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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

IWSG, Ghost Buying, and Body Snatching

Do you hate or love birthdays?

They're a huge deal in my house. Growing up there were 8 kids, so your b-day was YOUR day to shine. Everyone was extra nice, you got decorations and a boatload of gifts, Grandpa and Grandma would come visit, and let's not forget being sung to over a cake in both English and Portuguese. It was epic.

These days we take a family holiday when someone has a birthday, meaning no work, no school, just play and spoiling for that one day. Everyone stops and recognizes that person as the star. While that's lovely and all, I'd like to stop aging. I used to keep all my story files in my head. Believe it or not, they even stayed where I put them and could be retrieved on demand. Four kids later, not so much. Heck, I can't even keep track of all the appointments, errands, and demands of a single day. (Thank you calendar. I'd be dead without you!) For the first time, I find myself forgetting or missing commitments. What's with that?

I guess what this boils down to is that I like birthdays. I really do. But aging? Not so much. Here's hoping someone can give me a brain upgrade in about 5 years, because this one might be down to steam and gears.

How do you feel about birthdays?

IWSG is a monthly hop for writers seeking support and an awesome community. Join our hosts this month: TB Markinson,   
Tamara Narayan, Eva E. SolarShannon Lawrence, and     
Stephanie Faris.      

 
Speaking of birthdays, I missed a book birthday, but it's not too late to celebrate, right?

Last week Sandra Cox shared with us GHOST FOR SALE, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win her eBook, THE CRYSTAL (in honor of guess who?)!

Sandra's Game:

1. I got the idea for Ghost For Sale when I heard on the news a ghost was up for sale on eBay.
2. I was born in Ky, my husband in IL, my daughter in OH and my son in WI.
3. I broke a leg trying to climb Mt. Everest.


THE LIE: #3. Yeah, we saw that one coming, right? 

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Congrats, Mary! 

And now for this week's feature (which I've been SOOOOO exited to about FOR YEARS)... 



Meet Morgan Dey, one of the top teen Reducers at The Body Institute.

Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Morgan can temporarily take over another girl’s body, get her in shape, and then return to her own body—leaving her client slimmer, more toned, and feeling great. Only there are a few catches…

For one, Morgan won’t remember what happens in her “Loaner” body. Once she’s done, she won’t recall walks with her new friend Matt, conversations with the super-cute Reducer she’s been text-flirting with, or the uneasy feeling she has that the director of The Body Institute is hiding something. Still, it’s all worth it in the name of science. Until the glitches start…

Suddenly, residual memories from her Loaner are cropping up in Morgan’s mind. She’s feeling less like herself and more like someone else. And when protests from an anti–Body Institute organization threaten her safety, she’ll have to decide if being a Reducer is worth the cost of her body and soul…
Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Carol Riggs is a YA author who lives in the beautiful green state of Oregon, USA. She enjoys reading, drawing and painting, writing conferences, walking with her husband, and enjoying music and dance of all kinds. You will usually find her in her writing cave, surrounded by her dragon collection and the characters in her head.

She adores swiss cheese on Reuben sandwiches. Yum!

Carol gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an SIGNED PAPERBACK with a BOOKMARK (US only)

You have until Tuesday, October 13 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on October 14. 
TRUTH OR LIE


1. Carol once met singer Harry Chapin, got his autograph, and kissed him on the lips.
2. Carol’s family owned a Mexican restaurant when she was 13, in which she washed dishes and reluctantly played waitress. 
3. Carol lived on an island once, in Sitka, Alaska. 


So sleuths, which is the lie?  How do you feel about birthdays? Do anything special for them? What do you think of that concept for Carol's book? (Epic, right?) 

103 comments:

  1. I like birthdays too. Since Rudy died, a friend and my daughter have been helping me make mine special. So excited for Carol and her book, especially with all the challenges she went through to get it published.

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  2. I am mixed about my birthday. I love other folks birthdays ;) but mine is mixed. I always take the day off from work, and try to avoid people who will forget my birthday-LOL. Sounds silly at my age, but I've had a few birthdays where folks around me forgot and it still stings. I'd rather be alone, or just with a few folks, than be with a bunch of people who forgot. And I so hear you on the memory thing! If you find that upgrade- please share!

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  3. I'm becoming ambivalent to birthdays. I don't mind getting older, but I don't like to make a fuss either.

    I think number 1 is the lie.

