Hello Forties!

Thank you to all my family and friends for making the transition to 40 so wonderful. All the emails, cards, phone messages, phone calls, Facebook notices, generous gifts ... everything! It was all great, fantastic, more than I could have asked for. And I loved hearing the stories some of you had about my early days on this planet :-)

Yesterday was just about a perfect birthday. After sleeping in a bit, Mark and I hopped on our bikes and headed to Moon's Kitchen Cafe for breakfast. I veered (only slightly) from my usual breakfast of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and toast to try the special scramble of eggs, bacon, mushrooms, cheddar, and jalapenos, all eaten to the tunes of 50s and 60s music, that of course I sang along to while I ate, even though my dad always taught me there is "no singing at the table" ;-). Yum! We then walked around downtown and window-shopped/talked on our cell phones (me to Mom and Mark to a friend), checked our PO Box, and rode back home.

After a few quick fun emails, we dashed off to the gym (really), as this is just the beginning of a major food-frenzied week/month/rest of the year. I had enough time afterward for a quick shower before heading off to The Bungalow, where I met up with Heather, our dear, dear friend who helped convince us to move here (thank you, Heather!!). Lunch was delicious: tomato basil soup, butternut squash ravioli in a sage brown-butter sauce, accompanied by my new favorite cocktail: gin (or vodka; I'm not picky) tonic with muddled cucumber, mint, and lime. More yum! (Thanks for that too, Heather!)

Then I dashed across the street for a haircut and eyebrow grooming, helped Heather move a table into her dining room for Friday night's feast (more on that to come), and stopped by Sarah G's to return her cruiser bike (sad to see it go). I picked up a couple of dollar tacos for Mark from Parrilla Grill, as he had stayed home to clean up while I was out celebrating (what a guy). I then had enough time to squeeze in a teeny bit of work and take a few more birthday calls before heading off to the final festivity of the day.

This time we walked downtown (no more cruiser bike) to the Basque Market for one of their cooking classes. While we nibbled on tapas and sipped various Spanish wines, we watched as the owners of the market (Tony and Tara) taught us how to make braised lamb and then how to use the leftovers (HA! who ever has leftovers from lamb?!?) to make empanadas. Then we got to eat everything that was prepared. All so very yummy!

So glad we walked, as it felt great to walk off all the wonderful food as we recapped the day. The stars were out (the rain/snow storm that had been predicted decided to delay itself, just for me), the air was crisp and cold, we crunched through leaves. Just what a fall birthday night should be.

Of course, the camera did not make it out of the house even once, so no photographic proof of my wonderful birthday. But lots of memories that will not be soon forgotten, even if the mind is the first to go now that I'm "old."

To Nana on Her 90th

I spent last Saturday with family and friends to celebrate Nana's 90th birthday party. It was a fabulous party for a wonderful woman. I wouldn't have missed it for the world (though the airline gods--and my own ditzy-ness--certainly had it in for me).

Nana, you are a beautiful, incredibly talented, classy, and gracious woman. You prove all those Hollywood types wrong--woman can and do age gracefully and beautifully, without one stitch of plastic surgery (or do you have a little something going on the side that we don't know about?!).

But more than that, it is what is inside. Mom gave me a book for Christmas, and in it, she mentions that your name, Lottie, means "petite/feminine/strong." How did your parents know that this name would suit you to a T?! You are generous and kind, but you are also honest and will tell us what you think if you think it is good for us (and though we sometimes hate to admit it, you are usually right). You have been able to do just about anything you put your mind to--from refinishing and restoring what looked to be useless furniture to designing and sewing an entire line of teddy bear clothes, from hosting incredibly fantastic parties to beating us all at basketball.

I'd like to think that because you and Grandpa helped raise me that first year (and many years in between) that I might have inherited many of these qualities. I'm still working on a lot of it, but it is definitely something to aspire to. However, I am the first to admit that no matter how hard I try, I will never inherit your sense of style! You have never, ever looked bad, even when you would be the first one up making us all fruit salad and toasting up bagels for breakfast. How do you do it?

