Paint the town red velvet cake

My September birthday landed on a Thursday this year. Lame. Had I my druthers, I'd have pushed for the weekend so that all three of us could have hung out for the day. Ah well. As it stood, I found myself greeting the anniversary of my birth with red-rimmed eyes and an old-man cough. Wicked head cold, I tell you. (Apologies once again, Mary Kate, Nora and Greta for having to cancel my birthday dinner party due to illness.)

The good news is that Dad came through like the champ that he is with made-from-scratch red velvet cupcakes layered with homemade cream cheese frosting.

Um. Simply. Delicious. Thanks to Dad for the treats, Mom for the birthday hugs, and all of my loyal readers for the birthday cards and practical gifts. Mom and Dad are particularly pleased with the simplicity of this birthday celebration. Here's hoping my second year proves just as adventurous as my first.

In other news, we're gearing up for a new addition to the family. Be it a boy or a girl, I'm simply hoping I don't lose my priority seating in the back seat of the car. (Where has the whole front-facing-car seat option been all my life? The traveling world is a whole new place when you can keep tabs on where you're going - rather than where you've been.) Mom has exactly four weeks and three days to go, and she seems more than ready for day last of this gestational journey. And, come to think of it, so does Dad. A patient, patient man, he is.

It's October tomorrow. As we march to the beat of multi-colored trees, high school soccer games, shorter days and longer nights, may this message find you whistling to the tune of the autumn air, and painting your own town red with simple pleasures throughout your days.

Until next time,

Ken