This context in mind, it shouldn't be difficult to explain that as his birthday fell on the weekend, there were already family plans in place that required us to postpone celebrations until the next day.
Monday afternoon, after getting my run done (Curio accompanied me to provide snarky "encouragement" and show off how quickly his four legs could propel him) and showering, I drove down to market to gather supplies.
Back home, I quickly set up on the counter-top for our low-key celebration: due to the fact I'm a guest in my uncle's house, there wasn't much leeway to optimally rearrange things, plus I was paranoid about somebody coming home from work to catch us. Nevertheless, I soon ready and invited Curio out for a mid-afternoon treat: a miniature cheesecake with a candle, and a half-bottle of sparkling wine. I sang him "Happy Birthday" and gave him a kiss, then we held each other close as we shared the dessert. After that, we drove up into the Sierra foothills for a small adventure in the mountains. As for gifts, I'm still trying to find the perfect one, although I did commission some art for the occasion.
