My one and only true birthday present to myself was a collection of buttons from
My favorites:
“I have the grace and poise of a crackhead rhinoceros.”
Those who have spent time with me know this all too well.
“I am. I am.”
It’s a Henry VIII button. I’m so weird.
“Thank you ellipses…”
I’m into ellipses…when they’re used properly (and formatted properly).
“Heavy Sigh”
C’mon, you only read that one about 4,000 times here. It’s so me.
“I’m nocturnal”
It’s a little owl. Totally me.
Most of these will appear only on my cute little lightweight faux trench. One at a time. I have a couple to give my kids. I’ll probably go back for more because I’ve found a ton I like. At $1.00/ea and cheap shipping, they’re great “I’m thinking of you” gifts.
Oh, and my birthday? Pretty damn great. Except finding out that my daughter has ulcers. Otherwise, I had a very quiet day. Three calls from various people. One was a complete surprise (a welcome one, too, I might add). And I had dinner with a friend who’s been going through a rough patch. I called him last minute and we met up over at Islands. We shared a burger and fries and then we demolished my free dessert. He even picked up the check, which he didn’t have to do. I skipped the daiquiri I’d been anticipating. Eh, I didn’t really need it anyway.
It’s party time here! Yes, as an extra special bonus, we’re rollin’ out even more music and more fun because “we” (I have a mouse in my pocket, apparently) just wanna have fun.
I sent this video out to a few people already (I have a copy on my hard drive), so they’ll not be surprised to see it here. What may surprise most, though, is that Tommy Shaw is one of my favorite musicians ever. Doesn’t hurt that my nickname in high school was “Tommy”. I can hear you asking why already. How’s this? We both had the same hairstyle back then. (My friend Maria was called “Freddie” because she looked like Freddie Mercury, so I think I got the better end of that deal, don’t you?)
Anyhow, forget hair and all that crap. The music was and is good. They still rock. And that’s that.
And I know many of you are surprised that I’d go with Styx on my birthday, but hey, I’m in a mood. I could actually post 22 videos from them and still have more in the wings. C’mon, who doesn’t like this band? Or rather, who doesn’t have some sort of Styx memory?
Check out that growl at the end!
And because it IS my birthday, here’s a bonus vid.
I’m such a sucker for that acoustic guitar amongst all the technology. Great combo!
There have been times in my life when I didn’t think I’d live to see this age. There have been times in my life when I didn’t WANT to see this age. I’m glad I’m here, though.
I don’t feel any different than I did last year except for a couple things: I’m more a peace; I’m more comfortable in my own skin; I feel good about the path I’m on; I’m not angry like I used to be.
I used to dread birthdays. I hated that people forgot my birthday, that I never got a surprise party or presents or whatever. I felt very much on the outside of my own life. You know what? I got over it and over myself. If I can’t celebrate ME, what’s the point? And so I do celebrate me.
Since it’s my birthday, here are two images from my at the dry lake bed…in my birthday suit.
Thanks to T for the awesome images!
Super big thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes my way over on Facebook!
“When is the first (or last) time you felt like a square peg in a round hole?” Deb. I dare say the better question is, “when DON’T you feel like a square peg in a round hole?” It would be easier for me to count those times for sure.
In a way, I’ve always felt like an outsider. Even in my own head, I’m not the most popular character. Yeah, the movie about my life? I’m not the lead!
When I was younger, I never felt like I belonged anywhere. By the time I reached 4th or 5th grade I felt even more on the outside because I was already wearing a bra (not a training bra…a BRA) and I had already started my period. Nobody else I knew of was going through this.
In 7th grade I got really sick during Spring Break and lost a lot of weight. I was finally as thin as my best friend and yet nobody acknowledged this. I was still the fat friend. It wasn’t until I switched schools for 8th grade that there were new people who saw me — not as the fat friend — as just me. My best friend didn’t like that and instead of us both being popular, I became the target for her ridicule and cruelty. The one chance I finally had to be just like everyone else was gone, I thought. But I made other friends and we were our own ragtag bunch of goofy squareness. It worked.
I spent high school wondering where the hell I fit in. No one group fully appealed to me or fit me. I had friends from every possible clique you could imagine. And still I was peripheral. Not really belonging. No wonder I managed to get in trouble all the time.
Now that I’m an adult, I look around and see that I’m still very much the sort of person who isn’t going to be the most popular or the kind of woman who will draw the eyes of all men to her. I’m pretty much okay with that, too. There’s something to be said for being an enigma to others. People are curious enough about me that they’ll come closer and spend some time talking with me. We don’t always mesh but that’s okay. At least I get to meet a lot of different people.
The very best part of being different and not really fitting in is that on occasion I discover a brand new friend — someone who is truly interested in me and I in them. Kindred spirits and all that. It’s pretty cool.
It’s going to be a very musical week here at DaGoddess.com. It’s my 8th year of blogging. My birthday week. A boatload of my friends have birthdays this week (today, tomorrow, etc). I travel to California to see the kids (only for one day) and then to cover a blues festival. May as well keep the music playing for the duration, right? Right.
Now, we do the Dance of Joy!
But seriously, here’s some real music.
And a final video with Mr. Chris James who, coincidentally, is his birthday (along with darling Tara and the inimitable Cowboy Blob).
I’ve officially been blogging for eight years. Doesn’t seem like that long and yet there are times when it seems like I’ve been doing this forever. It’s all Zach Galifianakis’ fault, too. (For those who weren’t around then, well, it’s a long story and better told over cold brews.)
I never thought I’d still be posting away after all this time, but here I am!
So what have I learned? Lots of things. Maybe one day I’ll actually have time to write out a list. I do know this and can share it right away: I’ve met some of the closest real life friends through blogging; I’ve found support and encouragement to buoy me during the darkest days; mostly, though, I’ve discovered more about myself and learned to accept myself — good, bad, and ugly — and have learned to just let “internet shit” go.
Oh, and the most important thing of all is that I learned I’m an even bigger technotard than I ever thought possible.
And I also learned that if I latch on to an up-and-coming comedian early enough in his career, not only will he go on to become really famous, but he’ll forget me completely. I’m okay with that, too. I have my memories. I’ll always have those. Or at least I will until the Alzheimer’s kicks in.
I have spent approximately 20 of the last 36 hours on the phone. I’ve spent at least 8 hours engaging in activities involving people. And the rest of the time not doing one of those things was spent sleeping. I think I’m done for a while.
I do believe I may actually turn it off, close my door, and hide away from the world for the next day or two.
I’m going to run off and have an affair with my friends’ new CD. It’s so good! I just want to lock myself in a hotel room with the CD all weekend and roll around on the bed with it.
It’s rollicking, swaggering, bold, and yet there’s a little bit of something restrained, too. It’s kind of like when meeting someone who comes across as very shy or not overtly sexy, but you sense some sort of hidden passion; embers just waiting to be stoked. Once you get the fire going, there’s no denying the attraction!
Yeah, it’s that good.
James & Patrick Rynn – Gonna Boogie Anyway. Release date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 (would make an excellent birthday party for someone…like me). Go to their website and listen to the CD (discography/listen to samples). Best thing you’ll do for your ears this year.
