My housemate surprised me this morning. During the night he had put out a birthday cake with candles, a vase of tulips, and some Edith Head collectible paper dolls! What a COOL thing to find in the kitchen at 5 AM. Really, it made my day and the day was just getting started.

The cats got together and had a sculpture of me made out of old stinky fish parts. I will treasure it forever! It is truly amazing how much it really does look just like me!

Okay, just kidding about that particular bit, but really I am having such a nice birthday. The Monty Python show on Sunday was so fun, then lunch with my cousin yesterday, and today (my birthday — 54!!) is all about taking it easy and eating cake! (I do have to take a writing webinar this afternoon but I guess that’s a birthday gift I’m giving myself & my career, so I’ll look on it like that and not like it’s work.)

Here’s the haul so far, gang!