Happy birthday to you! Yes, you.

in Random Crap, weekly reruns

Happy birthday!

Is it your birthday?  I KNOW BECAUSE I AM PSYCHIC.

Is it not your birthday?  Yes it is.  You are wrong.  Because I SUCK at remembering birthdays and have even forgotten my own so I decided that today is everyone’s birthday.  If you want to go up a year you are a year older.  If you want to go down 10 years that’s fine too.  These are the rules of Universal Birthday Day.

And what do you get for your birthday?  You get something lovely and it’s entirely up to you what that thing is.  Go take a hot bath and listen to true crime podcasts.  Go buy a bunch of facial masks and oils and give yourself a spa day.  Go buy that thing you’ve been wanting but haven’t been able to justify.  Sit in the grass and read an amazing book.  Binge-watch Doctor Who.  Go to the movies.  Call the person who makes you laugh.  Forgive yourself for that thing you’ve been feeling bad about.  Dress your pets up in costumes and have a small parade.  Snuggle with rescue animals at a no-kill shelter.  Have a pillow fight.  Learn a new hobby.  Eat an ice cream cake.  Go to the library.  Pull out the slip-and-slide.  Have a whipped cream fight.  Take a nap with your pets.  DO WHATEVER YOU WANT BECAUSE IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY!

And that means it’s my birthday too so I am going to finish this post and then give away presents because that makes me happy.  So leave me a comment telling me what wonderful thing you’re going to do for yourself for your birthday and I’ll randomly email some of you gift certificates for books or bath bombs or whatever strange thing makes your heart sing.

Happy birthday, y’all.

*******

And on an entirely different subject, it’s time for the Sunday wrap-up!

Shit I made in my shop (Named “EIGHT POUNDS OF UNCUT COCAINE” so that your credit card bill will be more interesting.):

Shit-you-may-or-may-not-want-to-see:

This week’s wrap-up is brought to you by StoryWorth Books, which I’m actually a huge fan of and have bought for both of my parents.  From them: Still looking for a meaningful Father’s Day gift? StoryWorth is the perfect last minute gift. Each week, we’ll email him a question about his life – asking him about his favorite memory of his grandparents, or whether he’s ever pulled any great pranks. All he has to do is reply with a story, which is forwarded to you and any other family members you invite. At the end of the year, his stories are bound in a beautiful keepsake book your family will cherish!”  You should check it out here.

848 thoughts on “Happy birthday to you! Yes, you.”

Read comments below or add one.

  2. I am going to lay in bed and read because I finally was able to afford central air. AND IM USING A COMFORTER. IN SUMMER.

  3. Its actually my birthday today!! 😊 Im visiting my grandparents and eating my favorite lemon cake

  4. I’m going to make some glittery calm down sensory bottles and felt figures for my classroom next year. Then I’m gonna watch the staircase on Netflix. Maybe all of it. Happy Birthday everybody!

  5. I’m going to pet my kitty then go away from my kitty to play my flute (because my kitty doesn’t like my playing). I’m guessing that you are going to “Dress your pets up in costumes and have a small parade. ”

    Happy Birthday Everyone!!!!

  6. I napped with a pet and am binge watching Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel while drinking coffee and eating pecan kringle.

  7. Its actually my birthday today!! 😊 Im visiting my grandparents and eating my favorite lemon cake

  8. I am going to make myself a cupcake and eat it while drinking a glass of wine. Happy birthday to me! 🙂

  9. A very merry unbirthday to you! I’m going to curl up on the couch with a good book this afternoon and not think about anything work or school related. And my hubby is home and he’s making dinner. Double win!

  10. I’m going to make a raspberry pie! And then, I’m going to actually let myself eat it like a child would. Without fear. Or guilt.

  12. Happy Universal Birthday Jenny! I think 🤔 my daughter and I will snuggle up and stream all our favorite Marvel movies! Thank you for reminding me of this special day!

  13. My birthday was this week – so thank you! I’m going to eat sushi and cake!

  14. This blog blows my mind! I honestly wondered how you knew it was my birthday… For real, 59! I don’t my sharing the day and am happy to wish yuh the best universal birthday. Right now we’re drinking daiquiris and watching Ingrid Bergman in Notorious! Next up, Rear Window. Hey Birthday to all!

  15. It was my birthday on Wednesday! I got my tonsils out. 🙁 I’m sick of popsicles. I bought some new books today and will take a bubble bath later 🙂

  16. Going to go out for salted caramel frozen yogurt with my 11year old son and than maybe a quiet peaceful hot bath while our roomba cleans the house. Yay for robots. Happy birthday everyone!

  18. Happy birthday to everybody! I’m going to go out to dinner with my husband to celebrate. Because we’re all still here.

  19. I am going to watch DEADPOOL2 and when they ask for ID I’m gonna tell them it’s my birthday

  20. I’m going to float in pool and read Val McDermid’s latest crime novel. Happy Universal Birthday all!

  21. I’m going to make myself a hot cup of green tea, snuggle up nude in bed and watching gameplay for horror games although my heart is fragile and I get the hibby jibbies very easily 🙂

  22. It isn’t my birthday, but how nice to be thought of. I bought a foxglove plant for my flower bed. Flowers make me happy, hummingbirds make me happier. Have a great day!

  23. I’m going to pull out my art supplies and a pile of books, create a nest and alternate between reading and creating colorful chaos on paper. I’m also going to drink a lot of tea and hope my anxiety decides that since it’s my ‘birthday’ it can take a break.

  24. I’m going to take my little doggie outside to hunt for lizards–her absolute favorite thing to do because it’s her birthday too!

  25. Yes dress up my 4 cats and put on our rollerskates for a roller-disco. Exactly that! (It’s their birthdays too)

  26. I’m going to a friend’s Tony Awards watch party and I’ve been trying to justify the cost of driving there vs bus/subway. Universal birthday justification it is!!! My actual birthday is in a week and a half and I’m trying not to dread it too much. Why do birthdays have such complicated feelings attached to them??? I like Universal Birthday much better.

  27. It’s my birthday month! I will finish writing two grant applications for (1) our teachers’ professional development and (2) kids’ lunches and go sleep and recover from my walking pneumonia/ebola/chicken pox (whatever kids at school are spreading this month)

  28. I’m going to read and cuddle my cat because I have a people hangover.

  29. We are playing host to a sweet 3-legged rescue dog who is probably going to become a member of our mess of a family. So, I’m going to spend the day cuddling with the 3 dogs in our house and laughing as they get used to each other.

  30. I’m going to give my Dad a new recliner for my birthday. He’s old and his bones hurt, and he misses my mom. He was going to get it for Father’s Day, but now it’s going to be for my birthday. Gotta go shopping…right now.

  31. Geezus. My birthday is coming up – this email blog update of yours arrived like a trash panda stalker’s wet dream. Are YOU PSYCHIC???!

    It doesn’t matter. I have to share my birthday with Men around the world every so often. As a child, I was very conflicted about Father’s day…until I met the kids whose birthday was shared with Jesus’s…

  32. Today is also National Lazy Mom’s Day! I’m celebrating watching my son play ice hockey and working towards getting me in a better “place.” And finding a yummy gluten free chocolate cookie. It’s the little things!

  33. Well my birthday was a week ago but close enough. It was my 60th! Went to Niagara Falls with my hubby and our best friends surprised me by showing up at our hotel with a bottle of champagne. Great birthday!!

  34. I’m going to finish my LaCroix and book and then I’ll have my birthday nap! Happy birthday!

  35. I’m going to binge watch Brooklyn 99 and read! I actually have them house to myself so I can actually do these things. 😄

  36. Well, it’s actually bed time here for me, but I’ve had a good day listening to cricket (the sport, not the insects!) and also watched Rafa win undecima, in between reading fic and watching my favourite show on DVD (NCIS:LA) so happy unbirthday to me and all of us!

  38. I’m going to get a deep tissue massage and buy shorts that actually fit!

  39. Yay! I had ice cream earlier because it was super hot so I’m gonna go have some cake too. because it’s my birthday guys! – Jenny said so.

  40. I’m going to drink wine with my main squeeze (my English Mastiff, Maisie).

  41. I’m going to drive around and hit some pokestops while listening to an audiobook.

  42. I’m going to paint, on paper, not walls (because that sucks)

  43. In a funk today, so encouragement for self care is very appreciated. I’m going to snuggle my sweet 8 cats and maybe take a bubble bath and read awesome books. Thank you for being you and creating this Blog!

  44. Im going to do some self care, work on my CBT homework for depression and drink copious amounts of coffee…. if im lucky i will have time to do spme reading as well!

  45. I’m going to sleep in for as long as I want. Then I’m going to the nearest animal shelter and adopting a cat!

  46. After being surrounded by a billion strangers at my boyfriend’s employee picnic I’m going to go home and hide in a blanket cocoon and read all the books.

  47. I’m going to hang upside down like a sloth in wall yoga…because, well, just because….

  48. Happy birthday, everyone!

    I’m going to try to tackle some things in my ever growing end-of-the-school-year To Do List. I’m also thinking I may need a nap and to eat icing straight out of the jar because pregnancy allows me to pretend it’s a craving. 😉👍🏻

  49. I’m going to alternately binge watch TV, and work on writing fan fiction. I have been putting my writing to the side so much, I have forgotten how happy (and sad, and angry, and frustrated, and all the other things writing can be) it makes me, so that’s what I’ve been doing a lot lately.

    Happy Birthday to you! (Also, my real birthday is July 5th, so you’re super close, psychic friend. 😉 )

  50. I’m watching “I Saw the Light “ because there is never enough Tom Hiddleston in my life. My actual birthday is on Friday. I’m going to see “Ocean’s 8” with my girlfriends.

  51. I’m going to knit, which feels fantastic, because a month ago i broke my hand (and foot, and back, but i don’t knit with those things) and i’m just able to knit again and it feels very, very good to do so. 🙂 It also feels great to be able to walk my dog again, so he thinks it’s his birthday too now that we’re walking again. ^_^

  52. I’m going to have a nap with my kittens and watch Doctor Who on my laptop because my 5th anniversary camping trip got cut short by me getting poison ivy.

  54. Awwww. Happy universal birthday. I’m going to celebrate by cooking dinner for some on my closest friends and drinking wine! I love cooking especially trying out new cuisines and tonight’s theme is Indian. Smells like garam masala and cinnamon in my house.

    Have a beautiful birthday everyone

  55. I’m going to try to forgive myself for feeling like a failure for not doing all the things I think I should do and for feeling like I spend too much time working and not enough with my kids. I’m going to play a board game with them and once they’re in bed in going to read a book or colour a picture or both!

  56. Have a beautiful birthday, Jenny Lawson. You are a precious treasure.

  57. I’m going to have pie n ice cream…. because it’s been an awful month … and pie always makes it better.

  58. I’m going to turn off my phone, ignore the dishes and sit in bed with my cat in my lap and bingewatch British mysteries and get empanadas and ice cream delivered

  59. I’m going to curl up on my couch and binge watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine and drink water and take painkillers and hope my headache goes away. This helped brighten my day, so thank you!

  60. So, my 60th Birthday is a week from today. I saw this email and freaked out. I already got my gift to myself. My mom gave me some bling and I had a new piece of bling made for me! Thanks Jenny… Happy Birthday to you too. Love you!

  61. Happy birthday everyone! For my surprise birthday today, I am going to do something that I think we could all benefit from. I am going to try to be kinder to myself and not torture myself because I have anxiety. I will also snuggle with my dogs and pick something new on Netflix to watch. Jenny, I think the pet parade is a wonderful idea, but my dogs disagree. They say that I am only allowed to dress them up twice a year (Halloween and Christmas).

  62. How did you know it’s my birthday??? (It isn’t) I’m relaxing and listening to Hamilton.

  63. It was my birthday a week ago but close enough. It was my 60th! Went to Niagara Falls with my hubby and our best friends surprosed me by showimg up with a bottle of champagne. Best. Birthday. Ever.

  64. I am going to sleep like there is no tomorrow. But there is, and I have to go to work. But before that, I shall sleep!

  67. I did some crafty things for the new house and later will break my no sugar, no carb, no dairy all-to-keep-my-lady-organs-happy diet to have one of my grandmother’s favorite chocolates in her memory since today would have been her 100th birthday!

  68. I’m going to read! I have / want so many books to read! Thank you for this message that made me smile, Jenny.

  69. I’m in my 9th month of pregnancy so I’m giving myself a nap and some chocolate.

  70. I think I either didn’t post properly or it ended up anonymous.

    I’m going to celebrate universal birthday by cooking dinner for 5 of my closest friends. I love cooking especially for other people and I enjoy trying all kinds of new cuisines. Tonight’s theme is Indian so my house smells like garam masala and cinnamon.

    Happy birthday to everyone!

  71. I’m post surgery so I’ll spend my universal birthday cuddled up in bed, eating soup, and watching random YouTube videos.
    Damn, can’t drink but at least I get to be post surgery high? Maybe I’ll go buy that taxidermy squirrel I’ve always wanted but my roommate told me wasn’t welcomed into our home.

  73. My birthday is later this week so I’m going to start celebrating today!

  74. I already slept in epically so that’s nice. Now I will relax and read cheesy romance novels for the rest of the day. And I’m going to hire someone to mow my lawn this week because I don’t wanna.

  75. Since I’m in Germany and my day is about over, I did send my day reading, napping, and eating lots of cookies.

  76. Fighting a little flare-up so it was nice to wake up from my nap with the dogs and be reminded it’s everyone’s birthday! Happy Birthday to us! I’m going to stay on the couch and cheer you all on 😀

  77. I am getting dressed up, including sparkly dangling earrings and red lipstick, to go watch theTony Awards with friends. I also painted my nails which always feels luxurious.

  79. Today I’m drinking iced coffee and enjoying the sunshine before the rain starts with my favourite person in the world.. and then when the rain inevitably comes I’m gonna go home and watch something stupid on Netflix that makes me belly laugh and not feel guilty about not doing chores on my only day off this week.

    Also… sidenote: when you mentioned be careful out there… I thought you might be referring to the recent string of crow attacks here in Vancouver that have gotten so bad they made a digital map of them. Check it out… http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/crow-map-vancouver-2018

    (Or don’t if you’re afraid of crows.. or have seen the movie The Birds.. or if you just don’t feel like it cuz that’s how birthdays work, right?)

  80. What a fun post! I’m lounging on the couch with my cat Chalupa Batman and watching episodes of Live PD I have on the DVR (they’re recorded because I don’t stay up late enough to watch them live). Well, I’m watching. He is napping. Except when the sirens go off and he gets woken up. This offends him but not enough to make him leave.

    I’m also enjoying a glass of wine because it’s not drinking alone if your cat is at home.

  81. I’m going to go to this smash room called Le Smash with my sister and have an awesome time smashing things/being destructive. 😎

  82. I’m going to plop on the couch with my cat (that recently had surgery) and binge watch Supernatural while cross stitching.

  83. It’s not my birthday but I think I’ll buy some ice cream, pet my rabbits, and listen to a good book on Audible.

  86. I’m trying to find the energy celebrate a friend’s birthday after having a anxiety/depression/meltdown crisis yesterday. It’s not working very well. -_- I did bake a cake, though, so maybe I’m not a totally horrible friend. Just mostly. 🙁

  87. I just discovered goodreads. I’m entering my “to read” list into the app. And painting furniture with my daughter.

  89. I’m going to make spaghetti and enjoy it with the homemade sauce and meatballs I made last week. Also garlic bread. Then the Tonys.

  91. I’m going to snuggle on the couch with my cat, who recently had surgery, and binge watch Supernatural.

  92. I’m going to finish watching the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, take a bath with a Lush bath bomb, paint my nails and do a sheet mask, then get an early night with a good book. Gotta be up at 6am for work tomorrow, so soothing and quiet is the plan.

    Happy birthday, everyone!

  93. It’s my unbirthday?!? I’m spending the day on the porch listening to the rain with Dorothy Barker’s boyfriend (my 6 year old Papillon, Toby) asleep on my lap.

  94. I’m going to pretend my cat can’t keep getting into the crawl space at our new house.
    Maybe I’ll pretend we don’t live here.
    Maybe I should make an order at Sephora for some retail therapy.

  95. You’re psychic! It actually is my birthday!
    I’m trying to ignore the heat index, and heading to the botanical gardens to visit the roses. Then music and dinner with partner and my mom.

  96. I am going to take a day off from worrying about being unemployed and be grateful that I have family and friends. I’m also going to binge watch Bates Motel.

  97. Right now, I think a banana split would make my heart sing. That, and running away from everyone and everything but that can’t happen at this exact moment because I have to adult tomorrow. Sigh! I’m really going to enjoy my banana split.

  99. My birthday began right after midnight when I bought myself a copy of Appetites, Anthony Bourdain’s last cookbook. (Sob)
    I’m going to cook something and pour a glass of wine too.
    Happy birthday to you too , Jenny, and happy birthday to the rest of this tribe. It’s been a rough week.

  100. My birthday is on Friday and I just bought a tablet so I can listen to music and audio books and fall asleep.

  101. I went to the gym in my apartment complex… but it was 81 degrees in there! It’s cooler outside here in Virginia! At least I did 1 mile on the treadmill!

  102. My kids are over at the neighbor kid’s birthday party and I am going to ignore the rules of polite society and not stay and talk to all the other parents and instead I am going to take a nap on the couch in my nice quiet house!!!

  103. I haven’t willingly celebrated my birthday since I turned thirteen for a variety of reasons, none of which have anything to do with age. I love your kind heart though and wish you and everyone else a wonderful birthday! I’m singing the happy unbirthday song from Alice in Wonderland to you all.
    ❤️ Lostdotter

  104. I will spend the day forcing my son to buy dress pants for his high school graduation. Because he neglected to tell us he has grown out of his old ones. Did you get taller? No, he says wider. I spin around for him and say, this is what you’ll wind up with if you don’t keep up with your workouts. A cautionary tale. So pants only, no Cinnabon.

  105. I will order myself the book on Amazon I’ve been waiting for and have coffee with my friend who I haven’t seen in ages.

  106. I’m on duty all day today, as I am every Sunday, but I’m also going to put on an audiobook and work on joining blocks of an afghan I’m crocheting. I already ordered cheap pizza because I didn’t feel like cooking AND this way I get some veggies. 😉

  107. I’m going to buy myself the crafting supplies I’ve been putting off and start a fun new project.

  108. Well, it’s my “birthday” and since my husband and daughter are on the way to Cincinnati children’s for an appointment for her tomorrow, River Song (the dog) and I are going to enjoy complete peace and quiet together. We will probably go to the dog park.
    As for what I am really planning to get for my birthday, I want to get a real food dehydrator. I have a cheapie WalMart special that doesn’t do a good job and does an extremely small amount. I have been planning this for years and never have the money so the model I have on Amazon is constantly changing. It hasn’t happened yet, but a girl can dream. I would love to be able to dehydrate Cherries every year (we picked over 150 pounds this year), and I love to keepdried tomatoes and mushrooms in the freezer to use to cook with. If you have never had dried cherries in your oatmeal you are really missing out!