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  4. I still like celebrating my birthday, and I like to make it special somehow, whether that's a day of relaxing or going somewhere fun or treating myself to new books and a yummy dessert. But I hear you about the aging part - ugh.

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  5. After five decades, I'd rather not acknowledge any more birthdays...

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  6. Having just passed another birthday, I feel like you, Crystal. I don't mind the celebration but aging sucks! Happy Birthday to you (since I assume you just had one) and congrats on the book birthday.

    Best wishes,
    Diane
    IWSG #94

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  7. Celebration is a state of mind that should not just happen on birthdays. Although, birthdays are some of my best memories. :-)

    Anna from Elements of Writing

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  8. I love birthdays; like you said, they're all about one person, and it's always fun to celebrate that person.

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  9. Oh man, don't get me started on the memory loss! It's horrible. Sometimes I'll be typing and the word just gets stuck in my head somewhere--so frustrating. Plus family stuff--forget about it. If my kids ask me to do something, they already know their request will be out of my head the second I leave the room.

    I love the idea behind The Body Institute. I'd like to hire someone to get me in shape. I think number 1 is the lie.

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  10. I used to keep one of those huge desk calendars up on the wall to keep all our appointments straight. We have small birthday celebrations.

    Susan Says

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  11. I love celebrating my kids' birthdays, but not so much mine. Aging has its good moments and its bad ones. The good: I'm so much smarter, more experienced, and more confident. The bad: aches, pains, and menopause brain (or lack thereof). :) As long as I have my to-do lists and my calendar, I can handle the brain cramps, annoying though they are. Getting plenty of sleep actually helps in the brain cramp department. Not that it happens very often. Rest up if you can and keep that calendar handy! And happy belated birthday!

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  12. Birthdays are fine . . . for others. For me, I like them but don't like attention so it's odd. Especially because it's always around Thanksgiving and I can't escape the family adding a cake to Thanksgiving dinner. ugh! lol But yes, memory . . . what is that? I swear, after the pregnancy I need to write everything down. I too, live with the help of a calendar lol

    I'm guessing # 1 as the lie ;)

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  13. Man, I would be soooo sunk without my calendar! I'm guessing number one is the lie, but I was really tempted by the second one...

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  14. Hi Crystal. For me, I am not one for being at the center of attention just on my behalf so birthdays are not my favorite day. However, I do love to make it special for my babies. :)
    Erika

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  15. Funny thing, Friday is my birthday -- but when you are alone, it is just another day. Which the ancient Chinese said was a good thing since the West put too much emphasis on one day and not on EVERY day. :-) I am rewarding myself on my birthday with my latest book, CARNIVAL OF THE DAMNED in the Kindle version -- which sort of lets you know how I feel about aging!

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  16. My birthday is Monday and I used to love being the center of attention, at least back when I was younger and hung out with people who liked to celebrate. These days birthdays mostly remind me of how little writing I accomplished since the last one.

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  17. Lie is #1. Okay, both of those books sound amazing. And the ghost for sale on eBay? Hilarious!! At least she got an awesome title for her book:) Yeah, if we could have birthdays and not age, well, that would make an awesome YA sci-fi book!!

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  18. I just took down my birthday cards yesterday - it was over a month ago (I guess that says more about my housework than anything else!)

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  19. That IS epic! So different from my family. I've actually had a couple of birthdays forgotten. Not even a birthday cake. :( Seriously, twice I've gotten cards slipped on my dresser late at night while I was in shower, and my 16th birthday wasn't acknowledged at all.

    Wow, The Body Institute sounds wild!! ^_^ I'm going with #3 for the lie...just cause.

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  20. I love my birthday. I'm in denial about aging though - it just ain't happening for me :-)

    I think #2 is the lie.

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  21. I celebrate every birthday I have... a lot more quiet than I did before as it is more more reflective. Oh and I would love to find a way to stop forgetting things... I think I just have too much on the go... I tell people to please send me reminders xox

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  22. I like birthdays too. It a great time to just celebrate with family and close friends and eat all the cake you want! I think I need a brain upgrade too, maybe sooner than five year though! LOL

    Okay, my guest is #3.

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  23. I don't make a huge fuss about birthdays like I did when I was younger. I've always had a terrible memory, so I dread to think what it'll be like when I'm older!

