kareina

On Friday I turned four, for the fifth time.

The first time I turned four was 1970, and I were living in Germany with both of my parents and my baby sister, who had been born in August--I can still remember looking down at my pyjamas (cream with a repeated purple pattern) and saying "But I don't *feel* any different"--I know that the build up to my birthday had been intense and full of anticipation. While the pile of loot lived up to (exceeded?) expectations, I had been expecting four to feel different from three..

The second time I turned four was 1980, I was living in the house on Lovejoy Drive in Anchorage (with a wonderful view of the Chugach Mountain Range out out living room window) with my mother and sister--dad and his girlfriend lived across town in an apartment. The year before I had made the conscious decision to enter my second childhood on my 13th birthday, because I didn't approve of teenagers, and didn't wish to be one.

The third time I turned four was 1990, living in Anchorage again, and I was preparing to move to Eugene Oregon because I had decided to major in geology, and that wasn't an option at UAA, so it was necessary to either leave state or move to Fairbanks. Since it was time to end things with the monogamist I'd tried dating, but couldn't cope with his jealousy issues, I opted to leave state, and many happy adventures in An Tir and many new friends were the result.

The fourth time I turned four was in 2000, I was living in California with the Bard of the West and taking classes in massage therapy, and finding vocational school so easy after having done a Master of Science in Geology.

Now it is 2010, and I am preparing to leave Italy after 1.5 years of my first post-doctoral research project, seeking gainful employment in my field somewhere on Earth, and looking forward to my trip to Sweden next month to visit friends and enjoy some real winter (that lasts longer than a couple of days) for the first time since I left Anchorage a decade ago.

Other folk might think it odd to count my age from 0 to 12 the first time, and then from 3 to 12 each decade thereafter, but it works for me, and it means never having to be a toddler, a teenager, or an old person.

This year's birthday was quite fun--the morning started with a view of the Alps from my apartment, since the rain we'd been having finally cleared. Then I got to spend the day doing analyses with the electron microprobe. I like playing with expensive analytical equipment, and there is just something powerful feeling about using a machine that requires four separate monitors on one computer and another on another just to operate it. Add my notebook computer into the mix (to store photos of the sample with analysis location points marked) and it can be a challenge to reach for the correct mouse to accomplish each task. In the evening I enjoyed yet another long skpye conversation with a friend in Sweden and went for a walk to enjoy the cool night air.

Because I was busy all day Friday I extended my birthday celebration onto Saturday, when I baked a yummy cake and a loaf of bread. The cake was frosted with cream and the bread just baked when my friend and her mom arrived for a visit. We had a very nice visit, plenty of food, and her mom even gave me a short singing lesson before they left. I then came in to uni, thinking I should process the data I'd generated on Friday, on the off chance that any of it wasn't usable I could return to the lab and try again before my samples are taken out of the probe on Monday morning. However, I got distracted visiting with friends on line and had a lovely evening instead of working. I did make time to submit a quick job application, since the deadline for that one was today, but that was all I accomplished beyond just enjoying the day. (Don't get me wrong, there is much value in enjoying days, and it is pretty high on my list of things to do, but I am aware of the fact that month's end is approaching, and that I need to be done with work and packing and out of here on time to make my flight to Sweden on 1 January.)

This morning I actually spent a couple of hours at home and got a couple of loads of laundry done and a couple of boxes packed. Alas, my old computer wouldn't say on when I tried it, so I am reduced to writing the box inventory with pen and paper, to be typed up later. Therefore I should post this, type up the inventory so far (11 boxes, all of

clovis_t's stuff (9 of books, two of the kitchen stuff he wanted, or I didn't want)), process yesterday's data, and perhaps even reply to personal mail.

Current Mood: cheerful

I receive regular notices from LJ, reminding me of upcoming birthdays so that I can take a moment and send the lucky individuals a kind word for their special day. Some years I do this as the notices come in. Others, like this one, the pattern seems to be more along the lines of "see notice, smile because it is a delightful person about to celebrate the anniversary of their birth, notice that I've got a couple of days before their natal day arrives, return to whatever I'm doing, in a slightly happier mood for having thought of them". But have I actually said anything in my journal to any of these wonderful people? Not recently.