  109. For my birthday I’m getting younger(5 years is good) Going for a walk on the beach, listening to music. Gonna have my treasured Marco Polo tea from Mariage Freres in my new teapot.(I have a teapot addiction) Youtube some Anthony Bourdain, then as a gift buy a Cards Against Humanity game to play with friends.

  110. I’m going to sit on my couch and relax and ignore all the housework I really should be doing. Or maybe I’ll even insist my kids do it. Nah, they’ll just do it worng and create more work for me later…

  111. I’m going to sit on my porch and read because that fills my soul!

  112. I’m going to kick back with a good book and a soft drink (yeah, they’re full of sugar and chemicals and I’ll probably be radioactive or sterile or some other horror if I finish it) and listen to my collegiate baseball team hopefully win today’s game to get to the college World Series.

  113. Happy birthday Jenny 😊😊this post reminds me of one of my moms favorite songs from Alice in wonderland “happy un birthday “ I love this idea..we should be treating ourself ever day to all of the wonderful things 😍so today I am going go have a margarita at my favorite restaurant and spend a nothing planned evening with my husband 💕💕

  114. Fighting a little flare-up so it was nice to wake up from my nap with the dogs and be reminded it’s everyone’s birthday! Happy Birthday to us! I’m going to stay on the couch and cheer you all on 😀

  115. I’m headed to my favorite chair to drink tea and snuggle with my cat, Mayhem. Maybe we’ll read a book….or nap…. I’ll let her decide . Happy birthday to you too!

  116. I’m gonna do a face mask and binge some Bob Ross! Woo happy birthday!

  117. I’m going to enjoy my favorite story, and maybe give some dollies a makeover. I’m also going to give myself a day off any cleaning that isn’t time required… (though I did clean up the flour my kiddo was sliding through all over the floor, because that was just going to get worse…lol).. in any case, I’m taking a break, because boy do I need one!

  118. I am sitting on my ass, crocheting and binging Deadliest Catch….because, why not?!

  119. I’m going to sew a t-shirt, and work on my diamond painting. Maybe I’ll get fancy and take a nap.

  121. Happy birthday, everyone! I’m going to replace my empty pump bottle thingy of Cerave body lotion that makes my eczema itchiness settle down. Then I’m going to take a warm bath, after which I will slather on the lotion and then lie in bed watching cheesy Hallmark movies.

  122. Actually, yesterday really was my birthday. We just got back from a vacation late last night. Then I made myself a birthday cake after we got home and cleaned up. Then I slept in this morning. And then I woke up to not just 1 but several seperate tornado warnings in the area. So I’m thinking today may just be me drinking and eating chocolate birthday cake while I alternate between hiding in the basement, watching the Weather Channel and hoping for a new kitchen or garage thanks to Mother Nature.

  123. I treated myself and my best friend to a fancy afternoon tea for our Universal Birthday Day! PS it also happens to very nearly be our actual birthdays!

  124. It’s my birthday month! I’m going to read “The Sisters: the Saga of the Mitford Family” which is like eating British tea and scones for me; then take a bath in champagne. In my mind. Thank you Jenny for permission to kick my anxiety out the door today!

  125. I finished my book Dreadful Young Ladies and made chocolate chip/butterscotch chip cookies.

  126. I’m going to read on my patio while yelling obscenities at the bastard squirrels stealing all the food from the bird feeder.

  127. My birthday is a week from today. I HATE it when my birthday falls on Father’s Day, so today we had lunch with a friend. Next Sunday I will hide and sleep a lot.

    The rest of today will probably involve smuggling the dogs and the cats, watching TV, napping, and reading. Not necessarily in that order.

    Happy Birthday, everyone. 🎉

  129. Dang it, I’m crying. Saturday is my birthday but I don’t really celebrate it anymore. My husband goes to a big weeklong paintball tournament and it’s been kind of a joke that my time alone is my birthday present from him. But I hate always spending my birthday alone, trying to be happy when I’m not, so I started buying myself something the weekend he would leave. One year it was a Chromebook, last year my Google Home. I wasn’t planning on getting anything this year because my cat had to go to the emergency vet last weekend (blocked urthrea, he nearly died). That cost more than I really anticipated, but today I decided I needed the distraction. So I bought a Fitbit Versa (I’ve wanted a smartwatch for a year or so now) and while I’m waiting for it to update, I decided to read some blogs.

    This is probably the longest comment I’ve ever made, even if you combined all my previous comments. but there ya go. 🙂

  130. I’m going to work on completing my book and buy the ones I’ve wanted all winter but haven’t yet justified. And maybe go see my mom’s new kitten. Because he needs socializing. And because he’s flipping cute.

  131. I’m going to read on the patio while yelling obscenities at the bastard squirrels who keep stealing all the food from the bird feeder.

  132. I might take a nap. That makes me super happy!!! I will also read a book when the baby naps because that is my happy place .

  133. I shall have an early night and read in bed. I always intend to but never make the time. Duvets and dragons for this birthday girl!b

  135. I’m going to read for fun for the first time in 2 months, paint my nails and maybe go buy the handmade jewelry that’s been sitting in my Etsy cart haunting me for weeks…and think about what kind of do-overs I want for my regularly scheduled birthday next week!

  136. I am going to make me (okay, I will share with my husband) strawberry shortcake and sit on my porch and continue to read Yellow Brick War, (third in the Dorothy Must Die series). Yes, it is a YA book, but I refuse to believe I am 55…so all is good. Happy Birthday to everyone!

  137. I’m going to eat homemade strawberry ripple ice cream (NOT made with Ripple wine, it’s pureed strawberries poured in the ice cream) and read trashy mysteries – I just finished I SEE YOU by Clare Mackintosh and the twist ending was so insane it made me whoop and then laugh…(SERIOUSLY?) Oh – and when my husband isn’t looking I’m going to sneak onto the large iPad and do Candy Crush “that I gave up a year ago”. I got stuck on Level 169 so I went back and started at the beginning and am on Level 30 now. SUCH a delicious waste of time!

  138. I’m going to read for a bit and then continue packing up my house because I got a new job and I can finally move away from the toxic environment that I work (and live) in!

  140. If today is everyone’s birthday, then all the other days of the year are UN-birthdays and that’s a thing to celebrate too! I think the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland made that up.

  141. I went running, which feels like freedom. But also glad THAT is over. Now I am going to continue my classic Doctor Who catch up. Maybe 7th Doctor? Hm. Happy birthday, everyone!

  142. Strangely enough my birthday was last week and you did remember it, prompting me to continue our imaginary friendship. I am actually celebrating today by making myself shrimp for dinner (hubby hates shrimp so neener, neener, make yourself a sandwich), and a Coconut Cream Cheesecake for dessert. I have been reading cheesy romance novels, crocheting a shawl for a friend who had surgery do she can have a hug from me across the miles, and plan on a long, hot, bath with a vanilla sparkly unicorn bath bomb later on,
    (This is much better than my actual birthday where I went to work and later wound up in the ER)

  143. When no one is looking, I’m going to eat hidden candy. I’m trying to lose weight so I shouldn’t have candy, but no one knows about this.

  144. I’m hanging out with my mom and sisters. We’re doing one of those weird salt water float spa things? And then we’re gonna eat dinner. Just us girls!

  145. I’m going to review 5 authors and suggest them as good reads to complete strangers.
    Then I’m going to read a bit more of a book I’m reading for a book club. I love my job.

  146. I’m going to tell myself good things today because I’ve been blue. Thank you for reminding me it’s a wonderful day to be alive!

    Happy Birthday, Everybody!

  148. My kids are coming home today from a 9-day road trip with their dad…best birthday ever…I’m even baking cakes!

  149. I left a baby shower early without feeling bad because A) There was no baby yet to hold and they are the only ones I feel understand what I’m saying and B)The parents are health concious so their was only veggie trays. No baby and no cake so no me.

  150. In August we are going on a mini vaca. Our son is 16 and wants to do something as in anything for the summer. We are going to make it a family style honeymoon. I think a trip to Fantastic Caverns will cover it all.

  151. I’m sick, and very depressed, and lonely. I don’t know anything that would make me feel better. Geez, this is a horrible post. I’m going to attempt to read. It’s my escape. And being with my kitties. I love you. I hope everyone does something fun today. Love to everyone.

  152. I am going to finish the latest Lee Child book and take a nap how’s that for a great birthday celebration! Oh yes and I’m going to let my husband go to Costco instead of me!!!!

  153. I am going to finish the latest Lee Child book and take a nap how’s that for a great birthday celebration! Oh yes and I’m going to let my husband go to Costco instead of me!!!!

  154. I’m going to snuggle with my cat and binge watch the originals on Netflix, and then read for a bit 🙂

  155. My grandmother–Nanny–had too many grandchildren to remember all their birthdays, so every year on her own birthday she would have the Nanny Birthday Party. We weren’t allowed to give her gifts, but we’d all go to her house and she would give each of us a present. It was always something small, like bubble bath or a pair of knee socks, but it didn’t matter, we loved it. I plan to continue this tradition if I ever have grandchildren. Although since none of my four adult sons appear interested in getting married, I’ll probably be dead before it happens. Maybe I’ll come back from the great beyond and have a Ghost of Nanny Birthday Party!

  156. I spent my universal birthday day taking care of my poor daughter. But this resulted in a beautiful moment where, after a bout of throwing up she told me we are the “best parents ever.” Extremely high praise from a 13 year old girl. I told her to remember that when she is mad at us.

    The rest of the time I binge watched iZombie.

  159. I’m going to plant a lilac bush. I’ve never had one and absolutely love the pretty color and fragrance. This birthday gift (I am truly a June baby) will give me many years of pleasure.

    Happy birthday, everyone!

  160. I just had my birthday last month and I grew to have it again?! Okay, if you insist…

    I’m going to finish working then go home and slather myself with aloe to help soothe the sunburn I got chasing my kid around from bouncy-house to bouncy-house at a school fair yesterday.

  161. I’m at the Irish Fair in Irvine, CA with my business Hooks & Chains, so I will be selling cute crocheted creatures, listening to music, and drinking whiskey all day! 😀

  162. I celebrated by treating myself to the best pancakes in town (chocolate chip, of course) and a giant iced tea at my favorite breakfast place in my neighborhood, happy “birthday” to me and to all of you!!

  163. I LOVE THIS! It’s been a crppy stressful week for me (a death in the family + other things). Still have a huge To-Do List but just knowing that you’re wishing everyone a Happy Birthday & encouraging us to treat ourselves a little makes me feel *much better. I am listening to my old favorite songs with my favorite kitty snuggled in my lap while paying bills online and my hubby has been super sweet to me this week, bringing me snacks while I’m ensconced on the couch with said kitties, running errands, & just keeping things going in general while I pull myself together.

    Thanks so much, Jenny! (Although, if you could make more of those shoes so I could buy some, that would be AWESOME! 🙂

  164. I am going to sit down with my dog and read! It’s cloudy and cool. Perfect reading and nap day!! Happy Birthday!

  165. Ummm that was disconcerting at first. This is *actually my birthday. Today I am eager poutine, drinking whiskey, and going for a hike in the forest

  166. I’m going to make cheese, because that’s my new hobby, and it makes me happy.

  167. My housemates and I are brewing beer. It’s the 1st time for me, and it’s been almost 2 years since the last time they could. It’s been fun & boring, both. But my patio smells YUM! I’m glad we decided to brew on our birthday, because now we can nickname it Birthday Beer and celebrate again every time we drink it (in about a month)!

  168. I’m hugging one of my rescue dogs even more, an Old English Sheepdog, probably 12-13 years old and very near the end of his days. I’m mourning the loss of Anthony Bourdain, a great voice for good in our sometimes scrambled society. I just finished planting more Wave petunias in pots along my porch railing (14 pots — wall-to-wall flowers!). And I’m planting the rest of my veggies. Jenny, I hope your birthday is as wonderful as YOU are!

  170. I’m going to be completely lazy and snuggle on the couch with my cat, husband, and take out food while we watch all of the Harry Potter movies.

  171. BTW, I am a first time commenter. My cake and presents day is in the beginning of June and I celebrate my birthday the whole month! I start reminding people beforehand and this way no one can ever say they forgot or missed the date! I accept birthday wishes, cards and gifts all month long! I hope to get a gift from you too!

  172. I’m going to finally go see Solo with my husband and kids and eat lots of ridiculously overpriced and ridiculously delicious popcorn!

  173. I am spending the day with my sister, working on a scrapbook for my nephew’s upcoming high school graduation open house. We are doing it in chronological order from when he started school up to the present, so it’s fun to look back on how he has changed over the years. It’s also a chance for us to go through all the supplies we have, searching for just the right thing for each page we are creating. It’s fun to ‘work’ on something that really isn’t work at all.🎂 Happy birthday everyone!

  174. I’m going to knit on a project that’s just for me while I hang out in my boyfriend’s kitchen, listening to him sing along with the playlist while he cooks us dinner.

    I hope you have a wonderful day!!! Xoxo

  175. Happy Universal Birthday! My 40th was two weeks ago, so I’m quite happy to continue celebrating! I’m going to finish reading Furiously Happy for the 4th time whilst drinking some Michigan Made Bubbly. I’m also going to have a photo shoot with my dogs with their new Pride BowTies, because it makes me happy. (@frankieandfrisco if you want to see ridiculously cute fluff balls). Then I will probably shop for more bow ties, because OMG, dogs in bow ties are fucking adorable. Probably work on a new foodie post for our website because we had some stupid good noodles earlier today.

  176. I did some much needed cleaning. Not the best thing to do for yourself, but this weekend was my 20th high school reunion, so it looked like a tornado went through here with clothing and shoe discarded choices everywhere. But now that everything is clean, I’m going to sit on my ass with my cats, drink some iced tea, and read a book on natural magic.

  177. Happy Birthday, everyone!
    Most of the day here is over, but I’m going to spend the rest of it rebingewatching ‘Lucifer’ and recalling the fact that I got to see Paterson Joseph live on stage yesterday.
    Also I may snuggle the cat, but that one is still up in the air because right now he’s still sulking that I left him, to go see Paterson Joseph.

  178. We just got back from a week in Sedona and I got to see the Grand Canyon for the first time. Now for the rest of the day, I’ll be doing “birthday laundry.”

  179. I am going to read in my jammies for a bit and then play some video games 🙂

  181. I was coloring in “you are here” but I saw ice cream….drop the mike, I’m going to get some!!! I might also drop the 10 years ☺

  182. I’m giving myself the gift of a clean house today. We’re moving across the country in 51days and I’m in an eczema flair because stress is thing. My house shows when my brain is in chaos and it. Is. Bad. So I’m ignoring my depression brain today and making my healthy brain happy by getting out of this fucking recliner and picking some shit up. Because I love myself. Even if I don’t always believe that. ❤❤❤

  185. I’m going to snuggle in and read a new book. My husband is watching sports in the living room, so I have the bedroom all to myself! Happy Birthday to all – may you spend it doing whatever your heart desires!

  188. I danced in the rain with my eight year old son. Best part of Summer rains!

  189. I’m currently having one of my worst emotional melt downs. I’ve been crying all morning while the voice in my head keeps telling me to knock it off. Everything is constantly, mundanely hard. Finding out it’s my universal birthday is the bright spot. Going to celebrate by taking a bath and going to bed. ❤️

  190. I was coloring in “you are here” but you said ICE CREAM….drop the mike, I’m going to get some now! I might also drop the 10 years ☺

  191. I am going to tell myself it’s okay to be me and then bake some cookies.

  192. I’m going to spend the day reading cozy mysteries. Happy Birthday to you, too!

  194. I’m going to read then do some journaling and writing. I checked out Writing Down the Bones (haven’t read it in years!) and Lunar Abundance for inspiration. Trying to make shit happen here!

  196. Today is my birthday for real, but I don’t celebrate it. I struggle with depression and have had too many sudden losses in my life to make me want to celebrate anything. The current faux POS not my president has not helped. Thanks for being a strong voice in the wilderness we call life, you make my smile and chuckle on days when I don’t feel like I have any left.
    Keep up the fantastic crazy woman you are!

  197. My birthday is usually spent working and ignored by others. I don’t let it bother me. Honestly I just don’t have the time. I work 7 days a week caring for an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s. I love my job but I am tired. I am going to ask for a few days off so hubby and I can celebrate our 25th Anniversary, have dinner and relax. If tgat doesn’t work out it will definitely be Doctor Who therapy. Ten and Rose always lift me up. This year has been filled with so much loss and sadness and putting my headphones on and tuning out the world helps when you’ve cried every tear you can.

  198. I did some yoga and now I am lying in bed with my chihuahua. It’s too hot outside to do anything there, so I’m having an inside day today.

  199. I’m going to work in my garden because flowers make my soul happy!
    Happy Birthday everybody!

  200. Happy Birthday to you too, Jenny. You are splendiferous and full of serendipity and covered in unicorn sparkles.

  201. I just treated myself to a lunch consisting of a burrito the size of my head!
    And it was from a taco truck parked outside an abandoned gas station in Washington state, so there was some measure of bravery involved.
    I have no regrets.
    Yet.

  204. For my birthday, I am calling my therapist. I have been so terrified during my current physical health scares (ruptured ovarian cyst plus other cysts plus allergy reactions to meds I was put on to treat PMS) that I can’t follow TV and am losing touch with reality. I am currently convinced that me and my family will die violently and that I have Something Bad healthwise that the doctors are all conspiring to lie to me about and say I’m fine… It’s time to get a non-borked brain in to help. Hope everyone else’s days are being celebrated for less messed up reasons…

  205. I’m going to curl up in bed to read and listen to my favorite music.

    Happy Birthday everyone!!

  206. I’m going to sit on my patio with my dog and a giant mug of coffee and finish Michelle McNamara’s book about he GSK, I’ll Be Gone In The Dark. It’s freaking BRILLIANT.

  207. I’m going to spend the day being crafty (I am starting to weave!) and maybe taking a nap.

  209. I volunteered at a youth football camp. Many of the kids attending were there on scholarships. And we had some terrific girls there, too!

  210. I’m going to finish the laundry and get ready for work tomorrow. I’m also going to stop crying about the guy who dumped me two months ago. The one who said he still wants to be friends. I’m going to celebrate the fact that I unfriended him on social media. And I’m going to focus on me for a while. I am going to focus on getting better. That men’s im going to make my lists of things I can do when I get sad, things for self care, books to read, things that make me happy. Because I fucking deserve to do right by me.

  211. I went and sat by the waterfront for two hours (in the shade) and watched the boats and the parasailers and the rollerbladers! It was beautiful and sunny with a nice breeze!

