birthday weekend

So tomorrow, if and when I sign on, my age will have changed, and I will have joined the ranks of the thirthys (was going to write thirthy-somethings, but I guess that’s not quite right).

My week was a little hectic, was working day shift at the jail, so my sleep was a little shortened (I can’t seem to learn to go to bed early for the life of me). But towards the end of the week I finally finished up all the work in my room and was finally able to sleep in my own bed from Wednesday on. Thursday evening I went to help my cousin paint her new condo (but I ended up doing everything but painting… taping, cleaning, you name it, but I had just about had my fill of painting by this point). Friday I took at trip to IKEA (which cost me entirely too much money… sigh) and spent the night building furniture, later Jon showed up and he basically put up the curtains and the blinds (I have an awesome roommate). So now, my room looks like a room. Hey… maybe I’ll put pictures up eventually, I’m rather proud of it.

Saturday morning and afternoon was spent preparing for the BBQ party. We went out to pick up the couch in the morning, then started cleaning and sorting out the apartment, some grocery shopping. I did some more sorting of boxes and so on, still have my office to set up after all of this though. I also fielded a bunch of phone calls, quite a few people who wished me a happy birthday because they wouldn’t be able to make it, and a few more just to sort out the details of the evening. My cousin Patrick whom I hadn’t seen in years (at least 5 anyway) showed up around 4:30, so we got a chance to just sit down and chat, he and Jon seemed to hit it off (Jon’s always happy when people speak english, which I knew wouldn’t be a given with the group that was coming). Fred showed around 5:45 and then people slowly trickled in.

My friend Marc-Olivier even showed, and I thought he was still in Switzerland, a few of the people from the choir came by too. Even a few I didn’t expect, so that was fun. My friend Sophie from work stopped by, which was great, as I hadn’t seen her in a few months, seeing as I haven’t been working at that hospital lately. Maude, that I hadn’t seen since January or so. Karo came up from Ottawa, Julie drove up from New York with her friend Steven. It was nice to see all my friends get together and everyone really seemed to hit it off.

So the first half of the party was french, with all my friends hanging out in the living room, chatting, eventually Fred grabbed my guitar and we all sat around and sung songs. Jon hung out on the balcony, declaring it an english only zone. His friends showed up and they kept him company, although those of us who did speak english went out there every so often too. He played BBQ man all night and man… the food… wow! Killer potato salad… best I’ve ever had… gourmet style.

Most people left around 11:00 pm or so, which is when the english side of the party took over, Julie and Steven had just shown up. Maude who is completely bilingual stayed, as did Marc-Olivier who made a valient english effort, later my friend Kevin also came by, so Jon and his friends Pat, Danielle and Shawn set up a game of spoons. Oh my god, most vicious game ever… basically consists of musical chairs, but with spoons and cards. I’m covered in bruises now… lol!

Sunday was much slower paced. Took Karo, Julie and Steven to the outdoor market. We then had lunch at a really cute Italian restaurant with a beautiful terrace. Browsed through the market again on our way back. Dropped Karo off at the subway station so she could take the bus back to Ottawa and the three of us then grabbed a nap.

In the evening we headed downtown, turns out there were outdoor concerts all over town. It was the closing weekend of Divercité (which is kind of an extension of Gay Pride) so they had a couple of major streets closed off to traffic and there were people everywhere. Three different stages with completely different types of music playing. People dancing in the streets and in the parks. Booths and kiosques everywhere. People selling beer and food… we wandered around there for a while, then kept walking… a little further on at Place des Arts, there was another long section of Ste Catherine which was closed off to traffic for the closing concert of les Francofolies (which is a two weeks french music festival). It was completely packed. We listened for a while then kept going to try to find some dinner.

Had supper at Nickels (a Montreal staple) very cute waiter, and Julie stole his pen (but she left him a nice note and a good tip, so I’m sure he forgave her). Then we headed back as it was 12 and the subway was already going to be packed from the concert being over.

This morning was another trip to the market (I swear, I can now bribe Julie to come visit, purely by mentionning Marché Jean Talon). She and Steven were in sampling heaven. They were trying to figure out ways of smuggling canadian blueberries back to the US… I’ll have to find out how she did with that… lol!

We ended up spending almost three hours in the market, then we came back to my place and they had to get ready to head home, they both work tomorrow.

Tomorrow should be pretty full too. I’m supposed to go to the spa with Elizabeth, I have to bring my car to the shop, get my driver’s license renewed, go to my guitar lesson and then I’m having dinner with Isabelle and probably Sophie. On Wednesday, Roselyne and Maude want to take me to dinner too… I like birthday week… I got flowers, chocolates, pastries, wine, a book and a guitar stand so far… I never expect to get anything, so I’m a little overwhelmed… Have to say, first time that my birthday really amounts to anything, and it hasn’t even happened yet… lol!

Hope you all are doing well, the rest of my day will be spent relaxing and finishing the last Harry Potter.