what i got for my birthday

something for every day of the month, in no particular order:

1. selections from the 3 course tasting menu at MoMA's Terrace 5 with Los Angeles Brian
   
2. an ice cream maker from williams-sonoma
3. a fascinating bio on the curzon sisters
   
4. a facial at queen jane day spa
5. small, slight shopping sprees at kiehl's (musk "love" oil), h&m (a bikini) and sephora (murad's pomegranate facial peel)
   
6. creating my own blackgrrl crossword puzzle
   
7. slow but steady weight loss
   
8. a bottle of ethiopian honey wine
   
9. a moroccan oil gift package
   
10. an impromptu guitar lesson from a stranger
    
11. an afternoon of leisurely schivtzing with my permanent boyfriend at spa 88
    
12. a jillion happy birthday wishes on facebook and twitter
    
13. well-edited closets
    
14. clearing out my junk room and finding cool stuff i didn't know i had -- like a pair of never worn still in the box with tags steve madden wooden high heels. *sigh*
    
15. a movie every single day of the month (thanks, netflix!)
    
16. tickets to a musical -- The Heights
17. late night dinner at Fiorello's (a Roman cafe, ironically enough)
    
18. in boxing class, learning how to pivot and lean in when i throw a punch for maximum impact
    
19. writing a new song, every day of the month
20. learning how to fingerpick on guitar (thanks, jon!)
    
21. discounted spa treats for me and renee at jeniette
22. an air conditioner in the living room (wow.)
    
23. dim sum with the lovely lisa brown
24. watching sokhna dance with mangos at lincoln center
    
25. cocktails at dutch kills on a sunday with ralph, eric and cybel (and abe and ben)
    
26. spending a sunny saturday afternoon wandering down the coney island boardwalk
27. a surprise birthday party at covo (!!!)
28. a beautiful painting from cybel
29. a cool r. crumb book from sara jane
30. and last but not least -- a stunning halter gown from renee