One day last week, I grabbed the mail and ended up with a surprise that left me feeling very antsy. I am not proud of my reaction. I’m purple in this text exchange, Tara is green.
To be fair, I was not expecting to find the contents of my mailbox swarming with ants, so instinct kicked in when I dropped that handful of insect-covered mail into the street (and then later went chasing after half of it thanks to a sudden gust of wind). I have a lifelong phobia of ants, which is a little embarrassing to admit, but it is what it is.
I Raid-ed the little bastards and then cleaned the mailbox with soap and hot water. And hung up a tiny No Vacancy sign in case those suckers try to come back.
Not a bad way to spend a birthday(s)
Day 3 of my birthday weekend (hey, why not?) is winding down and I’m feeling pretty good. Maybe it’s the chocolate milk I drank this morning, a once-a-year treat I have enjoyed on every birthday since…well, 2024. Hey, not all traditions have to be longstanding! Or perhaps I am experiencing a general sense of accomplishment and wonder.
Probably all of the above.
Saturday, we were busy clearing the fallen trees and branches from our garden fence. As you’ll recall, 70-mph winds from a thunderstorm caused widespread tree damage across town two weeks ago. We broke out the chainsaw and made fairly quick work of everything.
By the way, that might actually have been the result of a lightning strike. Sure looks like it to me, but then again, I’m no lightning-damage expert.
All that hard work was rewarded Sunday evening with dinner at The Village Supper Club in Delavan. Not only was the ambience first-rate, if you’re into MCM vibes and lakefront views, but the food was predictably delicious, from the Crab De Jonghe starter to the pork shank over Boursin whipped potatoes. One bite and I’d decided this was my new favorite supper club entree ever.
Yes, we took stuff home. Leftover food, I should clarify, and not those nifty gold salt-and-pepper shakers I was afraid might accidentally fall into my pockets when I stood up to leave. (They did not, by the way.)
Today, for my actual birthday, I really wanted to go hiking and drink chocolate milk. Goal #1 was quickly accomplished, as mentioned above, but hitting the trail was a dicier proposition, as rain and thunderstorms were forecast all morning. I finally said eff it and went anyway.
Didn’t regret it for a second.
The rain was light and intermittent for my first stop, a three-miler along the Scuppernong Trail, so I stayed fairly dry. Even defied gravity for a bit. But my luck ran out when I pulled into the parking lot of Scuppernong Springs Nature Park (such fun names!). Within minutes I was drenched, and the trail was muddy, and thunder rumbled ominously, but I soldiered on because this was a really cool place!
There were so many side trails I started to get turned around, but I couldn’t help myself; each offered a completely unique experience. Finally I decided to cut my losses, afraid I might wander around hopelessly lost for hours, and backtracked until I made my way to Zoey.
I was absolutely soaked, but didn’t even care.
By the way, that wife of mine got me the best damn birthday gift ever. I was over the moon excited to unwrap this:
A NASA-themed rocket lava lamp?! Shut the front door! Possibly the only thing to compete for my lava lamp affection would be my obsession with spaceflight. She really nailed this gift. (Inter)stellar job, babe!
And, she made me a carrot cake—my favorite—that, to carry on the theme, is out of this world.
Feels like I got spoiled this year!
Mark My Words 
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