birthday weekend!

this past weekend was my birthday weekend, and it was totally delightful. i love being old!

on friday the boys and girls at the paul sweet through a totally nutty party out in the woods that was more like an adventure. in the same way that there is a difference between vacation and traveling. traveling is sometimes hard, scary, taxing, but also exhilarating, wild and free. vacations are cushy, relaxing, and comfortable. this woods rave was none of those things, but (in my opinion at least) still a grand adventure. there were lights twinkling in the oak grove canopy with tall bikes perched in the branches. there were generator powered bumping tunes and illuminated projector screens floating in the darkness above. there were bothered police. there was a toasty bbq, hamburgers, and roasted corn. there were belligerent, obnoxious party animals harshin' all types of mellow. there was a roaring dinosaur stuffed animal. there was a full bar. there were angry hustlers demanding free drinks. there was a shiny gold lame one-piece. there was full out beat box supported bonfire rhymes. there were flying fists.
it was traveling, not vacation.
.
saturday was the 'allgirls alleycat' thrown by the local ladies-only bike club, las palomitas. the most amazing and heartwarming part of this race was the rad crew that i got to ride with. christina, riley, erica, laurel, and last but DEFINITELY not least will-a-mina. laurel was a super tough lady, new to oakland, who rolled down to santa cruz, just hoping to meet some cool gals to ride with up in the bay. this seems really intimidating to me because i'm a bit self-conscious about just jumping in the mix and keeping up with the crew. she, however, didn't have anything to worry about. she was up front the whole time on her fixie. EVERYONE else had gears and brakes aside from her. point being laurel was rad, and it was really fun to have her join our group. most awesome impromptu addition ever. will-a-mina was our friend will in drag, riding on his...ahem, her, tallbike. she definitely tore it up. chasing our speedy fancy road bikes all over town from 10 feet above us. the most awesome part of will-a-mina participating was that she was beautiful and fooled everybody. later i was talking to a gal who said she didn't know there was a new tranny girl in town! awesome. it was also will's first alleycat EVER, so it was really fun to have him as an addition to the crew too. erica tore it up on her poorly geared mountain bike like a champ. riley and i were super zoomy the whole race. christina was MVP for sure. without her we would have never made it to half the check points. she knew were every spot was! it was awesome. i've never had so much team spirit in my life.
the race took us all over santa cruz: up to the base of campus, out to pleasure point, out to the old tagged-up mansion, to the end of the wharf, etc. our crew definitely kept up like champs. it was mildly strange because there were probably 3 times as many boys running the checkpoints as there were girls racing. i guess they are just supportive! sometimes i'm not sure i like the gender polarization, if only co-ed events could bring as many ladies! i don't know why there aren't more equal turnouts more often. oh well, the world is changing in front of my eyes, perhaps this will be something i'll be lucky enough to see change in the future.

sunday, my big day! it started with mimosas, pastries, and ladies. all my favorite ladies! both chemistry and paul sweet gals. everyone was so sweet to me. i got showered in totally unexpected sweet gifts: ginger spread, chocolate, warm lemon bars, jewelry, flowers, bike tubes...i was in heaven. once everyone had had their fill of sweets we headed down the street to kiva, a spa/retreat spot. it was 'ladies morning', and the spot was packed with relaxed ladies. we lounged in the hot tub, shivered in the 'cold plunge', giggled on the perfectly manicured lawn, sweat away our worries in the sauna, and enjoyed a perfectly spoiled princess morning...

perfect. that afternoon i lounged in the park, listening to music and thinking about how lucky and stoked on life i am these days. then my fella, mikey millz, rolled up with a whole crew of biker boys. we BBQed. i beat mike at horseshoes (a miraculous display of beginners luck)! we giggled on the kids spring toys on the playground. we slack-lined. mike tried to not to scoff at my pathetic cartwheels. we cuddled on a GIANT beach towel. it was the perfect park picnic.

i know always moan about miserable graduate school when i talk to my old buddies in portland, but, as i'm sure this post has communicated, life ain't bad. in fact i am having a tough time muffling my smiles during these sunny santa cruz days. 24 is my age, and this is going to be the year of endless gratitude. i'm too lucky for bellyaching. this life has treated me too well.

speaking of which, thank you friends. you make life worth living. yes i am a cheeseball, it's my birthday I DO WHAT I WANT!

that's all!

POW!