Later I’ll be heading over to A’s overnight, so I’ll check in now.

Those little hydro-babies are really starting to pop their lids!  Here’s the latest, sage.  Plus another sage growing in soil.  My older herbs are slowly migrating over to A’s, where they will eventually find a bed in the new herb gardens, my next project.

I did a few laps, cooked a healthy, balanced meal, socialization to come later.  I did run into my next-door neighbor (not literally) while doing laps, and said hi.  She’s an older bent-over lady, probably retired.  We occasionally hold doors for each other, that’s about it.

The people at this apartment building seem to really like their privacy, when they’re not at work.  It’s mostly quiet, except for “Bigfoot” directly over me.  Whenever he (it?) comes home from work, the ten-ton boots come crashing down, along with the toilet seat and everything else up there.  Early in the morning, the thudding around above me is like an alarm clock.  I guess it’s a small price to pay for apartment living.

Today I’m hoping to direct-sow some peas, spinach, and radishes in A’d garden, with his help.  Stay tuned for more exciting bulletins!

So, I definitely got my exercise!  I walked to A’s (it was very warm out), greeting other walkers along the way, and then got to work planting the next batch of seeds down in the “greenhouse”.  I planted one flat of assorted tomatoes, and one flat of assorted cool-weather greens.  It’s beginning to look like a prop house now.  Jess was there working with A, and K. was home for Pres. Day, so I got my socialization in.

Then I went outside and A joined me raking out all the bags of compost/manure plus a load of his homemade compost into the veg garden.  Then I rototilled it all in a few more times, and raked it again.  Now it’s ready for the first direct sowing next time I’m there, probably tomorrow.  Until then, the robins and other critters are doing their jobs.  I totally earned my beer (and an episode of Expanse) this evening.

The very first spring bulb flowers are starting to bloom.  It’s just a matter of time.

Now I’m home eating some healthy leftovers, because I actually worked up an appetite.

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.