Oh, and we need a way to factor 17 in, because, well, 17".

Nilly! They've discovered a new penguin species. Well, they knew they were there before, but now they're a whole new species. Which is lovely, because penguins, but it means that the total number of penguin species has risen from 17 to 18. We can blame the French. (I'm sure the Old School penguins still support you in email, though.)

"all I can tell you is my late twenties kicked the ass of my early twenties, and my thirties (so far) are kicking the ass out of my late twenties."

I heard people say that several years ago, and found it comforting.

My 30th was spent in an absolute dive of a bar in Detroit's Cass corridor.

Cass has a corridor?

Oh, very neglectfully forgot to say:

My birthdays subsequent to 31 have been made wonderful by Buffistas.

I developed an allergy to spending them here in the city so the first year I went to Halifax, was hosted by Elena and Brian and the other Haligonistas took me out and got me drunk several times. There are incriminating martini-related photos of us with Susan, Meegan, Meegan's DH, Ouis, Norah and Mecha but since they are Canadian and particularly polite they haven't shown them TOO much.

The second year I was broke broke BROKE and Ellen (bless her sweet head forever) sent me a Fung Wah ticket to Boston and hosted me and then threw a party and all the Somervillians came and there were outings with Connie and Jen and Val and Em and Victor and Thessaly.

The third year I was in LA with Aimee, Miracleman, Debetesse, Sean, Tomash and a pre-natal Emeline and then was scooped up by Cass and taken to San Diego and Joshua Tree.

Last year there was a family wedding on the 10th so I was unable to leave town by much -- Kat Perez and Debetesse came to the Jersey Shore with me and my family.

Saying they haven't been "truly happy" was unfair. True they're tinged with sadness, but thanks to my families (both bio and 'ffista) my Birthdays are beautiful beautiful days.

I'm really enjoying my early twenties. I wish I had more of an income so I could travel more, but college is good too. Plus, I have time. No one has any expectations of me, including myself. I have the freedom to do or go where I want, finances permitting, and I know I can get a job in the field I love pretty much whenever I want.

Hate me.

'Young for this board' used to be a whole lot younger. I don't know what's happening... it's like people are aging or something.

Yes, plust some of our younger ones sort of out grew us, and/or moved on, and/or got busy with real life: RLiz, Madrigal, and even Alibelle and Holli aren't around all that much.

We still have a few other people south of thirty, though.

I'm sure the Old School penguins still support you in email, though

Oh, now I *really* want to get e-mails from penguins, because, well, penguins.

Jars, I love the way you described your current state. Sorry, but can't hate you.

Trudy! On the F2F pictures, the first one of you that I saw was of the back, no face, and I was wondering who it was. Later, when I got to see pictures of you that included your face, I realize who it was - I had no idea bout the hair (oh, and you lost quite some weight, too). You looked great.

Thank you, Nilly!

I just 10 seconds ago said good morning to Alibelle and told her she looked very pretty today! Easy for me since we work in the same place.

I don't remember much about my 30th as it was a low-key dinner and a movie type day. My 40th, I got a tattoo and then was thrown a party in an Indian restaurant in 6th Street in NYC with all my friends. Very nice. I'll be 50 in August and have NO IDEA what I want to do. We are planning to go visit my brother in Holland at some point, and maybe I'll do that for the birthday. However, if we do that, I think my mom and Bro are going to try to "surprise" me by having family show up and I kinda wanted this trip to be just us two. BF wants to throw a party, but I dunno. I know I am going to freak a little about the big half-century number, so I want to make sure to plan something special and happy-making.

I'll be 50 in August

I have a hard time believing that.

I have a hard time believing that.

Me too!