I’m headed over to A’s, so I’ll keep this brief.  I will probably be getting my exercise quota over there, tilling the garden, etc.  It’s supposed to get to 65º!  We will also sow another couple of seed flats indoors (tomatoes and early greens).  I’m sure I’ll get fed and socialized.  And so on…

Meanwhile, my first hydroponic herb (chives) finally outgrew its little dome!  Interesting, because my conventionally planted chives are always the last ones to emerge.  Chives must be Aquarian!  Water makes me pop my dome, too!  Other similarly challenging herbs like rosemary and lavender are also thriving under the dome, while taking their good old time in soil.  More later…

Being so animal-deprived, I watch a lot of wildlife rescue documentaries, and one fact that stands out is how  working to gain the trust of animals is so similar to the principal of working with human children and preteens.

The key in common is staying calm, creating a calm, safe, secure atmosphere, and slowly building trust and rapport.  Nothing else will get accomplished or achieved until that basic relationship is established.  Then consistent training, reinforced with appropriate rewards, builds onto that foundation.  Fear, anger, panic, blame, guilt, punishment, or neglect have no place or effectiveness in building trust and mental/emotional development.

So when I watch wildlife/rescue shows like The Zoo (Bronx) and The Aquarium (Atlanta), and yes, Pitbulls and Parolees, my favorite, I’m also learning about and preparing for my imminent grandmothering role.  Not saying my grandkids are little wild, feral animals!  But there are similarities in development common to many intelligent species.  And it’s going to be a zoo!

And now back to our regular program.  Today I conquered my latest (of many) mechanical challenges, and figured out how to use Jess’s laminator/paper cutter to make long-overdue bookmarks for Avdi.  My son is a bookmark fiend!  He can never have enough bookmarks!  (There are worse addictions.)  I’ve made him dozens by hand over the years, but he requires more!!  So I made another dozen by machine.  Each one is double-sided and unique.  It’s a start.

As for the usual habits, I made a healthy, balanced meal, did a few laps, saw a few tenants in the hall while doing laps, not that that counts, and the rest you know.  Now I’ve earned my reward, more animal shows!

First of all, how can I possibly eat these adorable little birthday perfections from Jess?  They look like beautiful glass or porcelain art!  I guess I’ll just admire them for a while, then decide.

We had a very pleasant Shabbat at Avdi’s.  I made some of my “secret” recipe BBQ chicken in the slow cooker (hint: it was good).  I made another perfect (if I do say so, but A&K backed me up) batch of challah.  Also some roasted vegetables.  Then A and I watched our Expanse episodes, before he went out, and I spent the night.  I actually slept well and slept in!

I’d like to say I got plenty of exercise going up and down the stairs, and walking around the yard, so I think I will!  I know I ate well.  And got my socialization.  This morning I listened to Sufi devotional music while burning incense (and drinking coffee), if that counts for med.  And I even finally finished Maya Angelou, “I know why the caged bird sings”.  Now I’m reporting in.

I’m getting ready to go to Avdi’s to make Shabbat challah and dinner, and stay overnight.  I did 5 laps, ate something, will socialize, etc.  I feel better after sleeping a lot.  Not much else to say yet, just reporting in.  Oh, and Happy Birthday Bob!  (My fellow Aquarian.)  Here is a brief Pelican.

It must have been all that partying yesterday (i.e. less than a whole piece of cake, some ice cream, whipped cream, and one coffee drink).  Today I feel a little under the weather again.  Or maybe just feeling my extreme age!!  So you’ll excuse me if I don’t seem too enthusiastic about my habits today.  I did manage 5 laps (blah), a little food (bleh), no socialization other than passing a delivery guy in the hall, and the rest you know.  At least I tried.

I did freeze a bunch of food this morning–my freezer is packed to the gills, for which I’m thankful.  My pantry is now pretty well stocked, also something to be grateful for.  I even splurged on a couple of non-essential items (since it was my birthday), something I never take for granted.  It’s a privilege to be able to do even mundane grocery shopping with my son.

Here are some animals to demonstrate how I’m feeling right now.  Hopefully I’ll bounce back tomorrow.

Did I mention it’s my birthday?  So cut me some slack!

