Birthdays, travel, and football

"Happy Semisesquicentennial"

I learned a new word at Al's party on Saturday, as we celebrated his semisesquicentennial birthday. "Sesquicentennial" means 150 years, so the "semi" means he's only half of that. That "cake" is actually a mountain made of cheese, with pecans and walnuts around the sides. It was delicious. As people arrived with various things for his Diamond Jubilee (also 75 years), we had homemade baklava in the shape of diamonds, and even bowls of trail mix (for the hikers) and cough drops (for the singers). It was a lot of fun, and I managed to keep from making myself sick by carefully monitoring what I ate.

This weekend is the Superbowl, and we are in it for the second year in a row. I didn't go off and get my nails done in Seahawks colors this year, like I did last year, but the excitement is palpable in the entire state. You can't turn on the news without seeing Seahawks 12s everywhere. (A football team has 11 players on the field at a time, and the fans in Washington are called the "12th man." It seems everyone is one.)

And I am beginning to prepare for my trip to Turkey, less than two weeks away. I've got my carry-on suitcase and another to check in one corner of the living room, and I've started adding things to the pile that will go inside them. I ordered and received a new camera, very similar to my old one but better and really inexpensive, since the model has been discontinued. I managed to read hundred of reviews before making my choice. So that's done, and so far I'm quite pleased with it. It will go with me on Thursday, as our hike looks like it might be dry. Once it's not new any more I'll be less careful with it, but it's going with me on my travels in good shape.

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny warm day, but today the rain has returned. It was sure nice to see the sun for a couple of days. My mood is pretty darn sunny. Oh, I did go see American Sniper and now understand why it's been nominated for Best Picture: it's very well done, and Bradley Cooper is uncanny as Chris Kyle. When I think this is the same man who was in American Hustle in pink hair rollers I recognize that he definitely has quite a range. I'm glad I saw it; now I've seen all nine movies that have been nominated. I could never pick just one.
:-)