L'aventure américaine

Dear Phoenix, I know that it's not my birthday yet, but I wanted to give you a preemptive thank you. Even though you threaten thunderstorms tomorrow, the high temperature is 86 degrees. While I appreciate your flashy wrapping paper of lighting and baseball-sized hail, a simple cold snap will do. However, I'm grateful no matter what the presentation and I look forward to enjoying a temperate day with you. Love, me

Birthdays are fun. Especially when you add wine and cheese to the mix. I threw my first party last night for my 28th and it was a success. I labeled all of my wines, my cheeses and got my Pandora station ready. I was a little worried when only two people had showed up at 7:30pm (the party "began" at 7pm), but more guests soon arrived with libations and fun. It was a rousing success and my little house held us all and my first birthday party in Phoenix was excellent. And so commenced my birthweek! Here are the remnants of the party. Macaroni and cheese will be on the menu for days to come.