Ten years ago, I was a sophomore in college returning for the second semester on or about the day I turned 20. I didn’t have a major yet, I didn’t even know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had never known what it was like to be loved by someone who wasn’t family. I couldn’t buy a bottle of wine. I didn’t think twice about eating chicken and red meat. I couldn’t wait until the day when I could live in my own place by myself. I didn’t own a car, and my home address was my parents’house.
In the past 24 hours, I’ve drank a glass of Cabernet while watching an old movie on DVD, completed a project at work and left early to try and sleep off the remnants of a mild cold, taken steps to revive my dating life (and sorry, it wasn’t with the plumber,) seen the movie “Juno” with my friends, read a few pages of “Arthur and George,” called my mother, gone to physical therapy, washed my dishes, made my lunch, eaten a raspberry jelly donut, and set my alarm for 5:30 to go swimming in the morning.
Thus ends my 20′s. As for my 30′s, I’ve got no plans. I’m just going to take them as they come. I certainly couldn’t have foreseen this life 10 years ago. It’s even better than I thought it would be. Thank goodness I was born on a Wednesday, because on my birthday, I plan on partying like it’s a Friday. See you on the other side!
Posted by Birmingham on January 11, 2008 at 3:44 am
Happy Birthday Noelle! Enjoy your 30th birthday and party like it was 1999…(when you were 21)! Have lots of soy cake.
Thanks! If anyone tries to give me soy cake, though… Their ass is grass. I want buttercream, full fat!
Posted by Aaron on January 11, 2008 at 7:09 am
Happy Birthday, Christmas Christmas Tree!! And welcome to the exclusive “thirties” club. Now that you’re officially a member, I can let you in on a little secret (under thirties look away now please):
All gone? Good:
Dude, being in your thirties rules. Seriously, people in their twenties don’t know how good we’ve got it. Enjoy, blogging contemporary!
I had a funny feeling that was the secret you were hiding from me!
Posted by xsquared on January 11, 2008 at 7:43 am
Happy Birthday! Personally, I’m lovin’my 30′s, I hope you will too!
I’m planning on it!
Posted by nancypearlwannabe on January 11, 2008 at 7:56 am
Happiest of happy birthdays, Ms. Noelle! You are now my new role model, as I will be joining you come November.
Oh, and hey, how did you like Juno?
I can’t wait to see you over here! And Juno was okay, but not mind-blowing. Very cute.
Posted by 3carnations on January 11, 2008 at 8:11 am
Happy birthday…My 30s have been great; I’m sure yours will be, too!
Call the plumber…Tell him it’s your birthday! :p
I think you might want him more than I do!
Posted by mickey on January 11, 2008 at 8:38 am
Leave some thirties for the rest of us. At least set some aside for me for another 373 days. I don’t want to get there and find them all worn out.
Happy Birthday and party hard!!! But not so hard that you hurt yourself. You’re thirty, after all.
It seems that no matter what I do I hurt myself, so I’m just going to have some fun.
Posted by courtney on January 11, 2008 at 9:05 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Party like you mean it.
To the extreme, I think.
Posted by stilettoheights on January 11, 2008 at 9:17 am
Happy Birthday!!!
My 30′s are better emotionally than my 20′s…my body…not so much.
I think though you have already done more in one day than I have in like a year….
The emotions have been on an upward swing, and I just treated myself to a massage, trying to start the 30′s on a good note.
Posted by elizabeth on January 11, 2008 at 9:35 am
Happy Happy Birthday!
And thank you for thirty years of joy and love.
And now that sixty is the new forty, you can do amazing things for the next thirty years and only be ten years older!
Life IS wonderful…..love you.
Thanks Mom!
Posted by Jennifer M. on January 11, 2008 at 9:47 am
Happy Birthday!
Thanks!
Posted by SisterAlyson on January 11, 2008 at 9:57 am
HAPPY B-DAY! I think you were born around 7AM so you are officially 30! Now you have to update that personal info on the right that says “Just about 30…”
I was in the middle of swimming a 100 yard IM at 7:00, but as I switched from backstroke to breast I thought, “I need to update my blog.”
Posted by lizgwiz on January 11, 2008 at 10:00 am
I remember my 30th birthday party like it was yesterday. (Though, for the record, it wasn’t. Not even close.) I downed a half-yard glass of beer twice in a row while the theme from “thirty something” played and my friends chanted, “Liz, Liz, Liz.” It was great.
