Enjoying days off

I took last Friday and today (the 12th) as vacation days, as a birthday gift to myself. (My birthday was the 10th.) A friend of mine, now retired, always took her entire birthday week off and would treat herself to a spa day, shopping, etc., and while I don't take a week at this time of year (usually too rainy/muddy/cold), I do take a day or two, depending on what day of the week my birthday falls.

 

Note: This post is very pic-heavy, and it's best to click on the first one to enlarge it and view them that way.

 

This year I lucked out, because Saturday was gorgeous!

I left the house early in the morning and bused up to a nearby Starbucks for my freebie, then caught another bus to downtown for a LONG (about 3 hours) walk through campus and all along the waterfront, over to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, through Lake Ontario Park and then Trailhead Place. Believe me, my feet were very happy to bus home after that! LOL.

 

There were a lot of joggers passing me, but I was happy to putter along with my camera, stopping for all the spring flowers and critters. I even spied a pair of common mergansers, below. (The male has the dark green head, the female the brown tufted one.)

The female looks like she has COVID hair.  :-D

BTW, the entire path through Lake Ontario Park is cordoned off, with heavy equipment parked along the way. Apparently they're taking out the dead/diseased trees and are putting in a 3-meter wide accessible path (presumably paved), with benches and picnic areas along the way.

The park will be even busier when completed, though I don't know the timeline. I certainly won't be going there again for several weeks, not because of the work, but because of the May (or midge) flies. They don't bite, but they get into your hair, your eyes, cover your clothing, etc. Ugh. There were a few out when I was there, though not many, so I lucked in. (We've had an unusually warm April so far, which has accelerated their life cycle.)

I had a really nice morning out, then spent the afternoon on the phone, on email, text and Skype, with birthday wishes from friends and family, even a couple of co-workers who remembered the day. ♥

I treated myself to takeout (salmon) and even a piece of vanilla bean cheesecake for dessert; yum! So this year's birthday was much, much nicer than last year's, even though it was my second one under lockdown and a stay-at-home order. (You ARE allowed to go for walks!)

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On another note, this is angel Nicki's Gotcha Day (April 12, 2007). I remember thinking that he was my best birthday "gift" at the time. The two pics below were from July - August 2007; he was less than a year old at the time.

He was a cutie, but he sure was a little stinker, and that never changed through his life. I imagine him running free at the Bridge now, creating havoc and bullying whatever cat he can.  :-D

 

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I wish you all a lovely day and week; I'm going to make the best of my last day off, in spite of our rainy weather and pending house chores.

 

Take care and stay well. Peace.