I did my 5 laps this morning, and did walk around some grocery stores with Avdi, then promptly (and appropriately) offset the health benefits by sitting at Cyrano’s pleasant patio and consuming a giant piece of decadent chocolate cake with ganache icing (with a sparkler in it), cappuccino ice cream, whipped cream, and a Bailey’s latté, also helping Avdi out with his even huger “world’s fair eclair” filled with ice cream and smothered in a mountain of whipped cream.  Sadly, I had to bring some home to finish later!

Earlier, Avdi made this beautiful, delicious Italian bread in the bread machine, which we sampled.  It will go nicely with pasta in his homemade marinara sauce.

Also earlier, unknowingly on the same theme, I had baked these baby Italian eggplants with Greek herbs and cheese, to eat later on (to offset the sugar rush)!  Like minds…

I’m even going to allow another selfie of my birthday self (with my hydroponics lab from The Bobs), because this has been the nicest birthday ever, thanks to my family, so I’m feeling generous.  Happy Birthday to me.

Just to be consistent, and not try to sneak a day off past you, I did technically do 5 laps, eat some fairly healthy stuff, socialize a little before I got home, write this and the one before it, and will read myself to sleep.  I mean, come on, rototilled a whole veg garden!  And it’s erev-my-birthday!  But not to let you (or my guard) down, my rapt readership of 2.5, I made a brave stab.  Some days are just segues to the next day.  Now please allow me to redirect your attention to these fine and worthwhile flotation devices for your viewing enjoyment.

Yesterday I totally earned my keep, or at least beer, rototilling Avdi’s veg garden.  It’s almost ready to go, just needs some compost/manure tilled in, then we can direct sow the earliest greens.  Is it my imagination, or is everything earlier in MO?  Anyway, that was another big first.  Also none too soon, because today it rained.

K. was home from school sick yesterday, and it was a warm, springy day, so he and Percy lay about in the sun while I worked.  Here’s the PigWig eating one of the many rainbow carrots I dug up from last year.  Jess and Avdi worked in the office.  Avdi baked a perfect whole wheat bread.  He has become quite the baker.

Later, we ate some extremely delicious Thai chicken red curry with jasmine rice that Avdi had made.  We watched our “stories” (Expanse), then Avdi went out and I held down the fort overnight.  I took my first shower over there,  watched some more Rez Dogs episodes, read my Maya Angelou, and slept most of the night.  This morning, K. rode his bike to school, and then Avdi drove me home.

So, I’d say I got plenty of exercise, healthy cookery, socialization, reading, writing, and even, one might say, early morning meditation with devotional Telugu music and incense while drinking my coffee.  Tomorrow Avdi and I will probably do something together.

I’ll be headed over to Avdi’s overnight, where most of my exercise, etc. will take place.  I’m hoping to start digging up the veg patch today, to prep it for the first direct sowing.  I’m purposely stating this now, so I can be held to it!

Avdi and Jess pointed out yesterday that this will be my first birthday in MO!  That’s a major first.  It’s been more like a birthday week, with all the many thoughtful things I’ve been treated to or given.  I’d have to say it will be my happiest in a long time, being spent with family.

So why do I still often have horrible nightmares all night?  My subconscious mind is a strange, scary place.  You don’t want to go there!  I will note I’ve been sleeping better at Avdi’s lately.  I feel more comfortable there than I did.  Maybe that’s why I’m finally going to bring a change of clothes and overnight stuff there for the first time.  When the kids arrive, I’ll be camping out there a lot.

On that note, here are some recent random shots at Avdi’s, including Percy the PigWig baring his fangs.

So Avdi, Jess, K., and I went to this wonderful little oasis of Olio, offering small plates of excellent Middle Eastern/Israeli dishes, fresh-baked pita and other ME breads and exquisite hand-crafted drinks.  Mine was a wonderful blend of pepper-infused Tequila, Mezcal, cassis, lime, and ginger beer.  They ordered a table-full of different foods to dip into.  The building used to be a 1930s Standard Oil filling station, renovated but retaining some of the old urban industrial style.  It’s surrounded by a charming garden and greenhouses.

Then we adjourned to Avdi’s, where he concocted another exquisite classic drink for us to try, featuring Empress gin (purple, a recurring theme today), yellow Chartreuse, dry vermouth, and orange bitters, also excellent and photogenic.  We couldn’t even finish this one drink!

It being like 60º out, we took a walk in the neighborhood.  A&J talked “shop”, while I just got exercise.  We found this adorable fairy garden along the way.

Now I’m back home for now, but tomorrow it’s back over there overnight.

I’m already having the best birthday ever, and it’s not even my birthday yet.