Caren and I went to Rice’s Market this morning. I ran out of money at the fifth stand. I don’t know what came over me. I spent 30 bucks on a fake Dolce and Gabbana striped velor bag. Then I spent 20.00 on 400 thread count Egyptian cotton light purple sheets. Four dollars went to a pair of oversized sunglasses. 1.50 for a Snapple. Boom! Done! Finished! I really wanted to get a new pashmina but I didn’t see any that I liked. I also wanted to pick up a pair of aviator sunglasses for Rob but I didn’t feel safe buying a pair without him around to try them on. I like men in aviator glasses. I think it’s because the man who drove my school bus back when I was in second grade wore aviator sunglasses– he chewed gum and called me his sweetheart. The feelings are still there, baby! That and Graham Bonnet wore aviator sunglasses.

Now I am home, recovering from the intense heat and trying to convince myself to write some proposals that I should have done on Friday but never got around to finishing.

Yesterday, Rob and I went to my parents’ house. My cousin Sharon, her husband Rob and their two kids were visiting from Chicago. My Aunt Helen, cousin Leeann and her son Tyler also dropped by. My dad made hamburgers and my mom served potato salad and fruit salad and other stuff. After we ate, my sister came out with a cake and everyone sang Happy Birthday to me. I got some lovely gifts. My sister got me a yellow bag with a Andy Warhol silkscreen print of Elvis on it. She also got me three mugs emblazoned with Elvis’s face. My mom got me nippits, earrings and an Ann Taylor Loft gift certificate. Rob got me a picture of Audrey Hepburn. What loot! I am very happy and it makes turning 33 bearable!

I really should either do those proposals or my expenses. Preferably both.

I am 33 years old.

At age 33:

English feminist Mary Wollstonecraft wrote “Vindication of the Rights of Women”

Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic alone.

Jesus of Nazareth, a moral teacher and faith healer, was executed and eventually became the most renowned religious figure in history.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote his essay, “Nature,” encouraging readers to see the miraculous in the common.

Vijay-Kumar Solanki realized that he was not a human being having spiritual experiences, but a spiritual being having human experiences, a realization that he says “changed his life forever”.

The bread is delish, absolutely delish!

I am getting stuff accomplished! I awoke at 7:00 and the first word out of my mouth was a bad, bad dirty word that starts with an F. You see, I realized it was September and that parking ticket I was apparently late in paying back in May, the late fee is due in September and because I finally decided not to fight it, I needed to remit the late fee which was more than the original fee I paid that got to their office a day late. Yes I am fuming. Yes I begrudgingly paid the late fee. The reason I screamed a bad word is that I was worried I would have to pay another late fee. Hopefully not. It seems I got in right under the wire.

With the gestapo fee paid, I felt charged with energy and I started to go through my mail and I filed items that I am scared to throw away. I even ran to the post office and bought pretty flower stamps. I feel great! The next items of my list to accomplish are:
EXPENSES FOR JULY and AUGUST
Vacuum and dust
Do a load of laundry

If I get this accomplished I will be one happy girl.

By the way, today is the last day I can reply, “32” when asked my age. Of course for the last few months I’ve pretty much considered myself 33– so it’s not a surprise and doesn’t feel odd.