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Today (well, July 2) was my 50th birthday.
Earlier in the week I was feeling particularly sorry for myself - not at turning 50, but at not having a way to really celebrate it, aside from spending it with the same people I see every single day. I mean, I love those people, but with Covid still an issue, plus the whole "Well, your friends live all over the world" thing, there wasn't any way to have any sort of party.
I got over it, though, and in the end, I really had nothing to complain about at all. My family got up stupidly early (5a) to decorate the whole house in a mix of tropical and birthday decor (I'm pretty sure they bought out Party City. Twice.). People gave me really thoughtful gifts: books, of course, but also a new Kindle to replace the one my dad hid in May, an underwater camera so MiniPlu and I can take snorkeling pics in Hawaii, some awesomely creative stuff from Two (hand-drawn bookmarks for Cemetery Boys, Carry On/Wayward Son, Red White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop), fan art to go with some fanfic he'd written by hand (in a sign of the times, the fan art was rolled into a tube shape and tied together with ... the elastic on a medical mask), the promise of a nice dinner - just Will and I - in Hawaii, paid for by MiniPlu, and money toward my new laptop (mine started seizing up and shutting down without warning - repeatedly - a week or two ago. I've been using Will's ever since).
I'd decided to go out to brunch rather than dinner. It was our first time eating out (rather than getting takeout) since the pandemic started. We had hoped to eat outside, but tables were limited, since we had 7 people in our group. In the end, we were brave and ate indoors but, thankfully, the large table we got was in an alcove separate from other diners so we felt marginally safer there. Brunch was delicious - I got a gf Belgian waffle with fresh blueberries.
In the afternoon, after talking to my mom, the kids and I went shopping. Some of that was errand-related, but some was also using the free gifts or other offers I'd gotten for my birthday, and doing some browsing, so that was nice. Alas, I didn't really find something I wanted to buy - I didn't need some of the freebies, so I got items I could give to other people - but it was a nice time anyway. We had dinner at home, and my chocolate cake afterwards, of course. And we watched the latest Loki episode before people started going to bed.
All in all, it was truly a wonderful day, and I'm very thankful for it.
Life has continued to be nuts. I'm behind on weeding, school, getting ready to travel to OR on Monday to fetch my dad and bring him to NJ (flying back with him on Fri). It's why I'm doing this post so late (or is that "early"?) because I wouldn't have time otherwise!!
Again, if I've missed important news or posts, please let me know, and I'll come look straightaway. For now, though, I'm off to bed.
Earlier in the week I was feeling particularly sorry for myself - not at turning 50, but at not having a way to really celebrate it, aside from spending it with the same people I see every single day. I mean, I love those people, but with Covid still an issue, plus the whole "Well, your friends live all over the world" thing, there wasn't any way to have any sort of party.
I got over it, though, and in the end, I really had nothing to complain about at all. My family got up stupidly early (5a) to decorate the whole house in a mix of tropical and birthday decor (I'm pretty sure they bought out Party City. Twice.). People gave me really thoughtful gifts: books, of course, but also a new Kindle to replace the one my dad hid in May, an underwater camera so MiniPlu and I can take snorkeling pics in Hawaii, some awesomely creative stuff from Two (hand-drawn bookmarks for Cemetery Boys, Carry On/Wayward Son, Red White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop), fan art to go with some fanfic he'd written by hand (in a sign of the times, the fan art was rolled into a tube shape and tied together with ... the elastic on a medical mask), the promise of a nice dinner - just Will and I - in Hawaii, paid for by MiniPlu, and money toward my new laptop (mine started seizing up and shutting down without warning - repeatedly - a week or two ago. I've been using Will's ever since).
I'd decided to go out to brunch rather than dinner. It was our first time eating out (rather than getting takeout) since the pandemic started. We had hoped to eat outside, but tables were limited, since we had 7 people in our group. In the end, we were brave and ate indoors but, thankfully, the large table we got was in an alcove separate from other diners so we felt marginally safer there. Brunch was delicious - I got a gf Belgian waffle with fresh blueberries.
In the afternoon, after talking to my mom, the kids and I went shopping. Some of that was errand-related, but some was also using the free gifts or other offers I'd gotten for my birthday, and doing some browsing, so that was nice. Alas, I didn't really find something I wanted to buy - I didn't need some of the freebies, so I got items I could give to other people - but it was a nice time anyway. We had dinner at home, and my chocolate cake afterwards, of course. And we watched the latest Loki episode before people started going to bed.
All in all, it was truly a wonderful day, and I'm very thankful for it.
Life has continued to be nuts. I'm behind on weeding, school, getting ready to travel to OR on Monday to fetch my dad and bring him to NJ (flying back with him on Fri). It's why I'm doing this post so late (or is that "early"?) because I wouldn't have time otherwise!!
Again, if I've missed important news or posts, please let me know, and I'll come look straightaway. For now, though, I'm off to bed.