On New Year's Day, I made a resolution that this year would be one of my best. I vowed that 2004 would be a year without drama and negativity - or the people who cause it. And these last two weekends gave me my first indication that my resolution would indeed come true - because I had three different birthday celebrations with many people that I love.

The first birthday celebration came a week before my birthday when Arthur and Suzi from England, Julie from Maryland, Montel from Alaska and Paul from the Bronx came to Brooklyn to have a dual birthday party for Arthur and myself. For an entire weekend, we ate, drank and were merry - celebrating birthdays, friendship and family. From authentic Brooklyn "everything" pizza at my house, to sausage and peppers at Paul's house in the Bronx - to margaritas at the Pig & Whistle in Times Square - I could not have asked for a better weekend. I love those friends of mine and although I see them only once a year if I am lucky - I enjoy their company as much as if they lived next door. Their company certainly made the first of my birthday parties a very happy one.

The second celebration of my 32nd birthday came Friday night at my sister's house when my sister Laura decided to cook dinner for my birthday. As I sat around the table with my mother, my sister and brother-in-law - and my niece and nephew Jaimie and Joey - I enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal, some nice birthday gifts which included cigars and some cash - and some quality family time - which was the greatest birthday gift of all. Due to my impossibly unpredictable schedule and my sister's furiously busy one, I do not see her or my niece and nephew as often as I would like. But I think that after Friday night - all of us will try harder to see more of each other in the coming year. I love my sister, my brother-in-law and my niece and nephew - and hope to see more of them this year than in any other.

The third and final celebration of my birthday came very early Saturday morning when Summer landed at JFK Airport to join me for my birthday. In addition to her wonderful company, she got me the Justice League of America version of Monopoly, and spent a very cold weekend keeping me warm by watching movies from the Alien Quadrilogy that she got me for Christmas. Normally, my birthday consisted of many, many friends and a very large birthday party - but this year - it was nice to spend a quiet day at home with someone very close to me.

So now that I am 32-years-old, I intend to make this particular year very successful - and very happy. And if the rest of the year is as good as the first few weeks - that should not be a problem.

Thanks to all for a very happy birthday.