I was planning to do a formal restaurant review of our outing to The Huether last eve with Steve and Diann – you know, rating the ambiance, decor, food, service etc. My favourite newspaper food critic? The inestimable Joanne Kates of the Toronto Globe and Mail. She’s pithy, doesn’t tolerate fools (or being treated like one), and never minces words. But I don’t feel like rambling on about our Barleyworks dinner. It’s my birthday weekend so I can do what I wish! Instead, here’s just a photo of the four of us at dinner:
b, steve, diann, me
This is actually the second photo that our server, Tonya [sidenote: likely the BEST service we have ever had at Barleyworks - thanks, Tonya!] took for us – in the first photo, Steve was still talking, see?
the photographic evidence
So, yes, today is the last full day of being me at age 40. I feel neither particularly up nor down about that. Turning 41 doesn’t have any pizzaz factor, not like 25, 40 or 50 (although I don’t even want to THINK about that last age achievement – freak me out!).
Favourite Birthday: Sweet 16. My dad took me to get my beginner’s driver’s permit. I passed and Dad presented me with my very own key – on a Mutual Life key ring – for our family car. I never felt so grown up.
Worst Ever Birthday: Thirty. I spent the day in tears. For some reason, I found this decade change totally traumatic. Early mid-life crisis?
I had some time this morning to work on my knitting while reading blogs (favourite form of multi-tasking). Here is an example of my very sophisticated system for pattern making:
these chicken scratches on the stuck-together sticky notes translate to...
...this stroller (as in baby) blanket; i didn't know the pattern would be a keeper when i started the design!
Note the Birthday Manicure I gave myself this morning. True to form, I smudged the polish right away. I never wait long enough. Black is my favourite polish colour – too bad it shows every ding so quickly and easily!
I worked at the store til 3 pm, and it was a day of shoe fittings. Since it’s only January 8th, people are still gung-ho on the Fitness Resolutions Theme, and we sold several pairs of runners to newbie athletes/treadmill beginners today.
Then it was off to Michael’s with my trusty sidekick, B. I wanted to make use of my two 50% off coupons and pick up two required items for my decorating class.
We walked in to Michael’s, ready to execute Operation Save-Some-Bucks. I had my supply list handy – they even provided the UPC codes on the syllabus! True to form, I couldn’t find what I needed (Easter egg hunting and word searches have never been my forte). Guess who came to the rescue?!…
how'd he find that so fast??! inner baked goods radar??!
Two coupons, two items: I gave B the “Wilton Decorating Basics Student Kit,” and I took the “Wilton Ready to Use Decorator Icing.”
(photo snapped after we arrived home)
We lined up, products in hand…
hey, it's all legit! "two" customers, two products, two coupons...
I sent B up to the check-out first. Since there were, like, five other tils open, I assumed I’d be going further down the line.
stay calm and move along...
Of course things never go according to plan! I got called up to the same cashier! But all went smoothly – whew! And 50% savings is nothing to sneer at! B’s total: $26. My total: $2.98. Haha!
I still need to go back now for this:
"wilton decorating colors"
…but I’ll wait until next week…and use the 40% off coupon we received tonight (it’s in the photo, above, of the kit and icing).
Now for tonight’s celebratory plan! We’re going to spend the eve with Snooki:
(we PVR’d the Season 3 premier of Jersey Shore from last eve…don’t start, I know it’s such mind-enhancing and enriching viewing) 
and
Dennis Leary:
(source)
We’re midway through Season 2 of Rescue Me. Hooked. Must watch more.
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Attention Email Subscribers!!!
If you receive blog updates via email, I just wanted to put a bug in your ear…
When I started my blog a year ago, I used the PAGES system for each component of the 1970 Kiki Project. I now wish that I had just used separate posts for each recipe, movie review etc…ah well, can’t go back in time. But, in order to archive the first edition of the project, I’ve now created posts for 40 Movies, 40 Reads, 40 Cereals, and TWO posts for 40 Recipes (#1-20 and #21-40). I have these posts ready to “go live” tomorrow morning (Sunday January 9th). Just wanted you to be aware that, likely, you will be receiving a few emails (all these posts) and also that the recipe ones are quite long, given the number of recipes included. I will be removing/updating the “pages” links on the left-hand side of the home page, too. Thanks for your patience with hitting delete having your inbox slightly inundated with Kiki emails.
Tomorrow is a big day!
- Birthday!
- The grand reveal of the 1970 Kiki Project, 2nd edition!
Enjoy your Saturday Night!
Comments
I just have to laugh so much at your Michaels experience! I’ve been buying things at Michaels for years and using their coupons. My friend, Andrea, and I always groan about how picky their rules are. But I have gone in there numerous times, buying one item with a coupon, walking out and putting it in the car, and then promptly going back inside to get another item with another coupon – going to a different cashier if I could! Like, what’s their deal, anyway?! Do they want our business or what? I can see that they don’t want us to hold up the line by asking for different bills for each coupon we use, but what’s the problem with going in line twice on the same day? Yeah, my girls’ group has had some major Michaels B-sessions before – how can you tell?!
By the way, beautiful knitting job there, as per usual!
Happy (early) birthday!
thanks, my friend! i think they’ve hooked me in now…it’s appealing to spend $ then get another coupon to spend more $…excellent business strategy! i like your method of taking advantage of the coupons, too!