  212. Today for my birthday. I let myself be lazy. Haven’t done any chores, nearly fell asleep on the back deck, read some, and walked to my friends to chat to make it like i did something. Now I’m at the swim area with my younger son so he is .hope your day was great!

  213. I’m going to lay on my porch in the sun and drink coffee, then borrow a friends dog and go for a walk 🙂

  214. It really is my birthday!!!!
    I’m going to have dinner on a waterfront patio because anywhere I can sit and look at a lake or an ocean is my happy place.

  215. I’m going to knit today…not that I don’t do that pretty much every day, but today I’m making something pretty for ME, rather than for a customer. It’s a gorgeous duster (essentially a long cardigan), with pretty lace panels. I won’t finish today by any stretch — but I’m making some good progress, and it makes me really, really, happy!

  216. I’m going to finish putting up a shelf in the laundry room and make a chocolate chess pie, because my pregnant ass is nesting and hungry.

  217. Binge watching Nailed It, because somehow all these fucked up cakes is making my day.

  218. I broke my wrist and needed a plate and screws put in and am feeling super sorry for myself. I am going to sit on my deck and watch my boys on the trampoline while drinking pink wine. Happy Birthday Everyone!

  220. I’m just going to pee alone .. no kids no animals .. then I might just take a nap .. right there Lol ! Happy birthday to all ❤️

  221. I’m going to draw and read some manga for inspiration! The best thing about my recent breakup from my ex I was with for ten years is that I realized he was hindering my creative process, so now I’m back to reading and writing again and I’m going to school for animation or illustration.

    I cant decide if today I’m going to treat myself to the sappiest romance comic in my collection, or the scariest and grossest. I’m a creature of dualities. 😂

  222. Happy Birthday! I’m gonna go shower and then go to bed. Maybe I’ll even get some reading in before I go to sleep. Wild, I know.

  223. I’ve been having a rough couple of weeks so I went to Sephora today and got a makeover. I then spent a couple hours window shopping at the Mall of America. Sometimes retail therapy really helps to clear the mind.
    Happy Birthday Everyone!

  224. I bought myself a windshield shade thingee so that when I touch my steering wheel I don’t burn the skin off my hands. I’m trying to watch Anthony Bourdain, but don’t know if I can continue. His death is just still so fresh.

    Happy Birthday everyone!

  225. This is awesome! I will snuggle with my pups and listen to MFM while eating rocky road 🙂

  226. I am going to let dicks be dicks and keep on prepping for this exam that’s coming up.

    We were supposed to meet and study together and now we’re not.

    Because dicks.

    I want to tell myself that I am enough, that my preparation is enough and I don’t need the stupid dicktards to get in the way of my awesomeness. Yup that’s what I am doing on my birthday.

    Happy Birthday everyone!

  227. My son had a piano recital today, and was wonderful. My daughter played her flute in church. No better gifts than hearing their music. I like this, because my hubby won’t be in town for my birthday. The oil only thing that would make it better is a trip to the candy store.

  229. Going to have a bath and reread kitchen Confidential in memory of Anthony Bourdain, such a sad loss, sadly not the only one recently.

  230. I’m picking new wall colors for my house! My husband commented that it might look like an Easter egg and I’m like- you mean colorful and happy? And now I can’t stop smiling

  231. I’m going to shower until the hot water runs out! Happy birthday, everyone!

  232. So it really is ok that I’ve called in sick to work cause I’m getting a cold and my mood has been low. I will spend the day hiding under my blankies with my 2 cats and 2 dogs and do some reading.

  233. Lovely idea! Today I’m starting the planning phase for a short solo road trip to a town that has a beautiful hot springs. Why? Because I need a vacation from my super stressful job (and maybe life?), so I’m doing some self care! A hot springs visit and an alcoholic beverage will happening be in short order! Hope everyone else is enjoying their un-birthday!

  235. I got up to 208 and no one had made any Frosty the Snowman reference.
    Before I knew about Universal Birthday today, I re-hung some lovely drapes against the bright freshly painted wall and new door. Then I hung up some excellent vintage cut glass from a raided chandelier that I had on heavy clear line, that haven’t been up in ten years. They sparkled in the sun and it was more than enough.

  236. I’m going to go to our local used book store w/ my kids and husband (the “Book Barn”… it’s awesome)! 🙂 Happy Birthday to you all!

  237. I’m getting rid of junk in my house for my universal birthday!!Hooray for less clutter!!! It would be weird to get a present for this, so I gladly accept your gift of nothing. It’s just what I wanted, thank you! Hugs 🙂

  238. Nothing that costs money because we are trying to figure out how to pay for a medical convention for my son and going to say goodbye to my grandparents in a month. Those will be gifts to us. But, today, in trying to recover from illness and stress, I’m sneaking some time to watch a couple of episodes of something while the kids and husband are out for a bit. I should be doing paperwork, cleaning, etc., but I need these few minutes!

  239. I am taking photos of several art pieces that will be part of an exhibit this week! I can hardly believe I get to participate, but I do. And I am grateful!

  240. I’m going to give myself permission to practice self-care and take a nap. My psoriatic arthritis can affect me in many ways; one of them is severe fatigue. Usually I bully myself to not give in. But fuck that today. It’s my birthday cause Jenny said so, so I’m going to take a nap and NOT set an alarm. 😉

  241. I had a cupcake and a donut. I’m going to take a nap and snuggle with my puppy before doing some crafting later on. 🙂 Happy Birthday!

  242. Everyone needs spontaneous birthdays and gifts. Totally onboard. Going to read a book next to my sleepy puppy Teddy Bear. And maybe snuggle up with him for a nap.

  243. Happy Birthday Everyone! I painted my toenails and fingernails bright pink. Now I have bright pink dots on the ends of my limbs…I do fancy quite well

  244. The day after tomorrow is actually my 40th birthday, and I’m going to dye my hair a beautiful rainbow and pierce my nose! I always wanted to be Rainbow Brite!

  248. After reading this, you’ve inspired me to give to others on my birthday as well, which is coming up in a couple of weeks.

    Thank you for spreading love and light on the interwebs. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with a challenging reader. Not everyone is able to meet light with light. Hugs to you.

  249. So my birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and I’ve been struggling in general for a while now. This is a brilliant idea! I’m going to bake some brownies, and putter around on this story I’m writing, and when it’s cooler, take the dogs for a walk. Since I need a watch and you’ve got Rory watches for sale, I think a self-gift is in order! So hooray for universal birthdays!

  250. What a wonderful idea!Real birthdays are always so depressing. So,today I will take a nap,and a bath, and give myself permission to not feel guilty. Thank you Jenny, for helping to keep so many people going.

  251. I am going to eat a piece of cake (clearly my husband new this was coming because he bought some yesterday), try to write on the couch with my cat while watching Project Runway, and possibly have myself a drink. Happy birthday!

  252. Oh happy universal birthday, Jenny!! This is just what I needed to read at this very moment! I was feeling angry about someone trying to make me feel guilty for planning a day away just for me me me. He did not make me feel guilty, but the attempt did manage to pee-dampen some of my anticipated joy for my Thursday away. BUT…since it is my birthday today (and yours, too!), I’m throwing away the anger, washing off all the pee, and going back to being joyfully anticipatory!

    Also, I’m reading my face off all the rest of today!! Thank you! 😘

  253. Happy Universal Birthday to you! 🎉💙

    I’m going to enjoy the quiet and read a little.

  254. I had breakfast with my very favorite person this morning (after spending all night last night with him). Then I napped for the better part of the day. Going to eat leftover breakfast burrito and peanut butter cookies for supper and drink some alcoholic foot beer because I am a goddamn adult.

  255. I’m going to buy new martini glasses to replace the ones that broke. And maybe something to go in them.

  256. I’m going to dress up and go to a fancy dinner which I haven’t got to do in ages and pretend like I’m a fabulous princess instead of a frazzled mom.

  257. I wish I had seen this post earlier in the day, because since 5:15am the day has sucked. Even though I have tried to change my outlook I have kept getting side swiped with another issue. After I feed my animals, I’m gonna try to blow off the rest of the day (evening). I do not have alcohol nor ice cream in the house (oh well, I need to loose weight anyway) so I’m gonna find a good movie or try to read a book. Thanks for giving me another birthday Jenny and have a great day everyone!

  258. Last Sunday (June 3) actually was my birthday. I did a sneaky double feature of Infinity War and Deadpool 2, then came home to a delivery of ice cream (Bluebell of course) and warm chocolate chip cookies.
    Happy Birthday, ya’ll!

  259. I’m relaxing with my kids and reading a book, while recovering from surgery

  260. Ha. My birthday isn’t til August and I’m I’m no hurry. I turn an unspeakable number this year.
    I’m happy to celebrate today though! I’ll hug all the cats – all 6! We’ll be watch Fear the Walking Dead tonight… 😃

  261. I am going to forgive myself for eating an extra two biscuits and read as many new books as possible. Happy birthday to everyone!!

  262. Happy Birthday everyone! Unfortunately it’s my husband only day off and instead of getting to enjoy it we are having to do all those wonderful chores like laundry and grocery shopping. I did work on my diamond painting this morning. It’s great for my anxiety. If you’ve never tried one maybe you could order one for you birthday.

  263. I spent the past few hours selling jewelry to raise money for sheba’s Haven palliative care dog. That was a present to myself because I had a lot of fun, made money for the rescue,met a lot of lovely people, and bought myself a piece of jewelry.
    Happy birthday day!

  264. I’m going to forgive myself for that thing I feel bad about.

  265. I’m out and about with the spousal unit and life is good. I’m migraine free 2 days for the first time in 6 months! And I just started a blog with my friend. I haven’t been this excited in years.

  266. I am going to design my classroom layout and make a”wish list” of new books for the kids since I am going to be a first year teacher. It makes me happy to think of how happy my kindergartners will be next year.

  267. Today is not my birthday, but it is in 29 days, when i will be 39 (cries silently). Today I have to go to a party full of people I don’t like, which is outside and it’s 94 fucking degrees today. I have been living with a nasty headache that makes it nearly impossible to function some days, for 3 weeks now, that no medicine helps and botox shots into the back of my neck may help but my insurance won’t cover and I can’t afford. The other day I forgot what a spoon was or what it was for.
    People in my life keep trying to commit suicide and my mom just got diagnosed with cancer in 6 different places.
    I would like to spend today watching Chris Hemsworth take off his shirt and snuggling my kitten, but I can’t. I can’t even drink because it makes my headache worse. I’d like to go back to 27. Before health problems.

  268. Nothing sounds better than taking a hot bath and letting my husband deal with the heathens. Never done a bath bomb so this is the perfect reason to finally try it out.

  269. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVERYONE!!!
    I’ve celebrated by sleeping until noon, taking a nap on top of that,and reading while cats sleep on my legs (sleep is the THEME of my party). Things that would make my heart sing: chocolate peanutbutter cake, a new tattoo, setting an appointment for craniosacral therapy, adding to my Funko POP collection, or some subversive enamel pins.

  270. I’m going to a paranormal circus! Which sounds fun and a little terrifying. Hoping it leans more on the fun side.

  271. I’m going to cuddle my little boy to sleep, and enjoy the heck out of how much he still loves doing that with me for as long as I can. <3 <3

  274. I am laying out by the lake reading and playing games on my phone. Then I’m going to eat ice cream and gluten free chocolate cookies! Happy Birthday!!🎂💗🎉🥄

  275. I am going to go shopping for party lights to hang in our screen gazebo, so our night is lit with fun. Then I am going to make myself an orange soda float. Take care, you.

  276. I’m going to buy a couple things on Amazon. Chew sticks for the cats and more moleskine cahiers for me….when I locate my cc…

  277. This is proof you’re psychic – it IS my birthday! I spent the morning at the pool and am spending the rest of the day hermiting it up in the A/C watching TV, reading, and eating birthday cookies.

  278. Today I went for a drive to the ocean. I ate McDonald’s for lunch and bought some new earrings. On the way home I at a small chocolate sundae, and now I’m lying in bed writing this post. For a borrowed birthday it as quite wonderful!

  279. Holy SHIT! You totally freaked me out. I visit here on stealth mode because you have some sort of psychic connection to my brain. I have never left a message. I just stalk from dark corners and then leave before I get caught.

    So I come here and the first thing that greets me is “Happy birthday to you! Yes, you.” And I’m all like, “She’s been tracking me. She’s got some cookie-thingy on her website that knows who am I and what I’ve done. She knows it’s my fucking BIRTHDAY, for crying out loud. I’ve got to get out of here and wipe my laptop’s memory.”

    Then I glance at the comments and found out that hey, no, it’s just a co-inky-dink. We TOTALLY SHARE BIRTHDAYS! I mean, one chance on 365 (OK, one chance in 366, but don’t get all statistical on me). This is like the best birthday present I ever got. It explains why your brain is so simpatico with mine. We were born on the same day. Except that I’m like decades older than you are.

  281. I just bought myself some clear stamps and matching dies from aliexpress.com – and it was my b-day 5 days ago, so you’re pretty damn close 🙂

  282. I think I’m going to take a nap – that sounds so lovely. and my cat will join me (for a while) and when I get up again I’ll have a nice dinner. maybe Chinese or pulled pork – something I don’t have every day.

  284. Hi Jenny! My bday is 6/19 and today! I plan on going to an expensive dinner and working that day, fun! In opposite order though.

  285. Have a banana split – no pineapple sauce, though – and read. That’s the perfect birthday for me!

  286. I’m laying on the couch with beloved and puppets, watching Wreck it Ralph, listening to the rain fall outside. It’s a perfect moment in time.

  287. I’m sitting on a train, heading home after a weekend with family and friends, munching on free olives and drinking free wine (because, I assume, Amtrak knew it was the universal birthday).

    When I get home, I’m going to hug my cats, even though they hate it, and listen to Hamilton on vinyl!

  288. I’m going to spend the evening relaxing with an ice cream cake! Happy Birthday to you as well!

  289. I am snuggling with my cat “Cheesecake” and I am enjoying a bowl of Butter Pecan!

  290. Today I napped with my kitties instead of doing the crap I was supposed to do. Heaven.

  293. My epilepsy is being an asshole this past week so I’ve pretty much been in bed doing nothing to begin with buuuut the next time my brain decides to focus, I think I’m going to read one of my favorite books. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go take another nap.

  294. My epilepsy is being an asshole this past week so I’ve pretty much been in bed doing nothing to begin with buuuut the next time my brain decides to focus, I think I’m going to read one of my favorite books. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go take another nap.

  295. My epilepsy is being an asshole this past week so I’ve pretty much been in bed doing nothing to begin with buuuut the next time my brain decides to focus, I think I’m going to read one of my favorite books. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go take another nap.

  296. Having a really awful super depressed bad stabby day…So not such a happy birthday day. I really need some niceness in my life today. My DH is obsessing over his new fountain pen, which normally I’d find very cool. Right now I’m so sick of hearing about nibs and feeds and blobby ink I could scream. Sorry to be a downer on everyone’s birthday! Maybe I’ll go take a nap.

  297. I’m gonna bake some lemon blueberry muffins and read a book on my deck then pick up my friend from the airport. This could actually be better than my actual birthday. Happy unexpected birthday one and all!!

  298. We had to put down my 18 year old emotional support dog Wednesday. I’m not much feeling like celebrating, but I’m going to go grab the last piece of cheesecake in the fridge and share it with my husband and call it Sadie’s Graduation Party and maybe sneak a tiny bite of that cheesecake to our younger dog Harley who is missing her something fierce.

    And I don’t need poorbabies or condolences – just for people to hug their doggies and tell them they’re the best girl/boy ever. Because they are.

  299. I’m celebrating by ‘watching’ TV through my eyelids. Hopefully trapped under a cat.

  301. I did not mean to post that three times. My brain isn’t working and I thought I was pressing the delete button. Nikki wonder it didn’t work.

  302. Fun story, it is my actual birthday, so to hear that it’s everyone else’s too is great!!! I drank a smoothie for healthy reasons, and had a Reese’s Cup for other reasons. Now I’m going to snuggle up with a giant Narwhal stuffed animal (Mark Narhberg) and wait until my partner wakes me up to go out to dinner.

  303. What a lovely idea! I am going to take an unapologetically long nap then I will continue to binge watch The Handmaid’s Tale. Then, maybe cookies for dinner!

  304. I am going to have a salted caramel cookie, a latte, and order myself a necklace with the coorfinates of my favorite beach!!

  305. I’m sick but it’s my first day off in 2 weeks… so I’m gonna sleep and cuddle my fur-babies. Hooray!

  306. I am going to take a nap and maybe read, and then I’ll try to convince my husband to get me something from Starbucks.

  308. I got a tattoo in memory of my dad… happy universal birthday to me!

  309. Brunch with my bestie & buying a pooper scooper for the back yard! Hey, it takes all kinds, right?

  312. Happy birthday everyone! I’ve spent pretty much the entire day watching youtube videos. Planning on doing some reading this evening as well!

  313. Happy Birthday! I am going to 85C Bakery to treat myself to a slice of tiramisu! Hooray for birthdays!

  314. I’m “running away” from my family for a few hours because they are being ungrateful and taking me for granted. So I’m grabbing my knitting and gonna go hang out at Starbuck’s for a few hours. (I’m also a little over sensitive because we lost our insurance after my husband lost his job and we can no longer afford my anxiety/depression meds.) A Merry happy un-birthday to me!

  316. I am having a wee bit of a rough time lately. My husband was injured because of someone else’s negligence so he is a wheelchair for about 6 months, It’s hard to be and do everything while he is down but it’s even harder to do it all when you have depression & anxiety. So my gift to me is to stick around. I am going to keep hanging in here every day as long as I can and then even longer. I don’t feel like I need much right now except peace and hope so today I will choose hope as my birthday gift, Before this accident we were ready to buy a T@B trailer so I will also focus on that. We WILL get there. Neither this injury or my depression or anxiety will stop me from having that joy whenever it comes. Thanks for listening and thanks for including me in your tribe,

  317. I went to Target and bought my dog a PRIDE shirt and myself a dress and some fancy soap. Now I’m going to binge watch Killing Eve! ❤️ 🎂🎉

  318. I decided to stay away from things that are making my depression worse, like Facebook, and instead found myself lost down a Goodreads hole, updating my To-Read list. That’s in-between binge rewatching the first season of Supernatural, which makes me happy. And I might eat a muffin, even though it would blow my day’s Fitbit calories, because we got some on clearance and they are calling to me. Happy birthday, Jenny!

  319. Mine was yesterday, so this is a lovely way to end the weekend! Thanks <3

  320. My 60th birthday is later this month, and not quite sure HOW this happened! However, I’m having a Garlic Featival potluck party with friends to celebrate.

  321. Last week actually was my birthday. I had a 3 hour lunch with my friend where we laugh a lot.

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

  322. My mom died this week and I am recovering from surgery. I need it to be my birthday today. Thank you for this. I’m going to take a bath and a nap and read about Rory, which always makes me feel better!

