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Monday........
Apr. 2nd, 2007 04:36 pmSo with this morning I'm starting my 53rd year, grateful for the kind words, thoughts, cards, emails, phonecalls and well wishes of those I'm fortunate enough to have care for me. I'm clear I HAVE NOT said thank you enough for all the kindness and caring shown me.
Yesterday was spent celebrating not my birthday, but that of a friend who actually marks his natality today. It's an important milestone as it's his first birthday in remission from a nasty leukemia. He and his lover had an open house yesterday; good company, and good food over some rather esoteric games. Sam, just how many railroad games DO you have? I'm so glad to have been included in your invitation to come and celebrate, and even gladder to have you in my circle of friends. Dave and Joshua, I will face either or both of you over Boggle with pleasure anytime!
At 5:30 or so I headed north to hearth & home, to mark my own birthday with Jan & LJ. Dinner out at the RRR, then home thereafter. At least that was the plan. I had the misfortune of getting popped for speeding by the Highway Patrol on the way back. He said I was doing 66, while my speedometer said it was just 60. Unfortunately, the limit was 55. Oddly enough, I was already slowing down before I even saw him, as I realized I was going too fast. He handed me the ticket, then followed it with "Sorry; Happy Birthday", then told me to be careful pulling out into traffic. I asked him to pull out first, as I could not see around him, which he did.
Dinner was lovely. The food was great and I adore dining with Jan. Her sense of humor is divine, & her timing great. My husband was also a delight last night at dinner, and they each surprised me with gifts I hadn't expected, especially since the night before when we'd had supper with James, they'd each given me a token. Each of them outdid themselves. LJ had found an art piece of pressed paper, a portrait of a Navajo woman at an upright loom, hand colored and set into a shadow-box, nicely framed by cutwork matboards and 'floated' on a solid mat of a neutral shade. The title of the piece? "Weaver". She's just exquisite! Jan presented me with an empty silver picture frame, which she took back with her. She has something she plans to put in it, which arrives late this week. Knowing her, the frame, lovely as it is, is likely to be the icing on the cake.
I had a scotch, a nice 12-year Dalmore for dessert, and went next door to the bar to karaoke for a bit. Jan followed, to let me know the owner had refused to take any payment from her for dinner. She'd planned to treat me, but Scott had other ideas. Dinner and dessert for the three of us was on him, in honor of my birthday. So sweet.
It's always a trip to have a noisy bar quiet down perceptably when you have the mike in your hand. You know you're either in REALLY good voice, or exceptionally bad. Last night was a good voice night. I sang all of 4 songs in the 90 minutes I stayed. Hadn't planned to be there as long, but it was a large scotch and I didn't feel good about getting behind the wheel any sooner than that. The first 5 singers signed up by 9pm get to do two songs back to back. Mine were "Georgia", followed by "The Music of the Night". I still had people coming over, to me to tell me how much they had enjoyed hearing me, while the 2nd singer after me was singing. Not a bad boost for the ego. Not at all.
Today my staff took me to lunch. A nice variety of dishes at one of the better chinese places in Santa Rosa. Two of them presented me with turquoise pendants, each striking similar to the other, both large and brilliant blue asian turquoise. Each gotten separately, without knowledge of the other. How well they know my taste! I have a chunky silver rope chain which will showcase either of these nicely. Oddly enough I almost wore it this morning. Had it out and at the last moment changed my mind and put on my gold chain with the Chamsa instead. Oana gave me a number of kitchen/dining room items including a Bohemian lead crystal decanter, with matching glasses (You know, Doc, to put your Scotch in!) and for the environmentalist cook in me, several bamboo kitchen pieces (a couple of cutting board and a couple of trivits). Absolutely beautiful and functional, without the destruction of hardwood forests. Speaks to me!
I really am truly blessed by people who care for me.
Yesterday was spent celebrating not my birthday, but that of a friend who actually marks his natality today. It's an important milestone as it's his first birthday in remission from a nasty leukemia. He and his lover had an open house yesterday; good company, and good food over some rather esoteric games. Sam, just how many railroad games DO you have? I'm so glad to have been included in your invitation to come and celebrate, and even gladder to have you in my circle of friends. Dave and Joshua, I will face either or both of you over Boggle with pleasure anytime!
At 5:30 or so I headed north to hearth & home, to mark my own birthday with Jan & LJ. Dinner out at the RRR, then home thereafter. At least that was the plan. I had the misfortune of getting popped for speeding by the Highway Patrol on the way back. He said I was doing 66, while my speedometer said it was just 60. Unfortunately, the limit was 55. Oddly enough, I was already slowing down before I even saw him, as I realized I was going too fast. He handed me the ticket, then followed it with "Sorry; Happy Birthday", then told me to be careful pulling out into traffic. I asked him to pull out first, as I could not see around him, which he did.
Dinner was lovely. The food was great and I adore dining with Jan. Her sense of humor is divine, & her timing great. My husband was also a delight last night at dinner, and they each surprised me with gifts I hadn't expected, especially since the night before when we'd had supper with James, they'd each given me a token. Each of them outdid themselves. LJ had found an art piece of pressed paper, a portrait of a Navajo woman at an upright loom, hand colored and set into a shadow-box, nicely framed by cutwork matboards and 'floated' on a solid mat of a neutral shade. The title of the piece? "Weaver". She's just exquisite! Jan presented me with an empty silver picture frame, which she took back with her. She has something she plans to put in it, which arrives late this week. Knowing her, the frame, lovely as it is, is likely to be the icing on the cake.
I had a scotch, a nice 12-year Dalmore for dessert, and went next door to the bar to karaoke for a bit. Jan followed, to let me know the owner had refused to take any payment from her for dinner. She'd planned to treat me, but Scott had other ideas. Dinner and dessert for the three of us was on him, in honor of my birthday. So sweet.
It's always a trip to have a noisy bar quiet down perceptably when you have the mike in your hand. You know you're either in REALLY good voice, or exceptionally bad. Last night was a good voice night. I sang all of 4 songs in the 90 minutes I stayed. Hadn't planned to be there as long, but it was a large scotch and I didn't feel good about getting behind the wheel any sooner than that. The first 5 singers signed up by 9pm get to do two songs back to back. Mine were "Georgia", followed by "The Music of the Night". I still had people coming over, to me to tell me how much they had enjoyed hearing me, while the 2nd singer after me was singing. Not a bad boost for the ego. Not at all.
Today my staff took me to lunch. A nice variety of dishes at one of the better chinese places in Santa Rosa. Two of them presented me with turquoise pendants, each striking similar to the other, both large and brilliant blue asian turquoise. Each gotten separately, without knowledge of the other. How well they know my taste! I have a chunky silver rope chain which will showcase either of these nicely. Oddly enough I almost wore it this morning. Had it out and at the last moment changed my mind and put on my gold chain with the Chamsa instead. Oana gave me a number of kitchen/dining room items including a Bohemian lead crystal decanter, with matching glasses (You know, Doc, to put your Scotch in!) and for the environmentalist cook in me, several bamboo kitchen pieces (a couple of cutting board and a couple of trivits). Absolutely beautiful and functional, without the destruction of hardwood forests. Speaks to me!
I really am truly blessed by people who care for me.
