Still celebrating birthdays

You know you can click to enlarge any picture, right?

Everyone has one, so they aren't really special, but they feel like they are. And I'll never have another sixth-eighth birthday ushering me into my sixty-ninth year. This year's birthday was especially fun, so I'll share it with my favorite bloggers. It all started by taking the bus to town and having my morning latte with friends at Avellino's. Above you see little Leo, his dad Robert behind. Leo insisted on paying attention to Gene while he took the picture. Leo brightens my day each workday (I mean workout-day), Monday through Friday. I realize I am one of those people who needs structure to my days, and this little guy adds a bright spot to go along with the caffeine.

Next, off to the Y where I take this class three days a week. The leg on the far right belongs to Joanne, the instructor. She has been teaching this class for 25 years. Her husband Les is the tall one behind her, and he took the next picture, which has about half the class who stayed afterward so I could chronicle my physical progress. (I did the same thing last year.) Of course I am hamming it up; it's my special day, after all!

One of the biggest differences this year is that I've started wearing my ankle weights to this class, five pounds each. This gives me quite a good workout, and I've learned that any exercise that allows you to work up a light sweat for a minimum of 15 minutes is a good workout for the heart. I manage to do this six out of seven days. After arriving back home around noon, I spent the early afternoon with Smart Guy before he took me out to dinner.

Here we are at Anthony's Seafood Restaurant, picture taken by our waitperson. That's Squalicum Harbor in the background, filled with boats. My friend Judy had taken me out to dinner the night before and I had salmon with her, so this evening I was treated to a four-course meal, starting with shrimp cocktail, a salad, rainbow trout, and a wonderful dessert called "burnt cream" (actually crème brûlée, just not in French). Although it was a lot of food, I was careful not to think of the calories, just of the scrumptiousness!

Just a wonderful day, and we have begun a tradition to continue into the coming year, starting with Smart Guy's birthday, since mine doesn't come around for another whole year! I can't wait!!
:-)