I love you so much and I thank you for everything throughout the years.

And thanks to Charlie and Debbie for the great photo (which I "borrowed" from Snapfish)!

I Remember

I remember the scratchy tickleness of your goatee; getting to be the one who blew out the match after you lit your pipe; how stylish you always were, even when you were just out raking the leaves; the big blue bookcase full of your classical, opera, and Dean and Frank and the other boys music; the story of you so involved in a conversation that you buttered the wine cork rather than your breadstick; saving the heel of the rye bread for you; the smell of your tobacco; "1-2-3" jump and "ow-eee, ow-eee, ow-eeee"; writing messages to you on the workshop chalkboard; cocktail cruises on the party boat; dinners at Pete O'Neill's; our Monday morning commutes into the city, with a stop for a coffee and cream for you and a bagel for me; your blue-and-white seersucker suit; wearing your reading glasses; helping to clean out your pipes; how no matter where we lived, you always seemed to find a way to mispronounce the town or base; you and Nana dropping me off at Smith; your cosmo cocktail hours overlooking the lake; your stories of growing up in Brooklyn with the rest of the fabulous Darling clan; our California shopping trips to "Moivyn's"; trying to stay out of your political discussions; listening to you enjoy those same discussions with Uncle George and Mark and others; our discussion together that last Christmas; and so much more.

Thank you for helping to raise me those first months of my life and for so many more months after that; for taking us in all those summers (and falls and winters); for your constant love and support, no matter how far apart we were; for visiting me in my dreams these past few years; for providing an example of such a strong, loving, happy, supportive relationship (you and Nana set a high standard for us all to follow); your belief in me and in Mark.

I wish I had more of your generosity and kindness; your ability to strike up a friendship with just about anyone, anywhere; your good humor and positive outlook; your dignity and grace.

I love you, Grandpa. Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Me ....

... and to Shelby, Aileda, the father of the girl at the grocery store checkout counter, and any other Nov. 19-ers out there.

Having a birthday on a Wednesday means that for the most part, it was just like any other day, filled with work, going to the gym (OK, that's not really like any other day), laundry (nor is that), picking up dog poo in the backyard (nor is that), and other fun and exciting things. But the constant (welcome) interruptions throughout the day from e-mails, Facebook messages, and phone calls made it a much sweeter day. Thank you, everyone!

Last night, we went up to the town of Denton, a college town just north of us. "College town, you say? It must have been a night of loud music and alcohol." Well, the loud music part is correct. After dinner at a mediocre Mexican restaurant, we drove around the University of North Texas looking for our destination (bad planning on my part, as I did not get the correct address). After finally finding a non-permit-required parking space, we walked around campus, trying to find a student who was not talking on a cell phone so that we could ask for directions. Finally, a girl with a violin on her back and no phone to her ear pointed us in the right direction and said, "Follow that cello to the place that looks like an armadillo." So we did, though it was a surprisingly fast-moving cello and hard to keep up with. Sure enough, in the distance was a building that did indeed look like an armadillo . . . the UNT Murchison Performing Arts Center.

The Armadillo

There, we listened to the university symphony play tunes by Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff, and some guy named Lutoslawski. (I was going to load up some music to play along so you could get a sense of our evening, but I have no idea how to do that.) Anyway, the symphony was pretty incredible "for a bunch of college kids." And the piano soloist (Vladimir Viardo) was downright amazing. How did he keep track of all those notes!!??

The weird part was the building itself. As I said, from the outside, it was in the shape of an armadillo. Inside, it gave you the sense of being in an upside-down boat or the inside of an armadillo's belly. Either way, a kind of claustrophobic feeling. It was also just a tad bit musty smelling, adding to the sense of either being in a doomed ship slowly sinking to the bottom of the sea or being slowly digested by the world's largest roadkill animal. But, once the music started, my unease passed, and I was able to enjoy the night.

