Double Deuce

There is something about birthdays that gets me all excited. I don't know what it is. I feel like for most people over the age of 5 it's just another day, but our family has always made a big deal out of it and for the past 21 years I was with my family on my birthday. It just worked out because I'm an early summer baby that I was home or could get home on my birthday. So this year was real strange to nt be with anyone. BUT Nap and Alex and I had a fun time anyways. I told them both that if I couldn't be with my family, they were the people I wanted to be with. Nap had an exam in the morning so we didn't get the day started until 4ish and then we had a few drinks before heading over to the CASINO. The weather was crappy so the attempt to do a pub crawl were scratched and we ended up staying at the casino for a few hours. Always a good time in my book. Win or lose.

From there we went to Baja Cantina a Mexican restaurant for a late dinner. I had the chicken chimichanga which was delicious. We ate ourselves silly. I spent much of the rest of the night complaining that I was 'tuft' and getting the weirdest looks from the other two. We just ended up hanging out and playing cards for the rest of the night here. There were actually cyclone warnings and people were asked not to go outside. There is a reason I like being a summer baby. Most birthdays are spent by the pool, where as here I was in jeans and a sweater. Soon enough I'll be home in the heat again.

This past year has kind of been a big blur. For the first time in a while I spent the entire year devoted to me. I moved home for the summer for the first time since I left for college, I moved to NYC for 4 months and worked for MTV, and then I came here to Australia. I've learned alot about myself and I know I am a different person than the person I was a year ago.

The past few months here in Australia have given me a chance to examine alot of things about myself. Things I recognized or things that were pointed out to me. I've already blogged about them a million times it seems, and now I'm ready to make the next step in the process of being a better me. I'm going to make a concious effort to change the things that I now know that I don't like. That's the hardest part because old habits die hard. Sometimes it feels like I take two steps forward and then one back. This next year I want to just be constantly moving forward.

It's only 10 days now until I go home. It's going to be weird to say goodbye to everyone here. I've been putting together a slide show of pictures from the trip and its hard to describe the time I've had here. It will definitely always be a part of me.

Only one final between me and the summer and being a college senior. Wish me luck
Shawn

**Safe trip to Florida Uncle Joe. Can't wait to have a beer or two with you at the wedding**