January 5, 2010

Some of you are probably curious to know the details of the remainder of my monumental 25th birthday. Others, I am sure, not so much...

So I completed my original birthday blog just as my friend Kelly arrived to take me to a rainy day birthday movie. (Hey, it couldn't actually be warm and sunny on my birthday. I was born in JANUARY after all!) There are at least two great things about seeing a movie here in South Africa. One, it is less than half the cost of a movie ticket in the USA. Two, the popcorn is also super cheap and yummy! And besides that, it is something to do. Much to my delight, Kelly surprised me with a birthday gift! A lovely brightly colored wire woven bowl from our favorite Bryanston Organic Market. It was even wrapped in a cool South Africa gift box! You can check out the card in one of the photos. It is a cat-mermaid. HAHA! (Until first grade, I thought I would grow up to be a mermaid. But my first grade teacher told me I should chose a different career path...I have no idea why! Anyway, Kelly thought that that didn't exclude a CAT-mermaid! haha!)

After our movie I went on home to await my Benjamin. With about three hours to kill until that moment would arrive, I decided to play myself a game of Bananagrams. Not much excitement in that, I know, but it occupied my brain for awhile! I also made a few phone calls home to my Mama and Papa :) (Since I use Skype, that is the best way to have phone contact with friends and family in the States without paying an arm and a leg!) I suppose I did have one laugh during this down time. When I was on the phone with my Mom, she asked what I was doing. Here is our conversation:

ME: "I am playing Bananagrams by myself. MOM: "Mammogram?" ME: "No, Mom. BANANAgrams? You know, that yellow banana shaped game I bought at the mall?" MOM: (In a confused voice...)"Oh." ME: "Mom, did you hear me?" MOM: "Um, no." ME: "BANANAgrams, Mom. We played it at our house the night before I left the States." MOM: "Ohhhh, I wondered why you would be playing Mammograms!" HAHA!! By the way, if you don't know what a mammogram is, it's part of a female physical, boys. NOT a game!

After my BANANAgram fun, Ben finally returned to whisk me away to my romantic birthday dinner at Nelson Mandela Square. I was very excited to be able to wear a skirt on my birthday this year without feeling cold! (Thanks PG for my skirt! It is super cute!) On the way there, Ben gave me my birthday gift: a "simple" white gold wedding band....since I can't wear my wedding ring here in SA! Very lovely and thoughtful of my Babe! We stuffed our tummies with some yummy delicacies (me=steak...Ben=Eland...some SA animal!)

****THIS JUST IN!!!!**** BEN HAS INSTRUCTED ME TO INFORM YOU ALL THAT HE HAS NOW EATEN THE FOLLOWING EXOTIC FOODS THROUGHOUT OUR STAY IN SOUTH AFRICA THUS FAR: ELAND, SPRINGBOK, KUDU, CROCODILE, OX TAIL, OSTRICH. ****THIS VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUCEMENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY BENANDA!!!!****

Bellies full but hearts still set on desert....we took our brownies for take away. Once home, Ben lit a candle for me and we dug in to our chocolatey morsels. Utter and complete disappointment, my friends. That is what I felt as I bit into my "brownie." It was the worst brownie I have ever tasted. Oh well, I guess I am 25 now and I don't need to eat chocolate late at night anymore, right? ;)

As I mentioned in my previous blog, my birthday this year had extended hours. We went to bed on the 5th in South Africa...and I woke up the next morning....STILL my birthday (in Kansas and California!) My dear Benjamin played along and wished me a Happy Birthday again before he went to work. And I went on another birthday run....with no improved results, unfortunately....

And so I conclude with: Happy Birthday to me! Here's to another year. May it bring on some new wonderful surprises, lots of joy and time with friends and family...hopefully back in America soon!