I had a really great birthday weekend. Mom flew in from DC on Friday afternoon, although I had thought that her plane was due to arrive at 11:30 pm instead of 11:30 am. Donna and Mom came by my work at around 4:30, and I showed them around the GSC.

After work, we went back to the apartment and caught up with Anya, who was busy plotting and scheming in the other room. I knew she had tricks up her sleeve, but I had no idea what they were. While we waited around the apartment, I opened up my birthday presents. Anya gave me a really great coffee table book by an artist named Alex Ross, who paints realistic interpretations of superheroes like Batman and Superman. The superhero theme continued with
This gift , ordered from Amazon by Anya's mom. Anya also gave me a Playstation 2 game called "Justice League Heroes," which was yet another superhero themed gift. Who ever said you couldn't have fun gifts when you're pushing 30?

Mom gave me a brand new 80 gig video iPod. Getting an iPod had been one of the furthest things from my mind, so I was completely shocked to get one. 80 GIGS?!? I'm not sure I have 80 gigs worth of music, but I'm going to have a ball trying to fill it up.

After the opening of the gifts, Anya, Mom, and I made our way to Musashino, a wonderful sushi bar off of Loop 1. Anya and I really don't need an excuse to go out for sushi, but a birthday is as good a reason as any to go. Little did I know that Luke and Nadia were there waiting for us. I was really surprised to see the both of them, mainly because Luke had told me all week that he had to work on Saturday. I feel very honored that they took the time to drive to Austin and spend the weekend with me.

We all went back to the apartment after the sushi and spent the rest of the evening talking. I started feeling a little sick as the hours passed. Little did I know that I was in the beginning stages of some kind of yuckiness, which really knocked me out over the weekend.

My first rowing class was on Saturday morning. Despite being very achy and feverish, I went anyway. Luckily for me, all we did was watch a safety video and learn a couple of rowing techniques.

After rowing, we all met up at a placed called "The Hula Hut," which is a mix of Chuy's and Joe's Crab Shack. We finished out the afternoon in true McKibben fashion by walking around the shopping mall. I picked up a few items for my iPod, while Anya and Nadia spent a little time in Sephora.

We then spent the rest of the evening hanging out at the apartment, while Mom went with her friend Donna to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" musical, playing at the Zachary Scott theater. I was really not feeling well by this time, so I think I zonked out relatively early in the evening. I think everyone was a little tired, so it was a relatively early evening for all of us.

I woke up the next morning feeling a little bit better, but still feeling under the weather. Despite me not feeling well, I made my way to the second rowing class and got to take an 8 person boat out with my class. It was absolutely thrilling being out on the water in that boat. Even though I was really not feeling well, I could tell that I was really going to love rowing.

Anya and I met back up with Mom and Donna for lunch at "Austin Java." I then drove Mom to the airport and saw her off. And...ta da...my weekend was over.

It was a great weekend and I thank everyone who helped make it so. You all really know how to make a 29 year old feel not like a 29 year old. :-)