birthdays, and a goat
J is away in a Tower of Work in Brunei this week, which makes me feel kind of mopey. It seems a bit silly because I should be very used to his work trips after all this time, but it never changes - each time he's due to go away I feel a little lost and flat. My family is always very kind and helps to fill in the gaps while he's away, making sure I have stuff to eat (left to my own devices, I subsist on soy milk and cereal) and taking The Bun off my hands for a bit in the evenings so that I have time for a decent shower and to finish up household chores.
At least J will be back just in time for my birthday. We have a decadent Japanese dinner to look forward to (when I called to make reservations, the hostess informed me that children below the age of fifteen weren't permitted) but apart from that, I don't really know what else I want to do to celebrate my birthday. I feel a bit like being a hermit; each time I try thinking about getting together with my friends for a birthday meal, I run up against a big wall. I don't even have the enthusiasm to put together a birthday wishlist, which J has been bugging me to do. So far I only have:
~ a very silent and very empty hotel room with luxe bedsheets, all to myself and nobody else, for a day and a night (see what I mean about the hermit thing?)
~ a copy of Scott Schuman's The Sartorialist, which brings back memories of travel and NYC
~ a copy of Todd Selby's The Selby Is In Your Place, because it is one of those delicious books that I love lapping up with the eyes, but would never buy for myself
~ a new iPhone, because my present one is a virtual dinosaur (from way back in 2007, in NYC), has crummy SMSing and won't accept new apps meant for the 3GS
~ some proper skincare stuff, since I am too scroogey to splash out on stuff like this for myself, especially now that er, preservation, is turning into a priority
This year I'm also going to pitch in some money to Kiva and put together a microfinancial loan for someone out there across the world. I've been captivated by the story of Beatrice's Goat for a long time, and if I can think of nothing I'd like to have for myself, I'm going to give something to someone else instead, and count my blessings that I have no real needs or wants for a birthday that I am able to enjoy with good health and the company of friends and family.
At least J will be back just in time for my birthday. We have a decadent Japanese dinner to look forward to (when I called to make reservations, the hostess informed me that children below the age of fifteen weren't permitted) but apart from that, I don't really know what else I want to do to celebrate my birthday. I feel a bit like being a hermit; each time I try thinking about getting together with my friends for a birthday meal, I run up against a big wall. I don't even have the enthusiasm to put together a birthday wishlist, which J has been bugging me to do. So far I only have:
~ a very silent and very empty hotel room with luxe bedsheets, all to myself and nobody else, for a day and a night (see what I mean about the hermit thing?)
~ a copy of Scott Schuman's The Sartorialist, which brings back memories of travel and NYC
~ a copy of Todd Selby's The Selby Is In Your Place, because it is one of those delicious books that I love lapping up with the eyes, but would never buy for myself
~ a new iPhone, because my present one is a virtual dinosaur (from way back in 2007, in NYC), has crummy SMSing and won't accept new apps meant for the 3GS
~ some proper skincare stuff, since I am too scroogey to splash out on stuff like this for myself, especially now that er, preservation, is turning into a priority
This year I'm also going to pitch in some money to Kiva and put together a microfinancial loan for someone out there across the world. I've been captivated by the story of Beatrice's Goat for a long time, and if I can think of nothing I'd like to have for myself, I'm going to give something to someone else instead, and count my blessings that I have no real needs or wants for a birthday that I am able to enjoy with good health and the company of friends and family.