my birthday, in review

i had a wonderful time on my birthday, which was on monday. turning 31 is sort of like turning 19. it's not a dramatic birthday and you don't really feel any different when it comes. but it was still my birthday and i've never been able to resist celebrating every minute of that day. so i'll share with you what i did on monday.

i slept in about 10 minutes. s made me pumpkin coffee (i have been ordering green mountain pumpkin spice coffee online! it's SO GOOD!) and i got a nice birthday hug and kiss before he left for work.

i took the metro to work. i was happy because i got to start a new chick-lit novel, a refreshing change from my month-long project of reading "the agony and the ecstasy." i brought cheddar/jalepeno cornbread to work for my coworkers. i spent most of the workday answering birthday emails and chatting with my coworkers.

i went to lunch with emma and sm at zengo. we had the bento boxes plus desserts for $24. i liked my lunch, especially the asian salad compartment, but for a lot cheaper, i think i prefer the bentos at teaism, followed by part or all of a salty oat cookie.

after work, i met s at the courthouse metro. he had a dozen red roses (!) and a gift for me, even though i'd specified NO GIFTS. we went to an irish pub for my "birthday boddingtons" which turned into a guinness because the pub didn't have boddingtons. however, i think "birthday guinness" has a better ring to it. i unwrapped the present !oh my! a wonderfully shaped wusthof paring knife. happy and with a concealed weapon in my bag, i walked with s to Ray's the Steaks for dinner.

neither of us had been to rays before but we'd heard great things about it, and it's consistently rated one of the best steaks in the dc area. i liked it immediately upon entering. its decor is simple and nonpretentious. the service was excellent and attentive. they brought out complimentary spicy cashews and rosemary focaccia and we ordered a very nice bottle of cabernet from california. we split a cup of the crab bisque - it was pure delight, a very generous serving of sweet lump crab swimming in a buttery coral-colored broth. i knew then that i'd come back just for the bisque. i ordered the filet, which was perfectly cooked and served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. s also got the filet, but added mushroom cream, which he said was amazing. we ate everything on our plates, finished the wine, gobbled up a slice of key lime pie for dessert, and had a nice chat with the couple sitting next to us. if you don't know already, know now that you need to eat at ray's the steaks. i hope to return at least once before we move to ny.

i didn't think my birthday could get any better, but it did. from dinner, we drove out to vienna to see a show: Gregory and the Hawk. s knows the singer/songwriter from high school and they were both happy to reconnect. i'd listened to her cd once and fell in love with her voice. it's almost otherworldly but in a really comforting and sweet way. her voice was even more enchanting live and i wanted her to sing forever. her lyrics are also soulful and sad and natural, and reminded me of eric bachman's solo work. i was moved and reminded of how much i love to listen to live music and want to do it more often. anyway, have a listen to gregory and the hawk if you get a minute.

the only bad part of my birthday was that it ended. but all days can't be birthdays, or they wouldn't be as wonderful.