Birthday decisions

I've been ignoring an upcoming birthday.  But then the first card came in the mail on Thursday, and another on Saturday (thank you).  It's not a "big" birthday with a zero at the end, or anything like that, but my son has gone and married into a family that does things like birthdays.

In any case, when the Mythical Son showed up to collect Carl on Tuesday evening, he brought up the subject, with the casual "What do you want to do for your birthday, Mom?"

"Birthday?  I have a birthday?"

"Well, yes.  Do you want to go out to dinner?  Or we could go to the dog park."

Given the choice, it's obvious to me!  I'm still not entirely comfy eating out at sit-down places.  "Weather permitting, the dog park!"  

Of course after he left, that got me to thinking about "weather permitting".  What if it's cold (I mean, it is November, after all)?  And that brought to mind my creeping girth.  Sigh!

So a decision to be made:  commit to once again "slimming down" for the Winter to fit into the existing coat, or spring for a new one.  One has to understand that the old coat was purchased sometime between 2011 and 2014.  When I was at my running trim.  Last year I went on the intermittent fasting about this time on the calendar, and slimmed myself back into the old coat.  

I ordered myself a birthday present: a new Winter coat that will fit me at my current size.  It will also allow for losing a bit or (sigh) a little more creep, but I really don't want the creep.  (Remember that, Barb!)

The website claims it will arrive the Friday after Thanksgiving.  I'm changing coat colors.  You have to do that, or nobody will know you got a new coat, right?😁😁

Speaking of the more immediate Friday, I awoke to 36℉.  This was perfect for the heating check that had been re-re-scheduled to Friday.  I put on my mask (just in case), and proceeded to show the guy around and let him do his work.  I moved the laptop up into the office, as opposed to at the kitchen table and puttered while he did.

His visit, as needed as it is to have this done each year, left me feeling wiped out.  

Saturday I hunkered down, but I did order groceries for curbside pick up.  

I anticipate that I will be on my own for Thanksgiving.  The distaff side of my son's newlywed family is gathering at a pet-friendly hotel and they are packing up birds and dog and all for the trip, about 3 hours down the road.  I opted out.  The Prisoner does not travel.  I did stock turkey breast filets and stuffing mix, and I will make a pumpkin pie for myself!  I am thankful that their family can gather, for the first time since pre-pandemic (that makes it three skipped Thanksgivings and Christmases).  I know they are all looking forward to meeting the latest child born to a cousin.

I received an invitation to spend Thanksgiving with my walking-partner sister's family.  As of Sunday I'm in "wait and see" mode.  

Sunday morning, we started out with overcast skies and rain predicted.  The Prisoner wanted to be outside while he could be. 

My son and I had left the dog park outing as a "weather permitting" thing.  We got very lucky with the timing, and had "mostly cloudy" for the duration of our stay at the dog park.

Carl did the agility course "his way", balancing on top of the "tunnel" tube, instead of going through it.  DIL insisted on a family portrait of The Mythical Son with his Mom and Carl.

Despite there being fewer than the normal numbers of canines out at the park, Carl got his zoomies on, stretching those springs he calls legs fully.

DIL with Carl, getting him to "hold it" (keep a treat on his nose) while sitting atop the obstacle.

Carl does not do "weave" very well, but runs straight through the weave pole obstacle.

A nice outing for Barb's birthday treat, just about as long as it needed to be.  It had started to rain, so the kids headed home with a wet Carl.  He was due for a bath, anyway, as my son noted to me before we set out.

Life is Good!  So keep on sparking!