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Year Two, Day 249: A Very Happy Birthday!

My Daughter and I after our relaxing massages at Dynamic Massage in NW Portland.

Best birthday ever! My daughter and I went to Dynamic Massage in NW Portland. One of my piano students gave me a gift certificate for Christmas. And I gave my daughter a gift certificate for Christmas!  Had a most healing massage with Ben. He specializes in Thai massage. Hence a lot of stretching. Which I so need!

I wish I would have taken a before picture.  We were a little stressed out after the drive down. There is still a lot of ice on the roads.

After our most relaxing massages, we walked down to NW 23rd in search of a good lunch spot.

We found a PHENOMENAL lunch spot!

The Matador. http://matadorrestaurants.com/nw-portland

OMG their lunches were incredible!  I had pork verde stew, a salad, and a beef carnitas soft taco on a corn tortilla.  With homemade chips and salsa and coffee. And the atmosphere was perfect!

It would be a great place for a date.

I may just have to dive back into the dating pool because I so want to go back to this restaurant!


The Matador Restaurant, NW 23rd

The OMG lunch!

We stopped at New Seasons in NW Portland afterwards. OMG, the produce was a work of art. My daughter and I speculated that they hired a "produce polisher" to polish each individual piece of fruit and vegatables. So beautiful and fresh everything was!

We got the makings of a nice beefy vegetable soup which I made when we arrived home.

We took a different route home. The freeway was way too scary earlier.  There were still a lot of icy bumps, but people were going much slower. And even though the temps never went above freezing, the sun was out all day, and there was the illusion of melting snow.

I hear that early next week we are in for a heat wave. Rumors of temps in the upper 40's. Also rumors of flooding.

Are we living in the end times or what?

Well, be that as it may. I have enjoyed this 55th birthday.  It was low key. The rest of my family will get together with me next week when the snow is gone.

I so loved all the birthday greetings on Facebook. I realized that I don't care about cards or presents, but just knowing I mean something to so many people. With each person who wished me a Happy Birthday, I thought about them and had pleasant memories.

My son had the sweetest thing to say on Facebook:

 "Happy birthday mom!!! You are always there for me. I couldn't ask for a better mom know one could ever replace you love you with all my heart."

 Now if that doesn't bring a tear, you are heartless!

 I asked my daughter why she didn't post a Happy Birthday on my Facebook page.  She rolled her eyes and said, "That means nothing Mom. I spent the entire day with you!"  

 LOL. She did. And it was wonderful!

 But my mom takes the cake with her voicemail this morning. She called and wished me a Happy 55th Birthday. Then she said:
"I remember the day you were born. It was a day like today. Cold and snowy. The nurse came in and told me to take a bath. But we had just found out the pipes had frozen and there was no hot water. I told her I did not want to take a cold bath.  But she was an Air Force Seargent (I was born at James Connelly Air Force Base Hospital in Waco, TX). She wouldn't take no for an answer. So on this day 55 years ago, I took a cold bath. Happy Birthday!"

And on that note, Happy Sunday! :)

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