My uneventful birthday

Turning 26 was apparently not super important to the University of Chicago and my graduate program, so I had a 9-hour day on campus yesterday and came home *exhausted* and stressed - oh, also it snowed like 3 inches yesterday. My mom put it well though: "that's how it should be on your 26th birthday: you're too busy and tired from living you nice, full life to properly celebrate. Can't be a birthday princess every year, Sandy." And she's right. I mean shit, I have no right to complain: I'm fulfilling a life-long dream of pursuing my graduate studies, and at an *awesome* university no less. This is an absolute privilege. So what, I got pooped out on my birthday and have to postpone "fun" birthday activities for another day. OH WELL. My life is still awesome.

Highlights of the day:

- I told my friend Madiha that it was my birthday while we were waiting in the cold at 7:30p for our shuttle home. She got so flustered, wanting to be able to give me something in commemoration for my birthday - like, she was *really* upset she didn't have something proper to give me, even though I assured her it was *really* okay. She finally busts out this half of a cookie she had and she's like, "I'm so sorry, this is all I have, but please take it! You have to have something to celebrate your birthday with!" So we shared that half cookie together in celebration of my birth. It was a really touching moment.

- Juliano romping around the snow during our morning walk! And I've got some cute-ass pictures to prove it. Enjoy! I have the cutest dog in the whole wide world, having him around should be sufficient to make my birthday a happy day.