Surprise Party #2

So, as I stated in my previous post, Handyman and some of my friends managed to throw me a truly "Surprising" Surprise Party which was such a blast.

The next night, Handyman and I headed out for a nice birthday date at Fieldstone, a fancy restaurant in our town. (Please note: "Fancy" applies to "our town". The range of acceptable dress therefore can go from cutoff jeans to ball gowns.) My friend Nikki had helped me pick out a dress for my sister's rehearsal dinner, and recommended I wear it on my date with Handyman to the Fieldstone. So, all "gussied up" and ready to have some fun, we headed to the restaurant where we enjoyed a fabulous dinner.
After we left the restaurant, Handyman suddenly decided that he wanted to stop to get a drink before we went to see a movie. Since we were celebrating his birthday as well as mine (we share a birthday), I kept my mouth shut about how silly it was to get a drink now when he could have just gotten one five minutes earlier at the restaurant. I'm soooooooo glad I supressed my natural instinct to balk and instead listened to him.

As I walked into O'Maddy's, I was rather surprised to recognize someone I knew. And then someone else. And then someone else!
Handyman and my friend Nikki had worked together to throw me yet another surprise party! I think there were about 30 people there. (I didn't know I had that many friends!)

The tables were so beautifully set, with little candles in glass jars Nikki had crafted (that girl is amazing). She also made little cards featuring some of my funniest self-portraits that I had posted on my blog.

(This photo should be added to the steadily growing list of "this gal is NOT photogenic.")
My talented photography friend Esther tried to get a "sexy shot" of me, which didn't work that well. It's hard to look sexy when you're laughing so hard Kahlua is coming out your nose. This is the best shot of thirty tries, and I look more suspicious of the photographer than sexy.
Even though it was my party, I wanted Handyman and All-Natural Mama's husband to stand up with me as everyone sang us happy birthday, since the three of us share a birthday on March 21 and I figured embarrassment shouldn't be kept to oneself.
The centerpiece and showstopper of the table was definitely the cake. Yes, that's cake! I noticed there were a few little holes poked into the side of the cake, and afterward I learned that people looking at the cake didn't realize what it was and poked it thinking it was really yarn! (Or perhaps they were too impatient to wait for a slice and started early).
Do my friends know me or what? Now I can say that I've eaten half a skein of cake! (I love how Jeff is leaning back like he's afraid of my bad breath, ha ha! Beware, we opera singers have massive diaphragm enabled blowing capabilities!)

(By the way, I normally don't care much for cake, but Nikki's cake was so amazingly delicious, that I lay complete blame on her for the extra four pounds packed onto my thighs.)

I was given the most precious, sweet, and generous gifts.
I had so much fun chatting and talking with everyone, some of whom came from quite a distance away!
I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family! A huge, heartfelt thanks to everyone who have gone out of their way to make this new decade a special one for me!