  324. I’m going to finish the book I’m reading, so I can start the next one. Then I’m making a new dish for dinner and playing with my cookbooks. Happy Birthday! Oh, I also have an Amazon box that I’m making myself wait to open.

  325. I am going to get off work and cuddle with my pillow. That’s about as exciting an universal birthday as I can handle today. 🙂 Or I might have a root beer float. Or both. But not at the same time I think!

  326. Took a recuperative nap with my dog (allergies!) now thinking of drawing my cat as the stealthy assassin she sees herself as…Love to you Jenny!

  328. I’m snuggling my kitties today, and I walked to the farmers market to buy flowers for the house! (Big deal because I had knee surgery two months ago, and this is the farthest I’ve walked without crutches since then! Happy birthday everyone!

  329. I just ordered some bubble wands for my wedding. I’ve been trying to talk myself out of it, because money and adulting and who really needs bubble wands for their wedding? Well, I do. I’m only going to do this once, so TAKE YOUR BUBBLE WAND AND SHUT UP, AUNT HELEN.

  330. For our birthday, I got the official offer letter for my new job! I’ve been out of work for almost seven months and I am ecstatic!!

    I also took a nap with my dog (adopted just over a month ago).

  331. I’m taking care of my self by taking the time to take a bath and relax. Play cards with my love and snuggle. Self care at its best. Also taking my anxiety medication, because depression and anxiety are asshole but they will not win. Xoxo

  332. I have napped. I am going to have a hot bath with epsom salts, baking soda, and essential oil to de-toxify after walking a charity 5 k yesterday. And I’ll re-read a favorite book while doing it.

  333. I’m out driving in the wilderness listening to a Wolverine Radio Play podcast with my fiancee!

  334. OMG! I Love This! As a person with a summer birthday I never got to celebrate my birthday at school. I was forever scarred by not being able to bring treats to school for my big day. So to celebrate this Universal Birthday Day I’m going to buy a fancy, designer cupcake at a bakery and revel in its taste. Then I’m going to binge watch Last Tango in Halifax. No cleaning today my friends….it’s gonna be a day of decadence!!

  335. I’m stealing one of your ideas and taking a nap with my dogs! Also I would get a massage for my birthday today but I just got a massage a few days ago so… idk maybe get one again? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

  336. I thanked a friend for taking the time to check in with me. It is very difficult for her to talk about my depression , but she did it anyway. I am very lucky for having such a good friend.

  337. I’m going to crochet dish scrubbers and have a few beers. Because I’m boring but happy. Happy very merry unbirthday everyone

  338. I’m going to grill the ribs I’ve been putting off for the “right” time.

  339. I read this after I finished fighting with the carpet cleaner to try and clean up our puppy’s oopsie. Wish I had read it before, I would have made someone else do it considering it is now my birthday. I think I will sneak a slice of cake and reread your blog for the rest of my universal birthday day.

  340. My man friend and I went to cabellas… And i selfishly purchased a stuffed porcupine! He’s so fluffy!

  341. I’m going to crochet dish scrubbers and have a few beers. Because I’m boring but happy. Happy very merry unbirthday everyone

  342. I’m going shopping at Trader Joe’s by myself, without children. So I will not have to break up fights about who gets to push the cart and I can just stroll along listening to the awesome music that Trader Joe’s always seems to play.

  343. I’m watching Ghostbusters with my son after a long day of napping with our cat. Perfect day.

  344. I’m having my husband teach me enough guitar chords so that I can play Def Leppard songs. I fell back in love with them when we got concert tickets. We went on Friday night and they were awesome. I even learned all of the lyrics to Pour Some Sugar on and. It’s the funnest thing I’ve done in years. So now I want to be able to play the chords and sing (badly) of my favorites. My husband’s guitar is a bit large for me, so if I like playing, I want a smaller version.

  346. I’d like to spend my birthday in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales! All at once! But for now I’m going to eat some peanut m&ms and nap with my corgi & cat.

  347. It has been an extremely difficult month (2 family members died in the space of 3 weeks), so I decided on Friday that I was going to treat myself to my favourite fancy foods this weekend (it’s only money, and it grows on trees, right?!). Right now I’m having a late lunch of wine and leftover lobster bisque from last night’s dinner. Fancy comfort food is helping for sure. #selfcare

  348. I took a good long nap this afternoon, does that count? I’m going to NOT do the dishes, the laundry, or cook anything at all. I’m taking things nice and easy. I don’t care what doesn’t get done. Tomorrow’s another day, they say. 😉

  349. I’m going to binge watch The West Wing for the 329th time later this evening and gorge on leftover cake from my son’s graduation. Most of the time right now it’s a toss up between that & Time Team because watching them calms my mind 🙂

  350. I’m going to figure out the amount of chemicals I need to put in the hot tub & take a longass soak in it.. tomorrow. Tonight? Well, long soaks and reading in the big old claw foot tub we have are one of my favorite things. I just need to pick a new book to read. Or maybe I’ll find that Kitchen Confidental and read it again.

  351. I finally bought a new Libman microfiber mop. It was $5 cheaper at WinCo than Wal-Mart. While this seems like such a small thing, it’s huge for me. I’m trying not to feel too lame on my “birthday” cause I ” forgot” it was today wink, wink, nudge, nudge

  353. I am going to make the best lunch and spend time with my son and new puppy. Mostly the puppy.

  354. You are close. Missed my birthday by 5 days. I turned 73 on June 5.

  355. I started early and ate a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream last night while home alone. Today we’re campung in Pigeon Forge TN. I took a dip in the pool, now I’m sitting in the shade in a wet bathing suit people watching. 🙂 Happy Birthday everyone!

  356. Not my birthday, but hubbys bday tomorrow. I procrastinated again and have no dang idea what to get him. I agreed to take him to Chinese buffet though (yuck), so there’s that.

    Happy Birthday Y’all.

  357. I laid in bed most of the day with a bitch of a migraine. I also snuggled with two of my cats. My husband has been great. He took care of me while I recovered as and then the migraine. I have one of the best husbands ever.

  358. I am doing absolutely nothing but be lazy..and it is so nice…no obligations today!

  359. I’m totally buying that true crime book in your sidebar, and then spending the day reading, playing video games with my children, and eating aaaaallll the strawberries I bought at the farmer’s market.

    Happy birthday to me, motherfucker!

  360. I gor a sunburn from outside.
    took a nap with my dog
    I’m watching sponge bob,because my kids are.
    Now imnot going to make supper, because itslame tmake food on your birthday.

  361. I’m going to call my sister and talk for hours while drinking wine. Less than two weeks before I get to see her in person for the first time in two years!

  362. I’m going to paint my nails red, and take my sweet dog Kuma Lisa on a car ride and to a park, and later I’m going to see a bunch of my friends in a bunch of short, original plays! Wooo!

  363. Jenny I want you to know that I am in the hospital waiting to start ECT and brought “I am here.” I am finding comfort in the book and I’m my own colouring and doodling. Thank you so much. For my “birthday” I’ll go grab a trashy mag from the gift shop.

  364. I already had my birthday on the 7th! Dressed up a little with a new skirt I found secondhand (it has pockets! Woo!), had a yummy chocolate mug cake with chocolate ice cream (so good!) and took a stroll to buy some supplies for a gift I´m making for someone else. All in all, a quiet day.

  365. I actually like that forgiveness idea. Guilt has been eating me up. So I’ll forgive myself first and then maybe try that ice cream cake thing.

  366. I just popped some popcorn in our little at home popcorn maker BEFORE dinner. And maybe I’ll have some ice cream after dinner. A very merry unbirthday to me!

  367. I am going to snuggle up with my beloved cats, read a good book, and listen to the rain.

  368. It really is my birthday! Thanks! When I saw the email I thought you sent everyone one on their birthday. (I feel special that you picked today to wish everyone happy birthday.)

  369. I mobes to another province…i lost wverything i knewfor the better i hope…the amount of stress that caused us is insane… Sooo i will try to go for a walk in my new town and find myself a new favorite coffee shop.
    Thanks

  370. Happy universal birthday everyone! I meditated in the morning sun and am going to have a very rare glass of wine!

  372. My birthday is next week, so this will be a trial run for me. Let’s see, I think I’ll have whipped cream on my pancakes, a giant bag of M&Ms for lunch, and steak and roasted potatoes for dinner with a big salad which I shall share with my guinea pig (whose birthday was last month). And happy birthday to you, too!

  373. Happy universal birthday everyone! I meditated in the morning sun and am going to have a very rare glass of wine!

  374. I’m going to continue my vacation at a friend’s and sit on her couch watching movies and eating junk. Funny movies, because that’s how I roll today and I don’t have the time to mainline The Expanse.

  375. I am going to lay in bed while my two year old naps and not do a damn thing other than read my book without guilt!

  376. I’ve tried posting 3 times now… maybe its just not meant to be. 🙁

  379. Wow! It’s my birthday! On my favorite Auntie’s actual birthday too! How fun. 😁😁 I shall follow my typical birthday plans, as laid out by Jonathan Colton in the song “Code Monkey”:

    🎵Wake up, eat a coffee cake, take bath, take nap. 🎶

  380. You wrote me a happy birthday message at your book signing (which was in my 25th birthday) and so now it’s my birthday any time I open your book.

  381. a me day? Why thank you. I’m reading in the back yard My favorite thing to do.

  382. Today would be my older brother’s 48th birthday but I lost him to suicide when he was 43. I love this universal birthday day. Thank you!

  386. Wonderful! I’ve spent the day doing what I wanted to do which was absolutely nothing. No plans. No stress. I took a nap. I’ve spent the day staring at words I wrote previous days with the intention of adding to them. I’ve kinda succeeded. Adding words to the WIP is what makes me happy. 🙂

  387. Aw happy birthday everyone!

    Before I even knew Jenny made today all of our birthdays I was out grabbing a bite to eat and decided that I wanted to buy myself some lottery scratch off tickets so I did…just because they’re fun to scratch off in anticipation of a mystery of if I’m a winner or not and of course if I’m not a winner I get a bit pouty and blame the lottery ticket people for being mean to me but it still makes me a bit happy inside.

  388. My sister and I just celebrated our birthdays on Friday! (Mine was in May, hers is July.) We also celebrated Shnog Day a week early, a holiday we made up. “Shnogs” is something we would say to get around the no cursing rule in our house growing up. We wanted everyone to say it, so we gave it a holiday!

  389. I hired a freelance editor to provide feedback on my manuscript. I received her email response about ten minutes ago. For today’s birthday, I’m not opening the email. I want to enjoy my day and pretend she thinks it’s a bestseller.

  390. I have been in a deep hole for three days. I just bought a Rory watch because Rory is awesome!

  391. You know my birthday was a week ago- you wished me AND on Facebook and made my day! LOL I spent today taking 4 kids to the zoo. Alone. It was great, but now my very hurt and I need a nap!

  392. I met up with my girlfriends for brunch. Caught up on all my friends lives. Had delicious food and 5 mimosas! 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾

  393. I’m going to paint rocks to leave at BAMC, the local Army hospital to brighten people day, because no one likes to go to the hospital!

  395. My wife is mass-stressing over an upcoming test, so we’re binge-watching Moving to the Continent on Netflix. There’s nothing quite like spending other people’s money on houses for ourselves! 🙂

  396. Happy birthday to Us! Today Im going to go ride my bike to the Pride festival. Seems like a great place to celebrate. And pie. Pie of some sort will most definitely follow.

  397. Happy Birthday to all!

    My actual birthday was Friday, and I have been celebrating – and will be celebrating – by spending time with friends and my cats and trying to focus on happiness instead of the bad shit in the world and my life.

  398. How fabulous! My birthday is later this week, and I’ll be 35. I’m getting a cake baked for me by my handsome husband and I hope to put up some bird feeders in the back yard – we’ve recently had a bluebird visiting and he is so dang cheerful to look at I want to do everything I can to keep him coming back. For my birthday I want to send bluebirds to you all <3

  399. My birthday is this week so I had lunch with my son and parents. Now I’m binge watching Big Bang Theory. Happy Birthday!

  400. Happy Birthday, All!!! Spent some quiet time with hubby. Now, I’ll continue to read my book. Chores can wait til tomorrow.

  401. I am going to draw poisonous dart frogs (per my son’s request), finish reading my new Christopher Moore book, and treat myself to Starbucks now that I know it’s my birthday. Happy Birthday to you, too!

  402. I am going to make myself a rosé infused vodka cocktail and watch the Tony’s. 💗

  403. I’m watching The Office and maybe accidentally buying a bunch of kindle books from my goodreads deals email.
    But it’s totally warranted because we’re going to the beach in about 2 weeks and I’ll need things to read!

  404. I’m taking the day off from responsibilities! I spend too much time doing everything I’m supposed to do. I don’t care what I should be doing im spending time with my husband and dog on the couch and I’m binge watching a tv show.

  406. Happy birthday, Jenny! And everyone on here! And myself, too?

    I have been binging Desperate Housewives on Hulu this weekend. It is delicious and very few calories!

    I hope to finish the Robin Williams bio later today!

  407. I love you….not in a creepy way. ❤️ Happy Birthday!!!
    Im writing in my gardening journal (which
    Was my sweet Mom’s.) Gosh I miss her!
    Next I’m going to watch some Frazier on Netflix
    …possibly followed by a Sunday birthday nap!
    Oh! And I’m going to order your books. 🙂

  408. Its bitterly cold winter in New Zealand, so I’m going to crank the central heating up to the high 30’s put on my bikini and pretend I’m in Fiji. (PS since only the cats are home there is no need to shave my legs… right!)

  409. I’m grilling a steak, opening a bottle of wine, and indulging in chocolate covered strawberries all for me. Well, the dog gets a little steak!

  410. Yay! I get TWO birthdays in June! I turn 50 on the 25th. I asked my love for a weekend away, since we can’t really fly off to Europe right now. (Caregiving is rough, y’all! )

    Today, I’m gonna celebrate by ordering the above ground pool I will need to survive another Texas summer. I also have my eye on a light show thingie to float in it when I’m not. Lol

    Happy birthday, Jenny!

  411. I worked today. Then I came home and took a nap with my dogs. Then I watched Iron Chef America reruns and listened to my tummy growl while I not so secretly coveted all the nifty kitchen gadgets from pizza stones to tiny wisks. While covetting I planned out all the nifty things I’m going to get a piece at a time for my baking cabinet.

  412. Happy Birthday Everyone!

    I’m going to enjoy a doughnut from a cute shop I recently discovered while binge watching Killing Eve. I have some catching up to do!

  413. A very merry (un)birthday to all y’all. There’s a Tentacle Kitty colouring book that’s pre-order on Amazon that I’ve been waffling about getting. But now that I have ‘permission’, I think I’ll go ahead and pre-order it. Thanks, Jenny!

  414. Rewatching Parts Unknown and traveling the world again with Anthony Bourdain. He inspired my creativity – he challenged me and made me feel uncomfortable- he taught me about things and people I’ll probably never see/meet. Seems only right to honor him and continue that journey. This is self care for me.

  415. When the grand kids visit or leave for extended times, we have “Not your Birthday” parties. Cake, presents for everyone and even piñatas. Today I think I will take myself to a movie! Thanks!

  416. I spent the day working at the wildlife rehab I volunteer at. I shall spend the evening (after I shower to clean off the the meat juice & animal shit) curled up watching a movie while snuggling my cats.

  417. I totally stayed in half pj’s until 2:30 this afternoon (pj top, no bottoms, because they were somehow wet after hanging over my towel bar in the bathroom? so undies for the bottom).. threw some clothes on, took my almost 21 year old kiddo to breakfast at ihop at 3pm, and ate food i’m not supposed to, but it was soooo tasty. A complete lazy sunday.

  418. Painted an old cement squirrel that was broken off a bird bath (I’ve had it sitting around the yard for 9 months) an awesome bright orange because cement squirrels should be happy bright colors. Happy birthday y’all!

  419. Happy birthday to us!! I’m going to go see Ocean’s 8 with friends and make a meal. Love this idea and all your posts. Thank you for being such a light.

  420. Today I took a second shower before 3pm and crawled under a minky blanket and took a half hour nap, just because I could and had the time. It was lovely. <3 I have some lavender tea steeping to make iced tea for later.

  421. I’m binge reading one of my favorite blogs. (Wink,wink. Nudge,nudge) And drinking copious amounts of coffee while my dogs snooze next to me and listening to my guinea pigs gossip.

  422. Happy Birthday to us all. It’s not an event I can do today, but I’m dying to see Won’t You Be My Neighbor, the Mr. Rogers documentary coming out later this month. I shall treat myself to that!

  424. I am going to go bake yummy things for my coworkers because working with terminally ill patients is stressful and baked goods make everything better. And when I bring them to work, I’ll tell everyone happy birthday and really confuse them.

  425. I’m doing a hair mask and a face mask while I watch Scandal. And then I’ll probably go for a long walk when the sun goes down.

  426. I didn’t even know it was my birthday, but I went and saw Solo because Star Wars makes me happy and medical bills had made seeing a movie too much of an indulgence for the last month.

  427. Happy birthday to all!
    I didn’t even realize it was my birthday, but I’m happy to celebrate because my real birthday was last weekend and that was a bit more stressful. I enjoyed a lovely day walking around touring old houses, and now am resting my tired feet and legs in bed with my kitty, drinking a tasty beverage. But since it’s my birthday, I think I’m even going to take a nice bath later and paint my toenails.
    Thank you for the inspiration, and for trying to squeeze some extra kindness and insight into the world.

  428. I’m gonna give Precious (my faithful minivan, named after The Lord of the Rings) a full tank of gas, without cringing at the cost. She’ll be SO excited! Then, I’m hittin’ the road to find a beautiful place where I can spend the day not feeling bad about doing absolutely productive, other than treating my vitamin D deficiency with some actual sunshine, because, fuck the north, it’s so unnatural to live here. All the while, I will be effortlessly increasing my serotonin with a cooler full of yummy stuff that is in no way good for my thighs. Because, fuck the north. I’m going to celebrate that eight months of winter is finally over, and it’s my birthday!

  430. I code to ignore housework, so I went to yoga and had a pedicure. Appreciate the extra birthday, Jenny!

  431. Today is my puppies birthday as my dog is currently in labor and delivery – so you were right – Happy Birthday!

  432. I always get my period on my birthday… all I want is a slurpee and a few days off work.

  433. Awesome timing! It’s the Queen’s Birthday public holiday here today 🙂
    So I guess that not only is it my birthday, but I’m a queen. I just want the fun bits though – none of those boring ceremonies or making small talk with twerps.
    Happy Birthday to all!!! And let us eat cake.

  434. I am going to read (for pleasure) and maybe get my nails done! I know I need to be better with self care but sometimes I get too caught up in figuring out new ways to help others. As a mental health clinician it seems like the cutting of services is creating an increased desire to fight for others with all my heart which leaves my cup a little empty sometimes. But it’s all worth it. Just a little “check out” is needed sometimes.

