Post-Birthday Reflections

Hey, Bloggy Friends!

Thank you all so very much for the kind birthday wishes you left yesterday. This was truly one of my favorite birthdays ever. I received so many cards, calls, texts, emails and comments. It really touched me. Sometimes I am nearly blown away by the thoughtfulness of others. It's what life is all about. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I had such a great day, besides the fact that I had to spend most of it on campus.I'm nearing the end of my semester, so there are so many things to accomplish before my last day next Wednesday. That didn't keep me from throwing it all down to celebrate later on, though! When I got home a delivery came from Edible Arrangements. My step-mother Dawn sent me a balloon and a beautiful array of chocolate covered strawberries and apples. Yum! Alan surprised a bit later, by getting home much earlier than usual. As we were moving about the house, he somehow managed to slip a secret package on the bar for me. Inside were tickets for the two of us to see Rufus Wainwright at the Kimmel Center in February, and Tori Spelling's biography I've been meaning to get. He's such a sweetie! Not long after, Jude came by to give me a funny card and a bottle of Italian, sparkling wine from her and Lou. They are the best. Thank you so much, Jude, the wine was FANTASTIC! It meant so much.

Later, Alan took me to the Old City district to a restaurant I've been dying to try for some time now, Buddakan. It's an amazingly chic, Stephen Starr restaurant that serves modern, Asian cuisine. The interior was ultra-hip. The dimly lit room was decorated with funky, contemporary designs and an impressively large buddha statue firmly placed as the focal point. The food we supreme. As an appetizer we tried a delicious edamame ravioli, in a truffle scented sauternes-shallot broth. It was heavenly. For an entree I got the Japanese Black Cod with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes. The fish melted in my mouth. It was great, but still not as good as Jude's halibut! Alan tried a medium-rare Filet Mignon with Mashed Sweet Potatoes. He doesn't eat meat a lot, but he loved it. For dessert we tried their variation on my favorites, carrot cake! It was a delicious, lite slice of carrot cake with vanilla ice cream served on the side. They served it to me with a dazzling sparkler in the middle! Alan created an incredibly special night for us. I will never forget it. I love you!

This was definitely a birthday for the memory books. Once again, thank you all so much for taking the time to say hello throughout the course of your day. Every message brought such a smile to my face, and a warmness in my heart. I'll be floating for days! I hope you have a fantastic afternoon. I'll chat with you soon.

Love, Josh