Archive for the 'Obsession' Category

Birthday?

I’ve had very few non-sucky birthdays. On my birthday I either hibernate or go out and tell myself I’m special by buying a birthday present for myself. I also never list my birthday anywhere.

I always find it funny when people say to me, “I don’t know what to buy you.”

Let’s get this straight. Since I was 5 I’ve been making up stories. I’ve also been one to draw, crochet, knit, garden, travel, eat, and generally geek out. I also sew and make my own clothes which I design myself. I obsess so much that I have lists of stuff I like floating around both online (amazon) and offline.

This is a true story, but the only person who got me lined paper and writing materials for my birthday was my writer’s assistant (She nominated herself for the job). There was a journal with a calligraphy pen before that from a friend of my parents, but I really never used that.

Everyone knows I’m a writer and pretty particular about my notebook choices. If I got a lifetime supply of Mead paper cover college rule notebooks in 8.5 Spiral without perforation or holes, I think I’d die under the stack in utter joy because they are damned hard to find these days. 100+ pages… You should have seen the shopping list when I wrote I needed a notebook when I was younger.

Cheese–I like my stronger cheeses. I hate the weak wimpy stuff. Particularly after a few months writing about cheese for one chapter.

All in all, my writer’s assistant was pretty shocked that people thought I was hard to buy for.

I’ve been the one whose pretty good at nailing birthday presents. I’ll plan ahead 6 months in advance, calculate the money I need, the birthday cake composition and make the reservation, if I need to. I’ve been known to send out invitation 4 months in advance.

How? I pay attention for the entire year for what people ask for, want and dream about, then wrack my brain for the best solution to that. It’s my own personal pride being invested into spending that long on a present.

This year my birthday present is a cake, and a trip to a cajun restaurant that’s nearby. Don’t know if family will be there, but I really don’t care. One should be able to celebrate the life one has. I’m debating various presents for myself, such as a day/days off and buying SIMS Ambitions. I kinda want a Cinnamon ball python, but that’s out of range right now… (Eyeing a female Black back Cinnamon ball python by Albey’s Reptiles…) Maybe I’ll also get some writing done.

Unlike last year I’m not counting on my parents to really spend time into a present. I learned my lesson after failing plenty of times. I always come last.

So partying by myself reaffirms myself that in someone’s world I come first–mine–at least once a year. That’s a pretty important thing to remind yourself of.

Frozen Grapes

Ice cubes float. frozen strawberries float.

Frozen grapes sink.

Frozen grapes also freeze in such a way that they are cold and not hard as ice. meaning you can get a cold shock without the pain and the waiting.

The best grapes to freeze are the ones with the thick skin, no seeds, and often the wine grapes do better than the large ones. It’s really refreshing.