Birthday Timeline

16th Birthday - The first day I got my driver's license I drove to my Grandpa's grave (who died just a week earlier) with my best friend, Sara. That weekend Sara treated me to a trip to downtown Chicago where we celebrated at Ed Debevic's.

21st Birthday - My best friend from college, Shellie, wanted to surprise me. So we (me, Mike, Shellie, and one more person?) got in her car and drove to Peoria. Then I was blindfolded. And escorted in to Big Al's. We stayed very close to the door and left after one drink. I think Shellie thought it would be funny. Then, on the way back to ISU (where my neighbors were throwing me a party), the car broke down. The tow truck driver asked where we wanted the car towed. We told him anywhere that was near a bar. So we ended up in some small town bar - I had a blast. Someone came and picked us up - I can't remember who.

24th Birthday - I slept in, since I wasn't working that day, and woke up right after 9am and thought, oh good, I can go watch Oprah. But Oprah wasn't on - I spent about 2 hours watching the news report the attacks. Then, after not being able to take it anymore, I took Maggie to the dog park where I was amazed at how quiet it was due to the lack of planes flying in the air. Later that night Mike and I went to Bennigan's, where they had the news on (we couldn't escape it). After that we walked over to Jessi and Joel's, who lived in the same apartment complex and tried to talked about anything but what had happened that day.

30th Birthday - No big plans - seeing that I can't eat and drink anything fun. We do plan on celebrating next year - when both kids will sleep through the night, and more importantly, when I can eat and drink whatever it is I want. I'm thinking of having a mini-party here.