Inside the Belly of the Beast

Now it's back to "real life" and living the final year of my 30s as healthily and happily as possible, so that when I hit the big 4-0 I'll be just a little better off. My goal is to get in some sort of exercise for the next 364 days (yesterday, Day 1, I went to the gym), even if it's just a 30-minute walk with Kai. Anyone else care to join me on this one? (I almost didn't write that second-to-last sentence, so that when I didn't meet my goal, no one would be the wiser. But now I am fully committed. Ack!)

Birthday Ben

Happy Birthday, brother Ben!


We hope you have a happy day over there in the sunny land of Oz. We're sending hugs your way and will try to reach you via the wonders of Skype this weekend.

Happy Birthday, A. Karen (AKA The Queen Mother)!

We have been quite lax with the birthday wishes around here. I have no excuse. However, I can redeem myself with the fact that I contacted the missed birthday wishees (including Aaron, Heather, and Jay) via e-mail or phone or Hallmark e-card or Facebook or what-have-you. Because I am overdue with a post and because it is my favorite godmother's birthday, I thought I would write a quickie.


Welcome back from Aruba, Auntie Karen! It sounds like it was a blast, and we are quite extremely jealous that we were not there, celebrating and relaxing with you. I'm also hoping that all is set for you to "enjoy" using The Card! We will raise our glasses in a toast to you this evening (and the next evening, and the next--you know how much we enjoy a celebration or three). Have a very, very happy birthday! We love you!


In honor of your big day, Mark and I performed our civic duty/privilege at the voting booth (with Mark, my U.S. citizen husband, voting for the first time in his life. No photos of the momentous occasion . . . not allowed in the voting booth, of course. I thought about telling everyone there it was his first time . . . like maybe they'd make a big deal of it, like at the Rocky Horror Picture Show or something. But he insisted that we lay low and act like normal voters. Bah humbug!)

Happy Birthday, Ilan!!

Happy, happy birthday (a little bit belated). We cannot believe that you are one year away from the double digits!! We hope you had a wonderful day with lots of love, laughter, and good times (and presents). We only wish we could have been there to celebrate with you.

Our apologies for being a day late (although technically, it is still your birthday here in the States, so continue to party on in style). More apologies for this old photo. Our cache of photos is apparently not up to date!

Busy Birthday Weekend!

We are off to Austin to visit our good friends Marianne (pronounced Myanna) and Travis. But before we head south, we wanted to send out very happy, wonderful birthday wishes to a triumvarate of beautiful women in our lives:

Mum and Auntie Jane share the same birthday, although Mum's is today here in America (tomorrow in Australia) and Auntie Jane's is tomorrow. But whatever the day and wherever you are, we wish we were with you to help you celebrate with love and smiles.

And a belated birthday to the latest bride in our family, Mrs. Rebecca Bressani. We saw the photos, and your tropical wedding looked absolutely wonderful and a grand ol' party (who would expect any less from the McKay women and their clan?). Happy, happy birthday!!

So Much to Say ...

But we are on our way to Old Town Albuquerque with friends, so just a quick greeting to some of my favorite people who are having a special week:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DENISE!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE RAB!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHARON!!

And one more ...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!! :)

Unfortunately, that last one would have worked much better if it were actually me in the picture.

Happy Birthday, Mad Max!!

So looking forward to celebrating with you on El Rio Chama! Have a fantastic day and here's to many, many more adventures in the years to come (perhaps in France, hmmmm?).

p.s. So many pictures to choose from. I opted for the G-rated one for family considerations :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEBRA!

I'm a day late and always a dollar short, but I did not forget!! I just didn't get this posted in time. I hope you have a FANTASTIC year, my favorite "twin." Can't wait to celebrate with you at the lake in person. We love you ... Tara, Mark, Kai, and the ever-lasting Chester

Happy Birthday, Jon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ... to a fantastic (older) brother(-in-law). We hope the family is treating you to a fantastic day, and I hope Denise didn't make you work too much at your own birthday party.

P.S. I know it's an older photo, but I love this one!