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  24. My hubs hates his b-days, where I make each one a big deal (more for the kids than anything else). But I don't mind growing older. Each phase of life has it's pluses and minuses, and I'm happy to experience each and every one. As to the memory loss, Lol! I'm a walking disaster. World watch out when I actually reach 70, 80 or so.

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  25. Ah yes, the aging part does get cumbersome. :)

    We go big on birthdays, but not necessarily on an individual level. My daughter and son's birthdays are a month apart (years apart too, but a month apart every year). Right now, they have the same friends. So we hold one big birthday bash and invite everyone. Maybe when they're older, they'll get individual days, but right now, they have joint parties. :)

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  26. I'm still like a kid when it comes to birthdays. My next one is the big 50 and we're celebrating with a trip to Universal Studios. (I told you I was a kid at heart.)

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  27. I love birthdays and presents and friends and CHEESEcake...mmmmm but not the getting too old bit!

    I think number 1 is the lie - I think that's a dream :)

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  28. I'm not sure which is harder. My birthday or my kids' birthday. How can they be so old?

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  29. Hi Crystal ... I love my birthday ... it is my special day - as you say. But I love giving a birthday party for others .. that's extra special ... I think #2 is the lie .. but Carol is obviously someone who works her way through problems ... good luck and enjoy the birthday .. cheers Hilary

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  30. My birthday tends to be the coldest day of the year (yay January), so I tend to celebrate it in my own way on my own. I was never a huge fan of birthday parties, but that was more because I hated being the center of attention. Of course, I age myself down every birthday anyway :-)

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  31. Oh yeah the memory is not what it once was! Sounds like you have some great birthday traditions though. It's always nice to be spoilt once in a while.

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  32. I'm looking at one of the BIG birthdays in a few months -- you know, the one that starts with a 5 and and with an 0. I don't like parties and I don't care about gifts, but I am definitely feeling a bit grumpy about the big day this year. However, since my memory is also failing with age, I'm hoping that I'll forget which birthday it really is by the time it rolls around.

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  33. I love birthdays! I don't usually do anything special for my own but I love celebrating my families' and friends' birthdays.

    Congrats to Mary!

    I love the cover for The Body Institute! All of those sounds like they can be true but I'll say #1 is the lie because of the kiss. ;)

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  34. Considering my birthday is this weekend, I'm with you about not aging. Alas, that is the cold and cruel necessity that is life. Age can have advantages, I hear. :)

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  35. I like the wisdom which comes with age, but yeah, the rest is suckage! :( My memory has never recovered from a car accident in 2004 though, and just gets worse. *groan.

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  36. I love that you all take days off for birthdays. I can imagine how much the kids look forward to no school! And who doesn't love to be spoiled? =)

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  37. Birthdays were bigger in my house with the boys were small. We always made the day special. As they got older, they wanted to be with their friends. It's cool that you take off and make it like a holiday.

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  38. I love spoiling my kids on their birthdays, but I don't care for celebrating my own birthday.

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  39. Birthdays are fun and enjoyable...if its someone elses!

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  40. I haven't had four kids, but I'm desperately in need of a brain upgrade. This one's shot. Concentrating gets harder all the time. Sometimes I go to bed early. (It's not a nap, dagnabbit, just a change in bedtimes!) If you find a store that sells brain upgrades, please let me know. :)

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  41. We've never done big birthday things here - but yours sound like fun!
    Carol's book sounds awesome! :)

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  42. Birthdays are great fun, but I don't like aging, either. After 55, weird things start to happen, and I'm not pleased! Even though I'm in the best shape of my life, some aspects of aging can't be avoided.

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  43. Love birthdays! A full day with each of your kids just for them is an awesome gift they'll always remember.

    The lie? No clue. I'll guess #3.

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  44. I love birthdays too! The thought of aging really crept up to me this month and I don't think I like it at all, at least not when I don't feel settled in my career yet. I hope my feelings toward aging changes once things feel more "set." :)

    xoxo,
    Winn | ♥
    winscribbles.blogspot.com | Instagram

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  45. I totally feel the same way you do about birthdays and I only have two kids! When my little ones were younger and I wasn't getting enough sleep, I'd sometimes say the strangest things when trying to form sentences. Even though I was awake, my brain felt like it was half asleep. :D Anyway, try to get more sleep if you can, I know that's got to be hard, but it's important. And congrats on your newest little one!! :D

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  46. The Body Institute sounds great!

    Re. birthdays. I honestly don't think much about my birthday. And I'm always hoping no one will make a big deal about--cake, a present from my immediate family and that's it. Guess I'm not much of a party person.

