1. Seem to be finding more ways to spend pleasant times with my mother, and yet still keep boundaries delineated so that I am not leaving openings for attack. We’ve had two nice dinners together, including one on my birthday.

2. I fall into the trap of being Nice much of the time. I am getting better and better about not doing that, such as this weekend when the hotel accidentally assigned someone else to our hotel room and I was in the shower when they waltzed in. (My Man wasn’t there, he had run out to do an errand). I wasn’t Nice when I poked my head out of the bathroom door and told him to leave right now (poor guy was confused as hell), and I was understanding – but – not – Nice to the young woman at the counter who made the mistake. And I made sure we were compensated.

3. Anyone who has known me on here long enough knows what my greatest fear is. And yet I overcame Abject Terror and went sea kayaking this weekend. It was one of my surprise birthday gifts from My Man. We went out with our sons (plus another couple and guides) – way out, like a 1/4 mile from shore in these teeny tiny little kayaks. At sunset. Which, as any true selachophobe knows, is prime feedin’ time! But I did it and it was absolutely wonderful and beautiful and I didn’t feel scared once. (It was twice, but only very briefly.) I highly recommend it!