Birthdays, and general stuff

Humans love to mark the passage of time. One way individual humans mark time is by celebrating the day of their birth with annual "birthdays." Today, my graduate assistant tells me is my "birthday." To hack from some comedian, I don't remember it specifically - I was only a baby at the time.

How old am I? Well, let's just say that if I were a gorilla, I'd have a lovely silver back by now.

My friend The Chick once told me that she doesn't really like to get worked up over her birthday because she doesn't like feeling pressured to have a "great" birthday. I think I understand what she means. I tried to plan a bit of a party for myself, and it seems not a soul wants to come. I guess it's better to learn these things before you pull the party together than sit around wondering if your doorbell is broken.

It is interesting how one changes their expectations of birthdays over the years. As a young monkey, I wanted any type of "toy" or bouncy things that helped expend my energy. Now, I bake cupcakes and appreciate the honest, heartfelt birthday greetings and hugs people give me. I guess we all, humans and monkeys, become less self centered as we grow up.

The Phenom always offers to mix drinks for any friends who want to celebrate my birthday with me. Maybe the Phenom will just be mixing drinks for me. My Graduate Assistant made me a dvd of pictures he took of me, and later collected of me, when I was young. It was quite a wonderful gesture. I now force the inner circle to watch it when I get them cornered.

General Updates: The Phenom is going to be very lonely next year when multiple members of the work group takes off. Sparkle has a grant for a year off. Markus has a half year off. One member is flying the coop completely. I tried to convince the Phenom that it meant that there would be a consolidation of power and this could be the opportunity to seize it. Phenom isn't interested.

I've reviewed the budget proposed by dubya, and it seems that the poorest, least educated, oldest and youngest of american society is going to suffer to pay for the war games in the middle-east. I predict record needs for prisons and drug treatment in another 20 years. However, since he seems set on killing off the elderly rather than let them age gracefully, the society will only have one set of "freeloaders" to contend with rather than two.

Just a few more days before CURIOUS GEORGE, THE MOVIE is in theaters. At Wal-mart, everyone's most beloved and hated massive-mart, you can purchase a DVD of curious george shorts which appears to be an expensive commercial for the movie. A sticker on the packaging says that there is a free child's ticket to see the movie in theaters inside the package. Ah, yes -- I've read the packaging more thoroughly now - it appears that PBS will be having a curious george program in the fall and this dvd is in advance of the series. Very good.

Well - I have a batch of dark chocolate cupcakes with a whipped ganache frosting that is calling my name. Ya'll enjoy my birthday.