B-Day

It seems we’ve been celebrating Elle’s birthday for weeks.

Last night, after presents and cupcakes at the house, we went to dinner in Port Douglas ending the night with a round of shots for our entire table, courtesy of our waitress, Naughty Natty. Letting the kids do shots -- virgin, in my own defense -- is probably not the high point in my parenting career, but it was definitely memorable.

Today was spent on horseback riding in the mountains. The owner of the business and our tour guide, S, took us on a great ride through the rainforest on part of Queensland’s oldest, and long since abandoned, logging road, along the top of a ridge overlooking Mossman Gorge with views to the sea, and back across her spectacular pastures. S is a former model who grew up with horses, ran with Jerry Hall back in the days, and is now back on the farm. She had us greenhorns whipped into shape in no time riding the intermediate trails. At one point a dirtbike rider came down the path though it is clearly marked as a violation of park laws, and S threw herself in front of the motorcycle, railing at the guy for disregarding the rules and endangering her horses and riders. She was absolutely fearless refusing to let the guy through, and I wondered if in addition to riding lessons she would consider offering assertiveness training.

Happiness Is a Warm Puppy.

-- Charles Schulz