The festivities IMG_0711 IMG_0712 began the night before the day before the day after my birthday with a salad and a box from Chez Alice IMG_0713 as Jane was online IMG_0714 Benjamin was playing chess IMG_0715 and Suzanne was getting ready IMG_0716 for the treat to come. My attempts at self portraits worked badly IMG_0717 and then even worse IMG_0718 so someone else had to try to capture me IMG_0719 IMG_0720 IMG_0721 IMG_0722 IMG_0723 IMG_0724 as Jen tried to get Jane IMG_0725 to look better IMG_0726 but it took a few tries IMG_0727 to get to this IMG_0728 as my birthday was toasted IMG_0729 and the tortillas IMG_0730 were flashed IMG_0731 into view. The main event, as always, was when the cake appeared IMG_0732 IMG_0733 and we took family pictures IMG_0734 IMG_0735 to go with the birthday pictures IMG_0736 IMG_0737 and one last look at the cake IMG_0738 before we devoured it.

The next morning, the celebration continued at Small World where Sarah ate granola IMG_0739 Suzanne had skim decaf latte IMG_0740 and I had chai tea with skim milk IMG_0741 while posing for a birthday photo IMG_0742 on my not really my birthday birthday.

Then I met Michele IMG_0743 IMG_0744 for lunch at Triumph. She took my picture IMG_0745 and then prepared her iced tea IMG_0746 as her portobello IMG_0747 and mine IMG_0748 arrived to keep us nourished.

I was surprised in the afternoon when the gang at work IMG_0749 appeared at my door with this cake IMG_0750 large enough so that cake was left for Ken IMG_0751 and Kai IMG_0752 who arrived later. Ken IMG_0753 IMG_0754 IMG_0755 took this picture of me IMG_0756 as Kai finished the cake IMG_0757 in time for me to think about the next meal.

Seva and Suzanne both reached for the bottle of pinot grigio IMG_0758 Michele had given me but this did not rouse Benjamin from the couch IMG_0759 when it was time for us to leave. The table at Acacia IMG_0760 was set well as Peter Kramer IMG_0761 arrived dressed just like me. Suzanne IMG_0762 Seva IMG_0763 and I IMG_0764 had our champagne IMG_0765 and then studied the menu IMG_0766 to get our first courses IMG_0767 IMG_0768 IMG_0769 IMG_0770 before the main course came IMG_0771 IMG_0772 IMG_0773 IMG_0774 and filled us enough that we were not totally tempted by the dessert menu IMG_0775 IMG_0776 though we had an espresso IMG_0777 a coffee (decaf) IMG_0778 and a tea IMG_0779 before looking at the flowers IMG_0780 and deciding to split these two -- for the women IMG_0781 and for the men IMG_0782 before the gift giving began. My gift was this book IMG_0783 IMG_0784 which Peter and Seva posed with IMG_0785 before I opened it IMG_0786 and cited a few unexpected phrases IMG_0787 tied to our past. After capturing this sign IMG_0788 for my collection, the meal was over.

Back at home, the chess board IMG_0789 called to Peter IMG_0790 who worked Ben into this position IMG_0791 before Ben tricked him into a stalemate. Peter then took pictures of me IMG_0792 Ben IMG_0793 and Suzanne IMG_0794 as we played Clue.

It was the next day and the celebrations seemed to continue. We drove to Philadelphia where Judy studied the photos IMG_0001 I had brought and then explained them to Suzanne IMG_0002 before we headed off to the Blue Angel IMG_0003 and made our way in IMG_0004 for dinner. The bread IMG_0005 accompanied my wine IMG_0006 and got us ready for our salads IMG_0007 IMG_0008 IMG_0009 IMG_0010 and main courses IMG_0011 IMG_0012 IMG_0013 IMG_0014 before taking the bus girl's IMG_0015 picture and pictures of the ceiling IMG_0016 floor IMG_0017 and walls IMG_0018 of the restaurant. The dessert menu IMG_0019 IMG_0020 reminded me to capture this photo IMG_0021 for my collection as I also noted the elegant ceiling IMG_0022 IMG_0023 in this bath room where they try to teach you French. The restaurant's card IMG_0024 did not take well to the flash so we headed through the historic district pausing at the plaque for Richard Stockton IMG_0025 who lived around the corner from us. At the Curtis building IMG_0026 we captured the glass mosaic IMG_0027 that Steve Wynn tried to buy and got directions to the IMG_0028 historic sites as we went looking for dessert. We stopped at Buddakan and recorded people who ate there IMG_0029 and people IMG_0030 who will never eat there.

We made our way to Serrano where they had crayons on the table IMG_0031 and a menu IMG_0032 that did better with the flash as I tried to record sketchings IMG_0033 IMG_0034 IMG_0035 and finally got this picture of Judy's cake IMG_0036 with more than 100 candles though I couldn't get my drawing IMG_0037 of hands and feet. The desserts IMG_0038 IMG_0039 IMG_0040 IMG_0041 caused Lenny and Judy IMG_0042 IMG_0043 IMG_0044 to convince me to take a picture of the bar IMG_0045 before checking out the mirror IMG_0046 and getting this picture IMG_0047 for the collection before leaving IMG_0048 and heading back towards the car. Along the way, we got a bad picture of the girl IMG_0049 in the bridal veil and even worse pictures IMG_0050 IMG_0051 of the Liberty Bell.