Today Una is 17mos. :: Mommy is 468 mos.

I woke up this morning with lots of enthusiasm to begin the last year of my thirties. Jeez, where did the time go? Somehow, the number 23 got stuck in my head, but it's true...i'm much older than that now. I think, maybe this year i will start wearing makeup. Isn't it time?

Today has been filled with lots of good things so far. Like many birthday wishes sent via Facebook (thank you FB friends!), a CD of Journey's greatest hits, a fuzzy grey foot stool that Una loves to climb on, a Dosha gift certificate (ooh, la, la), chocolate, cards from loved ones far away, balloons and a basket filled with goodies such as peanut butter cups delivered this morning, and a new fur coat. I heart fur coat.

Also of note, this entertaining little bit which was on the wrapping paper of one of my gifts from my very funny, thoughtful, and adoring husband (thanks Babe, you rock!):

Mermaid or Whale Contributed by M.D. Rosenberg for The Funny Times

Recently in a large city in Australia, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, ”This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?” A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have been recorded CD’s. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don’t exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalyst due to identity crises. Fish or human? They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them…where is IT? Therefore, they don’t have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends. With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, “Good grief, look how smart I am!”