Birthday Update

Did I say how much I like birthdays? It's still true...they're fun. Lara and I spent the day together yesterday. Went to International District in Seattle to eat at a great Vietnamese restaurant, Green Leaf. It's across the street from behemoth House of Hong (which I wouldn't recommend). Even from the sidewalk outside Green Leaf the smells were intoxicating. We ordered 5 things, brought most home: Vietnamese pancake, fresh rolls (the best I've ever had), green mango salad, duck soup with noodles & cabbage salad (I didn't like some flavor in the soup but Lara loved it), pickled plum soda. I didn't expect much from the soda but got it because I love pickled plums so much...and eureka, I loved it!

We had planned on going to How to Cook a Wolf later for dinner but realized we wouldn't be able to do 2 big meals in one day so just came home and vegged out in front of a big honking fan. It was a HOT day. So I think the best part of this birthday was getting to just hang out with Lara....with nothing else on our schedule. That's so rare. We watched the first segment of the Wooster and Jeeves series. It's called "The Arrival" and it is my all-time funniest fave.

Today I get my official present from Lara: a massage!

Then back to Oly tonight to get ready for the workshop. And if I'm not spread too thin, will spend the night with brother Ted and wife Vicky Wednesday so we can go picture-taking on Mount Rainier early the next a.m. Oh, gosh, and my 1st Salmon Stewarding of the year Thursday.