I'm a Palindrome!

I'm a Palindrome!  For the third time in my life!  I hope there are a few more palindromes out there. :)

Today I turned 33 and I have spent my birthday just as I wanted... I took the day off, turned off the alarm clock, partner took care of the kitten (who didn't realize that it was a day off at 6 a.m.) and have generally played all day.

When I finally got out of bed, we rode down to Peets for bike to work day.  No, I didn't have to work, but our friend was working the aid station and it just seemed like a fun thing to do.  We sat and enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee.

When we got home, I unwrapped presents!  Yay!  I just love surprises and I'm a big kid about presents. My parents and (twin) brother sent REI gift certificates and I think I'm going to try out Vibram running shoes.  My Dad also sent a framed copy of a Reggie Jackson Day poster; as he rightly pointed out, in 1986 I didn't have the good sense to frame the one I received.  He even had the tickets in the frame.

I think my friend Nova's blog has magical powers, because yesterday she asked what we wanted for our next birthday and I said I'd really like a clean house so I could relax today.  I came home from work, and everything was clean!  

The thoughtful gifts from Partner continued today with a tiffin lunch pail and bamboo utensil set to take to work, a Stephanie Pearl-McPhee book, a subscription to Mother Earth News, and handmade sheepskin slippers! Here's a picture of all my thoughtful gifts, pre-unwrapping.  

Beeyore is in the front 'wrapping' a new water bottle cap, which just made me laugh.  I told you I was a kid.

Today was a running day on the training calendar, a 5K day, or 3.1 miles.  Not only was it a beautiful day, but I felt great!  And then Partner pointed out that I really ought to run 3.3 miles.  So we did.  We run at Joaquin Miller often; we are very lucky to have such a great park close to home.

 

I forgot my camera... picture from GateTrails.com 

Then we came home and enjoyed a healthy (ahem) lunch in the backyard.

I admired our first tomatoes that must have just shown up in the past few days:

After picking up leaves and fertilizing the garden for a couple hours, we came in and cleaned up.  Now, the day is drawing to a close.  My feet are up and we're watching a tape delayed showing of the Fulham vs. Athletico final of the UEFA Europa league.  Fulham just scored an equalizer and I'm hoping for a win.
(update 1 - we are going into overtime because it's still 1 -1)  

(update 2 - we lost in double overtime... so this is their only goal. :( )

So, since birthdays are (partially) about gifts, a present seems in order.  I won't claim to be original - I admit to stealing the idea from my friend.  Two years ago, my friend was pregnant.  I became impatient with waiting for her to find out the sex of the baby.  Especially when I knew she was going to have a girl.  So, off I went to get the perfect yarn for a baby surprise jacket, some green with a little pink.  Her little baby is named Little Mister.  I've gotta work on that baby intuition thing.

So, since the idea of a birthday giveaway was hers, it only seems appropriate I offer you the two skeins of Koigu KPPPM in colorway Frog Leg that were meant for her (little one).  Enough for some ladies socks or a BSJ for the new baby in your life.  And really, there isn't that much pink, it's more browns and creams - a little boy could wear it too.  I'll even wind it into cakes, if you so desire.

 so while this is stored in a plastic bag, it lives in a super-kitten friendly home

Just leave a comment by 11:59 PST on May 20th and tell me something about yourself.  What that is?  Well, that is up to you.  Mention my little giveaway on your blog and I'll enter you twice, just let me know.

Comments

[quirkygranolagirl]

that park you go running in is gorgeous! i'm jealous of the tomatoes. i can't even safely plant them in my garden yet. the yarn is very pretty. i think i have one skein of that same color! i could use another one or two--i have a shawl in mind. thanks for the giveaway.

[Geek Knitter]

I was sad about that Fulham loss, had such high hopes for them. Next year!

Happy Palindrome Year to you, and many many more.

[melissa]

happy happy birthday to you!!

i can't believe you have little green tomatoes already! i still have a week or two before i'll even plant mine!

that yarn is lovely, so let me think of something about myself that's interesting enough to share.... lily and i have the same birthday. did you know that already?
my favorite random fact to tell people is that i was a member of my high school's mime troupe. yep, i was a teenage mime. :)

there you go, hope that at least gave you a post-birthday chuckle.

[Kat]

Happy B-Day (again). green tomatoes. Ymm fried. Likewise frogs legs. Which harlot book did you get this time?

[Kelly]

Happy Happy BIIIIIIIIIIIIIrthday! *insert T and I doing the birthday dance here*
You got some lovely gifties, the lunch box is soooo cute!
as for something about me??? that you don't already know....hummmm how about a random piece of information like I don't enjoy chocolate. On occassion I will eat somthing with chocolate but I cannot sit down and eat a chocolate bar blech! I'd much rather has something salty, or perhaps penny candy, i'm a sucker for penny candy.

[Heather]

ooo the tomatoes look AWESOME. especially since there weren't any there, while i was :D ... yay slippers..(knew about them before i left..hehe :P)one would think i wouldn't need slippers this time of year where i am...but you would be wrong :D

happy birthday again BTW glad to hear you had a great day...

[karin]

Happy Happy Birthday!!! I will go mention your giveaway on my blog right after this. You are too generous!!
I have tried growing tomatoes a few times, but the little plot isn't sunny enough. The squirrels seem to enjoy knocking the barely red tomatoes off the vines too much, too...

[quinn]

I came here from the link on Karin's blog, so I think she should get extra credit :)

Your tomatoes are gorgeous. We can very close to a real frost one night last week, so I'm going to wait just a little while longer and then buy plants that are already well-started. Hedging my bets!

[Amy]

I also came on over from Karin's blog. You are right, she should get extra credit, especially since she is blogging after just having surgery!!

May 23rd is my 55th birthday! Born in 1955. My big day? I'm going to a knitting class - february ladies sweater!!

[jane]

jealous of tomatoes....sigh...but for my birthday, #60, my family got me chicks--they are very interesting. jane

[Joan]

Happy Belated Birthday-- I posted on Cocoknits right before you. We did it! Nicole is back! Something about myself: I live in France now, but grew up and went to school in Seattle. So when I read about your REI gift certificate my heart jumped a bit and I felt a little homesick. But not for long, since I'll be going over for a visit in August!

[Doreen]

Hi Katherine, Happy belated birthday! Couldn't help but notice that your and my interests stack up similarly although I think I would put ocean directly next to knitting even though I live in land-locked Saskatchewan and don't get to the ocean nearly often enough. (I also haven't even planted tomatoes yet and loved the photo of yours!) I take my knitting to the river as often as I can as my office is a five-minute walk from the riverbank!
I love the Frog Legs colour and if I do happen to be lucky enough to be chosen the winner, please don't wind it into cakes for me. My 95 year old dad loves to wind skeins into very neat round balls that never fall apart. He has wound all I have and is working on friends' skeins at the moment. He is always happy when I bring him more! Best wishes to you - Doreen

[kat]

Ok, so you wanted another comment. Something about myself. Hmmm.. How about Friday 5/28 is my last day on the job. I'm retiring to open a yarn store. And I will get you to learn spinning!!! This one should be worthy of "you're *(^^$&$% kidding me" again

[Rachel]

Oh, I missed both the fun and your Birthday! Happy belated 33rd!! It sounds like you had an amazing day and were pampered in the appropriate manner!!

Oh, and how cool is your running trail!!! Congrats on the 3.3 miles...you already answered my question...sounds like training is going well and that's great!

And you can't hear it but I'm cursing the fact that you have a tomato. Darn you and your warm temperatures. :)