    Happy birthday Jenny and everyone else. We should all celebrate ourselves everyday!!

  435. Happiest of Birthday and Un-Birthdays wishes to you all ! Its hot and and I have been waiting on a good pop-up storm to happen… I am gonna go sit on the porch and soak it up ! An old fashioned Virginia Natural Spa 🙂 And free to boot !

  437. Oh, you are awesome. I want to read your next new book, but I can wait because it’s your birthday too, so we can lie in the grass and blow bubbles together. I’ll make you one of my special mochas with cinnamon and vanilla that smells like cake. You can admire the blue polish on my toenails and we’ll show each other photos of our baby kitties, dogs, and children who seem suddenly to be much too adult. We can cry a little over what they were like when they were two. I’ll tell you my terrible secret that ‘dammit’ was my son’s first word and you’ll laugh with your mouth wide open, a bit of birthday cake falling out. Be well, my dear author friend.

  438. I’m going to read for a bit outside on the freshly mown grass, do laundry, and then go see ‘Solo’ at the good theater, in IMAX, where I can buy beer at the concessions and the butter on the popcorn is real. But first, laundry!

  439. My kids and I got the party started late last night listening to some groovy tunes we hadn’t heard in a long time — of note: Wildfire by Michael Martin Murphey, I Don’t Like Spiders & Snakes by Jim Stafford, and THE BEATLES! Duh,duh,duh,duh,duh,duh…ya say it’s your birthday….duh,duh,duh,duh,duh,duh…it’s my birthday too, yeah…Happy Birthday to you!!!!
    Anyway, we’ve been continuing the fun today — brunch, naps, and about to go to dinner! Everyone have a great week!
    Mona

  440. I’m going to read David Sedaris’ new book and work on a Christmas ornament I’m crocheting because it will probably take me until Christmas to finish it because I get a lot of help from the cats 😂. Happy birthday, Jenny! Love you!

  441. I’m gooshing my cat Hanz. Reading and writing. Deep talks with my son who forever amazes me with his intellect and spirit. Being grateful for this day and for Jenny who makes me laugh out loud and appreciate life all the more. Happy Birthday everyone!

  442. It actually IS my birthday tomorrow, and I celebrated today with cake and presents with my 84 year old mother and family. In honor of my birthday, everyone reach out to a friend or family member they haven’t talked to in awhile.. make sure they are feeling OK. Take care of each other!

  444. Happy Birthday to you as well!!! Today I decided to make it all about me since it is my birthday. I went shopping to my favorite shoe stores and boutiques. After I popped an anxiety pill of course. Then I went to Dollar Tree and really went wild stocking up on nail polish, M&Ms, ice cream drum sticks and bath items. Then came home to have a little spa time. And since it’s my birthday I’ve decided not to cook today. I’ve text my son and put in my dinner request. 😁 Hopefully it’s not charred too badly. If it is then that’s okay because I have ice cream!

  445. I am going to cross my fingers and my toes that my cat, Meg, has lower bilirubin numbers on tonight’s test so she still has a fighting chance. Either way, I’m going to take doughnuts to the evening crew at the Vet’s office that has been helping us fight for the last 10 days. I already had fun picking out a colorful assortment for the day crew. And I’m going to ponder how just today I decided to send everyone presents on MY birthday because while I blame my meds I just forget too often and I don’t want to feel bad about it anymore. And I’m not going to feelet one iota of shame that I’m hoping to get a little present because I’ve had a rough 10 days.

  447. Funny I just told my BFF that I’m going to “act like it’s my birthday” and do all the things I want to do since my husband just left to go out of town for work!! I just hung up with her, as planned, read my email and checked the three blogs I follow, then I’m going to watch an old movie (Naughty Marietta 1935) then I’m going to Dairy Queen to have a Salted Caramel Truffle Blizzard and then I’m going to take a hot bath that may or may not last two hours or at least until the hot water heater is completely empty of hot water!! And then…I’m going to sleep smack dab in the middle of my bed and not wear ear plugs because there will be no snoring bear in my bed tonight!! Sounds like heaven to me!! Happy Birthday to ME!

  448. I am going to dinner with friends and to watch the Tony’s and I’m NOT going to stress that the cooking I did this afternoon didn’t turn out exactly like I hoped or that my car got rained in because I left the top down while I was cooking and had to run out in a downpour to put it up which led to a change of clothes before I was finished with the flour which means I should probably change again before dinner but I’m not gonna because ITS MY BIRTHDAY and I don’t care that my yoga pants have flour on them.

  450. I am going to spend the day snuggling with my sweet pup and my best friend on her new couch in the first place she has ever lived in by herself! She just moved in and it’s time to be happy.

  451. For not knowing it was my birthday today, I went out and did a bunch of things that made me happy! I had brunch with a few friends, which was very tasty, and then we went to one of my favorite yarn stores in the city and I bought some beautiful yarn that I’m going to knit some fun things with, and then we went and got ice cream afterwards! It was an excellent day!

  452. I have been really sick with the flu for five days and now there’s bronchitis on top of it. What I am doing today is trying to stay alive (and worrying about missing more work this week). My agenda includes lost of water, tea, and naps.

    I hope everyone else is having a fabulous time!

  453. I took my mom shopping for clothes for weddings and bridal showers. Now I get to treat myself by bleeding onto my keyboard working on book revisions.

  454. Happy birthday, Jenny!!!!! I just did some long-overdue garage cleaning and I will now celebrate my universal birthday by getting a frappuccino at Starbucks because I deserve it.

  455. I’m going to read the book I’ve been ignoring because I always have so much studying to do! Happy birthday!

  456. On the way home from the airport after visiting my in-laws. Going to order in food, take a bath, possibly listen to Furiously Happy for the 25th time and look for fun sewing projects on Pinterest. That truly apunds wonderful!

  457. Today on my “birthday” I made a cat necklace for my friends 10yr old daughter because making beautiful things for people makes me super happy. Then I went to a flee market and looked through lots of old stuff. I love a good flea market 🙂

  460. It’s my birthday later this week! I like to celebrate all month lol but tonight, I’m going to have some ice cream and be with my sweetie.

  461. I celebrated yesterday by going to Pride Parade and taking a bunch of pictures because apparently I’m also psychic and knew today would be my Universal Birthday Day and today I am recovering because being at an event like Pride is Not Easy despite being Fun and it’ll take me about a week to get back to my current normal

  462. I’m going to lay on the floor and watch videos from my favorite foster kitten Instagrams! And then I’m going to research whether vegetarian fish sauce, which I’ve seen on Amazon, is something I can get at a store (I am a vegetarian but like Thai food, but also is vegetarian fish sauce horrifying? Please let me know if you have tried cooking with it.) I may also get on the couch and read my library book (Lindsay West’s ‘Shrill.’) Happy Birthdays all around, y’all!

  464. I’m just glad you’re feeling better. You sound happy! Happy Birthday!

  465. Since I don’t get [my first full paycheck till next weekend, I can’t afford groceries let alone presents. I’ll buy myself a book or two then. For now, my free present is eating the snack size snickers bar I found in my purse, a long shower, and then binge watching corny 80’s teen movies I have on DVD until I pass out.

  466. I was just thinking about blowing off everything I need to do todat and instead snuggling with my beloved and the cats, and read or watch a movie. Thank you for the permission!

  467. Uh! I wish I would have known it was my BD before I mowed the yard, cleaned 3 toilets, and started a diet!

  468. I bought myself new spark plugs, an ignition coil and an oil change on Friday (ok, for my car), so I think that does in my Gifts For Myself budget for the year. But I did make purple potatoes for lunch today just for fun, so I’m going to declare it all good.

  469. Congratulations on another successful revolution around the star central to our solar system everyone!

    We went shoe shopping and I have been talking to friends I don’t talk to nearly enough. Later I’m going to splurge on data and binge watch something to be determined.

  470. I a man going to sleep late…snuggle my kitties and spend hours crafting! Happy Birthday to me…and to you too!

  471. I splurged on a nice, supportive pair of sandals! My friends have been raving about Merrells for a while and I finally decided to give them a whirl. And while I was in the store, some random lady saw me trying them on and started raving about them, too.

  472. Well, for my birthday…(WHICH IT ACTUALLY IS thanks for remembering Jenny!!!!) i will sleep late, eat Thai food with my fam and be open to squeeze hugs from anyone willing to stop by!!!

  473. I gave myself permission to take a nap when my 1yr old FINALLY went down for her’s. The chores can wait until tonight.

  474. I finished Lireal and downloaded Abhorsen from Audible. I’ve been challenged to read 61 books this summer and through audio books have completed 4 thus far. This makes my brain happy since I am struggling with concentration and focus to read physical books.

  475. Happy birthday!!! To celebrate, I’m going to try my best to be positive and kind to myself. It’s something that does not come easily for me.

  476. My actual birthday is coming up on Thursday but I haven’t been doing well at all. I’d like to go to a baseball game, visit my friends new house and go camping on the weekend but I’m afraid I won’t be able to, even showering and dressing is too much right now and I haven’t seen or spoken to anyone in a week.
    Anyway, enough of that…..happy birthdays to all!

  477. I’m taking a day to rest and try to get my voice back. I don’t know if I can express how nice it is that I can’t talk above a whisper so I’m not bothering to talk much at all. So peaceful.

  478. It’s my almost half birthday, so that counts! Today I had a piece of cake with tea, and am spending the evening with my dad who is in icu after his second open heart surgery. That means while he sleeps, I get to read a good book!

  479. I’m going to read the stack of books I bought last night, take a nap, and then eat all the food without feeling a damn bit guilty about it.

  480. I’m going to actually allow myself to sit down and relax for a little bit, hopefully, guilt free. All while my three girls run amuck. Single mom life is no joke. I’m also going to try and not worry about my appointment I have in the morning to discuss a med change. Happy birthday to me! :/

  482. You are sitting me -it is my birthday,tho I am in work on nights. (Nurse in nursing home)

  483. I am going to cuddle up with a kitten, a great big mug of vanilla earl grey tea and listen to my Smoke and Mirrors audiobook 🙂

  484. I’m going to swing in my hammock with a good book and a glass of wine with my sweet pupper under the hammock. Happy Birthday everyone!

  485. The 19th will be my half birthday and I just got horrible news yesterday, so today I will just be …

  486. Funny you said that – it actually is my birthday today so thank you. I just turned 63 and I swear I don’t feel a day over 45 unless I catch a glance at myself in the mirror and realize that no, that is not my mom, it’s me. That’s ok because my mom is an 83 year old badass who has survived two heart attacks, two hip replacements and losing her sight in one eye and still goes to the gym 3 times a week. My birthday gift to myself is a gym membership because I want to be like her:)

  488. I am going to buy the new Dean Loontz book and cuddle on the couch for there of the night. Not making dinner, not doing anything else. Woohoo. Thanks for my birthday!

  489. It was just recently my daughter’s birthday, and so I had some more leftover birthday cake to celebrate my birthday (and, uh, all of y’alls’ birthday too).

  490. U r so nice Jenny! My birthday was the 5th and it was crap but I think after 21 all birthdays are crap.I just wish my family understood that sometimes I would like them to celebrate me without me having to plan my own surprise. Oh well I guess . happy universal birthday everyone!

  491. I’m going to listen to music that makes me sing and watch a movie that makes me cry. I’m going to take a guilt-free nap because that’s what birthdays are for. And if you send me a gift, I am going to share with someone because good fortune should always be shared.

  492. So I am going to eat some ice cream & watch BBC. I’m wild like that!!!
    Actually just want to take a bit of a break from organizing.

  493. You are such a sweetie! Today I did lots of gardening (instead of laundry and cleaning) and it was lovely 🌷🌼🌺🌻🌸

  494. I took my daughter to look at cool sidewalk chalk art, icluding those cool 3D ones that look funky from the top but amazing from the bottom. And we had cupcakes.

  495. Happy Birthday! Or Happy Unbirthday! It doesn’t matter. Have a great day, Jenny!

  496. Well, huzzah! I’m gonna eat an ice cream sundae! I was gonna anyway bc it’s Sunday and my husband is flying out for a business trip and I hate when he leaves on a weekend but now I feel EVEN MORE JUSTIFIED!! 😁

    And a very merry unbirthday to you as well!

  497. It’s obvious that all of your Soulmates are Geminis. Because it’s my birthday also ??!?!!
    XOXO

  498. I’m finally relaxing and having ME time. I’m watching true crime on TV and eating chocolate covered strawberries. Happy birthday, everyone!

  499. For my birthday, I’m listening to the “Knightly Pleasures” podcast because Jack gets me out of my very depressed and lonely head for a little while. So…yeah, if I had a birthday wish, it would be to have a little extra cash to give to Jack on Patreon so I could get access to his pay stories and make it easier for him to eat something other than box mac and cheese.

  500. I’m going to help my sweet dog survive these thunderstorms that are making him shiver, while I read one of the many books “I’ll get to eventually”, in front of the fire (even though it’s summer —- thunderstorms always mean the fireplace is on!). 😄
    Everyone, have fun doing your special thing! 🙂

  501. Yay! Happy birthday to me completely justifies the blackberry cobbler ice cream I just ate!

  502. Woah, it actually is my birthday! Thank you!!
    I’m being lazy for the rest of the day, ordering dinner and laying on the couch.
    Happy un-birthday to everyone else who now shares today with me!!

  503. I’m going to give all my pets (there are 20, counting my foster chinchillas) to extra treats tonight so they can celebrate with me.

  504. I’ve been reclining on my chaise lounge all day, crocheting to my hearts content, while watching true crime on ID.

  506. I think I’ll snuggle on the couch with the kiddos and watch Despicable Me 3 and have some gin and ginger. Maybe make some whipped cream for those strawberries I bought….. Num.

  507. I am treating myself to a trip… to Berlin to see Pearl Jam! I’ve always wanted to see them so I said what the hell, I’m gonna do it! I cannot wait!

  509. Went to a local college age baseball game, Humboldt Crabs. Had a beer and some red vines. Perfect mindless fun.

  511. Happy birthday to everyone!
    I’m going to eat chocolate ice cream and then go take a bath with my cheap lavender bath salts. Haha.

  513. I’m going to lie in bed and read. It’s raining, and I LOVE reading to the natural soundtrack of rain.

  515. I went shopping with my husband and then out to eat with the family! Now to finish the night reading.

  516. I want to be able to sleep in on my birthday, but with a four year-old I know that is probably impossible. So I’ll settle for a hot bath uninterrupted or a massage.

  517. I’m going to start knitting the shawl I bought yarn for and have been putting off because I keep telling myself I have to do ALL THE WORK before I earn time to do something I want to do!

  518. My birthday was actually a few days ago. First birthday without my dad. I tried to just will it to pass quickly. It didn’t. But, since you insist, I’ll stop packing to move and stop working on my fourth book and I’ll take a little break. Have a hot bath with my favorite bubble bath.

    Thanks for making me take a little break.

  519. Put on some comfy jammies. Curl up on the couch under a fuzzy blanket. Bribe the cats on to the couch (and my lap) using treats. Watch Zoo (delightful and terrible show, perfect amount if ridiculous) on Netflix.
    Maybe finish the bottle of wine I just opened.

  520. Put on some comfy jammies. Curl up on the couch under a fuzzy blanket. Bribe the cats on to the couch (and my lap) using treats. Watch Zoo (delightful and terrible show, perfect amount if ridiculous) on Netflix.
    Maybe finish the bottle of wine I just opened.

  521. Binge watching Grey’s Anatomy bc its been a year yesterday that I lost my dad. I love adult coloring cuss books, I have yours already! Kendra Krebs
    Krbkrebs.5@gmail.com

  522. I am going to sit on my deck under a giant maple tree and watch ER

  523. I danced in two competitions this weekend so I bought an Irish Dancer travel mug for my hot tea. I’m now snuggling on the couch with one of my rescue dogs and loving it. Hope everyone had a wonderful birthday! 😊

  525. I played in dirt and wasted the rest of the day cuddling with my dog

  529. I cuddled with our new baby, took a nap and then went to dinner with friends.

  530. It is my birthday today! I am going to get the expensive camera that I have been wanting. I will treat myself better and enjoy the day

  531. I am going to ignore the giant pile of laundry from our camping trip and play board games instead 🙂

  532. I went to my local flea market and bought a poster of the anatomy of the larynx and pharynx and now I’m reading sci-fi on my Kindle instead of folding laundry or meal prepping for the week!

  533. I joined a gym and did my first workout in a long time! It felt so good to be taking care of me!

  534. I took a nap, read a magazine, and am getting ready to eat some Kringle while catching up on Killing Eve.

  535. I ate a double chocolate chip cookie with no guilt and bought myself a kindle book I really wanted! My actual birthdays always turn into disasters my daughter threw up on me this year-so I am loving this random birthday day!

  536. Today is the perfect half-year birthday 🎂 I took time for myself and read a book. Now I’m watching the Greatest Showman and my husband cooked dinner for me. Now if I had your number I could call the funniest person I haven’t met yet!

  537. Um, but you must be psychic because it actually is my birthday. And this just made my day because I was feeling a little down about it all. BUt this post made me feel warm, so thank you for that!

  538. I’m going to drink a glass of wine and watch hummingbirds while listening to my cat chirp. It’s weird. Does she think it will attract birds? Whatever, it entertains me.

  539. I made my family a kick ass breakfast. My husband and I went and got a TON of flowers and got almost all of them planted. I drank coffee and knit for a while and I’m going to end my day watching Westworld! HBD TO US ALL!

  541. So close!!! My birthday was yesterday and the big 50
    I worked in the morning (pet get sick 7 days a week) but when I got home I ate an entire tub of Ben and Jerry’s while reading an awesome book.

  542. We have spent this glorious day ( and weekend) celebrating our sons high school graduation!!

  543. I’m going to eat pizza 🍕 and enjoy myself!
    A great way to end the day after doing homework all day! I am not even a kid
    I’m old, 50 and I am trying to get masters degree… what was
    I thinking?! I hope all of you are having wonderful
    Birthdays.., Enjoy! Celebrate!

  544. Today I am reading books and snuggling with my nephew. It’s been a rough few months and I am terrible at self care so I appreciate the universal birthday!

  545. I know it sounds weird, but I am going thrifting. Thrift store shopping is the hobby that is also therapy. It’s a win-win. I might take myself out to eat, too.

  546. I have a week off ahead of me! Since it is kicking off with my birthday, im going to buy one of the social justice books in my Amazon Saved for Later list and get thru it this week!

  547. Today for my birthday. I played crochet with my younger cats. They all love string so I tried to work on a project (which I finished) and spent a lot of time tossing yarn on their heads. I celebrated with a root beer float and pulling a foot of yarn out of Penelope’s mouth when she thought eating yarn was a good idea.

  548. I sat and watched Food Network, finished a book, and ate an ice-cream cone. Now, off to chase fireflies outside. Fighting anxiety today…these things helped. And of course, your blog always helps!

