THANKS!!!!!
Thank you all!
This is the big Four Oh

and, for as much as I was dreading it, it's turned out to be one of my best birthdays ever!
My friends threw me a surprise party on Saturday--we all got pedicures and then went to lunch. I was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on Monday(completely unrelated to my birthday but still cool anyways--one more thing to check off my list of things to do before I turned 40).
The yesterday, when I showed up at the gym bright and early (6:30 AM--well, early at least, maybe not so "bright"

), the receptionist, who is a complete twig, commented on how impressed she is that I'm there working out every day because she is struggling to force herself to work out every day. I resisted the urge to say what I was thinking, which was that if I could manage to look like her without exercising, I wouldn't be in the gym unless they paid me either

and instead just tried to be supportive and encouraging. But I figure you know you've got the exercise thing down when you get a comment like that from the gym receptionist.
Then yesterday, after my workout, I took the day off from work and my SO and I spent the afternoon at the fabulous new San Francisco Science Academy, complete with a five-story rain forest, planetarium, live penquins, and way-cool acquarium. After the museum, we went to dinner at one of San Francisco's trendiest restaurant, one that I've been dying to try for a long time.

And, yes, there was definitely a piece of cake involved (not too mention a glass of wine or two)!
And then I came home and saw this lovely thread from all of you! A perfect finish to the day!
I know I've been a little scarce lately--work has been crazy since the start of the year, and I just haven't had as much free time as usual. But I miss you all and I hope to get back on the weekly threads soon. I put on the usual five lbs during the holidays, but I'm back on track to lose them and I seem to be the only one who even thinks I need to lose them, so I still consider myself to be in maintenance.