HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! YAY!

For my entire life, I’ve loved my birthday. Even as a grown-up, I’ve been like a giddy little girl, anticipating the event with great excitement.

But in the last four years, with all kinds of sad personal issues, I’ve just kind-of dreaded it. I was seeing it as just a depressing passage of time, and an opportunity for people to hurt me.

But, with several recent devastating deaths of pals, who went way too young, this year I appreciate getting older like I never have before.

So today, I’m going to just celebrate life itself, and spend the day being grateful for every little moment here on earth. I’m even going to laugh-off that certain pals who should know better don’t get in touch with me on this special day. For once in my life, I’m going to glass-half-full it, and just spend my energy on appreciating the people who do celebrate me in any way whatsoever, no matter how small.

And I’m already happy because several friends have already sent me cards and emails, and have offered to take me out for celebratory meals. And, very surprisingly, I’ve even gotten several gifts! And I’m also grateful that Mr. X recently accompanied me to a few industry screenings, (which he very rarely does,) because I told him that’s all I wanted for my birthday!

To help me face my new age with aplomb, (and to be able to see it all,) I just had my hair (mainly my crazily-long bangs) trimmed the other day by James Kendall at his eponymous Beverly Hills salon. Now I’m a new woman!

And, since my birthday celebrations go on for a whole month, (knock on wood,) I have some fun plans coming up, that you can all do, as well, even without a birthday this month.

The first is a trip to the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica to see a performance of The Amazing Bubble Man this coming week-end. I can’t wait; stuff like that is right up my alley. I feel like a five-year-old waiting to see it!

Then LA’s restaurant week, (dubbed dineLA) is coming up for two weeks starting Monday. I think you all know by now that I’m restaurant-obsessed, and it’s a great way to try a bunch of restaurants for less than it would usually cost. (Just make sure you check their regular menu, too, to make sure that you are getting a deal. A few sneaky eateries try to trick you, but most of them are really honest deals.) And even though Mr. X is not a fan of restaurants in general, and is definitely not a fan of deals, (go figure,) he has to accompany me to some of my dineLA choices because—guess why?–it’s my birthday month! Duh.

The glorious Dame Edna!

But the thing I am looking the most forward to, probably in the entire year, is getting to see Dame Edna at the Ahmanson Theater at the end of the month!!! OMG! Dame Edna is my favorite performer, and the funniest person in the world! Until awhile back, the order of funniest people in the world went like this: Mr. X, my mother, Ronnie Hazel, Jr., Chris Rock. But Dame Edna has been at the top of the list since I’ve been aware of her, which is a long time. Opening night is January 28, and I’m already putting on my purple hair and make-up, (to match her, of course!,) right now!

So, for once, what a fun birthday month for me! And, since I just decided to stop being a Sad Sack about holidays, I’ll be enjoying every second of it. Hope to see you guys out there, enjoying life, as well. (And, if you want to get in on my b-day, I’d be so happy if you follow me on twitter, @MajorCelebrity, and/or follow this e-zine on Facebook, written-out as It’s Not About Me TV.)

And, even though, happily, I’m not the first to say it this year, Happy Birthday to me!