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I keep planning to post, but having little interruptions. Monday night, our internet went out for some reason. Yesterday was my birthday! I was having a lovely day, until I learned that Ursula K. Le Guin had died and everything took a turn for the sad. Then I called my mother, and she was distressingly confused. She started out all right and wished me a happy birthday. Then she repeated a whole conversation we'd had just the night before, about how she wanted to send me a t-shirt, but didn't like the color yellow. Meanwhile, she kept harping on the fact that I didn't have any guests or company. I told her I was quite happy, but she kept repeating her comments. I never had birthday parties as a child. My parents didn't like them, and the one time I begged my mother to let me have friends over like other people, it was a disaster. So it was upsetting to have her keep rubbing it in that I didn't have any friends, even though I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it and didn't even know what she was saying. By the time I got off the phone, I was pretty shook up.

There were lots of good parts before that, though. We went out for breakfast at a place that has the most amazing breakfast choices. I had the so-called "Healthy Waffle," which is a large, deliciously crispy waffle smothered in vanilla yogurt, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries, and sprinkled with granola. I'm sure each ingredient is healthy enough by itself, but eaten all at once they are quite the opposite. However, I feel no qualms about doing it once a year! We stopped at a local bakery on the way home, and got two cupcakes, one carrot and one coconut, to plant the candles on. We thought it would be wiser not to get a whole cake, because then we'd have to eat the whole cake! I went home and did some writing in front of a nice fire in the fireplace. We also ate dinner there--take out sushi and a glass of champagne.

Friends and children called and sent cards. The Sparrowhawk gave me a tremendous pile of imps from Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs, so now I can smell different every day. I do have friends, and in fact I was quite touched and abashed by all the kind good wishes that people sent on Facebook and elsewhere. A friend is taking me out to lunch on Friday, and we just saw a bunch of people for dinner and a movie last week.

We've started going to the gym, and in fact, we have now gone three times to a cardio and strength fitness class, and once to recovery yoga, which may sound easy, but isn't. Today, the instructor talked to us after class because she hadn't seen us before. She thought we must have been working out somewhere, because our form was very good. She specifically praised my plank. Immediately any remnants of gloom were banished, because someone thought I was planking well! Oh frabjous day.