It is important to mark the passing of years. They are the longest spans of time over which we have any sort of control. The next higher standard measurement, the decade, is next to meaningless - after all, we see, what, 8 or 9 of them in our lifetime, if we're lucky? You can't make plans by the decade, really. You waste a lot of time if you wait to see what the next decade will bring. Years, however, are powerful and empowering.

Still, typical New Year's celebrations are overblown and commercial. The placement of months on our calendar is in itself arbitrary. Other cultures - Jewish, Chinese - have their own "new year" that's just as valid as our Western, Roman-inspired mishmash. Resolutions made in the dead of winter, in the depths of depression, melt away with the snow and serve no purpose but to increase disillusionment.

Birthdays! Now *that's* the way to go about recognizing and celebrating the passage of years! Another year seen by our own eyes, experienced by our own senses. Another year we have ahead to plan for, and to encapsulate all of our excitement and trepidation. A true year, more or less (sadly, without taking into account the 1/4 day differential) - not a year reliant on nonsensical names and numbers that no longer even match (September? Really? The seventh month, is it?)



Happy Birthday to starcrossedlady!!!! I'm glad our seasons spin 'round together :)



This has been an awesome birthday for me.

James, of course, gave me my presents a while ago. He gave me the Amanda Palmer solo CD, Who Killed Amanda Palmer - WHICH IS AWESOME! People keep saying that it's "overproduced," but they must be on crack because Ben Folds is a brilliant producer. Silly fools won't accept Has Been as conclusive evidence. Sigh. Anyway, James gave me the CD early, because he wanted to make sure I didn't get it myself :)

James also got me tickets to see Sunset Rubdown, which we picked up well before my birthday, obviously. That concert is Thursday, and OH MY GOD I am so excited. Spencer Krug WILL be smuggling me back to Canada with him. I decree it, and everything I say on my birthday is FACT.

The rest of my haul, so far:


This was from James' mom, Barb. AWESOME!!! As my friend Dave said, "That gift really benefits everybody!"



This was from my friends Jim & Val. Oh my God it's the coolest thing ever.


I also got a card from jakeit, and my aunt told me via email that a box from her is on its way.

Birthdays RULE. I don't care if I'm too old to get this excited. FUCKIT!! Birthdays rule.


OH! and my gift to myself? Copious baking :D I made: tiramisu for my friend Dave, who's party was joint with mine (his birthday was the 24th;) cupcakes to take into work; mini cupcakes to take to the preschoolers I teach at church; coffee cakes to bring to Angel Food distribution yesterday morning; AND (last but not least) MORE cupcakes to bring out to Hamburger Mary's tonight, when I meet up with some people for drinks. I LOVE baking, and my birthday is the PERFECT opportunity to accost people with unaskedfor sweets :)