Janae Says...

Birthday festivities were pretty minimal for me this year. Since she couldn't come to my dinner on February 9, Karlie and I got dinner at Corner Bakery last Monday, February 4, and chatted for like three hours, which was awesome. My boss took me to lunch on Friday, February 8. I picked Gandolfo's. It actually was a little bit disappointing. The last time I had it was a year or two ago, and it was super delicious. Not sure if it's just the location or what. But it was really nice of her to do that. A few folks couldn't come to my birthday dinner for various reasons. Joyce, Mary, and Whitley were sick. Kelsey's baby was sick. Ali had a photo shoot for work that got pushed back. And Laura had a family event that evening. But I still had a great turnout on Saturday evening at Macaroni Grill. The crew Kristine and Britt Raytch and Chelsea Kristen and Julie Kathryn and Kristen Me & Ashleigh  Natalie had already left before I star

Ya know what, friends? January was not nice to me. I'm generally a pretty even-keeled person. I'm not super emotional, and when I am, I'm usually aware of it and try to accept it for what it is and be nice to myself and more patient with others. But my period had me emotionally wrecked for well over a week, which was poorly timed with other stuff that was going on. And then a breakup unexpectedly hit last Tuesday. And every day has been hard since then. Not only that, but everyone I talk to has seemed to struggle on some level. One friend is heartbroken while she has to work and leave her new baby at home. Another friend feels trapped by her position as wife and mother. Another friend got let go from his job. My boss had some serious family matters come up. My own immediate and extended family had crap hit the fan this month. Just everyone I talk to has stuff going on. I know I have so much to be grateful for: a functioning car, a roof over my head, money in the b