Thanks everyone for the phone calls, cards, gifts & myspace comments! :-) I really appreciate it & sorry I couldn't get back to you today.
I had an incredible camping trip to the coast. It was gorgeous and fun and we ate well and had a memorable time. Brody had his first experience with the ocean, and he loved it. Well, he loved the beach. There was some trepidation involving the movement of the waves and tide. Joe's dog, Flint, however, loved the water. Much of the time on the coast, tho, was really really windy and fairly cold. We have sun burn (when it wasn't foggy) and probably sand burn from the wind blowing it so hard against everything.
I began to remember how lovely the frigid coast was, tho, when we got home early this evening -- tired, filthy, hungry -- and our air conditioner was BROKEN! D'oh! They're going to send out someone tomorrow. That's a long time from now. We went out to dinner (with a/c) with Jessi & Joe; they're heading back to Seattle, and now I'm going to bed.
Have to work tomorrow, despite my alleged vacation day. Things are totally chaotic there. Oh well. It was a wonderful birthday weekend while it lasted. :-)
Thanks again for all the sweet thoughts! I'll try to talk to you all tomorrow evening.
-Steff, 26, Salem, Ore.