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  47. Yeah, I'd like to stop aging too. I once had a photographic memory. No more. And calendars challenge me quite a bit lately. We're all pulled in so many direction simultaneously it's amazing we remember anything.

    I'll guess #1 is the lie, and I look forward to reading Sandra's book.

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  48. Yeah. Forget the aging. I don't mind the knowledge and experience. Ugh

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  49. I've never been too crazy about my own birthday but other people's can be fun! It's not about aging for me (I don't think I'm old enough to be allowed to worry about that yet...), I just hate being the center of attention.

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  50. I tend to dread birthdays, and manage to find really creative reasons that my memory is deteriorating by the day! But I do like to spoil people on their birthday and make it as special as I can, because that's how it's supposed to be. Birthdays sound wonderful in your house! :-D

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  51. I loved birthdays when I was little, then as I got closer to forty I really hated them. Now though I am back to liking them, even though getting older can definitely be a pain. But I try to focus on being grateful for another birthday when so many people don't even make it to my age.
    Birthdays sound like a lot of fun in your house!

    I'm going with #2 for Carol's lie.

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  52. I can take or leave birthdays, but I DO like birthday cake! My parents never made a big deal out of birthdays, and I had my first birthday cake at the age of 16. Had three of them actually: one from my aunt, one from some people I babysat for, and one from my friends. Talk about epic! I was more on the side of spoil-my-kids-rotten on their birthdays.

    The premise of Sandra's book sounds terrific! As for which is the lie, I'll guess number three.

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  53. I know what you mean about getting older. I can feel my mind losing its sharp edge as the years creep by, too. It's sweet that you carry your family's birthday traditions into your own family, though. Kids love those birthdays.

    Oh man, I wish a reducer would come and get me toned :) Not really, though, 'cuz those glitches sound scary.

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  54. I'm beginning to hate my own birthdays because, like you, I'm tired of aging!! Today is my youngest son's birthday and birthdays in our house are pretty special too. I love that a birthday in your house means no school and is a super special day for the birthday kid. Love it!

    Wow, just wow. I LOVE the premise for The Body Institute!! I wanna read that one! I'll guess the lie is #2. *crossing my fingers that I'm right and the magic hat picks me*

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  55. I tend to shrug off birthdays. Just another day, but then again, I'm not big on being the center of attention so if we go out to eat on my bday you better not let the staff know because I don't want to be sang to!

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  56. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  57. I'm going to say #3, hoping for your sake 1 is the truth:)
    This book sounds awesome.

    And speaking of brain upgrades.....Crystal, since I put a belated BDay out last weekend, I put a happy out Monday:) grin.

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  58. Yay!! A fellow Oregonian. Your book sounds amazing, Carol. I'm going to guess #2 is the lie. If there was reluctance, it had to be with dish washing, not waitressing. ;)

    Birthdays are just not a thing for me. Never have been. I actually feel like a negligent mom because I don't make a big fuss. Maybe my kids will thank me later...?

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  59. I love birthdays. Just not my own. Hate having all the attention on me and the anxiety of hosting :( But the cake often makes up for it! I don't want to age either!

    Okay, truth or lie wise I don't have the slightest clue but I'm going to go ahead and say #2!

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  60. I haven't been a fan of my birthday in some time. But that's for personal reasons.

    Lie...#2...

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  61. I don't like getting older either.

    I'm going to say #1 is the lie.

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  62. Birthdays used to be the biggest events in the calendar, next to Christmas. Nowadays I don't make a big deal of them. I even forgot it was my birthday this year until my wife reminded me. I think it's called denial :)

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  63. I enjoy birthdays quite a bit, but agree the aging thing could definitely be abandoned. Granted I had a friend who used to always say that it's a choice to get older--technically you don't have to :) I am guessing #2 is the lie.

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  64. I love birthdays! I used to love big parties and had around 30 people over for my 33rd birthday (it felt more significant than 30 to me), but now I've mellowed into preferring small gatherings. My kids both have different ideas of what makes a perfect birthday and so does my hubs (he's really social, so he still likes to have as many people at our house as possible in the winter). I may not like aging, but the alternative doesn't seem good to me. I mean, yes, there's heaven and that's awesome, but I would like to age a bit more for now. :)

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  65. I miss birthday celebrations (the kind you got as a kid), but that was then. Now it means I'm getting older and all that comes in course. Thank God for calendars, sticky notes and smart phones! My husband and I usually go out to dinner or buy something we need for the home.

