Corin said “Yay! Auntie Jen is coming to visit and celebrate my birthday!”

17th St., Chelsea, NYC

My friend Patrick took this picture while out with his dad one day. I had it posted on my wall at work. Thanks Peves!

And my friend Janet took some artistic liberties and enhanced this “no dogs allowed” sign for my birthday. This is also on my wall at work. Thanks Janet!

22nd St., Chelsea, NYC

NYC

Corin’s latest trick is crawling. Well, his version of crawling. It’s a cross between an army crawl and a crab walk - scooting around on his belly at an angle. What’s most impressive about this fun new skill is the speed at which he can travel across the floor. Corin says “hands and knees are for babies!” The added advantage for Edward and Deirdre is that their kid is cleaning the floor, thus eliminating the need for a housekeeper.

I’m extremely lucky to have a great relationship with my brother. It wasn’t always like this. We’re two years apart, and we shared a lot of the activities when we were young - swim team, music lessons, playing with the neighbors. In our teen years, our paths still crossed, but like most siblings we had our fair share of disagreements. These days though, my little brother is one of my best friends. We chat all the time via instant message, email, text, phone, and almost every weekend on video chat. He has a lovely home, an amazing wife, and the cutest little baby around. I am a proud big sis, and I wish him a very happy birthday today! Happy birthday Edward!

(Edward, circa 1976)

Lately I’ve had a pretty full social calendar with lots of dinners out, for friends’ birthdays, my two dinner clubs, plus a handful of friends visiting from out of town. Still, eating at home a couple times a week is a necessity for me so that I have lunches for weekdays. Here’s what I’ve been stirring up the past week or so.

Chunky potato, leek and carrot soup

Mussels cooked in white wine with garlic, shallots, fennel, tomatoes and crushed chili flakes

Spicy three bean chili with black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, corn and edamame

Cavolo nero (Tuscan kale), oyster mushrooms and broccoli rabe