As of early yesterday morning, I am forty-one. Well then. That was anti-climactic, eh?

But I have had such a string of nice days, and the little birthday glow one gets seems to still be going. Tuesday night, Keith’s InZero directorial debut screened out at the Main Theater, under the auspices of the Mitten Movie Project (no relation, if you can believe it). I normally am not all that excited to go to these events – especially the ones with after-parties – not because I don’t enjoy seeing Keith’s films (in fact, that’s why I go at all – I do enjoy them) but because he’s such a social butterfly and I have trouble keeping up. This time, though, we brought Kerouac along with us. Normally he’s pretty social, too, but seemed content to keep me company on an out-of-the-way banquette with a view of the geeky crowd in all their glory. I find it fascinating to watch people interact, and all the better to have someone to share snarky observations with.

Yesterday, the lovely and talented ladies behind Inner Circle Media threw me a birthday party. Ok, I lie. They had a party to celebrate their business anniversary and it happened to be on my birthday. But it was a nice time to get out and see some old friends and meet some new ones. And the food was absolutely terrific – Carrie and Catherine know how to throw a party.

Tonight we are off to hear the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. I’ve kept it to myself, so as not to look too much like a music snob, but I am beside myself with excitement. They’re doing Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, which is positively my favorite classical piece of ever. But I’ve never heard it performed live. Never, ever. I cannot wait. I mean, I am just bouncing in place, very quietly, of course, so that no one but me (and now you) knows.

But lunch with the a2b3 crowd comes before that. I must say, these lunches have become a high point in my week. Freelancing has challenges beyond just finding clients and getting work done – there’s a social black hole you can fall into if you don’t get out of the fuzzy slippers and into a space where there are other people to talk to. So off I go, on the bus, even!