You CAN teach an old dog new tricks.

Is it self-absorbed that I love my new layout so I keep going to my blog just to look at it? I mean, check out that header! Granted, I used a pre-made background on it, but I discovered that photo editing software is way out of my league. It wasn't even Photoshop; instead I tried my hand at the poor man's version, aka paint.net. I gained a new appreciation for my ridiculously talented sister (who can maneuver Photoshop like nobody's business), and, in turn, got a lesson in humility. I pride myself on my document-formatting and spreadsheet-creating skills, so it was much to my dismay that all those crazy layers and backgrounds and lighting options were beyond my capabilities. This simple header took me like TWO hours to make! And it's barely anything! I really need to figure out how to become more efficient in header-creation. 

Last night I tried another new thing. My talented friend Kendra is directing Thoroughly Modern Millie at the small Christian school where she teaches, so she asked Matt and me to come to her final dress rehearsal to take notes for the kids. I've been in my fair share of musicals and revues, but more than that, I am obsessed with everything musical theater and like to pretend I actually know what I'm talking about. (Matt actually has had more "directing" experience as of late, but he's not such a know-it-all.) So naturally we said we'd do it and made the trek up there to help out (and see the show for free-- score!). As the show began and I was sitting there with my rockin' glow stick (to write notes in the dark, of course-- how cool!), notebook, and paper, I suddenly felt like such a poser. What in the world was I supposed to even watch for?!? Fortunately, being opinionated and critical has its upsides. I filled up four whole pages of comments, questions, and critiques. They weren't even all negative! And it was surprisingly fun. It didn't hurt that the show was fabulous. Just call me Heather Ebert. Two thumbs up! 

Tomorrow's my birthday, and although I don't get quite as excited as this, I'm actually looking forward to it. I haven't had a good birthday in like four years, mostly because I'm always coaching on my birthday, which translates to spending the evening outside in the cold, wind, and rain. But 26 just sounds old to me. I know it's not, but I can't help but to be aware of the fact that I'm officially in my "upper twenties," I'm officially out of the under-25 category, and I'm officially four years away from thirty. Yikes! 

But then maybe I'll be thirty, flirty, and thriving. 

And still learning new tricks.