Birthday Time!

Ah, after a few weeks of easing into this age by prematurely calling myself "22," I finally am...and it's a bit anticlimactic. That's not to say that I'm not happy--I'm just not crazed with excitement, which I think is good for my age, because riding the high of the birthday is not really worth coming down from it and feeling a sense of loss when it's over. I guess I've always been like that mentally--in some ways--worrying about being too giddy about certain things, and trying to downplay them when I can. I'm not talking about all the time, Lord knows I'm one of the most enthusiastically festive people in the world when it comes to certain holidays or events, but when it concerns me (if I do something really well, for instance), I try not to focus on it overmuch publicly...maybe it's because I'm afraid of people perceiving me as self-involved or arrogant? I'm not sure.

Anyway, I had a much better time presenting the chapter and lesson plan in class today than I thought I would--actually, the wording of that's a little wrong. I should say the results and feedback I received from my presentation were much better than I feared. My teacher (so nice!) was pretty enthusiastic about my idea--at least enough to suggest I take my presentation to the National Art Education Association(!). Which, though an extraordinary compliment, seems a bit ridiculous to me, because all I did was really summarize the chapter and contemplate it...my lesson plan needs work, but that's okay. I really expected that--it's my first one, and I figured, what better time than now to chance falling flat on my face? At least I can say I gave it the good college try and then work on getting better...and I did, and I will.

And my sucky illustration I made for the lesson plan wasn't really perceived as so awful as I expected, which was nice...Oh! And then--best gifts ever!--my teacher had the class sing me "Happy Birthday" in whatever style I chose--which was of course, intense Viking-style Opera. It was amazing...some of them were sooo embarrassed, and I delight in nothing more than to cause people embarrassment for my benefit.

Dad's in town--he's going to pick me up in a few minutes and we'll mosey around. I do have homework, though, so I hope we'll make the moseying brief...then we're going to dinner (Bonefish<3).

My darling little boys called me this morning to wake me up with Birthday messages before they go to school! Gary called, and Troy, Zack, and John wished me well...that was one of the greatest gifts I've received so far. :D

What else? I'm wearing a cute blue dress and red heels, and two girls said I looked like "Dorothy," which was my intent. So that made my day even better! And I have yet to give Jenilee her birthday gift, which I am totally proud of. I still need to wrap it and include a card, though...

More later, maybe!