  549. I’m going to sing. Not because I’m good at it, I’m not. Because I can and I want to. And it makes me happy. And I’m going to dream about the day I can afford a guitar so I can sing and play.

  550. I had cookies for breakfast before I even read this. However, this IS a friend’s birthday, so I’m going to keep it special for her. HB, Fifi!

  551. Eat all the ice cream is what I’m going to do🤣. Happy Birthday to YOU! I hope your having the best day ever!

  552. I can’t get enough museums! I love them! I am going to go with my daughter who knows so much about every damn thing and is so interesting that she should go on Jeopardy (and she’s not even stuck up!- even tough she has a Masters and (almost) her PhD)! I am so lucky to have her – she’s a gift all by herself!

  554. Koreans have everyone age a year collectively on New Year’s Day. That, combined with the tradition of assigning the time in utero as a year, means that you are either a year or two older in Korea than you are in the United States. A baby born on Christmas is 2 years old before she is 2 weeks old.

    I think I will abstain from cooking dinner. Pizza and a movie for me.

  555. I met a friend at the oldest bookshop in America, bought presents for people, ate pancakes for lunch. Then I attended the local gay men’s member showcase concert (few things are as charming as two guys singing ‘I Feel Pretty’ from West Side Story) and had dinner with my college roomie who sang a fantastic solo from The Drowsy Chaperone in the show.

    Happy birthday to all!

  556. I am diabetic, but I had an ice cream cone for dessert-since it is my birthday. Now I want my own copy of Furiously Happy to read again and again

  557. Diabetic, that was me. Silly phone wouldn’t take my name and email.

  558. This year, for my birthday, I’m just taking a day to relax. Maybe use a beautiful bath bomb, and then stay in and paint/sculpt/whatever art project comes to mind this time. Life has been too crazy. (and my birthday is less than a week away, so yeah, that’s really the plan)

  559. I had such a moment when I read this because my birthday is coming up shortly! I am going to spend the day outside and try to reconnect with nature and maybe pretend to be a tree or a rock- we’ll see when I get there haha

  560. Thanks! Especially because it is my birthday… to celebrate, I introduced my daughters to Turkish food for lunch, just for the experience.

  561. Well, damn…that what’s happens when I catch up on reading online late in the day. I’d like to just hang out with friends on their porches, but that all depends on being able to catch them at a good time, so I suppose my big excitement for the day will have to be using my brand-new Trader Joe’s rose water face toner before I go to bed. Still working on figuring out what I want to do for my actual birthday on July 15th, though…suggestions, anyone? Maybe catching opening night of Richard III on Boston Common, if it’s not too hot and muggy?

  562. I will allow myself one day to stop beating myself up about everything.

  563. If it’s your birthday today, then mine is tomorrow, because it is IRL. This morning we were at a two year old’s birthday party and now I’m sad because I didn’t get a balloon. So I think tomorrow for my birthday I’m going to get a balloon and a piece of chocolate cake. I’ll probably have to get one for my four year old too, because I don’t want to share.

  564. Thank you, and happy birthday to everyone! I’m still wired from a busy 9.5 hour Sunday workday, so I’m enjoying a brew or two and watching “Splitting Up Together” on Hulu. It’s a clever show, but not one that requires much concentration. Looking forward to having tomorrow and Tuesday off.

  565. Sit in the hot tub which is now the cool tub because it’s 100 fricking degrees out so we’ve filled it with hose water. We’re fancy like that.

  566. I drank right out of the gallon of milk because that makes me Fuckin’ happy.

  567. I am binging Marple for some reason, and every episode has Doctor Who actors in it, so it’s like doing that but not as good and more murder. I also gave my mom a Cuisinart food processor and ordered myself an Instant Pot. Not the sale one Amazon has today, the more expensive one. 🙄🤷🏻‍♀️ And I’ve hugged my rescue animals, and not dressed them up. Win-win.

  568. I’m going to buy fancy expensive yarn to knit that sweater I’ve been wanting to knit for ages, instead of crappy cheap yarn.

  569. I spent all day in bed watching funny YouTube videos. I am going to get coffee and snuggle my cats and not feel bad for accomplishig a single thing today

  570. We went to the Haight Ashbury Street Fair, hit the vintage clothing shops and bought vinyl records at Amoeba Records and then we somehow got lost getting back home and decided that stopping for a beer at small beer / bottle shop with a bar was a great idea.

    It was a great universal birthday. 😀

  571. You are psychic! It’s my bizarro birthday. Back when I was having a background check for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics the RCMP switched my birth day/month to month/day and I was told my birthday is June 10th. Works for me! Two birthdays a year are more fun than one. On October 6th and June 10th it’s party time.

  572. I made Cotten candy with my 9 year old son. We even have some to the neighbor kids. What a great birthday

  573. Today is literally my birthday (I’m thirty, yay!) and this was eerily timed and also awesome. I spent my day lounging around doing nothing in a pile of chores that will just have to wait until tomorrow.

  574. It is my birthday on the 14th! :). I am binge watched season 2 of the Crown on Netflix while snuggling my pups and eating boxed Mac n cheese cause I’m a big girl and I do what I want! 😁

  575. Happy birthday everyone! Today I spent working in a travel journal, playing with my dogs, and relaxing. Hope everyone else has had a stress free day!

  576. Happy birthday everyone! Today I spent working in a travel journal, playing with my dogs, and relaxing. Hope everyone else has had a stress free day!

  577. happy universal birthday. today was very weird for me. i went to a seminar to learn how to respond when people make anti-semitic remarks. that is a tough one for me. then i tried to get my 2nd dose of the shingrix vaccine, but apparently there is a shortage & EVERYONE is out. seriously? i think this is a ploy by the mfr. to make me wait so long, i will have to get the 1st does again…. then i used essential oils to rid myself of an impending migraine, napped for 1 hr & went to a visitation for a former co-worker & friend, whose adult son committed suicide. my heart breaks for people that have to go thru that. and a child of theirs, to boot…. my husband moved out a couple months ago for various reasons, but 1 of them was “you have too many health issues”. like i didn’t warn him of that 18 years ago. and still i have to think – i’m so lucky. my young son is still alive. now i am sorting thru essential oils to keep my depression from creeping in & taking me down the rabbit hole. and why is it called a rabbit hole? do rabbits get depressed? having so many babies, i’m thinking ‘no time to be depressed’! and my mind is off & running…. just before bed. great.

  578. I like to sew, making new clothes for my daughter or other people’s babies. I always think about how fun it would be to put your drawings on fabric to turn into dresses. For my birthday, I will make something fun and new!

  579. I went to the bookstore, took a nap and had some wine with dinner. 🙂

  580. I took a nap with my kitties and am now binge-watching Supernatural while knitting a hat for a close friend.

  581. It’s actually my birthday a week from tomorrow but I’m all for Universal Birthday Day. We could all use a little more reason to celebrate the small things, no? I actually did this today before I even knew it was Everyone’s Birthday: This morning I was out at the ballpark at 8am for my daughter’s softball tournament. It was hot and humid and gross and they played like the fierce little warriors that they are and they still lost and that’s okay. As I hiked up the hill from the field where we were playing to the bathrooms, I found myself with major deja vu and I stopped for a moment to just reflect. 20 years ago this summer, I started my first ever job at that very ballpark, working in the concession stands. Before and after shifts, I’d sit on the hill behind the building and watch the games on the fields below. This morning I stood on that very same hill and found gratitude. This is where I fell in love with softball, a game I never got to play but came to adore. This is where I found some of my best friends, many of whom I’m still close to today. This is where I met a person who became so much more than just a friend, someone who was smart about softball and about life, who became a mentor of sorts and helped me find my way to the other side during one of the darkest times in my life. He’s gone now and I miss him terribly, but I’ll always carry those moments in my heart. I stood there in the sunshine today and I was able to appreciate that not every day is a good day, but today was. And for today, that gratitude was enough. Find the beauty in the little things, guys. Sometimes it’s hard, but it’s always worth it.

  582. I went to my step moms and floated all day in the pool. And drank bubbly rosé all day. Thanks for the unexpected birthday Jenny!!! Happy Birthday to you too!!!! 😉

  583. Napped on and off all day and listened to guilty pleasure romance audiobooks

  584. Yesterday really WAS my birthday, and it freaked me right the fuck out to read the beginning of your post. I was feeling kind of bummed out, because it’s time for that musical question, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” But I’m going to stay in bed all day tomorrow and binge-watch both seasons of “Stranger Things” and eat Cherry Garcia and not feel a single moment of guilt about it!

  585. I wasn’t expecting it to be my birthday today since I usually celebrate it on July 3rd which will be my 25th birthday (again) so I did homework today. I just started college as an adult student. I’ll try to do something good for myself tomorrow.

  586. It really is my birthday, 63, and I Really needed someone to remember it… Thanks, I love ya.

  587. Today is my actual birthday and my 20th wedding anniversary. I spent the day at my daughters dance recital helping her thru every costume change, hair malfunction.. whatever was needed. My husband I had a lovely breakfast out at our local spot before the dance craziness ensued. The family I have made for myself over the years came to my house for a lovely dinner from our favorite Chinese joint. We laughed, told stories and celebrated being in each other’s company. The best part of today was when my dear friend )who has a very bad last feed years mentally) remembered to make me orangesicle fudge. It made my heart sing. I finally realized I am worth celebrating, my friends and my marriage accomplishments are worth celebrating and I am allowed to enjoy it.

  588. I’m going to get myself another feather pillow. I’d get myself a new mattress because the one I have sucks, but the one I want is VERY expensive (it’s the westin hotel mattress. Best. Sleep. Of. My. Life.). I miss having a bed that I can be a little bit in love with (some of y’all know what I mean, right?), but good feather pillows are amazing and can make up a little bit for having an otherwise crappy bed. I sleep for crap these days, so anything that makes a difference is worth it. Why haven’t I bought a bunch of these before now? Oh, right. Cuz I need to get a job first! (I’m hoping to have that locked down by my actual birthday–aug 31)

  590. It was my birthday exactly a week ago (and it didn’t go as planned at all) so I will totally take a birthday day! …… Does it count if the thing I’m going to do is something I do almost every day? I’ve been mildly-depressed lately and have been combating that by watching a ton of funny YouTube videos, specifically Goggle Translate Sings videos. (If anyone wants to see two hilarious people attempt the Whisper Challenge with translated sentences that make no sense, it’s freaking awesome! https://youtu.be/jeMWrFqpS9g )

  591. I baked 2 pans of brownies for my local Senior Center. I decided sharing my birthday goodies was way better than eating a pan of brownies all by my lonely self.

  592. Be here another day and keep getting older…one day, one week, one month, one birthday at a time.

  593. Lay in bad with my puppers, watch anime, and eat ice cream!

  594. Wow! Lots of birthday celebrations! I hung out with my family’s family and watched the Tony’s. It was great! Happy Birthday to all!

  595. I went to a friends house. She has struggled with depression stemming from 7 years of chronic pain. Today marked a year since her chronic pain spontaneously self-resolved and has (mostly) stayed away. So we had a fucking party, ate strawberry cupcakes , and celebrated each little moment she had enjoyed off her new freedom. ❤

  596. I’m gonna take my sleep medication early like a responsible human being instead of waiting until 2 am and ruining my tomorrow.

  597. I know you probably won’t see this but Thank you so much for this. I’ve been feeling bad because I’m trying to save money but I bought a perfume that I’ve wanted for two years but it’s $275 a bottle yes that’s right $275 a bottle but I found a new authentic bottle on eBay for only $65 and I couldn’t resist but I still feel bad however now I don’t have to because it’s my birthday. Thanks Jenny. Ps in case your wondering it’s Christian Louboutin Bikini Questa Sera. HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE

  598. It really is almost my birthday. Just 4 days away. How did you know? Next weekend, I am celebrating turning 45, and losing 80lbs, by going to an amusement park. Because I can totally fit in those stupid molded seats now.

  599. Where does one locate these True Crime Podcasts of which you speak (write, whatever)?

  600. Totally going to forgive myself for the thing that I didn’t think I’d really fucked up on but someone convinced me I had. So maybe not self-forgiveness but more like self-acceptance and a small (birthday) fuck you to the person I let get in my head. And peanut butter m&ms. Smccallmph@gmail.com

  602. Oh I wrote something before but I’m not sure if it posted itself correctly and now there are one bazillion comments and I feel bad for posting twice. So I’ll forgive my self for that. My birthday is in two weeks and this post made me happy on a hard day. Thank you.

  603. My birthday is on Friday, and after months of planning on taking a paid vacation day, it turns out I need to save it for when I’ll actually need it later in the year. Because it has been a shittastic few weeks chock full of anxiety and panic and general worry, I might take the day off anyways. Because SELF-CARE. And I will buy all the hand-dyed yarn on Etsy and spend the day knitting and napping and drinking iced coffee.

  604. This year I am 50. Last year I decided to make the jump from Art Lover to Art Maker. I am teaching myself watercolor. I have a chronic degenerative nerve disorder called CRPS/ RSD since 2004. Art makes me ridiculously fucking happy so I decided to see if playing with paint would do the same. It does and more. My anxiety is lower. My depression is almost in remission. I can walk away whenever I need to and not feel like I’m wasting precious supplies. And if I have a flare up I lie in bed binge watching and taking notes from generous Art YouTubers. Which has lowered how long the flare ups happen because I am so zen’d out and excited while focusing on learning than focusing in on how much pain I’m in. Artist grade watercolor brushes are pricey.

    laurelw@pobox.com

  605. Actually my birthday is a week from Tuesday (really). I’d love to go on a spa day; I’ve hinted it God knows how many times to my husband and twins, but they never seem to remember. Since this family is busy climbing out of the hole three years of unemployment can make, I doubt I’ll be able to afford it this year. But I would like a cake that I don’t bake myself. I make everyone else a cake, but rarely get one myself anymore. So, yeah: a cake. With fudgy icing and pretty flowers. Or tiramisu (yum!) I’m not picky.

  606. For my universal birthday party my husband and I got a load of “poopy dirt” (compost) for our garden beds and played outside for 8 total hours. At hour 4 we went to help my mom clean up at the relay for life, she runs the silent auctions, then my dog started getting sick. Which was awesome (not!) and then threw up 9 times, she apparently doesn’t like the antibiotics she’s on. Can we have one more chance at a universal birthday??

  607. Happy Universal Birthday! I have been procrastinating on sewing a skirt that I bought EVERYTHING for back in February. I’ve been scared of messing it up, because it’s gorgeous embroidered ivory rayon and very…shifty. Plus invisible zippers are still intimidating. Well today I finally started stitching because I re-realized it’s better to make the attempt, succeed or fail, and learn from the outcome. Plus I’ll never enjoy the fabric if it’s hidden in my stash. And it felt so good to START!

  608. I’m in Paris for the first time and I’m going to skip seeing the churches and museums to go to the catacombs and stare at skulls up close! …..and then that came out more deranged and Dahmer-y than I intended. The point is, catacombs are cool and scary and like a real life haunted house so since Hereditary isn’t showing in Paris yet I’m going to get my horror kicks in another way!

  609. I’m going to give a lovely person her front tooth to smile with, because I’m a dentist and it’s her birthday also. In giving her the tooth she needs to make her feel better about herself after an accident she had I get the feel good feeling for my birthday gift.

  611. I’m a day late for the party, but I spent the actual Universal Birthday at a BBQ to celebrate someone else’s birthday. I will spend my ‘I’m a day late’ birthday pottering around my garden. Might even get washed and dressed first 😉

  613. I love this idea. Every day should be a celebration! We need more free things and less buy things though because some of us are poor.

  614. I went for a hike for my birthday. It’s not a family hike without thunder and the littlest screaming in panic that we are all going to die. But the dog had fun.

    Happy birthday, world! Now, it’s time to put on my birthday suit and go to work!

  615. I received the deluxe edition of Neil Gaiman’s “Death” comic miniseries and a sleeping bag. Thanks, Jenny 🙂

  617. I’m going to browse secondhand books and paint my toenails with sparkles.

  618. I’d like to give my birthday gift away to my good friend, who recently lost their pupper. That’s all. <3

  619. It actually IS my birthday today! And part of me weekend celebration included reading aloud the story of Beyoncé the giant metal chicken, to my girlfriends as we drove home from a spa day. I feel like I have a personal birthday message from you! Thanks for remembering!

  621. Well that was wild – you are psychic! My 70th birthday was June 8th, but on the 10th, I had a birthday party – decided to throw one rather than feeling sorry for myself because nobody had given me a b-day party since my high school boyfriend (Gene Salvatore) had a surprise 16th birthday party for me in 1964. And this was so much better than whining, I think I may do this again in 2028!

  622. I’m going to try to find my cat behind the crates in my closet, cuddle him, get an ice cream and read one of the many books I want to read right now. Or probably I’ll read 20 pages in 5 books because I’m very indecisive right now.

  623. A very merry un-birthday to all! Today (even though I’m a day late to this post), I’m going old-school Doctor Who. Tonight, at various theatres across the country (put on by Fathom Events), Genesis of the Daleks (Tom Baker’s fourth episode) will be showing as the director’s cut followed by a recent interview with Baker. I’m going with my mom (whom I have to thank for most of my geekiness/nerdiness)!

  625. Wow, I want to do all of those! What a great birthday that would be 😉 But maybe I’ll settle for reading a book while baby naps in stead of being productive around the house. I only have 50 pages left!

  626. I’m going to get myself Starbucks and I’m going to get soy milk in it! I may buy the coffee of the person behind me in line because it’s THIER BIRTHDAY TOO!

  627. I didn’t get to tell you what I was doing for my birthday because I was doing it. For my birthday, me and my cat Keanu spent the very early morning in the yard, sipping coffee with Amaretto and deadheading and watering my flowers. He was chasing butterflys. Happy Birthday to us!! I hope you enjoyed yours as much as I enjoyed mine.

  628. Happy Birthday! I will be taking a van full of kids to the zoo because that’s where they keep the giraffes.

  631. I’m going to slap a piece of duct tape over my babbling husband’s mouth, watch “7 Seconds” on Netflix, and eat macaroni and cheese till I have to lay down. ❤️😊

  632. I’m a day late because yesterday was a depression day (rare these days, I mostly have anxiety) but I celebrated by calling my mom who reminded me who I am and have always been (I’m 47 btw) and then I watched Big Bang Theory until I started laughing. And ate a salad to redeem for the bag of chips I’d had earlier and also OJ with banana vodka b/c – well, fruit.

  633. For this very merry unbirthday? I have a 10hr shift on what is typically our busiest day. Can I call a mulligan for Thursday?

  634. I spent the day cutting hedgehog quills out of fabric for a quilt I’m making. 120 big quills for the quilt, and 120 little quills for the matching throw pillow. The floor is covered with scraps and my hands are sore. But it was soooooo worth it.

