Ups and Downs

Ups.. there are lots of them, but the biggest one was my birthday party! inflectionpoint organized it for me, at Menara's Moroccan Restaurant. I am afraid to start listing friends here, in case I miss someone! About 36 people showed up, from as far away as Santa Barbara and San Diego, from all of my universes; sf and costumer fandom, leather, work, friends of many years and of only one year. About a third of us dressed up.

We clearly entertained the entire restaurant with our presence. The food and its serving was wonderful; the boys in fezes pouring tea managed to do four glasses in one go. The honeyed lamb was so good even one of the vegetarians tasted it. The belly dancer outdid herself, getting numerous folks to twirl on the floor with her. There is video... I hope to share photos when I get permission to do so. :-)
I am so grateful for all of my fabulous friends!

Downs... adapting to riding every day. In the rain. With a new bulky tank bag. And construction (read gravel) at all four corners of my block. I went down yesterday, from a start to a right turn, gravel on that slippery road. I jumped off, and two guys came over and helped me lift it back up; the handlebars were kinda downhill from the rear of the bike, due to the carved out construction area. On I went to work. I've found my yellow jacket (though not put it on yet, huzzah), my winter gloves, my fleece shirt.

It's interesting... so much of this is psychological. As a friend said, a pleasure has become a workaday necessity. OTOH, things I used to grouse about (putting so much gear on, and then off, keeping extra shoes at work), are now more of a shrug; just stuff I do.

happy b-day!

ddysgrrl!