There's a lot of good posts here, but I'm quite tired and will respond to them in the morning. I wanna post about the party 'cause I'm so still on the "up" vibe from it.
My last guest left about 20 min ago (1am).
I had something like 13 friends over (15 including my roommates). it was a bit crowded, but it was fun!
I had a decent selection of food/snacks, and a half-sheet cake.
But having friends around was so great - in fact, all but two people I invited came, and those two already had plans when I gave them the super-short-notice invite anyway. The company of friends in a good setting was just so uplifting and energizing (talking, joking, sharing random stories, etc) it was great.
And two of my friends got me the most awesome gift. I was talking with the two on AIM on Wednesday, and they asked me what I wanted. I told them they didn't need to get my anything, but they insisted. I joked "an army of ninja squirrels".
Well, they couldn't find squirrels, but they got an armadillo (a stuffed one) and made him a little ninja mask, belt, sword, throwing stars, and nunchucks. It's so awesome and sweet at the same time - that they actually went to the effort to make the ninja costume was just great. One of those little things that shows friends care.
I also got an iTunes gift card.
The "real gift" though was the company of friends, and all the postive energy that came from their company. And I got some very sincere hugs - which was also nice.