  635. I am going to not beat up on myself for mistakes, focus on why I am awesome and let Frankie B and Benny (cats) get into my closet and kick everything out of the drawer so they can burrow.

  636. I just had a scary result from my Cologuard test. While I worry about what happens next, I’m going to sip an iced coffee and treat myself to a new pair of shoes for my unbirthday!

  637. You’re amazing- I love this blog. I’m a librarian working with my local no-kill shelter on a program where kids read to the animals. It’s the next best thing to having a library cat of my own.

  639. Aww man, I didn’t check my email yesterday and missed my own universal birthday….

  640. Today (Monday) is actually my birthday, but I’m not in a celebrating mood. I’m rather in a “be a turtle and curl up under the covers because I don’t want to deal with people” kind of mood – BUT – I have to be at work Instead, so I’m a turtle inside my head. 🐢

  641. Happy Belated Birthday everyone! (What can I say, I’m always late, but this way, you can extend your birthdays and have more cake!) I’m going to read a sad book, cry ugly tears, and sleep.)

  642. I’m going to visit with my parents who just came home from camping, and give my daughter unlimited mommy time. Which can’t happen all the time, but CAN happen today!

  643. I’m going to bake some bread and binge watch some TV (best combo ever).

  644. Even though I got a bit tender the other day, I’m heading back for a tanning session. I get 3 more free sessions, courtesy of my daughter. BONUS. And then I’m going to find myself a box of pizza logs for my new adventure with paranormal podcasts. I love horror, btw. And finally, Happy Birthday to all!

  646. Snuggling with my 10 year old son who is home sick and watching tv. Best birthday present ever since he hardly wants hugs from mom any more!

  647. My sister and I have birthdays 2 weeks apart. Every year we pick a restaurant we have never been to and then go. Most times it is “Cut to the Chase” meal – appetizers and dessert. Then we give the Maine Coons catnip to watch them get derpy.

  648. I’m going to jog with my dog then cuddle on the couch with my other dog that’s blind and deaf while reading my book.

  649. Today I will rearrange my bookshelves in order to make room for more. I will also spend a not insignificant amount of time browsing Amazon and dreaming about what books I will add to my collection once I finally get hired for the school year (recently graduated new teacher still looking for my first job).

  650. I’m going to jog with my dog, then cuddle on the couch with my other dog that’s blind and deaf and read.

  651. I’m going to put sangria in my travel mug and drink it at work! And then snuggle my cats when I get home.

  652. I won my state outdoor archery tournament for my universal birthday…… And now just want to sleep… can I have another birthday?

  653. I’m supposed to be packing the house to move in 3 days, but I am passing a kidney stone, sooooo instead I’m going to lay in bed and watch Harry Potter

  654. Thank you, Jenny! Reading these posts about what everyone is doing for their unbirthday makes me feel less alone (something I have been struggling with most days). There are other people who love to alternate between reading and coloring in a blanket-made cocoon while cuddling pets and fighting desperately to quiet an anxiety-riddled brain?!? Can we please be friends?

    Happy Unbirthday to you all! 🙂

  656. OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH! I am constantly dreaming of receiving free stuff! I will trade you 48.7 kittens for free stuff!!!

    (I’m realizing now that if I bribe you for free stuff, it’s a trade and therefore not “free”. I am a living contradiction. Forgive me, mother.)

  658. The weird thing is, it IS my birthday so I think you are right about being psychic. I’ve suspected it for a while. I’m going to take a walk in the woods with my dogs. My favorite thing to do! Happy birthday to everyone else too! <3

  659. My house if full of people because my youngest graduated high school. I’m going to hide from all of them. I’ve been nice for three days and now if I don’t get some alone time I’m going to turn into a screaming ball of nastieness. So I’m going to be sneaky and hide in my room.

    Not very hostess like, but necessary anyway.

  661. After throwing my daughter’s graduation party over the weekend I have secluded myself in a introvert recharge haven of books, snacks, social media (minus the interacting) and general curmudgeon-y awesomeness interrupted by the occasional teenager asking for permission to leave the house. Ummm yes. Please do that. After you bring mum a glass of wine.

  662. Spent the day binging both For My Next Guest with David Letterman and the all of S2 of Santa Clarita Diet. Viva la Emmy voting! (Then I read book 8 in a series).

  663. After my son goes to sleep, I’m going to watch New Girl and eat some ice cream, rather than running around the house to do chores in my brief spot of free time. There will also be dog cuddles.

  664. I’m gonna buy myself one of those awesome wheeled suitcases with 4 wheels that just roll effortlessly through airports! I just got back from an amazing week long trip to Cancun and after struggling with my gimpy two wheeled rolling suitcase that barely fit my stuff and schlepping a non wheeled carry-on that was awkward at best and downright painful at worst through the airports, I almost bought new luggage in the airport on my return trip!! The expense of that would have been tragic so I managed to calm down and can now shop around to find something that will make my next trip way easier!!

  665. I didn’t know it was my birthday but I spent it watching once upon a time for hours and drinking coffee. 🙂 Happy Belated Birthday!

  666. I must have known yesterday was Universal Birthday Day because I let myself take a break from work and watched some funny youtubers play video games all day instead. Doesn’t sound like much but it was a welcome break from my overstressed brain 😖

    Happy belated birthday everyone!

  667. I’m going to drink some Sparkling Apple Cider, play with my pets until my person gets home from work and then play computer games with him before making tasty foods for dinner! ^_^

  668. Thank you for this. Just yesterday I was told that I am not taking care of myself and this little reminder to be kind to myself, too, is the smack upside the head I needed. Today I am going to let go of the hurtful comment from a stranger telling me I look like my son’s grandmother and I’m going to pick some flowers from my garden and bring them inside to remind me that beauty is everywhere in everything and everyone.

  669. I’m going to take a hot bath under the close supervision of my cat Harry, who enjoys getting his tail wet and nice smelling from the bubbles I use.

  670. It was my birthday on Friday 🙂 I caught 13 whiting surf fishing with my parents. Really enjoyed it! Best birthday in a long time!

  671. board games!!! i am going to play as many as i can convince others to play with me and then play some more in solo mode!

  672. I sent flowers to my friend who recently miscarried. Birthdays aren’t always happy, but we can do our small part to make them brighter for each other, even in the darkest of times. Wishing great joy to everyone out there.

  673. Funny enough Friday was my birthday, and thank you I needed this over the weekend,

  674. And Happy Birthday to you too! Hoping you had great birthday with all your wonderful plans and a bit of something sweet on the side and some wild joyful abandon. We should all celebrate life like a kitten in a basket of yarn balls every now and then. Thanks for the reminder to put aside some time and to treat ourselves to a slice of happiness. (Mine looked like cake!) Even better when loved ones get included in the celebration. (Confession: I didn’t share, or even tell, and I feel just fine about that too!)

  676. Once insomnia leaves me be I’m treating myself to Starbucks then snuggling with my dogs to rewatch the Sense8 finale. It is beautiful and sweet and sad and every emotion ever. I can’t wait to feel it all over again.

    Nina Potts

  677. Weekend softball tournament with my son and celebrated my dads birthday yesterday as well. Ice cream sandwiches =)

  678. This day….has been kind of awful. I think I’ll make sure I write in my blog today and maybe go for a run. I’m one of those people who finds running to be relaxing…

  679. I am going to relax with my husband and my dogs because yesterday I turned in my last final for my bachelors degree. I graduate this weekend! Ahhhh!

  680. I’m going to finally use the massage voucher I was given at Christmas because I am super stressed as it seems I’m going to be redunded! Yay.

    I like birthdays.

  681. You better believe I spent most of the day binge watching Doctor Who (4th Doctor) and snuggling with my pups. Best. Birthday. EVER!

  682. My birthday is the same day as my husband’s birthday (well, I guess everyone can say that now. What, with universal birthday and all). It also happens to be our wedding anniversary. We make a point of getting to/on the ocean and we enjoy the hell out of our day! If we get to celebrate an extra day, we’d spend it in our pool, floating and hanging out at our “swim up bar” (a cooler on the pool apron), listening to music and trying to get our mini schnauzer to enjoy the water.

    Happy birthday everybody!!!

  683. I just had my birthday so I’m going to continue celebrating it by reading some good books and adult coloring/journaling/doodling!

  684. Jenny, I know you truly do suffer with your general “mental disability “ but I just can’t see how it is possible for someone so kind and funny and quirky who ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE to be anything less than a tub of bubble bath – soothing, giggling and bursting all the time. For MY BIRTHDAY (which is coming up) all I want is this book to go with The Game of Thrones book series (cuz I think it’s more fun to read than to watch) but this book is supposed to guide you and help you keep all the names and places straight in the books – I want the physical book, not the kindle version so I can make notes in it. I had it on my wish for your National Book Day and no one got it for me cuz it’s about $30 so I understand, but the real bummer is my husband doesn’t believe in giving gifts for ANY holiday/reason because his love should be enough 🙄😏🤦🏼‍♀️ And everything else is “commercialism.” And if your spouse doesn’t give you a gift for your 44th birthday, no one else will either, trust me! So sooner or later I’ll splurge, but maybe, just maybe, the gift faeries will bring it to me cuz their super sweet and cuddly and giggle when you touch their belly (I think they have a recessive DoughBoy gene) but I hope they’ll do it this year. They always bring me cake with good sugary buttercream frosting (I mean, I have to go to the store for it cuz they don’t like crowds any more than you), but they make THAT happen) so maybe this year I will get my book too! It’s still on a wish list on Amazon under “Most Wanted Item.”
    Truly – THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME SMILE EVERY TIME I SEE YOUR POST IN MY INBOX! I save them for MY rough days cuz you never cease to make me smile! I think I love you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL!

  685. Today I’m having Buyer’s Remorse and will return the Versa this evening. Really trying to not beat myself up for having bought it in the first place, when I could use the money to pay towards the vet bill.

  688. You only missed my birthday by a week, so you’re darn tootin’ I’m gonna keep celebrating ALL MONTH LONG! I did, in fact, walk in a parade, with people and animals in costume yesterday! How did you KNOW?

    If you decide to email ME a gift certificate, I’d love to buy more bulky yarns at Jo-Ann Fabrics (please not Michael’s or Hobby Lobby – they both have WAAAAAYYYY too much smelly stuff in there, and I’m “scent-sitive”). I mean, one of these days, I’ll be buying more bulky yarns for crochet projects at Jo-Ann anyway, but a gift cert would be awesome!

  689. Like lots of others, I missed this yesterday, so can I suggest another rule of Universal Birthday Day: Whatever day you read this on is your birthday.

    Time for me to go and have Birthday cake, which will be even better than the ordinary cake it was ten minutes ago.

  690. (In my best Frosty the Snowman voice) “Happy Birthday!!!” I think that since I missed my birthday yesterday, I am going to go read my book after work, in my comfy chair, instead of digging up tree roots. YAY!!!

  691. Been a while. But I am going to go to bed. Right meow. This is my gift to my full time job having mother of three self. That was not a complaint.

  694. I’m going to continue taking photos of my cats and posting them on Facebook because that is my contribution to making the world a better place today. My birthday was a week ago but I’m still celebrating because the world is rough lately and celebration is my only helpful response. Also I’m going to eat 100% of the expensive Portlandian chocolate bar I bought this morning, because that makes my world a better place too except for the sugar rush and crash which I think might already be happening but even that is ok with me, it’s pretty much the only rollercoaster I don’t fear. Thanks for the birthday wishes, Jenny! Happy birthday to you, too!

  695. It is my birthday today!! I made the dinner I want. I got the ice cream I want. So I don’t have to be disappointed

  696. It’s winter over here, so I’ll probably climb into bed extremely early, turn the heater on, and watch tv and eat chocolate, cause I’m worth it <3

  698. I am going to finish listening to Furiously Happy on Audible because it makes me furiously fucking happy to know that I am not alone in this war zone known as my head.

  699. My birthday is next week, so you’re close. 🙂 I’m looking forward to sleeping in, and hopefully enjoying a big piece of lemon cake and a long bath. Hope you’re doing plenty for yourself, too!

  700. I’m going to drop off some donations for the local mental health/community services agency that my wife and I picked up over the weekend (for our 6th anniversary, we decided to do random acts of kindness). After that, I’m getting Thai food from my favorite restaurant and spending the rest of the evening on the couch!

  701. I’m going to skip doing dishes when I get home from work and spend that extra time with my hubby and kids instead. Because I’m giving myself permission to let the damn dishes sit for one night, they’ll still be there in the morning.

  702. That’s one day after my actual birthday, and I spent it doing something daring for me – learning to ride a scooter! 🛵

  703. On or around my birthday I go to the bakery and have a slice of doberge cake. I’m alone now so I don’t get the whole cake anymore. Love your work.

  705. My birthday is tomorrow. I’m going to go to the pool and take a nap. Or not leave the house and take a nap. We’ll see what happens 🙂

  706. I am caring for my cancer ridden mom in Texas but as soon as I can I will get a Starbucks and not feel guilty about the cost. Happy birthday y’all.

  707. I’m going to stay here in bed reading your blog and everybody’s fabulous comments. I’m turning 29 today which I have only done once before. We had a bit of a cold snap so my blankies feeling pretty good. Thank you for the birthday today!

  709. Book, bath and a glass of wine…. scented candles and a fizzy bath bomb! And Irish cream in my coffee all day…

  710. Yay! Universal birthday means I can give my husband his birthday gift of super fancy scotch early cause it is his birthday today!! Love it! And I gifted myself more skincare (I did say I wouldn’t buy more for a bit…I lied). I have a voucher and Paula’s Choice has a great sale. What else could I do??? Happy Birthday Everyone!!!!

  712. I’m going to use this Birthday to get ready for my nieces birth! My sister had her show today, meaning Elena James Harris should be here within the next few days. I’m so excited!!!! So, I’ll be cleaning and making a stop at a store to get her a welcome to the world gift!

  713. Im going on a hike to feel the earth under my feet and to restore my soul. Also plan to start a new book today and get back to making crafts. Trying to find my happy place!

    Happy Life Day Y’all !

  714. I’m gonna go to the movies all by myself and eat a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner.

  715. Happy birthday, people! I’m going to take a hot bath and read because why not?

  716. I’m going out to dinner with my bestest friends, on a school night for the kids and I’m not going to feel bad about one. little. bit. I also refuse to feel guilty about spending money that I should be saving on a well-deserved margarita (or 3). It is my birthday after all 🙂

  717. My birthday is (was?) too damn close to Christmas anyway. I’m going to make chocolate chip cookies and then eat AS MANY AS I WANT!!! Cookie Monster-style. NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM!!!! 🙂 Super idea. I’m going to enjoy it!

  718. I’m gonna subtract 10, because I don’t feel 50..and drink some chocolate milk! Happy Birthday everyone!

  719. I will give myself a hug, because I don’t allow other to touch me!

  720. I’m going to cuddle with my 14-year-old dachshund on the couch & watch E3 (nerdy video game conference) with my hubby this evening! I just have to make it through 2 more hours of work!

  721. Woo hoo! I’m going to go home, eat egg-on-toast, and keep on plugging away at my sci-fi novel. It’s actually much more fun than it sounds. I love egg-on-toast and I love writing!

  722. Well since I’m currently laid up with an inflamed tendon in my leg which happened as I was trying to get comfy in bed (true story), I will be laying here on my ice pack buried under cats with a book and maybe a movie. Even if I wasn’t old and falling apart, this would be my birthday celebration of choice anyway.

  724. I am going to cross stitch while binge watching Longmire, eat rainbow cake with my 5-yr old and run around the yard pretending to be unicorns. Then get in bed and snuggle with my 4 latest rescue dogs (the other 7 are welcome too) and maybe a cat or 5. I will fall asleep holding my daughter’s (or dog’s) hand (or paw) and wake up as an almost 50-yr old.

  725. Oh my goodness! Happy Birthday y’all! This morning I ate pie for breakfast! Yay me! Now I am on the couch with my kitty watching old movies! Thanks Jenny!

  726. June 10 really IS my birthday. Like, really really. And I celebrated and loved every minute. But since I read this on the 11th, today is my birthday too(!) and now I want to ice cream cake because you said ice cream cake and that’s what happens. Thank you for the inspiration to celebrate again – when I get home I’m snuggling my fur babies and eating cake 🙂

  727. I’m going to read a book that was not intedended for a 5-6 year old audience. In the bath! WIth a glass of wine!

  728. What an awesome idea Jenny, thank you! It is my birthday and nothing would make me happier than to be able to get some books I’ve been wanting but just can’t afford. Happy universal birthday everyone!

  729. What an awesome idea Jenny, thank you! It is my birthday and nothing would make me happier than to be able to get some books I’ve been wanting but just can’t afford. Happy universal birthday everyone!

  730. I am going to a PTA meeting! But I will treat myself to a Panera cookie or muffin before the meeting, and maybe bring some for everyone to pay it forward.

  731. Probably the weirdest thing on here…I’m going to go into my bathroom (great acoustics) and sing. I’ve put it off but you talked me into it – a gift to me. I’ve been working to create recordings of me singing “our songs” for my husband and I’m intimidated by the process, so I’m going to record me on my phone and send it to someone who has never heard me sing (another intimidating process) but he has the recording studio and is a good friend who’s offered to help, so at least I know he’ll be kind. The recording will be a gift for our 25 years of marriage, but the process is all for me and facing quite a few fears. Wish me luck.

  732. Oh my gosh, it actually WAS my birthday yesterday! How did you know this?? It was my 40th. I sat on a beach next to the best husband ever and read a magazine after a refreshing swim while watching my kiddos enjoying their first beach day of the season. It was pretty damn great.

  733. This is actually my best friend’s birthday! I’ve bought them Furiously Happy a little while ago, and I’ve been pressuring them to read it ever since.
    They’ve been having a pretty hard time lately, what with depression and various medical conditions that I won’t go into here.
    I’ve found Furiously Happy (and cats [and playing piano]) to be the best ways to show myself that everything that happens to me and everyone is worth it, and I think they will really love your work.
    Happy birthday everyone!

  734. This brings back happy memories of the second job I had out of high school. It was a small town grocer where all the employees were friends. We’d out to various restaurants once or twice a month, and one of the deli ladies was a polio survivor who was a sweet, little hunched back with no driver’s license. Every time we went to a certain Mexican chain, it was ALWAYS her birthday. The laughs we had over it were better than the free fried ice cream!

  735. I’ll remind myself all day long that I’m not one year older. 👵🏻

  736. Thank you for being a light in SOOO many people’s lives. My birthday (49) was mid-May. I’m usually way too busy (end of school year, elementary teacher) to celebrate, much less acknowledge, it. This year I forced myself to (with help from a grade change). Didn’t see your post yesterday…didn’t do much. Today: gather some yummy smelling foam soaps (BIG SALE!) for the classroom from Bath & Body Works, visit the library, pick up milk and TP, head out to watch DS play baseball (with a book for between innings and pitchers)–hoping to finish my 3rd book of the summer! I hope you have a beautiful day!

