being 20 isn't so bad

for my 1st birthday in Canada, it was fantastic...if my day had been a constant slideshow, I think the majority of the shots would have captured my jaw on the floor due to all the suprises that keep popping up around every corner...man, it exceeded every expectation but rather than rambling on, I suppose I should fill you in...

...the morning sky intrigued me--that day I turned 20...it was as gray and full as an old man's hair, and yet it was countered by the sun spilling through its seams...I wasn't sure whether the sky was teasing me by holding back the rain, or simply asking me to appreciate its undecision...either way, I fell back asleep and when I woke up again, it was beautiful and sunny...
...my presents were excellent--ranging from a sweet laptop with it's own pocket-filled case (I love pockets) to an eccentric present from a relative that produced alot of laughter as I pranced around in it while trying to figure out its use...we concluded that though it seemed to be intended as a scarf, it could also be used as a scandalous wrap-around piece of lingerie or a mosquito net for my room...who knows...much to my suprise the last letter revealed a postcard from France written my own dear boyfriend (who continued to amuse me throughout the day)...

...Jay showed up with a birthday hug and a bag full of suprises from his travels, including a journal all about his adventures with photos to illustrate>my fav present of the day...:grins: course the german chocolate was also a hit...sigh...chocolate...
we (my family and some friends visiting from south carolina (the Strevens)) all went swimming for a bit at my aunt's pool...man the water was amazing....sigh... Jay and I escaped for some delish pizza and then wandered our way around stouffville....found a little bridge tucked away and reminisced about our first meeting and different adventures since then...time slowed down for a bit....it was lovely...later we went for a walk on an inviting trail that led us scrambling through wild flowers to a gate overlooking a tiny pond...more like a muddy puddle...but still quite the find, with reeds and bullrushes decking its edges...time again slowed down for awhile and before we knew it, we were dashing back to the car, frantically rushing to walmart to pick up Jay's VISA that he had misplaced there...

...secret, well-awaited plans, however, were destined to take place and Jay decided to pull into the parking lot of a school that my friends and I often played soccer at...."don't you want to see your friends?" he kept asking, and I innocently protested that they didn't start soccer until 7:30...Jay ran off behind the school to check and when he appeared again with Caitlin I began to feel that something was up...she mentioned having to get a ball from adam's room and my suspicions grew....'I bet there's a suprise party at her house' I thought excitedly....but we got there and nothing was out of the norm...we headed back to the school and as we rounded the back parking lot, I braced myself for the party that awaited me there...but the suspense disappeared, replaced by the sight of 2 cars with people casually talking, not seeming in the least suprised to see us...I laughed at myself inwardly for my imagination and felt a bit clueless as to what was going on...Jay was silent as Jen was telling the story of an apt. offer and although he seemed a bit tense, nothing seemed to be going on...

...suddenly a car pulled up packed with people yelling, "Happy Birthday!" and I was handed a card that read: "Instructions: {Waaaaaaaa...} The following tasks awaiting you are a test to see your skills of a professional adventurer>so think back to your adventures with your buds from Ux from the past yr! :Now: Go see your best gf!" Cait was already there, and pushed me into her van and we drove off while she gave me my clue #1: "The first place in Uxbridge your music gave you fright while playing in front of people".........I knew it had to be Brix but Cait took the longest way possible (effort of stalling of course) ...came round the corner into the coffeehouse and Mel and Reva were there with the next clue...Cait dashed off for a sec and appeared again with a video cam in hand, declaring that for every clue I got wrong, I'd have to do something crazy on camera....

clue #2: *opposite of hate ________
*childbirth ________
*a bowel _______
_V_NT
= love labour movement event (clever one guys)
I knew it was the Uxbridge Music Hall but I couldn't quite get the title of the place right..I'm still not sure if that's it .......so my first camera moment was me moonwalking, slidin' my suave self across the coffeehouse floor...Mel gave it away (thankyou Mel) and with that I was saved from any more embarrassment (for the time being anyways)
..we jumped back in the car and arrived at the Music Hall where Ruthie was chillin outside waiting for us, by this time I had acquired a lovely bright red wig for gaining my previous clue..

Clue #3: "DON'T PICTURE THIS"..............I was at a loss at first and Cait made me do jumping jacks on camera...but the instant she said 'think pictures' I knew it was the old barn that we'd taken pics at one day..[it was kind of an embarrassing memory actually due to the fact that I took a buttload of pics and then realized there was no film in the camera]....sigh...anyways, off to the old barn! Cait handed me a blue frock to put on and we all got in the car, drove to the field and as we were scrambling through some grass we came upon Esther and Josh making out---just kidding they weren't making out :grins: they were waiting with the next clue for us.

Clue#4: "Adventure+fairies+treeforts+fields+trespassing= _________(not a word)(hee hee)"
I could not get this one for the life of me and as a result I was forced to eat a flower, which didn't taste that bad actually...finally someone slipped a hint about me going there with Jen and I exclaimed "ohhhh the treefort with poo" (i mean really, if they'd mentioned the poo I would have guessed it ages ago :grins:)

on the way to the field the clouds had turned crazy dark and over our destination there was a clear distinct line between the rain and the clear sky and it was getting more and more windy as we drove...we were pretty worried Jen had been struck by lightening as we pulled up but she was there, ready with a camera, no worries....we got out of the car and the wind was whipping at us it was crazystyle man! a garbage blew past us and I jumped back yelling cuz I thought it was an animal it was so loud...Clue #5: "A FOLD YOU CAN'T SEE"....Jen was hopping around behind me with something and right when I realized "A blindfold" she slipped it over my face, pushed me into her car and we drove to my house...I told her on the way she should try to confuse me cuz I figured I knew it was my house and so she turned around in random driveways and then we arrived, soaking, the blindfold was ripped off and I was greeted by a bunch of friends and my family and Jay (looking so thrilled that his plan had worked out).........

MAN IT WAS THE BEST BDAY I'VE EVER HAD...THANKS EVERYONE WHO WAS IN ON IT...CRAZYSTYLE, RANDOM, DANCING, IT WAS THE BEST!

course the night wasn't over, the rain was still dripping after everyone had left so Jay and I escaped for a night walk in bare feet in the rain...it was crazysweet....Jay you're the best! can't wait til your bday to prove it to you! :grins: I love you you crazy boy...

yea so being 20 pretty much rocks...can't complain..