Last night I was supposed to have dinner downtown with Amy, Alex, & Adam. Adam picked me up and finally, as we were walking around downtown, I asked where we were even going. He said, “Rock Bottom, because I’m poor and I have gift cards there!” I was like “heh okay…that sounds good either way”

Well, we walk down the stairs and I immediately pick out Mike & Steph in the booth ahead of us…then Mitch & Rick…then a glance to the right where I see the Bancrofts, Kurts, & Kingmans. Two full tables of people I knew! I was so surprised. I got teary-eyed (but it would have been weird to full-blown cry, though I felt like it). Of course, 20 minutes later, I notice the 75% life-size photo of me propped up by the table. How embarrassing! People posted notes on it throughout the night…some were quotes and others were just well-wishes. It was decided that the poster would need to travel with me so I could photograph it in front of cool places I came across on my long drive—a perfect solution for the ever-challenging self-photograph. Pretty awesome!

i have never had a surprise party of any kind, and it’s strange to think that I earn my first one by leaving all these amazing folks. Sooo many people came, which was making me more sad to think of just how many people I was leaving behind. Full roster of other people that showed up: Rob & Kelli, Katie T., Katie U., Erin, Dora, Nate & Kristin, Ashley, my sister & Craig, sister’s friend Ashley, Tyler, Andy & Danielle, Vince & Stephanie, 2 of their friends, and Scott & Heather. Gosh, I think that is everyone else. Crazy. That is around 30 people. Also, Oskay called me earlier that evening to say he couldn’t hang out with me because of work (he nearly ruined the surprise…but I couldn’t have guessed the magnitude of the turn-out).

So yeah, Amy put it all together this week, which is incredible. She has so much other stuff going on in her life and I know this took out a big chunk. How lucky I am to have friends like her. I just never would have expected to have so many people care to say goodbye to me.

It was incredible.

Here are the phrases people put on my face & other areas (you’ll understand in a minute):

• What the hell? (Amy)
• I’m a lesbian…No, seriously…I’m just kidding (Amy)
• Holy Moly! (Tyler)
• I’ve always hated Mike Rendel like since I met him (Mike)
• Thrill ride, anyone? (Nate & Kristin)
• Ughh… (Rob who heard me say it 20x a day…pretty much every time I got an email)
• Haha, Adam. Now who is the preview page bitch?!? (Adam, I’m guessing…sorry, adam :(
• Ah…I hate emarketing! We are a team!!! (Katie U., reference to a night we were at work late and the emarketers were being jerks…out golfing)
• Yes, Katie…I know the answer. Here is the link. (Katie U., a convo we had often)
• Mindy hearts super quick questions! (Katie T. “super quick question” is her calling card for “oh shit”)
• At first she hated me…then we knew each other (Katie U. ...everyone thought I hated them when they started work)
• Vivacious crotch (Tyler - this requires some context. Months ago Vince noted the mannequin in the office and randomly said “Lifeless crotch….man, that would be a great band name.” This convo came up last night as Tyler was trying to think of a new band name for TWF. Well, I made the mistake of saying “Oh, lifeless crotch. Tyler you’d know all about that.” “No I wouldn’t!” he quickly replied. “Ah ha you just called yourself a whore” “How?” he asked. “Because that means you know all about lifeful crotches….oh, maybe even vivacious” and then he stuck that on the innocent 75% version of me. And the guy that came to get furniture this morning totally saw it, as I forgot to move it out of the room. Super awkward.)

Memorable conversations/quotes:

• “So Mitch, what do clouds taste like?” ... “Marshmallows” ... “Marshmallows wrapped in sunshine? .... Or sunshine wrapped in marshmallows? I wonder which would be better.” - Alex & Mitch
• “Pirate web development” - concept for housing a web dev operation in a houseboat that roams the coast looking for projects. It’s kinda genius. - Nate & Kristin
• “It’s red bull & vodka. You want a hit?!?” - Amy (after a meal of mashed potatoes & 2 coffees)
• “Ash-waist” - Eric

Hopefully I can get photos from other people to add to the post. It was great times. The downstairs of Rock Bottom was so perfect! Eek, 2 days left in Carmel.