Therefore, a quick summary of the January and February birthdays on my friends-list (in birthday order), and why being reminded of them makes me smile.

ak_damned, who made me feel welcome when I first moved to Fairbanks so many years ago, and whose all too infrequent posts about the gigs his band is doing makes me wish I could stop in one night and hear them.

kbhjs, one of the people I met on LJ before meeting in the real world; when she makes the time to write a longish post it is always worth reading. It was nice to finally meet her, briefly, at 12th night.

astemudfoot, Another one I met on LJ before meeting in the real world--I finally got to meet her in person at a Lochac event not too long before leaving the Kingdom. Her posting frequency has dropped off of late, but I very much enjoyed reading her words when she was sharing them.

deseradi, a delightful lady who doesn't post here often enough, but whom I got to see for a bit when I was in Fairbanks in December.

madryn_1960, one of my favourite people I met while I lived in Tasmania, her friendship has meant much to me.

callistabee, whom I first met when I was in Atenveldt, and whom I so admired that when I moved back to Alaska, leaving behind a boyfriend, and he commented to me that he thought she was cute I strongly encouraged him to pursue the friendship. They are still married.

sismith42, one of my friends from when I lived in central West, who moved to Drachenwald. It was a delight to stay with her and her family in Edinburgh when I was there for a confrence in September, and I'm looking forward to our next visit.

corvideye, a woman of amazing talents whom I met when I lived in An Tir. I have such respect for her skills as an artist, as well as her intellectual capacity.

allergicone, yet another one I met first through LJ, due to a common love of arts in general, and music/song in particular. It was nice to finally meet her in person at 12th Night.

grian_ruadh, yet another I first met when I was in An Tir. The love she has shared for the combat arts over the years is inspiring.

eithni, one whom I still want to meet in person--I almost managed it in June, having touched foot in the correct state, but the logistics didn't work out. Next time. I met her because of her research into all things Pictish, since my apprentice in Tassie, and my erstwhile apprentice in Tassie are both Picts. I joined her LJ at a time she was doing the "thing a day" challenge, and it was so much fun to see what all she created that month, and I'm delighted that she's doing it again. Perhaps some year I'll consider joining her in such a goal.

blamebrampton, a delightful lady I met when I was in Lochac, who has such a way with words I'd read her shopping list if she didn't provide us amusing posts and stories on a regular basis.

inner_kitten, a sweet lady I met when I was living in central West, whom I miss very much, and was delighted to have seen when I was in California in December.

wortschmiedin, yet another I met on LJ first, and one of the reasons I had been looking forward to moving to Drachenwald, so I'd get to see her at events. This happened once before she moved to the US.

catherinelaurel, a Westerner with truly inspiring talent with needle and thread.

dream_wind, one I've not yet met in person, but very much enjoy reading her words here.

kahnegabs, the one who talked me into actually using LJ, rather than just having an account so that I'd get e-mail notices to check when

corva updated her journal. The welcoming conversations

kahnegabs had with me in

corva's journal's comments opened my eyes to a whole new world of human interaction--one that suits me perfectly, as I can hang out with you all whenever it suits me, and what your schedule is at the moment doesn't matter. Sure, we are only leaving notes for one another, but the sense of community it creates is profound, and I'm grateful that I've found it. Thank you!

vittoriosa, a delightful woman with an amazing voice whom I met when I was in central West. It has been so much fun sharing her graduate school experiences, since her program is so very, very different from the one I went through.

syele, one I didn't meet till 12th Night this year, but one I expected to like, since she'd been apprenticed by

dorinda2212, who was one of my best friends when I lived in Atenveldt. It was a delight to attend bardic with her.

northawke, one of my friends from when I was in Fairbanks. I was so delighted when I found her on LJ, I'd missed her.

erica_j_stark, one I haven't met yet, and who hasn't been posting all that often lately :-(

colletteshorses, another friend from when I lived in central West. I didn't get a chance to know her very well when I was there, our paths only crossing occassionally. It has been a delight to get to know her better through this medium.

thisfox, one of my housemates from when I lived in Tassie. Her ability to do embroidery by eye, without drawing on the fabric first, is truly amazing. Anyone looking at her finished work would assume that she'd transfered a pattern to the fabric, the same as the rest of us, rather than just making it up as she goes.

And finally, with a birthday coming up at the end of the month

treacle_tartlet

glass_violet, whom I met in Tassie, but lived just far enough apart that we didn't get to know one another till we met here in LJ. I'm telling you, I missed out. But at least I get to see her on line regularly.

I hope that you all had amazingly wonderful birthdays, that the special days for each of you marked the start of a truly delightful year in your life, and that all good things come to you.

You know, I kind of like the way it feels to stop and think about people. Perhaps in the future I'll do month's worth of birthday greetings all at once on purpose, rather than because I got busy and forgot the days.

Sorry to my facebook friends, who aren't included here--Facebook doesn't e-mail me reminders of birthdays--one has to be with it enough to actually go to the correct page and notice the little notification on the screen. That is so not happening. But I love you anyway.

March

Current Mood: cheerful