My first week as 40

Let me go back to last Monday, the 19th...

...When I found out that Shelly was leaving Monday day, and David was flying out on Tuesday, I decided that I would regret the rest of my life if I didn't play hookey from work and hang with my dear New York Friends! So my birthday morning I had breakfast at Macrina (http://www.macrinabakery.com/) in Belltown with Smelly Cat (Shelly)...before she took off for the airport. She then dropped me off at the cool (but small) boutique Hotel Max that David was staying at (http://www.hotelmaxseattle.com/) which was right across the street from my work place where I was "playing hookey"! LOL.

So there was David standing on the corner, and soon after Brian drove up in his bitchin' Toyota Previa van (with the break light hanging out). So then we were off, the 3 cubscouts with 30 years under their belts...off to rebond!

So spontaneously we set off for the Mukilteo ferry (David) wanted a little ferry ride on his trip out west... and we ended up on a road trip through Whidbey Island. We drove through Langley, then through Greenbank, and Coopeville as it lightly sprinkled. We joked and sang and laughed. David loved bringing up names from the past like Bari Nylund or Mark Dome.

Next thing you know we are at Deception pass on the beautiful but very high bridge. I was a good 'gulp' boy and walked the way across and back...DEAR GOD!

It was very high...but I dealt...

We then drove all the way around through Anacortes. I was hoping to see belated tulips in Skagit Valley but no luck...too late. Then David mentioned that Shanraye Song was the deli counter manager at the Mill Creek Safeway...and we almost stopped, but chickened out. But instead we took the Lynnwood 196th exit and went down memory lane. "There's Wilcox Park!...but where's the Tiki Hut?...there it is!" ..."Hey it's James Village!..." Next thing we knew we were in downtown Edmonds looking at the dismantled Old Mill Town. What happened? Off to Quintana Roo Mexican restaurant (where my Mom and I would go ask a kid)...but it was torn down for condos! So much had changed. We are OLD! Finally we decided to "drift on in" to the Drift On Inn next to the Edmonds ferry...but it's called Rory's now and is a big dive. After some greasy food and beer, we finished reminising on Sunset Avenue, and home I went.

At 7pm Noel picked me up and he took me for a wonderful dinner at Coupage in Madrona, YUM! (http://www.coupageseattle.com/)

...besides a wonderful dinner (highly recommended), my present was even better: my Boo, my Noelcito bought me plane tickets to Boston in August, so we could meet up with his Chicago friends in P-TOWN! Provincetown, Massachusettes!!! I have never been to New England, never to Cape Cod! I am soooooo excited! Beyond sounding so fun hanging on the beach and in clubs and on the cape with his friends, David and Doug may be there then, and definitely Dina Martina will be there (their friend Grady) doing his show! HILARIOUS! We saw Dina at Christmas last time David was here in Seattle. Can't wait! http://www.dinamartina.com/

Thank you for everything Davie! For flying out, for making me feel so special and filling my heart and also for a nice b-day lunch the day after my b-day with my work GF's>>>

WHAT A PERFECT BIRTHDAY DAY! WHAT A PERFECT BIRTHDAY WEEK! WOW!!!

...not to mention my fun Sunday Brunch with Noel, David, Mel, Kumi, Shelly, Daisy, Dad, Mar, Ty, Chels and Adam!

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE...my first week of my 40's. Besides crazy work...we had to decide on a townhouse since Noel's condo sold and closed. We were going between a one in Ballard we loved on 24th and 67th and one 6 block north of Greenlake on Stone and 85th. When all was said and done, we offered and they accepted on the Greenlake townhouse. (what a stressful process, offer, counter-offer, etc.)...So by JUNE 14th we are cohabitating in Greenlake!!! FINALLY! CAN'T WAIT!

Now I have to break it to Annabelle...atleast she will have the top floor to herself, away from the dog.

Next up? Noel is off to Chicago this weekend to a conference, and I...tons of SIFF movies! The Film Festival has started!!! http://www.siff.net/festival/index.aspx?detect=yes