Hope yours is equally memorable. And enjoy your thirties–that’s a great decade. You’ve actually gained some smarts, and your body hasn’t quite started to betray you yet.
I think if I drink like that, my body might revolt. It’s still doing okay, it just can’t handle the toxins like it used ot.
Posted by stefanie on January 11, 2008 at 10:10 am
On my 30th birthday, a guy in lederhosen serenaded me with a stumpf fiddle, I snorted snuff off a wooden board in the basement of a bar, and I enjoyed tiki drinks in the same place you and I met. It was a lovely way to ring in a new decade. I hope yours is just as good.
And I’m with StilettoHeights–I don’t want to depress you by telling you what happens to your body the further into your 30s you get, but in terms of emotions and confidence, I’m way ahead of where I was 10 years ago.
Happy birthday!!
I wish there was a way to teleport to Minneapolis so we could share a tiki drink this evening.
Posted by Allie on January 11, 2008 at 10:20 am
Happy Happy Birthday! I hope you get some really good cake.
And don’t let them scare you about all the body stuff. It’s not bad at all. Of course I’m only on my way to 31, it could go down hill from there, but I guarantee you won’t start sagging over night.
Elizabeth, I LOVE your math.
That’s what wonderbras are for. And yeah, isn’t my mom the best?
Posted by alyndabear on January 11, 2008 at 11:51 am
Happy day! You go and enjoy yourself
I will!
Posted by 3carnations on January 11, 2008 at 11:53 am
Nah, I just think it would make for a great blog story…It sounds kind of selfish and self-serving when I put it that way…
Not at all! The plumber’s just not my type. I’d love to share him if I could. I guess everyone just wants me to give him a “test drive” first…
Posted by Girl From Texas on January 11, 2008 at 11:55 am
“I certainly couldn’t have foreseen this life 10 years ago. It’s even better than I thought it would be.”
Count yourself blessed. Many peole cannot say as much and it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to finally get one’s life on the right track. I was 40 when i figured it out.
Happy Birthday!
Having a somewhat quiet life has worked out pretty well for me so far. Thanks!
Posted by Laurel on January 11, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Happy Birthday Noelle! Here’s to a great new decade!!
Yeay 30′s!
Posted by Mermu on January 11, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Noelle’s Bday wish…
May you days and nights be filled with a man who:
thinks like Einstein
romances you like John Cusack in “Say Anything”
smells like fresh baked cookies
treats you like an equal
cooks like a master chef (healthy style)
dances like Antonio Banderas in public
dances like a stripper in le boudoir
and looks like a certain plumber.
Happy Birthday!
Tall order! I think any one of those would work well for me. Thanks!
Posted by Kelli on January 11, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Wishing you a merry, happy birthday – and may your 3rd decade here on earth be a great one.
Thanks! And with that, I’m off to the city to party hardy, Marty. Don’t know when I’ll be able to check the internet again. Everyone have a great day!
Posted by The Dutchess of Kickball on January 11, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I feel as though I should have some words of wisdom for you right now, this being the HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY! But alas, nothing is coming to mind right now. But remember, I become a Chatty Kathy when I drink so I’m sure I’ll come up with something tonight.
Happy Birthday. I’m so glad I get to celebrate it with you!
Posted by kir on January 11, 2008 at 2:15 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy!
Posted by Pam on January 11, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Happy Birthday! And I totally agree, word for word with Stefanie and StilettoHeights. Remember, women in their 30s rock.
PS – does this mean Julio the Plumber is free this evening?
Posted by rdl on January 11, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Happy, Happy Brthday Noelle!!!! enjoy yr. day & night – Have fun!
Posted by -R- on January 11, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Happy birthday!!!! And thanks for being the one other person who thought Juno was good but not great!
Posted by Mariposa on January 11, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Happy birthday! Wish you all the best!
Posted by Michelle on January 12, 2008 at 9:37 am
I know of a 35 or 36 year old who lies about her age. She says she’s 30.
30 is a good age. Most of us will get there if we haven’t already! People finally think you’re somewhat responsible at 30!
Happy Birthday!
Posted by Sobe on January 12, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I’m loving my 30′s and I’m nearly 3.5yrs in
It is what you make it.
Posted by Anika on January 13, 2008 at 11:39 pm
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 30 will be brilliant!
Posted by Noelle on January 14, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I was really hoping for 30 comments, but I feel I can wait no longer. Ain’t no shame in self-commenting. Thanks all you other 29 folks! You made my day!