My birthday was a week ago (3 Sept), I turned nineteen! During the day I saw the street art exhibition, Viva La Revolucion, at the MCASD Downtown which I had been itching to visit for some time. I had planned a sushi dinner for the evening and had sent out an email with the details, receiving zero RSVPs but hopeful that at least my friend who lives near Sushi Deli would be attending in addition to the three friends - Zach Hight, Drew and Devin - I had in tow. We arrived at Elizabeth’s place, where we’d decided to meet up before walking to the restaurant, and suddenly I was in a house full of many of my good friends (even one Skyping in)! The table was set with delicious homemade dishes - I was informed that the theme was “Tea Party”, my friends are hilarious (recall that on my trip I was in D.C. the day after Glenn Beck’s foolish and vapid “Restoring Honor” rally). It was a pleasant surprise, both to be celebrating my birthday with so many of the people I’ve become close with in the past year and to be welcomed back after my absence from San Diego (AND all of the listserv email threads). We had a fantastic Friday night eating (almond butter and honey toast, cucumber sandwiches, fried wantons, veggie sausages and potato wedges, fresh berries and a yummy cake!), playing Telephone Pictionary, and chatting over a variety of teas. It was exactly the kind of party I enjoy and I’m so glad I got to spend my birthday in such an excellent fashion. And I was completely barred from cleaning up - that task being the very reason why I’d earlier opted for a restaurant even though those kinds parties aren’t fun or inclusive - so it was a doubly, triply or quadruply perfect birthday. Many thanks to Elizabeth and Rishi and all those who came!

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I have been rather absent from the web and reblogging a lot more often than I’m generally wont to do, just having a hard time settling back home after a pleasant couple of weeks away from suburbia. I’m already finding myself out of town again though, going on a retreat to Whispering Winds (the third occasion that I’ll be in the mountains this summer). Shall be back after the weekend with, I’m hoping, a renewed sense of motivation - at least as far as updating this blog.