born into the ice age

it's my birthday! and my mother emails me to remind me that when i was born the weather was so very cold that they would not allow her to leave the hospital for a week.

and here it is xx years later, and we are in the midst of a polar vortex. i was scheduled to work both this morning and this evening, but that's all cancelled. and it's so icy frozen that there is not much thought on my part of going out. it's the ice age again.

and so, this may be the first birthday of my life that i will spend completely alone.

you might think this would be depressing. but i'm not really depressed about it. i'm enjoying the extra days of sloth. the wine stock is holding out; there are still duralogs; i am among those with heat and electricity. i've talked to my daughter, and i woke up (sleeping in) to a multitude of facebook birthday wishes and a number of texts. i don't feel alone or neglected.

and in fact, i actually feel quite good. and maybe even, dare i say it, a bit optimistic about the new year.
in fact, i decided last night that i would begin a trendy "happiness jar" where you write down the good parts of each day to save to look at whenever you are feeling down and blue. or just when you want to.

and i'm just feeling more in the mood to do this. sometimes i'm noticing nice things, these days.

except i don't really have a jar. and i see no reason to waste good paper and ink when i can just write things down here.

so here is a start to my virtual jar:

yesterday as i went out to try to dig out my buried and frozen car yesterday, the cute little couple downstairs came running out to tell me they would do it. they claimed it was in thanks for me providing "the community snow shovel" earlier in the week, which they'd used several times. but i just think it was because they are nice.

i have the day off. enough said.

my daughter called last night, and we talked of plans for my travel to see her and her sweet, handsome husband this summer. i am looking forward to this heartily! she also sent me the most delightful birthday card ever. it made me laugh and laugh. it is only rivaled by the happy shiny milk people card she sent me some years back.

my son and grandson called just now to wish me a happy birthday. my grandson laughed with delight to hear how the complete stranger at the colt's comeback game picked me up off the ground and shook me because he was so happy.

my son and his family gave me hulu plus for my birthday so i can from now on watch the daily show and the colbert report each night again.

i will be seeing one of my best friends later this week. and hopefully 3 others of my besties this saturday.

i am close to the end of this very good book, that i will now sit down with a glass of wine and finish.

happy birthday to both me and the ice age. as i freeze these moments in time.