6 Cents on Turning 29-and-a-half

I admit that turning 30 for some reason was very hard for me. I had two beautiful healthy children, a husband, a house, a great job - even a great car. But ... for some reason I was having a hard time with turning the big 3-0. I took advantage of all the department stores' free makeovers and spent 100s upon 100s of dollars buying all the products that were demonstrated by Estee Lauder, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden (and the majority of it still fills my drawers and makeup bag 20+ years later).

4 Cents on Turning 29-and-a-half

It’s sad that after a certain age, people stop looking forward to birthdays.  As young children birthdays are second only to Christmas.  Not only is a birthday the one day a year dedicated to each individual, but there are also presents involved.  Also, each year that gets tacked on is a declaration of “I made it” and one more step to being a grown up.  And then you turn ten.  Finally, the double digits; a definite accomplishment.  Eleven and twelve are slightly difficult years where no one takes you seriously but birthdays still have that childish magic.  Then thirteen comes along and now you are a teenager.  Fourteen and fifteen signify the beginning of high school and learner’s permit.  Sixteen allows you to drive; seventeen has the best of both worlds because you are still a kid but close enough to adulthood.  Eighteen makes you a real adult instead of a pretend one where you can buy cigarettes, lottery tickets and porn.  I would like to say for the record that I purchased none of these on my eighteenth birthday despite the incessant encouragement from my friends; I just wasn’t interested. 

2 Cents on Turning 29-and-a-half

“Pretty soon you're gonna be 30 and it ain't gonna matter anymore! So you better get that one done.” - My mother, on if I should post this now or later.

In April, I got an email from Rita’s Italian Ice congratulating me on my half-birthday and inviting me to celebrate with a small ice, any flavor, on them.

I love all things ice cream-y, so I was kind of excited about the free Italian ice. But I’m still sorting out my feelings toward the half-birthday. I knew April 27th was coming, of course, and even before the coupon arrived was well aware of the occasion it marked: my turning twenty-nine and a half.

6 Cents on The Bromance

I clearly don't get to the movies enough. I have never seen, nor frankly have any desire to see, the movies referenced in the preceding 4 cents. Let's just forget "bromance" and "chicks before dicks" and go back to pure unadulterated romance depicted in movies such as An Affair to Remember, Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Dirty Dancing, and Pretty Woman -- just to name a few. You didn't see the main male characters running off with their male buddies for a couple of brewskies night after night leaving potential love interests behind. Nor did the chicks leave their love interest to down a couple of cosmopolitans. Back in the day, instead of being with just your buds and talking about sex -- you'd rather be with your love interest and possibly having sex. As much as I love my girlfriends, potentially having sex with my love interest was always more appealing to me than talking about it.

4 Cents on The Bromance

I have always tended to have more male friends and to associate with male cliques rather than female. I never gave this much thought, but if I had to explain it, I would say the reason is male friendships are (stereotypically) easier. I don’t have to worry about pettiness and drama, being misunderstood or judged, as when a part of majority female groups. But as I have gotten older (or because I too have enjoyed watching the mindless Judd Apatow movies), I have become more aware that guys need “guy time.” Several weeks ago my friends (“the Boys”) were planning an event and I was invited to attend. I declined so they could have “boy bonding” as I call it. They all proceeded to make fun of me because I always decline these invites to allow for boy bonding. Their argument was that they bond enough (because they are boys and don’t need as much time to bond as females—my interpretation; not theirs), they enjoy my company (who doesn’t), and they can bond with each other with me being present (seems true enough too). My argument was the Boys censor themselves around me even if it’s subconscious. They immediately denied it, reassured me that I would not be intruding, and attempted to not censor themselves. I know some of their over-the-top behavior and remarks were an exaggeration to prove their point, and they don’t habitually talk/act in that manner when not under female observation (at least, they say they don’t. I tend to believe them). Regardless, after a few days they went back to censoring themselves and I was happier.