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  66. I don't celebrate birthdays, except for the kids!

    Growing old blows!

    #1 is the lie... I think:)

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  67. I don't celebrate birthdays, except for the kids!

    Growing old blows!

    #1 is the lie... I think:)

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  68. I think your family holiday is an awesome idea! Happy birthday. I don't much like aging either, but so far I'm convinced it's only a number. As for your memory loss, being overworked and overwhelmed probably has something to do with it. :)

    I'll go for #1 as the lie. Sounds like an interesting book!

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  69. Funnily enough, it's actually my birthday today! I keep telling people I'm 21 (again), but no one's buying it. I love birthdays: the candles, the presents, the happy faces. I'm one of those people who will spend weeks looking for the perfect gift and then love to see tham open it.

    Visit my blog at www.angelinetrevena.co.uk/blog/

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  70. My daughter said she's having a hard time remembering my actual age since I lie about it all the time. She is SO opposite, but she's not my ancient age either. However, in our family we celebrate each others birthday like there is not other day.

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  71. I like birthdays, although I've found myself growing more indifferent, and even depressed, about my own. (It's never fun to realize I'm one year older yet nowhere closer to achieving my goals, LOL.) Sounds like you go all out for birthdays on your side of the 'net!

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  72. Birthdays are the coolest!!!! I love them. We have 7 kids. So the birthday thing is their day to shine. Although, as I get older maybe I'd like to forget about it? NO WAY! Presents and cake and good food make it fun! :-) I missed your b-day on FB. We had a hurricane in the Carolinas. It rained like forever in four days. Horrible. Flooding, etc.

    #1 has got to be the lie. Er, maybe. ;-) I cannot wait to read Sandra's book.

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  73. Birthday are fun, but I stopped keeping track of age after 39. ;0)

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  74. Birthdays are fun, but I get where you are coming from. I hate getting old. And lately I feel old too...so that doesn't help. Still it is a reason to celebrate, blow up balloons, eat what you like best, and lots of cake...so still a reason to celebrate. I have to write myself notes. Just can not handle life without them!

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  75. Birthdays are fun, but I get where you are coming from. I hate getting old. And lately I feel old too...so that doesn't help. Still it is a reason to celebrate, blow up balloons, eat what you like best, and lots of cake...so still a reason to celebrate. I have to write myself notes. Just can not handle life without them!

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  76. I'm neutral on birthdays now. Mostly, they're nice as a break from the routine.

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  77. I'm perfectly happy with the idea of birthdays, but in practice, I want to do nothing for my own. I mean really - a day where I didn't have to do anything for anyone else, or the household, or any kind of work? Yes. That is all I need.
    We only have one kid, who is also an only grandkid on one side of the family, and the youngest grandkid on the other. As he gets closer to his teen years, we've tried to transition birthdays from an avalanche of presents into a special day we share together. It's been hard. Grandparents want to throw extravagant parties every year, followed shortly thereafter by the Christmas Stampede of Gifts. Ugh. It's too much. This year we took the son and his cousin out for the day, and that was the gift. He loved it.

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  78. I am so glad you were born! AND, I'm with you - calendars are SOOO handy.

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  79. I like birthdays. Mine is four days before Christmas and so I have learned to be a self-publicist. I get cranky when folks try to roll them into one - especially as I'm not a Christian.
    I like aging too. I'm nearly 64 - and so far my friends and lover will still feed me and need me so that's all good.
    The new book looks so interesting - love a speculative story - I'm thinking that #2 is the lie.

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  80. I'm with you. I like birthdays but could do without some of the aging stuff. Hope you have a great birthday month!

    It's nice to see Carol here. Wishing her well! :)

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  81. Birthdays are pretty low key here. We try to make it fun and family oriented but we don't go crazy. I'm boring like that. :)

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  82. Hi, Crystal!!! Happy Birthday. We've always made birthdays special around here too. For the kids that is. My birthday, I'd like to start going backward...

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  83. I'll say 1 is the lie. Happy Birthday! We let the kids pick where they want to go to dinner on their birthdays. Congratulations to Mary. I've been quite flaky lately and I think it's because I've finally hit the threshold of how much stuff I can take on. Trying to figure out how to remedy that.

