Back from the Dead.

Two day recovery time. I am pissed at myself (sort of).

All-in-all it was a really great Birthday. Languid morning with good coffee, lunch at a new restaurant, afternoon drinks and eventually ENRON documentary. We drank wine. We smoked. I was content.

To fully appreciate this year's observance I have to include the days surrounding my birthday.

Sunday: Great breakfast at my favorite restaurant, Beans and Barley. How could I describe this place to someone who has never been? Post-modern diner; Vegan friendly; convenient market for quick pick-me-ups and such; appealing decor; etc. Obviously, I have an affinity for the B&B. If you ever want to take me out for an informal meal, this is the place.
After breakfast we went out to the community garden we are participating in this year. After two years of living on a farm (hobby, not production), we just couldn't give up a garden. K truly shines in the garden. It is her environment. She is the definitely the project coordinator. I am a bit more passive about it. Growing up with a large, organic vegetable garden most of my young life I approach it a little different. It still smacks of work, wasted Saturdays (ask any teenager made to weed instead of hang-out with friends). I do love having a garden and living in the heart of Wisconsin's largest urban center won't keep me from getting my hands dirty. I'll get into my perception of gardening in a later post, after this new gardening experiment starts to take root (Ha).
After the garden we came home showered, spent a little time together and then I went out with my mom. Point of reference: My mom is not really a mother, she is more like a friend/older sibling. We stopped living together when I was in third grade. We still spent a lot of time together; vacations, extended weekend getaways to the family lake house, trips back-and-forth to her house etc. But we never really bonded in a traditional way. She always has, and probably always will, shown her affection through stuff. She buys me things. Even as a grown man she still "takes me shopping" for my birthday. I have tried to break the cycle, tried to just ignore it. She is persistent. Even when I lived out west she would send things, order from local stores or send money. It's not that I don't appreciate the gifts but sometimes just a nice quiet diner, drinks and maybe some adult, non-work/weather conversation would be good. I think this pattern gives her power. She feels needed and I guess I can do that for her. I just want her to see me as an adult, treat me like a peer and come clean on her humanity. I don't think she's Wonder Woman and I never will. She can still be my mom. And my friend. I want that to be enough.
Anyhow, the stuff.
This year my combined haul ( from all gifters, not just mom) include:
5.1 digital surround sound home theater system for computer.
AirPort Express to torment K with the ability to wirelessly play music in any room in the Apartment. After a third party download I can also play any audio ( DVD, Streaming video etc.), anywhere.
A new suit (still being tailored).
A new sweatshirt (It is a special sweatshirt, more later).
A new Bodum French press.
Money.
However, one of the coolest gifts I got was from K's Mother and Step-father. They ordered me some REALLY good tickets for a Milwaukee Brewers game. I'm not really an overly sporty kind of a guy but this has special significance.
1) I am interested to see a game inside Miller Park. I've never been so it will be kind of cool.
2) The game is versus the Washington Nationals. New team, I'm sure it will give me something to talk about with the sports-minded people in my life.
3) The reason they picked this particular game is for the giveaway. Baseball teams give away crap to get people in the seats. The real money in sports is merchandise and concession sales. I want the thing they are giving away. It is a bobble head doll of a player who was very popular when I was a kid.
4) Most important: They paid attention when I was talking about this "toy" over diner the last time we visited them. That feels great. Her parents ( at least this set) pay attention to me. I am a part of their family. It feels good. I can drink a little wine, start rambling on some geeky topic (like collectible bobble head dolls) and they are cool with it. A present with thought is much cooler than any expensive gift or elaborate party.

Enough on gifts.
My birthday included the on-air debut of the Low-Power FM radio station that I worked to develop. While I am no longer officially connected to the project ( well, not true. I got a call needing some help with some final details), I was very moved to hear them go live. I poured myself into getting that station up. I will post on the station later. It will be a mouthful.

Yesterday, as a continuation of my birthday, my mom took my cousin and I to the Milwaukee Art Museum to view the Degas sculptures. The exhibit travels soon and I have been procrastinating going. I can see the museum from my Apartment and I just don't get there enough. In fact I missed a show I really wanted to see earlier in the spring. Oh well, I saw this and wasn't overly impressed. The work was great but the curatorial decisions were a little odd. I am almost late for a meeting so I will pick this thread up later...