Rampant consumerism & holiday fun

So I had a birthday - a mediumly-significant one to most, but in my delightfully numerate family of origin, significant as I turned a muliple of five in the same year that my father,sister, eldest daughter and only son also turn a multiple of five. (Look, I never claimed to be anything but a geek, right?) Big parties will take place in September when my father turns 65.

But birthdays - presents, right? I love presents - both the giving and recieving. I'm going to refrain from producing a laundry list of all the lovely things I was lucky enough to be given, and focus in on one.

Lane bought me a fitbit ultra, a nifty pedometer type gadget that also includes an altimeter so tracks you stair climbing or up/down hills too. It has a web-based platform that allows for social media interactions with other users, and tracks your sleep. I love it deeply. Something I have discovered about myself quite recently is that I am quite competitive, but only when there are stats to be compared against. Monitor my performance with graphs and constant updates - I'm in! Given my traditional loathing of competitive sports, this was a major revelation to me. Now that I'm *cough* a multiple of five between thirty and forty, I'm quite keen to stop being a skinny unfit person and become a more fit person. Thanks Lane!

Who would have thought a tiny piece of gadgetry could make me so happy?

Armed with my fitbit, I'm excited to be off to Orcon Great Blend tonight at the Civic Wintergarden - theme is creativity in the internet age. (Walking, obviously) Tomorrow, we're back into the city for the return of The Arrival - about which I am hugely excited. Read the book, heard only amazing things about the play! Lane and I are meeting up with friends and heading along.

Lovely that Bastille Day is on Saturday - given it's the last weekend of the school holidays, we'll take in kids out in search of French- and Matariki-themed goodness! Then I've promised them Sunday dinner at New Flavour before donning uniforms once more...