It’s been a crazy few weeks.

I got into my house. My dad, mom, Jackie, and myself have been here every evening (and most of the past two weekends) getting things cleaned, painted, and moved in. I just thought they were all hyper-active and dead-set on getting things done — but after last night I realize why I was being rushed.

Jackie threw me a surprise birthday (it’s next weekend) and housewarming party. I was definitely surprised — I had no idea. Yesterday was the lovely Hallmark holiday Sweetest Day, so we planned on going out for lunch, seeing an afternoon movie, and then going out to dinner & a haunted house with some of her friends from school. Little did I realize that while we were at lunch & at the movie, my parents, Beth, Sarah, Devin, Susan, Andrew, and others were at my house cleaning my really messy basement (there was a night & day difference in those few hours) and decorating for a party.

We got out of the movie, we had a few hours before dinner & the haunted house (and Jackie had conveniently left her sweatshirt at home) so we were going to stop in and see how my dad was doing on some woodwork in my bedroom, and just sit around until dinner at 8pm. I walked around the house a bit (and I’m sure Jackie and the 20some people in the basement were like GO DOWNSTAIRS ALREADY!) and checked on some things, and then headed to the basement to see what all my mom brought out to the garage and .. SURPRISE.

I want to thank everybody who helped Jackie with things — Beth, Susan, Sarah, Devin, Andrew, my parents, etc. You guys did a great job decorating and keeping things quiet — I honestly had no clue. I was so confused.

The party was a ton of fun .. the liquor-filled pinata was hillarious. I can’t believe you guys blindfolded me and gave me a bat after having a bunch of drinks.

I think the casualties included:

• 1/2 naked gay wrestlers on the desktop of my computer.
• Jacob leaving his dinner on my front lawn. Twice.
• Michele passing out in my front yard.
• A chunk out of my kitchen wall that needs touch-up paint.
• Beth was in the car by her own free will; Darren isn’t a kidnapper.

And now it’s time to get back into the work week — boo.

Thanks again — it’s not even my real birthday yet, and it’s already one of the best (if not the best) I’ve had.