  737. I started my day by picking strawberries! Now I’m gonna go eat then with whipped cream while I read an awesome book. Happy birthday to us all!

  739. I’m just over here hopin for a gift card… 😛 I also spent time with the family yesterday and hung out with my pup! Yay for doggie cuddles!

  740. I’m going to forgive myself for being in a bad mood. And read The Bloggess posts while at work!

  741. I’m going to take a nap with my doggies and read a Neil Gaiman book (again) because it’s my birthday and I’ll laze if I want to! 😉

  742. I love the idea of Universal Birthday Day! I’m going to take myself to see Ocean’s 8 after I read a book in the bath. 🙂 Thank you for this reminder to treat myself well!

  743. I’m going to listen to Your Favorite Murder on the train ride home from work.

  744. I was sick and sore so my dog and I curled up on the lazy boy and spent all day napping and watching the Originals. It was great

  745. I’m going to go home and make nachos and eat them while I binge-watch the BBC show ‘Escape to the Country’ on Netflix, which is like House Hunters, except they rarely actually choose a house but you can’t get mad because they are so lovely and British.

  746. I got married yesterday and 50 people in and out in the Texas heat broke my air conditioner (thankfully not until mostly everyone had left).
    So today, I am spending the day with the HVAC guys coming and going as they try to fix it.

    Which means once they are done (and hopefully the house is cool again) I am going to leave all the rest of the cleanup that still needs done, and guilt free sit down with ice cream and Netflix and find the dumbest goofy show I can and binge watch it until I fall asleep.
    I predict I will make it two episodes or less.

  747. I am going to watch evil genius on netflix and cuddle my dog in my blankets. Probably bake some chocolate chip cookies and donate some money to charity, because its everyone’s birthday right??!!!

  748. Thanks!!
    I got a new purse, since Universal Birthday aligned with that half price sale at Coach.
    Super cute for summer, and I feel great about it!

  750. I’m gonna try to take care of myself because still recovering from having a tooth pulled, and that care looks like canceling plans/not making any and staying home for some light cleaning and heavy reading. Maybe a bath? That might be too much effort. I’m not sure how much work the tub would need to be clean enough for that…. And also cook something nice I’m not sure yet what with either the mushrooms or the cauliflower OR BOTH I DO WHAT I WANT AND THEY BOTH ALSO NEED USING UP and the bacon in my fridge.

  753. Thanks Jenny, I enjoyed my unbirthday birthday by having all sorts of yummy food that I usually steer clear of because of my diabetes (I was moderate about amounts, but it still felt good to be so naughty). The queen (UK) just celebrated her 66th official birthday at the weekend, I don’t remember when her other birthday is or how old she really is, but if she gets 2 birthdays when everyday is like a big party, then I think we all deserve at least one extra.

  754. Going to have a dear friend over, go out for sushi, come home, drink wine, and put on a face mask while we watch whatever we can find on Neltflix/Hulu/Vudu/Whatever. Happy Birthday!

  755. Actually, my birthday is Saturday! Know what I’ll being doing? Sitting at my daughter’s horse show for 10-12 hours, just like I’ve done for the past three birthdays. It’s OK, though, because riding is her favorite thing in the world, and that makes me happy. And then, whenever the show wraps up, we’ll go out to dinner somewhere, all sweaty and disgusting, and go back the next morning at 7 a.m. for more horse show fun! 🙂

  756. Oh man! I missed my birthday!?! Always a day late. lol. But yesterday I worked until 10pm and will be working tonight as late as it takes to get my work done. I’m on a deadline and it has to go to print on Tuesday morning. Sigh. I’ll do something fun Tuesday! I am going to see my grandson for a bit while my daughter gets her hair did. So that’s always super fun!

  758. Read my library book that’s due this week and then catch up on Westworld and binge current season of Kimmy Schmidt I gave up television for New Years. I’m only allowing myself to watch for two months out of the Year. June is my first month since December

  760. I would love an Amazon gift so I can finally see Black Panther!! I was supposed to go with my family for my 40th but I couldn’t because of annoying health stuff!!

  761. I’m going to take a nice hot bubble bath and snuggle with my bunny. ( not at the same time though, bunnies can’t get wet)

  762. I sat for an hour leafing through all the fashion magazines in the bookstore picking out an imaginary new wardrobe whilst sipping a big ass frothy latte. It was a total zone out after a very hectic work day.

  763. I am going to play Jurassic world noble with my boyfriend and cuddle my cat. I want to read but I don’t have a good book to read. Thanks for the happiness and happy birthday

  764. I’m going to finally buy Mister Super Clear off Amazon so I can start customizing dolls like all the people I like on the internet but have been too afraid to try.

  765. On the 10th of every month I do a gut check bc that’s my #. Born on the 10th. This month is big bc I’m 65.5 now. That’s huge. Lots o ‘ years under my belt. Very aware this yr bc Dad died in March @ age 95. Lots o’ years with him. Grateful for that. So 65.5 officially on a 10th. Bittersweet this year. Thanks for remembering my birthday.

  766. Happy birthday everyone! I will be spending the next lot of time looking at that twitter feed!

  767. Take a bath by candlelight while drinking wine, dance alone to loud music, then curl up with my dog. Perfection.

  768. I’m going to go to Universal Studios and ride roller coasters with my kids!

  769. I bought floor tiles and made plans to redo my gross powder room! Yay!

  770. I lounged on the Catio with my Hippo, Marmot,Guinea Hen and Otter, (clearly our family is mad as we name all our animals after other animals..) while sipping lemon water and reading (an honest to god book not a device) mid-day without guilt! Taking breaks to adjust the sheet draped over the enclosure for optimal shade, because I live on Satans Ball Sack! AKA Vegas.

  771. My birthday was last week and my twins turn one next week! I had a stressful day so I’m celebrating my universal birthday with british reality tv and berries and cream with some light internet browsing and then an early bedtime.

  772. This year I’m going to bake my favorite chocolate cake. It has dates in the cake and a sugar-chocolate chip-walnut topping. I love it and will enjoy it even though nobody else in my family will eat it. 😀

  773. I’m gonna eat a crapton of expensive Rainier cherries and play Raft, my latest Steam game addiction.

    I was gonna do that anyway but now that it’s my birthday I guess I’ll jab one of the pits out of the cherries and stick a candle in there instead.

  774. I’m going to try one of those reflexology places for a massage and read a book from the library.

  776. I’m going to make panic attacks quit robbing me of stage fight and start playing the piano and bass in public again…………after 30 years!

  777. The weird thing is that I got a “happy birthday” from a business today. So it must be true! Jenny, you really are psychic, and I’d apologize for doubting you if I ever had. Happy Birthday everyone!

  778. I’m going to eat chicken dumplings from Not Your Average Joes for dinner (so good but normally try to eat at home during the week because poor), change the sheets & then read until I fall asleep. Three of my favorite things all rolled up into one night. A very merry unbirthday to me!!! (& all of you too)

  779. well, i am reading this late, but I am going to celebrate this tomorrow by spending the day sewing new clothes for myself.

  780. Eat as much chunky monkey icecream as I want and stare at the trees and birds in my yard while doing absolutely nothing else.

  781. I am going to attempt to cement my false tooth back on to my retainer because it broke while I was teaching last week. I’ve been really nervous about making it worse, but I am so tired of covering my mouth when I talk or working really hard to keep my upper lip from creeping up and revealing my hill-billy mouth. Then I will snuggle both my dog and cat and watch bravo.

  782. Happy Birthday! I ate half of a large Lake Champlain chocolate bar and drank half a bottle of wine, because it’s my birthday – the Bloggess said so.

  783. Actually,my birthday is in 2 days so that pretty damn good guessing on your part!

  784. Reading this a day late, but it’s my actual birthday. Ate all the cake I could hold. Gluten be damned.

  787. Okay you freaked me out for about 30 seconds with your psychic abilities. My b-day is Tuesday! I’m spending with cousins and card playing. Thank you for the birthday wishes.

  788. I didn’t see this until the end of a long Monday, but I did a lot of these things anyway. Worked on my blog, got caught up on my work, wrote on my novel, napped with my best cat friend in the sun. Happy Universal Birthday to Everyone!

  789. My official birthday is in January. I plan to spend my 60th watching the whales frolic off the coast of Maui. Today on my unbirthday I filled out my 23&me questions and spit in a tube. Happy Unbirthday!

  790. I have a ton of unread books on my kindle. I’m picking light, humorous bubble gum fare and finishing it before tomorrow night, Delightful decadence!

  791. I am just going to crochet for a while and not pack boxes, We are moving soon

  792. Happy birthday!
    I got food today, couldn’t find anything fun at the store, but have a few things in my Amazon cart….backpack for a vacation I hope to take, 100 colored pencils, no, 59 colors are not enough (when I heard there was a package of 100!) A lovely new book by a fantastic author I just met recently and I can use my colored pencils! Hey, that’s You! So, Mr Amazon. May be hearing from me this week. Yum, cake! I once said I’d marry again just for the cake!!! No, but really. I like to take a cake mix and up it to a richer mix. Yum…
    Make a wish and blow out the candles.
    Deb Green.

  794. Name your top 2 colors for your kitchen. I would like to knit you some killer hot pads, dish clothes…..

  795. Amazing! Thank you for thinking of me. I am home sick from work today. It’s raining so I am sitting on the couch with my parrot and endless cups of tea while binge-watching Doctor Who.

  796. I’m going to play a D&D Cleric and maybe I’ll even heal one or two of them with my special special limited spell slots.

    Happy Birthday! (I don’t actually need anything but I wanted to leave a comment. If my comment wins, say it’s from both of us 🙂

  797. Sunday I attended the ‘Celebration of Life’ aka funeral for my mother. I found her dead the day before Mother’s Day. It’s been a heck of a spring this year. I also stitched on some sock puppet aliens for a childrens play. On the way home from the funeral I treated myself to McDonalds french fries. I eat my emotions.
    A very merry UnBirthday to you!! 🙂

  798. I have tried to implement this before. Since it’s late when I read this I will use my do something for you card after I wake up. I think it will be raspberry sorbet and possibly a pineapple themed comforter cover… So tropical; the opposite of my usual February birthday. 🍍

  799. i took myself out to my favorite thai restaurant and had a super yummy meal. i very rarely treat myself. thanks for the permission and super happy birthday!

  800. took our newly adopted cats for their first walk in the garden! and they even climbed the trees, and seemed to love it!

  801. There may have been some binge-watching of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 10 … with my niece. Who is 23, so it’s not like I’m corrupting her … she’s already done that for herself. Do yourself a favor. Wait until your daughter is older and watch it with her. Or wait until she’s in bed and watch by yourself, because nothing will make you laugh any harder, and this show reminds me of how lucky I am to have had my own version of fucked up childhood because it was almost normal so I only have a few issues lingering from that period of my life. But mostly I am just fascinated by the process these people go through to get up on that stage when I won’t even drag a comb through my hair before running to the convenience store.

  802. Happy birthday, everyone!!! Today I’m aging 15 years because SURELY people have their stuff figured out by 54. And I’m going to treat myself to that special splurge I’ve been wanting — getting my 14-year-old cat detailed. She still runs beautifully, but she’s been needing a spa day for a few years now. Thank you for giving me permission to be generous with myself! Big (gentle) hugs!

  803. I’m going to allow myself wallow for the sad things I’ve tried to be so tough for in the last few weeks.

    Probably this means there will be ice cream involved. But if it just involves video games, Twitter, and lethargy, that’s allowed too.

  804. My happy place–watching my youtube video of my daughter dancing in the Waltz of the Flowers in last year’s Nutcracker. Love that kid, even if she’s also a tiny bit broken!

  805. I’m going to work, and then to a summer school class and I’ll be done with my actual birthday (June 12), and off to bed.

  806. For my birthday, I’m going to get lash extensions! Totally frivolous, but I’ve wanted to try them for ages!

  809. I’m going illustrate fortune cookie fortunes on toilet paper cardboard rolls.

  810. I’m going illustrate fortune cookie fortunes on toilet paper cardboard rolls.

  811. I’m going to illustrate fortune cookie fortunes on cardboard toilet paper rolls.

  812. I really wish I’d seen it earlier, I had nothing planned and am doing my exams so I gave myself a break and watched an episode of Friends. Also I’m glad you chose Universal Birthday Day to be 8 days before my actual birthday. You gave me two birthdays in one week and there is no celebrating my actual birthday as it is 3 days before a big exam which I’ll probably be cramming for.

  813. I’m sorry I’m late to this. I had rotator cuff surgery on Friday and have been unpleasantly drugged since then. It’s been unpleasant because I still hurt even with some wicked-powerful drugs. So Happy Belated Birthday to me and you and you and you… I get to take a long, hot shower today and binge-watch stuff with my cat and Chihuahua who will keep me from floating to the ceiling in the event of a gravity failure (because that’s their job, just ask them). P.S. It sucks typing with my non-dominant hand and still wanting to be grammatically correct while on Percocet. Lots of back-spacing involved.

  814. Yay! I had my actual birthday last week, and now Jenny says I get to have another. I bought myself a few articles of clothing I couldn’t really afford, but I REALLY wanted. And I had dinner with parents.

  815. I went to the country fair with Fadel (comment #655) and my boyfriend and we ate a lot. Then I got home to watch fullmetal alchemist brotherhood and I hugged and kissed every pet I have (4 cats, 2 dogs and a turtle) 🙂 It was an awesome birthday!

  816. Im gonna sleep.. (WAIT HANG ON THIS IS TWO DAYS OLD!)
    …
    KEEP CALM AND JENNY ON!

  817. I’m going to go home and bake and decorate birthday cakes for two little girls, then swim in the pool and snuggle my dog and drink some wine 🙂

  820. OMG it WAS my birthday on June 10th! My husband took me to breakfast where I ate chocolate pancakes, and we had dinner at a friends’ house with six of my favorite people in the world! Thanks so much for remembering, Jenny! and Happy Birthday everyone…

  821. i’m going to go to a bookstore to peruse my favorite poetry anthology collection (everyman’s library pocket poets – they’re beautiful, highly recommend, and there’s so many of them that i think there’d be something for everybody)

  822. When I get done with my 5th day of summer school today (SUMMER SCHOOL??? I’m not sure what I was thinking) I am going to get in my bed and watch Supernatural. Because I love those Winchester brothers!

  823. OMG It really is my Birthday! I decided to give myself the gift of a Podcast you recommended “My Dad Wrote A Porno” . It is so funny that listening in the car on my way to work I could not contain my laughter. I am sure my fellow commuters thought I was going nuts!

  824. My bilateral mastectomy was just scheduled for 5 days before my next bday, so I’ll take this bday instead! I’d like to get some cute pjs for after surgery.

  825. For this birthday I will be going out of town to see a childhood friend. I leave in 10 days! Let me back up. About 6 weeks ago I broke, I broke badly. I needed to “not mom” for a weekend. Please don’t get me wrong, I love my family deeply but when I am driving kids here there everywhere the neighbors ask where is my Uber sticker. I go from feeling not appreciated/just a housekeeper to being the loved momma it wears on me. So I go to Portland, like any sane person would do. On the menu (list of my demands) the worlds longest facial and a new tattoo. A quick visit to the coast of OR too and I will comeback ready for anything the summer break gives me! This will be the best birthday EVER!!! Totally makes up for the stupid “lithotripsy surgery” birthday from 2013.

  826. Happy Birthday everyone!! I am a few days late (shocking) but life is non stop madness. I’m going to finish listening to your podcast Hank and Jenny podcast then as a belated birthday celebration I’m going to pour myself a glass of wine and eat a jumbo red velvet cupcake while watching Golden Girls all night long because life is stressful and I need to avoid adulting for a couple of hours.

  828. On Universal Birthday Day, it is about cake, a cake each and everyone of us. Mine is rhubarb upside down cake with milk sauce, my dog’s is a meat cake and the cat gets a cake of catnip. Enjoy!

  829. I’m going to play miniature golf and go for ice cream with my sweetie (married to him for 38 years already!) because my inner child is in charge.

  830. LOL – It actually was my birthday and I did a triple take when I saw the headline of that post in my email!!

  831. Well I’m glad I’m not the only one a few days late to the universal birthday party at least. My plans are boring and consist mostly of paying bills and grocery shopping, but I think I’m going to make hubby watch The Greatest Showman with me since he refused to see it in the theaters.

  833. The biggest laugh I’m getting (in addition to the boobilicious kitties) is for the ones with the “may contain sensitive material” warning. Whatever does google think they’re looking at??

    So timely; I had just reached the tipping point for no more news and had switched to Kitten Lady vids on Youtube.

  834. I took a long nap after playing with my grandkids……………………….sigh,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

  835. Happy belated universal birthday, Jenny! 🙂

    I’m not a social media user (though my cat has an account. That I use for her. She doesn’t actually use Facebook. But it’s still her account.) and not terribly active socially on the internet, but I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog – I can relate, it makes me smile, it makes me feel like we’re all in this together. I bought your books last summer, and spent muggy summer evenings and hot summer days reading them. You are amazing writer – honest, unapologetic, and sincere. And hilarious! I look forward to reading more from you. Just wanted to know you’re so very appreciated!

  836. We went to snuggle dogs and kittens at the shelter on Monday – we go most weeks. It’s delightful.

  837. I treated myself to Starbucks this morning and am going to get in a meditation before work for a little self care.

  838. I’m eating a big piece of my daughter’s leftover birthday cake. I did the work 11 years ago in order for her to be born. I get cake.

  840. I’m seeing this 5 days later and my real birthday isn’t until July, but I’m getting a bonus tomorrow so in celebration of that I bought that thing I’ve not been able to justify. It’s a fancy designer handbag. Waaay more than I usually spend BUT I got a super deal on it. Happy birthday y’all!

  841. I am sitting in my chair reading harry potter 6 (for the actual probable 100th time) snuggling my dog and letting the kids play with rollerskates inside the house.

  842. I actually had my birthday a few days ago and would have forgotten if it wasn’t on the “family calendar “ so I’m with you on just choosing a universal day. My friend just sent me one of your books as a gift and I have been reading certain excerpts to my Hayley. (No worries, she’s in high school.) Thanks for making me feel less alone.

  843. It will be my sister’s birthday in 9 days… maybe, if you’re still in a gift giving mood, you could send something to her?

  846. Since my birthday is apparently in June now, I would find a sunny patio or pool deck and an ice cold drink and a couple good friends, or a good book if they’re not available.

  847. How bizarre… my birthday was June 11th! My boyfriend spoiled me with an amazing espresso machine, but now I need lots of espresso beans so I can ZOOM all over with the delicious caffeine!!

  848. I had my birthday. And am eating the German chocolate cake one slice a day for breakfast! Damn good start. Still not getting up off the couch much but at least it’s a fun start to it.

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