BIRTHDAY BOOTY

You're probably wondering what OSFO got for her birthday. It's funny, she looks forward to the presents so much but it's always so disapointing once they're opened. Not because she didn't get great stuff.

It's just that the thinking about getting presents is so much better than what they turn out to be.

She knew exactly where her friends got her presents from because of the gift wrap. Purple tissue with a black bow. It's Tiny Stuff Toys on Seventh Avenue. Everyone knows that.

Once the gifts were opened they kind of blended in with things she's already has. She barely remembers what she got.

You only have to say, "Thanks for your gift" on the card, you know.

OSFO's grandpa got her a microscope kit, which she really loves. He always gets her exactly what she wants. Already she has put all kinds of things under there: a bread crumb, a piece of her hair, water.

OSFO calls her grandpa ATM (not to his face) because she thinks he must have a lot of money. OSFO thinks Groovy Grandpa is really funny and fun but she feels super shy around him, like she can't even look him in the eye. She's afraid she won't have anything to say.

So, she just giggles a lot.

OSFO's grandmother, Manhattan Granny, isn't married to Groovy Grandpa anymore. They're divorced and now Groovy Grandpa is married to MiMa Cat.

Manhattan Granny got OSFO the Nikki doll (from the US People Store) which she really wanted, too. But she didn't really want it from MG. OSFO is still mad at her for yelling at her a few years ago. She pulled her by the arm really hard and told her "to stop acting like a baby." Then there was the time OSFO slept over at her apartment, and MG turned off the lights and wouldn't let OSFO sleep with the lights on.

OSFO has never forgiven her for that. She was never more homesick in her life.

It's strange to have grandparents who are divorced. OSFO is always wondering why they didn't get a long. Maybe she pulled GG by the arm really hard or wouldn't let him sleep with the lights on.

Maybe the best gift of all came from Daddy-O, who gave OSFO a real grown up camera. He's a photographer himself and spent a lot of time picking out the perfect camera for OSFO. OSFO felt excited and scared when she saw the camera. It's a lot of pressure. Daddy-O is always saying that OSFO is just like him mechanical, artistic, good with her hands.

So now she feels like she has to prove herself to him. Zeb isn't mechanical at all and doesn't like to fix things or put things together.

Daddy-O favors OSFO for that reason. It's so obvious. And OSFO hates it. She wants Daddy-O to love Zeb as much as he loves her. It just doesn't seem fair to like one child more because they're a little more like you.