The year I turned 19 was a little tumultous.  I had just spent my first summer at Ruttgers with a wild and fantastic group of feminists.  Parting from that group was really difficult.  As each woman left to go back to school, we had a full-blown going away party for them the night before, followed by a morning of crying as we said our goodbyes.  Each time someone would leave, we'd go through this whole thing... and usually that person would be back the following weekend to join us for another party.

I left for my freshman year at the U of M about a week before my 19th birthday.  I was so bummed that I wouldn't get to celebrate it with all of my friends, and they couldn't come down to celebrate with me because they all had to work.  Plus, I lived in a tiny dorm room with a roommate and barely enough room to turn around with my arms outstretched, let alone have all the gals down for a party.

So, imagine my surprise when the gals showed up in Minneapolis and had a weekend of birthday planned for me.  We started out by having a party at the house of a guy we met during the summer.  We barely knew him, yet took over his whole house for our event.  On Day 2, we took all the guys from that house and drove up to Ruttger's for another party.  The gals really DID have to work, but only for a few hours which didn't stop the rest of us from continuing without them.  Here we are on Night 2.  That's me on the left with the tall permed hair.


And here we are the morning after.

I had to crop this picture because for some reason, I don't think I was wearing any pants.  But, I did have enough sense to grab a can of Busch Light for the picture.  Because after partying for two full days, there's nothing like a can of warm Busch Light for breakfast.

Viva la birthday (11 days to go).