So I'm 18. My birthday doesn't feel as exciting as it used to anymore. Maybe I've passed the hill of enjoyable birthdays. I remember being young and the night before my birthday felt like an early Christmas Eve. I wouldn't be able to sleep and I'd shake in my bed because I was that excited. Tuesday just came and went.

But at least it was a nice Tuesday. People at school were nice. People kept saying they would have gotten me cards or would have made me cookies had I told them it was my birthday. I know it wouldn't have happened anyway, but at least they're good at sounding sincere. (To her credit, though, Cheryl showed up at school the next day with a batch of tasty cookies. That's class.)

Now on to the business that I'm sure you all want to know about - the goods. I got:

$200 in cash
$50 to upgrade the computer
$100 to Banana Republic (I can already hear Steph sighing with relief that I'm finally getting some new clothes)
LotR Special Edition DVD's
DDRMAX (woo!)
$15 to Blockbuster from Kris (a damn good present from a poor music student)
A batch of cookies from Steph

Thanks to everyone who wished me well! I had a great day even with my weird mood swings.

More importantly, anyone who didn't watch the Rockefeller Christmas Tree special tonight on NBC really missed out. From this show, I am able to draw one very important conclusion:

Michelle Branch is a goddess.

I never thought it possible, but she was absolute perfection on this special. Not only did her cuteness surpass Ms. Rachael Leigh Cook, but her voice was utterly heavenly. And as a bonus? She wore cute little fuzzy clothes. Soft ones, the kind you want to roll up in a ball next to the fire in.

I will do anything for that woman.

Or, as Rach put it, "I wonder if she has a sister?"