28 is for it all

I'm 28 years old today, as of 1:16pm, as my mom just texted me, and that feels as old as it does young. I'm solidly in my late-20s now, there's no denying it. I'm ready to be at that place where dreams take the shape of a set of tangible goals, and where I know myself well enough to stop second guessing my choices and instincts. I'm young enough to still think a bottomless brunch and impromptu dance parties in my underwear are good ideas, and I'm old enough to know that vodka makes me have to pee every 10 seconds and should be avoided unless I'm at a party in a bathroom.

Two of my closest girlfriends in college and I have a birthday tradition that is even better than cake. In college, on all of our birthdays we'd go to our favorite bar - The Watering Hole - where our server Molly would serve Ellie and Vanessa beer and me a vodka cranberry. We'd share wings and fries and ask the birthday woman - what was the best thing that happened this year, and what was the worst?

Tonight I'm heading to New York for the weekend. Zan and I are staying with Ellie and her boyfriend Andy tonight, and tomorrow night Mel and Mike and Matt and Ryan are all coming up to join us. I can't even believe we're all going to be together. While Ellie and I are together tonight, we'll raise a glass and carry on our birthday tradition. I thought today I'd share it with you all, as well.

The worst: 
Dealing with The Slumlord at 302. My roommate Matt and I started off the year living in a dump in DC. We didn't have heating, and the landlord rigged an illegal gas line that leaked so badly we were evacuated when we brought in the local housing authority. The landlord threatened to take us to court if we pursued action against him, and he tried to bully us into signing a nondisclosure that we'd never mention his name or what went on in that house. We called bullshit, refused to sign, and got the hell out of there.

Refusing to sign the agreement and being approved for an apartment on my credit alone (that I've worked to build for years) were huge boosts to my confidence and made me feel incredibly empowered - after dealing with that maniac, I feel positive Matt and I can do anything.

The best 

• Apple picking with Zan and his brother and sister-in-law. It's so cool how close Zan and his brother are, and I love being welcomed into that family. 
• Getting lost in a corn maze and pumpkin patch with Zan, Matt, and Whitney. I can't wait to do it again this year!
• Hiking Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park - I finally hiked SNP's most iconic trail, and it was technical and challenging with tons of rock scrambling. I loved it.
• Finishing my first race, a 10k 
• Jumping into the refreshing, cold water of a cenote in Mexico 
• Seeing Niagara Falls
• Starting my freelance writing career
• Zander meeting my family at Thanksgiving in Georgia 
• Catching up with college friends in Kansas City and Nebraska

If I have to just pick one... Getting lost in Mexico and jumping into a van on the side of the road tops the list. It was adventurous, spontaneous, involved a hidden turtle beach, and it was perfect. 27 was good.

28 is going to be even better.