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| 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!!
:-)
Happy birthday, a day late it seems. You are doing all the right things. No wonder you look fabulous. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. Your exercise regimen is commendable including the use of those ankle weights.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day! I'm so happy you had a happy birthday, DJan. You look wonderful and that meal sounds scrumptious! I have only ever had Creme Brulée once, at a very fine restaurant in New York and it was just amazing! Happy Birthday, once again. Wishing you many, many more.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very happy Birthday DJan, you are truly an amazing lady, hitting the ground running each day, and stopping for nothing.
ReplyDeleteI wish you many more active years, you certainly know how to enjoy life to the fullest :)
Hugs,
Jo
Is Leo the "baby" who grew up before your eyes? LOL.
ReplyDeleteThose weights will strengthen your legs for hiking.
Aerobic exercise is great for the heart, especially since your parents had heart disease.
Finally, that superb dinner! Wow! I have never had trout. Wonder if it tastes like mahimahi. I am all for shrimp cocktail and creme brulee, too!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAN!!!
smiles. what a wonderful day...and would love some seafood...mmm....happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Sweetie! I am SO glad you had a terrific time. {{big hugs}}
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday DJan!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a wonderful day. I love the photo of you and the class (ham it up all you like, it makes for a fun photo).
Happy Birthday! Smart guy's a handsome dude....glad you had a full and happy day!
ReplyDeleteYou look great for your 68th Birthday DJan!
ReplyDeleteSmiles to you and wishes for many more!
Belated Happy Birthday DJan! It looked like you had fun. You are so energetic – all these walks then the gym class on top of that – you do look great, more like you are in your early 50s. I read all your posts – I could not believe your snow already. When we came back from Guatemala it was in the 70s here at Thanksgiving. Today is our coolest day but we have so much sun all the time. Thanks for coming to my blog while I was away. We just opened a bottle I bought in Cozumel, Mexico – it is a liquor made of honey and a bit of anisette called Xtabentum, Licor Maya. I had a small glass to celebrate your birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, DJan! It looks like you had a wonderful day!
ReplyDelete(BTW- You sure don't look your age!)
A huge Happy Birthday, DJan. I'm so impressed with all of your physical activity! And I love that you have a young friend who brightens your day at the coffee shop. Can't think of any better birthday food than salmon, shrimp, trout, and creme brulee. Hope your celebration continues right up until, say, Christmas!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you keep so active. Difficult to do in our PNW climate... I sure miss riding my bike this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you celebrate birthdays! The little one on your lap is an ahhhhh moment. He reminds me of my much loved grandson.
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with the terms waitress and waiter. What is a waitperson? Is it someone who has been neutered?
ReplyDelete68, eh? Enjoy because in 2 years you'll be 70! lol Happy Birthday. Isn't it fun to celebrate over a week's time? Great photos.
ReplyDeleteHubby's going to be 77 in a few days......and yes, I'll remind him that in 3 years he'll be 80. :D But remember when you turned 8, you could hardly wait until you were 10. Then at 10 you were looking forward to 12.
Happy Birthday, DJan!! It sounds like the perfect day to me. Loved the pics.
ReplyDeleteI want to be like you when I grow up! You look great, and no wonder! I always feel so lazy after reading about your physical activities. The dinner sounds wonderful - all of my favorites! And don't worry about the calories - that's partially why you do all that exercising, right?
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely, and the food sounds so yummy. It's no wonder you look so wonderful and are able to do so much. I should aspire to do half what you do.
ReplyDeleteMay this year be completely wonderful!
Happy Birthday D-Jan. I hope the next year will be especially good for you :)
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are lovely. You all look so keen!
The seafood restaurant looks good too.
x Star
A little faceelf told me it was your birthday. What a great day you had. And with all the hiking and workouts you'll burn off the burnt cream in no time!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you wrote about your Birthday! Glad it was such a happy one!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you! You are one special gal..I wish you the best year ever..you and Smart Guy make a handsome couple! :)
ReplyDeleteSixty-eight years of age. Most fence posts would be gone or well-gone in 68 years. I know any car that I owned would be a bucket of rust—long past tune-ups and overhauls. I have lived with my wife and saw her zip by 68 and she is now on 74. I went through 68 and would have to look in one of my journals to see what I was doing. I feel like I am on 76 and wish I didn't have this breathing problem. I would still jump up and go do something like I used to do. Birthdays are genuine milestones and why we celebrate them is a mystery to me but we do. And I must confess that I like birthdays. I like my birthday and I got 5 kids who are mostly middle aged or 50 or beyond and only two under 50.
ReplyDeleteI scrolled down and read your 68th birthday story and saw your pictures and was fascinated by the post. Fascinated is a good word. It is fascinating to me that you are so active and do so many different things and the things you do is like: "Amazing" to me. Five pound weights on my feet/legs would be exactly like wading through a field of muck and mud. I've done in when I was in my prime and felt like I was gonna die - talk about muscles burning.
I could go on. But the payoff is simple: "Happy Birthday" from Abraham Lincoln. Patty sends her regards too.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great way to spend it! With great company, fun activities and good food! ;o)
hugs!!!
Happy Belated Birthday! I'm sorry I missed it when it happened... I've been a little distracted. Looks like you had a fabulous birthday! :)
ReplyDeleteThough my wish is late it is heartfelt. You do enjoy those moments.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a great birthday! And how wonderful to have a young child in your life!
ReplyDeleteA belated happy birthday....loved that you make the day special. I recommend it to all I know to do the same. You reminded to enlarge the photo of you and Smart Guy. Thanks. Now I need to know how to download it. My daughters would love to see this pix.....
ReplyDelete