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  84. I won't enter since I have Carol's book and loved it. Happy belated birthday. I'm boring on my birthday and go to work and rarely announce it.

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  85. Happy birthday! :) I never liked birthdays for the fact I don't like to be the center of attention. I like cake and presents and being with my friends, but not the attention. Nor the aging! Hehehe. I say #2 is the lie.

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  86. There's a reason I write everything down - it's so I don't have to worry about remembering it. :P I'm glad to have a friend who's like that with peoples' birthdays, as I didn't start celebrating friends' birthdays until I moved up here. But the last birthday involved a pajama party, which is kind of surreal as an adult. ^_^

    As for aging, I'm fine with it, because my hair's coming in white, not grey, which will look awesome. Heh.

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  87. Is it weird that I like getting older? I'm getting wiser (maybe), I'm getting more and more financially stable, and my physical health is only getting better. 22 year old me couldn't hold a (birthday) candle to 32 year old me in any way.

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  88. Congratulations to Mary.

    Happy for Carol, sounds awesome!

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  89. Thanks for featuring me here, Crystal! Rah for birthdays (come to The Body Institute for your brain upgrade, woman lol)!! I'm giggling at the lie guesses. ;o)

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  90. I'm with Bryan, I like the wise part, but I disagree with physical part, I'm falling apart. We celebrate birthdays like you guys did. Everyone is given the day off from chores, they get cake, dinner of their choice, and a gift.

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  91. Sounds like you've got a case of "Mommy Brain." You moms do so much, it's just amazing. With all those tasks, appointments, and dates to keep in your head, it's bound to make your brain a little fuzzy at times.

    And congrats to Mary and Carol!!!

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  92. I agree I will take the birthdays without the ageing part, lol. I still manage to keep the stories in my head, at least for now.

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  93. I love birthdays! It really is the one day that (some) people are extra nice to you. The ageing part can be rough but I always look to my mom and how she's aged so gracefully both inside and out and if she's okay with it, then so am I, lol! I'm the one who writes everything down so my husband's very lucky we're whipping things into shape before we have kids. Now onto business...#1 has go to be the lie. I got the last one right so I'm feeling lucky. xoxo!

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  94. I'm going to go with number two being a lie.... I'm so excited for Carol. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

    Some years I'm not so good at my birthday, but other years I enjoy them. A young man named Lenny taught me to celebrate myself.My parents often seem to forget my birthday and that always hurt, but because of Lenny I can celebrate me and not worry about their thoughtlessness.

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  95. I had my birthday on the day of this post. Do we share the same day? At 35 I'm kind of now all about having a fun day while not focusing on what age I actually am! We do make a big effort for the kids, especially when they hit big ones like 16, 18. It's not going to happen again. Although I'm late, and I'm not in the US, I'll guess #3 as the lie.

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  96. I enjoy birthdays! It is fun to celebrate and birthdays at your house sound like a lot of fun. :)

    Just saw it was Nick's birthday too. Happy Birthday, Nick!

    The Body Institute sounds fascinating. I am definitely curious about what happens once the glitches start occurring. My guess is the lie is #3. :)

    ~Jess

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  97. Oh man-o-man I wa almost the 100th commenter and I love those large round numbers. Really mean something to me. Anyway, Congrats! to Carol Riggs. Best wishes to her and Sandra!

    I'll go with number two because of child labor laws.

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  98. Congratulations Carol!!! Is it too late to guess? I'll vote for #2.

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  99. I actually don't celebrate birthdays, and to me age is just a number. I'm not worried about 'getting' old. I'm just worried I'll stop acting young. Or worried I won't be able to act young any more. There is some truth to 'You are only as old as you act'. I have a sister who's one year older than me and she acts like she's in a nursing home already.

    Love the concept of the book. Almost reminds me of a Red Dwarf episode. Two people swap bodies so the one can get the other in shape, but he ends up doing nothing but gorging on fattening foods. Hilarious.

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  100. I'm a big fan of birthdays! Mine is on Valentines Day (Singles Awareness Day) so it breaks up the dreary winter.

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  101. Hope you've been enjoying a wonderful birthday month! Here my husband and I celebrate the whole month when our birthdays roll around. So happy for Carol and look forward to reading her book. :)

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  102. Eight siblings. Wow, sounds like birthday time was lots of fun. Here, we take holiday on our birthdays as well. Life is short, and we only get so many, so celebration/holiday time, is it.

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Hit me with your cheese!