Capt. Mondo's World o' Mondo-ness

Turned 39
One of the good things about being born on April Fools is that it is relatively easy for others to remember my birthday.

Got a nice email from Bryce and Aggie first thing in the morning, wishing me a happy birthday from far off Oman, where they are currently living and teaching. I normally take this day off of work, but a long-standing proposal I've been working on at the office was due, and I've taken several days off of work recently. Bill W. realized it was my birthday in the late morning at work, and treated me to dinner and a promise of a DVD I wouldn't normally buy for myself on what is become the tradition of "DVD Tuesday", when the new releases come out.

Best part was coming home to the preparations made in my honour by the kids, with substantial help in the cake department from our nanny. A thick vanilla cake with liberal amounts of chocolate syrup thrown into the mix, and vanilla icing on top festooned with mad amounts of colourful sprinkles. I also got a couple of pictures from Annie, and a pencil holder made up from a used toilet roll with a face and horns on it from Vanessa. The gift from Erika was a Bulova clock based on a Frank Lloyd Wright design -- all of them excellent presents.

Arguably the best present of the day came from Neda, our nanny, who told me that one the reasons she decided to become only a nanny to our kids was that were so generous and giving in nature, and not selfish like many other kids this Philippine grandmother has known through her years of service in other families. They were so excited about doing decorations, making presents and making the cake -- none of it strictly for them – and according to Neda, this is a rare thing these days.

This is my last year of relative youth prior to being officially past it. Whatever. Am easily having more fun now than I did 10 years ago. ;-)