Halloween and Samhain

Blessed Be! It's Halloween. It's Samhain. It's All Hallow's Eve. It's a beautiful, wonderful day.

Lithus got weather grounded in Valdez last night ~ and again this morning ~ so it's not quite the celebration we'd planned or expected. Still, it's Samhain and that's never a bad thing.

Tonight, the jack o'latern will get carved and put in the window. The feast will be made from seasonal foods and thanks will be given. And, of course, those who have gone before us will be honored. Well honored and well loved.

Enjoy your spooks and goblins and heeby-jeebies. It's the witching hour after all.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Going Out

Going out isn't my strong suit. I am always about three large steps away from agoraphobia, which is odd when you consider how much I adore doing. Doing, as in going for coffee. Doing, as in wandering around my favorite places. Doing, as in anything that gets me out and about and in the world. But first, before I can begin doing, I have to go out. Which isn't my strong suit.

It's part of what makes being a writer an appopriate career choice, because I can quite happily stay home for days on end. It's also part of why I prefer to live in downtown, because when I can just walk out my door and be there, going out is easier.

Today, I finally decide I should go out. I had been out with Lithus several times. I'm not a complete hermit. But, in terms of just walking out and discovering the world, I hadn't really done it since my birthday. Until today.

Downtown Anchorage is wonderful. Autumn is wonderful. The sounds and smells and feelings of being out were exactly what I needed today.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Unabashedly Not Working

But glued to the television watching the rescue of the Chilean miners.

No Earthquakes!

Commercial Break (with Happy Tears)

My deadline is *gulp* Friday. I'm going to more than make it. I'm calm and cool and pleased. I am, also, still very focused on writing that, not Pobble Thoughts.

But for various reasons, I was recently reminded of these two commercials, found myself swallowing back happy tears as I watched them, and decided to post them. Just 'cause.

This is one I've posted before but still love. The chickens look a little freaked out but the penguin is the happiest looking penguin ever.

And this one is one my dear Lithus sent me early in our relationship. He and I were still trying to figure out how to live with each other, how to love one another, how to fit the pieces of two very disparate lives together. While this commercial certainly didn't solve all our problems, it undoubtedly made making up from that particular argument a lot easier. And now, it's hard to remember we ever needed it. That doesn't make it any less special to me, though.

Those are Pobble Thoughts until Friday. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ and a smile.

The Apex of Everything (Well, Maybe Not But Still Damn Cool)

Because if it gets better than this, I don't know how.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Forty-One

A year ago tonight, I had the best night of my life. Period, bar none. The Lovely Cats and Lithus, with more than a little help from Seven, threw me the birthday bash to end all birthday bashes. It was a family reunion of people who aren't family to each other but all are to me. It was seriously, the best night of my life. And that says something considering how really fucking cool my life is.

My birthdays have always been good, actually. 

* A pinata in the backyard when I was eight. Beezy came over and helped my dad host, because my mom was in Europe. 

* Turning nine and having a Barbapapa themed birthday where it was just my mom, dad, and Crow because we hadn't lived in Lynchburg long enough for me to have friends yet. It was a far better time than it should have been, given that description. We played Keep Away from the Barbapapa and ran through the house, laughing like loons. 

* Twelve, I got my cat Trilby. 

* Thirteen was the year we took several families to Lynchburg's nicest restaurant and then back to the house for the chocolate bombe my mother had made from scratch. And yes, all of that was at my request. People kept looking at me, asking if I really wanted to do this. But I did. 

* 18 was my surprise party. We were doing Uninvited and the cast and crew showed up after I did because they all had to wait for me to leave the theatre first. I kissed far too many guys that night ~ only one of whom was my actual boyfriend ~ but I was legal and that had been an issue for some. 

* 22 was the year Jules and I got lost in the Combat Zone, driving a jeep, dressed for clubbing, asked directions from a gang, and lived to tell the tale. TTG she was driving.

* 30 was in DisneyWorld and mom gave me my grandmother's pearls. 

* I've been told I had a good time at my 35th (waves to Cam Pike), but 36 is my favorite one from the Boston years, because we all just sat around the Library and enjoyed each other's company. 

The only truly bad one was 16 because Gail died on my 16th birthday ~ but then my friends in Philly threw me a surprise Sweet Sixteen in March or April or something, because everyone should have a good 16th birthday memory.

You get the idea.

Last year, though...last year was not only the best birthday, it was the best night of my life.

This year is very different. It's been a year no one expected. But my birthdays have always been good, and in that way, this is year no different. I slept late, have been lazy and gentle with myself, watched NCIS and White Collar because I wanted to, not because they are good to write to. They're both pretty good shows, even when you do pay attention to them. Lithus has called frequently. Crow, BIL, my Heart and the Hatchlings nearly woke me but didn't quite. My friends have been in touch. And about 3:00, I walked out of my wonderful, downtown apartment wearing my wonderful leopard print pumps, and headed to Cake for a cupcake. They had pecan tarts. Hello. 

Lithus gets home Tuesday. We're celebrating together Wednesday night. I am peaceful and happy and content in a way I haven't been in a very long while. It's good to be 41.

Scenes from Forty

Topsy Turvy cake by the Lovely Cats. Yep, she learned to make a topsy turvy cake for me.

Lithus and the Princess, being fabulous

Nemeria and me

P. C. (Yahoo Billy); yep, he's still around. And he's the world's greatest sport.

Lithus and the Divine M

My best friends, the Divine M and the Muppet

(Note: there were many other people there, but these people have been on this blog before and I have their permission to post. If you aren't here, it's because I didn't want to assume.)

Scenes from Forty-One:

What I wanted from Lithus!!!! (the feathers will drop after a few days)

With our purple furniture. Purple and red make quite a statement. Not sure what the statement is, but you can't help but hear it!

I'm blessed. I'm happy. I'm at peace.

 Happy Birthday to Me. :)

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

A Small Lesson...

...from Me to You.

When you have been working all day and have only had about 450-500 calories during the day and most of that has come from the milk you put in your coffee and then decide that, when you are done work for the day, it might be nice to have a glass or two of wine...

Remember You Have Only Had About 450-500 Calories and It Takes Very Little To Get One A Tad Intoxicated.

Watch how much wine you actually pour into your glass. Seriously.

Then go to bed.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee. If you can figure out how to work the coffee maker.