Happy Birthday to Me!

Okay, it actually wasn't my birthday. Although I wish at times that my birthday was in August. I am a December baby. Born the 17th of that cold, cold month. Right about at Christmas time. Back in my youth I hated being born around Christmas because (well this was my childish mind) I always felt that I got a smaller birthday present because Mom was already spending so much money on Christmas presents. Now, I wish my birthday was in another month simply because it's fun to get presents year-round. : )

It was my friend Jeff's birthday this weekend. He turned 24. I had a great day on his birthday. We went to church in the morning. The sermon was especially good-- although Dr. Baucom is always good. We cooked up some lunch and then went to the rock climbing gym. Jeff, Abby, Dave, Wendy, and I bouldered for a couple of hours. I am still sore from that experience. It was really fun. I definitely was the poorest climber there, but it still was a good time. I left them at the gym and headed back to church for Gospel Choir! Yeah! My first practice. It's a very small choir, led by a sweet dynamic little African American woman. We sang two songs, one a fast paced, excitable type, the other a slower, dramatic Richard Smallwood song. I was in heaven. I have really missed choir since I left college. It was so nice to be singing gospel songs again.

After choir we headed to Bethesda to the Bethesda Crab House. Here's a little review from the Washingtonian for ya:

Bethesda Crab House (expensive). Get back to basics with a heap of Maryland blue crabs. They are cayenne-crusted and served with drawn butter, mallets, and a massive empty bowl for the shells. The scene both outside and in is lively, sometimes even raucous. Reserve jumbos when they are available. Wait till you get there and chances are you'll have to settle for large or medium. Be sure to ask about the all-you-can-eat Crab Feast, including crabs, corn,Cole cole slaw for $25, available most nights. Doing battle with your dinner not your thing? Curvaceous crabcakes are first-rate, made with loads of lump crab and just a bit of binder. Peel-and-eat shrimp work as a good starter or a fine main event. arenas aren't the point here, though the slaw makes a fine foil for all the rest. Service can be crusty, but that's part of the charm, too.

I must say that I do like crab legs, but I'm not so much a fan of opening the crab and having to dig through innards to find meat. Needless to say, I ordered a crab cake sandwich to fill up on at the end of the meal. We then headed over to my favorite icecream place, Giffords, for some mint-chip. Ahhhh, how I love good food shared with friends.

I think in the future I'll just keeping taking my friends' birthdays and "sharing" with them. That way I can give myself presents all year long : )