Dieting Commercials

Why is it on Lean Cuisine commercials, the women on diets are women who don't need to be on a diet (skinnies)? Isn't that sending the wrong message?

On the other hand, I love the new Slim Fast commercials with the curvy women and the slogan "Find Your Right Size." These women are dieting and losing weight, but it's not about becoming really skinny. It's about being healthy. Isn't that a better message to send women?

Disappointment

I don't look forward to birthdays. I've had so many bad ones that I try to make them as low key as possible. That way I won't get too depressed.

Now don't get me wrong, I've had some lovely birthdays in my day. My 5th, 19th, 22nd and 24th come to mind.

I got my first real Barbie on my 5th birthday.

My friend Tara and my mom got a cake and baloons and brought them to guard practice to celebrate my 19th birthday.

On my 22nd, I got really drunk with my friend Tony. We walked home, stopping at Pegasus to use the restroom. A guy at Pegasus bought me a drink when he heard it was my birthday. Then Tony and I walked down the middle of Wood Street for a while until we got to McDonald's and just had to have some french fries. When I got back to school, I talked drunkenly to my roommate Kim for a while before heading upstairs to Amanda's room, where she had set up a little party with a cake and everything.

Joe had a surprise party for my 24th birthday. Friends came. Family came. People from work came. One friend from college, Heidi, came. It was nice.

I'm writing about this now because tomorrow I turn 30. I've asked Joe not to make a big deal over it. I have no qualms over turning 30, but I don't want to invite people to get me cards that tell me I'm old. Because I'm not and I don't want to feel old.

I've already had a few disappointments, though. I tried to get some of my friends to hang out with me while I was still in my 20s. It didn't have to be fancy. I just wanted to hang out. Some didn't answer. Others flat out said no and blamed it on money. (I don't believe you need money to have fun!) A couple of people who did make plans with me canceled on me last minute. They both had good excuses, but it disappointed me all the same.

So I will hang out with my husband tonight -- my last night as a 20-something. I love him, but sometimes a girl wants to hang out with other females. I'll just have to settle with the fact that I will always be disappointed in some way about my birthday. This year is no different.