January 14. Day 14. Nailed it!

There's this Netflix show called Nailed It where people people look at cakes on Instagram and try to re-create them, always with disastrous results. Anyway, if you can celebrate the failures you certainly should be able to celebrate the successes. I totally nailed the 21st birthday present. About 15 months ago at the opening on an exhibition by Brisbane artist Starr I asked about the possibility of a Times Square painting. I wanted one for a 21st birthday for a Broadway boy. She said there would be one in the next exhibition and if I wanted to send through pictures of my ideas she would work to that. I could have first refusal. And so the deal was done. Fast forward to November and the exhibition. Oliver walked in and saw the painting. He saw the sold sticker. He was crushed. He even posed with Starr in front of the painting. How excited was I to see the look on his face when he realised that the person who had bought his precious Times Square was me and he was now its owner. Today it was hung in our house. Nailed it!

January 13. Day 13. Twenty-one today

 

 

Oh God, I'm officially old. My only child is now 21 which by every measure makes him an adult. I have claimed that I was 12 when I had him. Actually, I was 14 obviously in dog years or something.
In any event, he is all grown up and I am proud. I am proud of the fact that he is unashamed about who he is. I am proud of the people he has chosen to surround himself with. I am proud that he has shown such single-mindedness about his love for theatre. And I am proud that he still loves his mother.
Also, I shall totally take credit for the fact that two women dressed exactly like the lead characters of Wicked turned up in the venue where we partied.
I had nothing to do with it but who cares. It was awesome and just what a young man who loves musical theatre in general and Wicked in particular would want.
It was the icing on the cake.

January 12. Day 12. The cat's whiskers

Today is the day before my 21st birthday. On this day 21 years ago, I went into labour. This means that tomorrow I need to be the cats whiskers. Also I need to give a speech. These things both stress me so I might as well knock them off together. So on the way to the hairdresser I stopped off at both the markets and an art shop. I wanted quality pen and paper. I wanted to write on quality paper with a quality pen, actually write. For a reason I don't quite understand there was a cat in the art store. I'm not sure that cats paint or draw or have any need for any other products in the art store. However, there was one and it looked right at home. And I took a photo and then I went to the hairdresser and scribbled things. By tomorrow those things may look like a speech.

January 11. Day 11. The Life of Brian

The Life of Brian was on TV tonight. If I bothered to look it is probably true a Monty Python classic is on TV most weekends but this seemed strangely poetic and appropriate. This morning at Birkdale I attended the funeral of a bloke called Brian. He was the father of a dear friend, a husband and grandfather. He was a Brisbane community theatre stalwart, an actor, director, educator and mentor. It was a very beautiful service and afterwards I felt the need for quiet reflection. As is my way I went to Wellington Point to see the water and watch the birds. I watched the welcome swallows as the swooped and soared. They were so pretty and graceful. It seemed fitting and right.

January 10. Day 10. City slicker

 My "baby" turns 21 on Sunday. This officially means I am old - really, really old. I have mostly outsourced the celebrations but there are still things that need to be done in preparation for the big event.
Today this included getting my legs waxed (because EVERYONE at the party will surely be checking out the hairiness of my pins) and collecting clothing in the city.
I'm sure there were other things I could have or should have done. I'm pretty sure that's about all I achieved - other than narrowly avoiding getting the car towed because everything always takes longer than it you think it will and most city streets become clearway at 4pm.
But in between chores and dodging parking inspectors, I did find myself down near the Botanic Gardens. It's the end of the city which is a strange mix of the high-rise glass and metal and the historic. It also has a rather nice view of the bridge. I wold have lingered and enjoyed it but time waits for no man - or woman especially not one with a party to organise.

January 9. Day 9. Plus one

Today was like deja vu all over again (yes, I do know that's a tautology ....).
Anyway today was like a re-run except last time there was only one.
Small people like the university lakes - there are eels and turtles and ducks and lizards and feathers and rocks.
Last time my friend Alison and I met at the lakes she had one son. Now she has two. I may have only been the owner of one dog. In any event two boys, two dogs and two school friends today gathered at the lakes for a later afternoon visit to the wildlife. It was, like it always is, a great time.
All the wildlife came out to play and the boys and the dogs appreciated it and the mums appreciated their joy.

January 8. Day 8. A paw-fect birthday

 Many people would think I'd have got bored with dog birthday parties by now.
Those same people may not actually understand why a dog would want or need a birthday party.
Well, none of that matters.
Rumple loves attention and I love Rumple. He may not know it's his birthday but I do and I like to mark the birthdays of those I love. It doesn't actually matter how many paws or feet they have.
So a party it will be.
We will enlist two every excited small boys. Winkle will look unimpressed because for 20 seconds she isn't the centre of attention.
And there will be a new outfit.
And there will be pup cakes.  Rumple will love the attention and particularly love the peanut paste icing.
We will wear party hats and play with balloons.
And we will do it again next year and every year Rumple is with us. I hope there are many, many of them.