I had a really good day today… got lots done.. didn’t stress to much.. got exercise and took it pretty slow. I’m being very mindful of how I’m feeling going into my birthday tomorrow.  It’s already my brithday in much of the world..   At one level I think I’m doing pretty well.. at a another level I can feel myself being argumentative and brittle with folks at work and folks on the phone., .. a sure sign of hidden stress for me.. I’m reminding myself to observe rather than judge when I see myself doing something like this..      I did a bunch of observing today.. how am I feeling abut being another year older.. how am I feeling about Sam ?   All in all… I feel pretty ‘ok’ .. we’ll see how tomorrow goes..

   The day passed quickly with work stuff.. first a home then a few hours at Champlain.. As I said productive.. but not too much to report.    This evening we had the treat of going to Gabe’s classes;’  Shakespeare plays..  I got there at 5:30 since I was the official videographer. It was chaos in the rooms as the kids got ready

Finally it was time to start !

the kids were magnificent.. there were 5 different plays.. each about 20 minutes long. They included excerpts from Midsummer Night’s  Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Much Adu About Nothing, and Taming of the Shrew.. which Gabe was in.

Here’s Gabe waiting to go on….

Here’s Austin as Malvolio

Gabe had a great part that included him getting hit over the head with a guitar.. t was really, really cute.

Here’s Will

and Sydney…

At the end of the play everyone scattered. in a few minutes the theater had been carried away.

After the play we went to the Cider House in Waterbury to hear Marshal and Friends play some really . really excellent Irish music. Tim and our mutual friend Mark came down to join us. The place was packed..

Rusty and Rj’s mom was there and tipped them off that it was my birthday.. They sang a great ‘Happy Birthday’ Irish style to me.. it was really wonderful.. I needed it !

There were many of our friends in the bar.. Aisha, Elisabeth, Wanda, Rusty and Rj’s mom and her husband and friends, the Ferrel’s neighbors. It felt like old home week .
 At one point, Diane, Gabe and Max snuck off to play pool.. When I went to get them. Gabe was glued to this pre-video, video Machine. it was fun watching him play..

OK.. I’m falling asleep after each sentence.. time to say good nigt.. It’s one minute until my 49th birthday.. I’m going to make it a good year.. I love you All.. I love you Sam… Happy Birthday to me !

-me

ps. Our team from Mexicali is taking the  penguin plunge tomorrow at around 11 to 11:15.. If you’re still interested in sponsoring us . please let me know ASAP. Thanks !