I'm not opening any of the birthday packages I've received until it is my birthday

I want to open them now. Now! But I can wait a few more days.

I'm no longer looking at proofs--Terminal Humming is going to print right now, and I should have copies in hand soon, soon. In time for my reading in LA at the Poetic Research Bureau on June 27 at 4pm (more details later).

I'm debating what kind of a birthday cake to make this year. I love carrot cake. I have a recipe for a weird but interesting cake made from buckwheat. I'm drowning in berries, so perhaps I should make something involving those.

I can't bake anything that requires a nonstick pan (the fumes from nonstick coating asphyxiate birds, and they're probably not good for people, either)--but does anyone have cake suggestions?

Happy Birthday Bryan!

It's my brother's birthday, and since I couldn't reach him on the phone, I will offer my birthday greetings here (and in the card that I think has already reached him)!

If you don't work hard in your 20s, no one loves you in your 30s.

Paul Bowles said that.

Ok, so today really is my birthday. And I'll stop blogging about it (so much) (after today).

My students were surprisingly sweet today--I got a little bookmark in the shape of a Korean kite, chocolate from various countries, and a bottle of very nice pinot noir (I fear that one was a bribe). One of my students kept saying "the whole world congratulates you."

My sister Michelle sent me an organic rubber, totally biodegradable yoga mat. So now that I've finished grading and work etc etc I'm going over to the studio to practice.

Happy Birthday to Mark!

who is my favorite and best.

And happy midsommar. I don't have flowers for my pillow, but I have 7 different kinds of herbs and aromatics. I don't believe in marriage, but I think it will all mean something to someone somewhere.

I still have hives

Still.

I still have them. The hives, I mean.

Mark took me out for a birthday dinner! We were going to take the bus to a Cuban place in Oceanside, but the bus never came, so we went and had some Italian food in Carlsbad at Caldo Pomodoro. It was pretty good, although nothing astounding, but it was good to have something of a night out.

My binoculars came in the mail today!

We went hiking today!

I have hives. Still.

My left hamstring hurts. I did an asana practice on my own yesterday, but I don't think I cooled down correctly. The Anusara Yoga 101 with John Friend moves too slowly for me, so maybe I'll go back to an Ashtanga primary series for my home practice. I need sun salutations to get warm--otherwise I don't have any hope of getting into the most basic of asanas. Except for inversions and back bends--those I can randomly do no matter what.

Actually, I'm in a good mood. But this is not the best blog post. Ever.

I am attempting to be cheerful, because that is my nature

But having my birthday on the Monday before I go back to work again is kind of crappy. It feels like the last Sunday of the summer, except that it is Monday and the summer is still ahead of me. There will be many birthday celebrations all month long, but right now all I can think about is having to get up at 6:30 tomorrow, how employment is necessary but awful, how I am now in the 30th year of my life, as 29. That 29 is still very young makes it more ridiculous and more awful.

But I might as well enjoy these dramatic, tragic feelings--Mark and I are going to watch "Caged."