I have the best friends ever.

[serinde]

So I _thought_ yesterday was going to be a day sacrificed to the duties of a best woman--i.e., helping Kathryn shop around for wedding dress ideas--with a mitigation of hanging out and watching classic movies in the evening.

This was the sound of me falling for a cover story, hook, line, and sinker. Because shop we did (and got some good leads, in fact)--but the real purpose was to get me away from the house, for a purpose I could in no way dodge, so that everyone else could set up a surprise birthday party for me. Six weeks late, so what? That meant I had _absolutely_ no clue it was coming. And, not only was there a fabulous party, but Daria made the most incredible cake--I say this, I who have had many a stunningly designed cake throughout my childhood, that being one of my mother's specialties--of the Silver Mountain Blades short bus. None of the guys from the D&D group could make it to the party, alas, but pictures were taken, and we saved the bus part of the cake for Wednesday.

I've always wanted a surprise party, and this was beyond even my most elaborate hopes.

Today: laying around, kaffee-klatsch, and Muppets. The last guests have left, and now the peaceful cleanup begins. I don't mind it at all.