Dear First Work Trip Ever

While I'm staying at the Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, should I spend my "downtime" at the Lagoon or the Pool?

The Lagoon...or...The Pool

I guess it's a good thing I'll be there for 4 days so I can give both a fair shot...I hate making hard life-altering decisions: man-made beach or man-made concrete pond? TRUTH: As long as I get tan it doesn't really matter.

Photos: Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando - Florida

Dear Giant in the City "Black Tie" Banquet

Thank you for giving me a reason to dress up and feel fancy. Thank you for the delicious 3-course meal, particularly the dessert: cheesecake with passion fruit filling. Thank you Elder Russel M. Nelson for speaking on the many wonderful contributions William H. Nelson has made to the healthcare industry - I still think I should have said "Amen" after you finished - you're an apostle! And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for the amazing live band: The Beach Boys. Who knew those old guys could still rock? My only regret is that I didn't take one of the centerpieces.

Dear TANY

I'm filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau regarding your unfair business practices. Mostly that you get to work in your PJs, eat authentic homemade Italian lasagne and get to plan your wedding away from the craziness of TAUT.

Jealous.

Dear Missed Life-Changing Opportunity

(This season's British Bachelor Beau - Matt Grant - my missed life-changing opportunity)

I'm really regretting not showing up for/knowing about the open call for this season's Bachelor. I missed my one chance to date a British gentleman and find true love. I would even be ok with not being the final girl he choses - as long as I was the number 2 girl - because then, ABC would offer me the chance to be the next Bachelorette and then fly ME to Britain where I would date 25 British gentlemen and try to find my one true love...again.

Sad how one missed opportunity has a domino effect...that or this is just karma biting me you- know-where from all those chain emails I never forwarded on since junior high about finding love and having good luck with men.

Dear YouTube April Fools

Thank you for linking all your featured video to play Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' video. My sister and I thank you for bringing attention to our favorite and the most underrated pop sensation of the early 90s.

Dear Siblings

Thank you for producing the cutest nieces and nephews ever.

Dear Golden Birthday*

aka March 24

Here's to:

• gluten free sweet potato cake with coconut filling and caramel frosting
  
• Thai Siam and friends eating with friends
• a wonderful Banana Republic shirt
• hand-painted masterpieces
• hand-crafted pottery
• pearl necklaces
  
• pre-birthday pavlova
• sleeping in an extra 45 minutes
• being wished a happy birthday the second I walked into work
• feeling cute at 24
  
• getting a gift basket full of scented lotions, body wash, bath salts and body splash
• a miniature cut out of Brad Pitt wishing me a Happy Birthday
• a birthday queen crown that doesn't quite fit but is still pretty rad
  
• wonderful birthday cards with comments that would make any past yearbook jealous
• a thorough analysis of the meanings behind work birthday presents
• amazing gold jewelery
  
• 90-minute lunches where our work party of 14 caused the local restaurant to reconsider letting anyone come back who is affiliated with our place of employment
  
• presents disguised as Easter gifts, but are still really birthday presents
  
• decorated desks, streamers, balloons, presents, candy, ice cream and donut holes
• being sung Happy Birthday by all my coworkers in the weekly status meeting
• celebrating all weekend long and continuing the celebration all week long
• a Lagoon Season Passport (see previous post)
• thoughtful friends' boyfriends who purchase books about coping with work stress aka 'emotional traps in the work place'
• a little surprise in the fridge - aka a BLT salad from Trio
• mint chocolate chip ice cream at Baskin Robbins
• Shiny Toy guns playing while eating ice cream
• friends who come to give hugs at Baskin Robbins
• yellow tulips
• opening presents on the balcony
• taking pictures on the balcony
  
• hopping the curb in the Corolla
• watching Enchanted and enjoying it
  
• getting candy from the neighbor
• going to the anti-gravity hill
  
• emails from family that make me feel loved
• smiles from people that make me feel loved
• messages from friends that make me feel loved
• being loved

Thanks to everyone who have made my golden birthday truly precious (everyone together now...Awwwwww).

*A Golden Birthday is defined as the birthday when the age one turns matches the date of birth. For example, for me, born on March 24 means my 24th birthday is my golden birthday.