what's my age again?

well, it happened this weekend y'all- I had to turn 31. Birthday's really are like that Smash Mouth song-- The years start coming and they don't stop coming. [am I embarrassed to have just quoted Smash Mouth, no.] I truly had the best weekend, even while pushing through a bit of melancholy that it was also Father's Day. 

Friday

Technically, I didn't turn 31 until 9:39pm, but I really did appreciate everyone's Facebook posts, LinkedIn messages, texts, calls and Facetimes. It also is NO coincidence that my birthday fell on Daiquiri Friday [a tradition here in the O'Bryant household] this year. After working, I headed to Target for a self-date then to get our daqs. Cory then planned a very special date at a restaurant called Shaya, located on my most favorite New Orleans street, Magazine. First, we headed to a place called Cure to have pre-dinner drinks, us both dressed up for the first time in quite a while. Shaya was so good, and our waiter was fun. He brought out our first pita bread and hummus plate with a candle in it for my birthday. Then, we had fried chicken hummus and y'all, it was one of the best things I ate all weekend; trust me, I ate a lot. After that, we shared lamb kofte kebab, aromatic rice and seafood chermoula. Don't ask me what that all means, just know that it was delicious and we left VERY full. Cory really is the best, and I couldn't be more blessed for him as my partner in crime, travel buddy and lifelong best friend. 

Saturday

Cory tried very hard to plan a surprise dinner for me with Mom, David and Marissa, Dylan and Jason and Kelsea, and he almost made it to Saturday without telling me. We all met Saturday at Domenica, and if you're ever in the Quarter, do yourself a favor and go there for a nice, fancy dinner. I got the Lasagna, and it was literally the best. We spent time talking and catching up and celebrated David and my birthday with too many cupcakes. It was so much fun to eat together in a restaurant and in a city Cory and I have not had much time to really explore as residents. After dinner, Kelsea, Cory and I went to Double Dealer for a drink and then headed home. We stayed up way too late for this now-old lady, but it was so worth it. I'm so thankful for this group, for not only making Saturday special, but for all the amazing things they bring to my life-- love, friendship, guidance, but most of all, funny stories/memories. 

Sunday

Every couple of years, I get to celebrate my birthday and Father's Day together. I remember spending my Sweet 16th birthday at Mimi's while sharing the day with my dad. Like the blog a few posts ago, the melancholy sets in during very strange moments. This year, I decided that Sunday would not be a sad day for me. We met David, Marissa and Mom in Springfield to spend the afternoon on the water on David and Marissa's new boat. As soon as we pulled up, it stormed and we got "stranded" at Boopalu's, and in honor of Dad, we all had our dark sun shades on so we could people watch. And boy, were there some interesting characters to watch. After the rain subsided, we got out onto the water and Mom, Cory and I got to experience The Prop Stop for the first time. The Worm Buckets were pretty good, then we motored out and got to float in the water a bit. It was a great day, and I can't wait for Dylan and Jason to be able to join us next time. 

Here we are, on a Monday, and I ate a cupcake for breakfast and can't believe "my" weekend is over. I'm so thankful to see another year, but to be honest, I'm still just 27. I think we all have that age that we feel, and for some reason, 27 is mine. Cheers to this new year, and all the adventures-- if Corona could just see her way outta here and Hurricane season behaves itself, of course. 

Red Beans and Ricely Yours, 

B