mrs. Dort came without children, as she and her husband are on their on for more than a week. We talked about her visit with her sister. Aren't sisters the best? Mrs. Mogul joined in and had us all rolling on the floor with stories about her big sister. Then she suddenly fell asleep on the couch. I put a blanket on her and walked over to a circle of fine folks surrounding Hoss who was on #102 of his 100 Things About Me list Afterwards I caught him slipping the kids nickels to go buy themselves fudgesicles. Vicki, who had been listening to Hoss's stories, turned to me and started telling me about this wild dream she had the other night. We laughed and tried to interpret what the hinges off the door might have meant. Then we had a good heart-to-heart about religion and politics. The room quieted down during a slide show shown by Paul Sveda. We all felt like we were transported into the worlds witnessed by Paul. It was completely inspiring.
I was so excited to finally talk to MommaK in person. She came sporting her new pair of exotic flip-flops and her jazzercize outfit. I finally got the full story on her theater background. I showed her a picture of my five year old self in my turquoise ballet costume for my "Hello Dolly" number. (My ballet career began and ended there). She laughed. My girls adored her older girls. Unga Chunga played tea party with all of them.
Amy was able to stop by with little Vivian and Isaac. I gave her a big hug for everything she is going through this week. (Big hug Amy) If you have time pay her a visit and wish her little Isaac well on his upcoming surgery.
I saw Poopie getting a batch of sugar cookies ready in the kitchen for everyone to ice, with different colored icing in different bowls. We decided to celebrate her upcoming 50th birthday in September. While we iced cookies together, we talked about our childhoods, as well as our feelings about the war. Quirky Chick wandered in with paint on her fingers from painting a room at home, I handed her a box of chocolates and she sat down to join us. We called in Zinnia to give us a reading of her developing novel as we worked. It was lovely.
Hillbilly Mom showed up looking not like a hillbilly at all in her green Jeanie shirt, ready for a party. She and her family set up their hillbilly pool in the backyard. The kids had a blast in it.
While watching the pool play, Psycho Kitty and I talked excitedly about plans for her new house and her kids. She was as funny, bright and good as she seems on her blog. Her kids sang for me.
Kiki came from the playroom with the most amazing paintings. One was of her big brother, Blog Boy, and the other was a picture the most inspiring guitar I've ever seen. It was pink. I gave her a big hug because I've been wanting to do that for a long time.
Sheri came in with 10 pounds of cooked taco meat and all the fixings. We were ravenous, so we devoured it. I'm not sick, so I don't think the meat had been left out on the counter this time. Shane stopped in. He was finally taking his tour of the U.S. He filled me in on British politics, told me my horoscope, gave me a plate of posh biscuits someone had handed him, and was on his way. As promised, we did NOT talk about our theses.
Cori had just come from a spa looking like Skinny Minny. She walked over to Michele and handed her the Gnew Gnorm, looking a bit exasperated. Michele was sitting next to Mr. Wonderful on our leather couch with the doctors. A lot of people on the couch were eating bon-bons and potato chips. I thanked the doctors, but am still not sure why. We were having fun chatting on the couch and the ideas thrown around were stimulating, indeed. This was a good chance for me to finally sit down and have the heart-to-heart with Michele that I've been wanting. It was as lovely as I imagined it would be.
Sleeping Mommy organized the playroom and then came out to talk with me about her museum experience. Kevin, no longer sunburned, was also celebrating a birthday. It turns out his birthday is two days after mine. He shared some lovely song lyrics with us. Arethusa was leading an amazing conversation everything from art, to literature, to fashion. I was entirely impressed. My girls loved her, too. The Complimenter entered the house and made some very nice remarks about my outfit, my house, my hair and my children. It was very refreshing.
Aka Monty, who, despite her blog persona, rarely bitches herself, opened up a forum for folks to bitch away. It was very cleansing and entertaining and after each bitch session we'd all say in unison, "I'm just sayin!'" Is there a talk show in her future somewhere? Catherine told me some crazy stories about her co-worker and gave me an amazing faux-diamond ring for my birthday. Tinkamarink (Cori) and I talked about how much we'd love to take a trip to London together. We talked about her lovely post on her childhood.
Muzikdude showed up with a bag of cheetos and asked if I had a bean bag chair. He told me I was his mystery site of the day. I screamed with delight and everyone came over to congratulate me. Jenny arrived very late to the party, having been bogged down doing 10 loads of laundry. She was wearing a fruity hat and dong the limbo. She offered me a Margarita.
Elle was hilarious and warm, as I expected. We had her recite the 10 commandments of Bloggintology. Everyone cheered.
Twist of Kate showed up with her two gorgeous daughters. Her oldest one gave ballet lessons to Rachel and some other girls in the playroom. Jersey Girl came wearing her Ya-ya helmet. She gave me one to wear and we listened to Bon Jovi and wrote a crazy post together. We really don't like Fabio, I promise. The night was no longer young, so I grabbed Weary Hag and tested her to see if she really has perfect pitch. She does! I'm so jealous. We compared notes on past employment. I don't think she mentioned she ever was a chamber maid. I was once! One of the kids ran in and told me they found a snake in the backyard. Mamacita, who was in a great discussion with the doctors about the future of our education system, ran out back with an axe and a bunch of dynamite. It was quite a scene! Finally, it was time for everyone to go home. Carmi, who was with his wonderful wife and three kids, had us all sharing interesting photographs, and ended the party with some lovely words about our little blog-community. We were touched and said good-bye.

Your house next?


It is late and I am going to post this realizing that I may have left somebody out. If I did, it was an oversight. Let me know about it. If you are not on my blogroll, leave a note in my comments that you'd like to come to my party, and I'll write you in to my virtual party and add you to my list.

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