It was going to be a long and interesting day, so I paid homage to my spiders IMG_0363 before getting into the car and driving to this intersection IMG_0364 but I was early so I bought something that came in this wrapper IMG_0365 and looked like this IMG_0366 or like this IMG_0367 once the flash was redirected. I drove back to the intersection and entered this building IMG_0368 where I spent most of the day in this conference room IMG_0369 working.

When the day was done, I drove back home to find the gang IMG_0370 assembled in my living room including Jane, Kaylen and Lucy IMG_0371 who had caught a ride home with me. In the kitchen, Carolyn IMG_0372 and Michael IMG_0373 greeted me an offered me this glass of white wine IMG_0374 to go with Michael's red IMG_0375 that had come from this bottle IMG_0376 they so kindly brought. Benjamin IMG_0377 was happy to see me as the unfinished cheese IMG_0378 and hors de ouveres IMG_0379 came back tot he kitchen. None of this seemed to have an impact on Jane/Lucy IMG_0380 and Kaylen IMG_0381 who were busy typing away. But it was dinner time.

The cake stood guard IMG_0382 against people getting overstuffed ( not that this ever works ) with breads IMG_0383 meats IMG_0384 veggie lasagna IMG_0385 salad IMG_0386 and chopped vegetables IMG_0387 all of which made the birthday girl IMG_0388 happy as Steven IMG_0389 went through the line and Adele and Suzanne IMG_0390 discussed the meals that Michael and Chris IMG_0391 might be having as Benjamin IMG_0392 decided to chow down his meal. Chris posed for a picture with too much light IMG_0393 another with bad angle IMG_0394 and then the finale IMG_0395 that brought people to their seats IMG_0396 with plates that looked quite good IMG_0397 especially when enhanced by the butler IMG_0398 who spread the spread to Jan-boy's amusement IMG_0399 as he assembled his plate IMG_0400 which looked better sans flash IMG_0401 though Carolyn IMG_0402 wondered why my plate IMG_0403 lacked color IMG_0404 until we got some tomatoes to buffer the strong flash.

Suzanne admired Jane's school photos IMG_0405 as Jane did a before and after comparison IMG_0406 and the 3 of them posed together IMG_0407 as dinner evolved IMG_0408 to Steven and John's amusement IMG_0409 and Carolyn and Adele's IMG_0410 attention to the clean plate IMG_0411 I made.

Jan-girl IMG_0412 Suzanne IMG_0413 and Michael IMG_0414 admired the fruit platter IMG_0415 especially as we added color IMG_0416 and fruit started to disappear IMG_0417 as the cheese appeared IMG_0418 and the cookie plate IMG_0419 was enhanced by strawberries IMG_0420 as the Belgian chocolates IMG_0421 made their way around the table.

Benjamin and I split this cookie IMG_0422 into these 2 pieces IMG_0423 as the girls IMG_0424 IMG_0425 got the cake together IMG_0426 IMG_0427 IMG_0428 for the birthday celebration and Pam turned fire into smoke IMG_0429 IMG_0430 and began to cut IMG_0431 so that my plate IMG_0432 could be filled IMG_0433 IMG_0434 and then emptied IMG_0435 IMG_0436 as the presents appeared IMG_0437 IMG_0438 and the cards were opened IMG_0439 IMG_0440 so that all could read IMG_0441 the warm greetings. The picture frame IMG_0442 amused Chris and Jan-boy IMG_0443 as Pam worked on IMG_0444 and Steven turned to make a point IMG_0445 and then he and John posed IMG_0446 as the next card came by IMG_0447 for all to see IMG_0448 the Feng Shui IMG_0449 candles that amused Jan-boy IMG_0450 and Chris IMG_0451 as the others relaxed IMG_0452 IMG_0453 after the big meal as Pam opened more IMG_0454 and the candles got passed around IMG_0455 for a closer look as Jane and Lucy headed for the computers IMG_0456 and Kaylen IMG_0457 did her grandma babushka imitation as Benjamin read his book IMG_0458 and the chess set stood idle IMG_0459 saying good bye to Jan and Jan IMG_0460 as Michael tried to get Lucy going IMG_0461 so that work on her present IMG_0462 could continue though Kaylen IMG_0463 had her chocolate milk IMG_0464 and Benjamin his apple IMG_0465 as the phone sat by IMG_0466 and everyone tried to escape IMG_0467 Jane's new faces IMG_0468 IMG_0469 untilt he morning came and the girls IMG_0470 IMG_0471 got ready to go on their journey as Suzanne and Pam IMG_0472 sat down for one more cup of coffee.