I turned 42 on New Year's Eve and it's impossible to believe, but there is one thing I had never, ever done. I did it this past week. I spent the day alone with little Mathew. I'm no father, I have raised no kids. I have no idea how to discipline an 8 year old. I was worried. But it turns out I had nothing to fear, he was an angel and I had one of the best birthdays ever.

The day started pretty horribly - while it only took 30 minutes to get from Huntington Beach to Anaheim, it took over 1 hour and 45 minutes to get from the freeway to the parking structure - yes, Disneyland was that crowded. Still, we got into the park, hit a few rides, had a nice lobster lunch (well, lobster nachos anyway) at Ariel's Grotto (it was so hard not to order the usual 2 or 3 martinis) and then back to the roller coasters.

We goofed like two kids would do at the happiest place on earth, and then we left the park around 7 to meet the rest of his family for dinner. And cake brought by a very cute waiter. And presents. One of the coolest was a black rubber & silver ID bracelet engraved with my initials. On the inside/back, Mathew wanted to engrave "You totally rock!" but the way the bracelet is made, he couldn't. But it's there in my mind and heart.