Dirty 30!!!

I celebrated my BIG 30 this past weekend! As my 30th birthday approached, I admit I had mixed emotions. I have heard the good and the bad about turning 30. The bad being when your metabolism slows down, and not being able to party like you use to. The good is beginning the best years of your life, and being “Dirty Thirty” does sound fun! All 3 days of being 30 have been amazing so far! On the flip side I do feel the pressure of society and my mother saying “shouldn’t you be more settled down by now?” I believe I did enough settling down in my 20’s having many serious boyfriends, serious jobs, mortgage payments, and responsibilities. In hindsight, I wish I had traveled more in my 20’s and spent more time single figuring out myself instead of boys. I am not one to have regrets in life and instead I choose to take charge of my life. I plan to start off this new decade by focusing on my happiness. This may sound selfish of me, but why shouldn’t I be??

I have successfully stayed single for almost a year now, which was not easy and a record for me! In the past I have been one of those serious relationship girls but I tried really hard to stay solo the past year. I have enough experience in relationships to write a book called “What to do if your boyfriend is a pathological liar, is a cheater, lives far away, is gay, is a psycho, is insecure, or has an early mid-life crisis”… as I have dated them all! Despite the fact that a large percent of my past relationships have ended in disaster…I have learned a lot and grown through each one. My current travel lifestyle is helping to keep me single as I am constantly on the move…and that works for me at this point in my life.

My 2008 horoscope supports my current agenda:

“Lucky Capricorn has Pluto, the planet of volcanic eruptions, power, passion, and earth moving evisceration is moving into your sign and, over the next 12 years, your life will be transformed. Putting it simply, the world is your oyster. Whatever you want or whoever you wish to be now is action time. Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back. As far as relationships are concerned, this year will see you focus on the relationship you have with yourself. The healthier that relationship is, the healthier the relationships you create with other people will be. You are on a journey of self-discovery.”

Sounds perfect!

As for officially being 30… people actually don’t believe that I am as old as I am! When I meet someone for the first time, most people usually believe me to be somewhere between 21-26. I know I am probably the only woman in the world that actually desires to look her age…especially the BIG 30, but I do! I am tired of attracting 19-year-old boys and I am honestly fine with being and looking my age! I decided to cut my hair in an attempt to look older. The hair stylist I went too specialized in naturally curly hair and when I told him how short I wanted to cut my hair he refused! He talked me into going less extreme cut and I do like my new haircut…. I just wonder if I look any older?

I spent my actual birthday celebrating with new friends and had the best birthday I can remember! Lauren surprised me by decorating our room and took me out for a birthday breakfast. Later we went with a group of girls to the Argyle, a very fun bar in the Rocks. I spent the next day with Danny, who put much thought into my birthday gifts and the special day he had planned for me. Ladies… there are men out there that actually give greeting cards with a present, and if you are lucky like me… they will even write you a personalized sweet message inside the card! Danny gave me the DVD of the Powderfinger/Silverchair Great Divide Concert tour. He knows I love Powderfinger and was really bummed that the tour ended just before I arrived in Australia. I have enjoyed hanging out with Danny the past month; however, we have discussed the fact that I am leaving Sydney in a month and he understands my desire to stay unattached.

As if I didn’t celebrate my birthday enough already… my big birthday celebration is actually coming up this Friday! A big group of my friends and housemates are going out on a “Party Boat” that will cruise all around the Sydney Harbor…I can’t wait!

The day before my birthday Lauren and I saw a show at the Sydney Opera House. Le Grand Cirque was a presentation of death-defying acrobatic circus acts and amazing special effects. 40 acrobatic circus artists from around the world perform the show. The most talented performers were all from Asia and we couldn’t help but wonder why American’s aren’t as limber?

I know many of my girlfriends out there are soon approaching 30. This is for all those who are scared of moving into their 30’s, those who are already in their 30’s…AND for those guys who are scared of dating girls over 30!

This is a great piece written by Andy Rooney – CBS 60 Minutes.

“As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.

If a woman over 30 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.

A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom.

Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or what she’s doing.

Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.

A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with other women. A woman over 30 couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know.

A woman over 30 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women or drag queens.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk or if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say: “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free”. Here’s an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire Pig, just to get a little sausage.”

Andy Rooney