Fit to hurry "Crash", Dave Matthews song (6-4)

You have to have a dream so you can get up in the morning.
-- Billy Wilder
Well, although I hit a record fifty-four patients in my shift at Queen's, most were not too sick, and it wasn't as bad as it felt like it would be when I posted in the morning. I got home in reasonable time to the dinner that Cheryl had made, played Dance Dance Revolution with Hugh while Cheryl took Neva to swimming lessons and I pretended to be oblivious as Neva and Cheryl decorated a birthday cake for me after they got home.

The birthday experience is a big thing in our house. When the kids are happy they talk about what they'd like to do on their birthdays, and when they are angry, the worst thing they seem capable of saying to each other is "you're not coming to my birthday party" (we have reassured them that our family is always welcome to come to each other's parties).

The birthday person gets to choose what type of cake they get (and I am getting cherry-chip), and also what they have for dinner. Cheryl told this to Neva last night and Neva said "I know what Daddy is going to choose. It's a restaurant. And it starts with DAR..." She's a clever kid, and funny.

Today will be packed. Cheryl will attest that on days when I don't work, I'm often out of bed well before dawn, unable to sleep. Today, I'm working, but got up and had taken a leisurely shower and shaved before 5am, and went downstairs, where I found Neva, fully dressed, in front of the basement TV. I asked her why she was up already, and she said she wanted to get ready for my birthday. I brought my Pikachu blanket down and we snuggled and I dozed as she watched kids shows until about 7am. Hugh awoke and joined us for the end.

I had a bite of breakfast and brushed extra well, since I saw one of my dentists this morning for a follow-up/check-up. From there, I came to Queen's, where I have a full day booked. Over lunch hour, the leader of the Green Party of Canada is speaking on campus, so I cleared enough space that I'll be able to go and see her. After my afternoon's work, I will go to Darbar and pick up some food for dinner.

After that, Neva tells me, there will be party games and songs and presents and cake. If there's time, we may watch another Amazing Race. I'm looking forward to it all, but it's weird that the kids are more excited than I am.

Also, they probably think I'm lame-ass since I haven't invited any friends.