020320b

Last year, for the holidays (which include our mid-winter birthdays), my wife and I bought each other books. Actually, I bought them all, so I only bought authors we both like. This was not difficult. I bought murder mysteries by Elly Griffiths, Colin Cotterill, and several others. This year, we decided to do it separately. She was too busy to tell me what she wanted, except that she wanted a Kindle, so I picked some safe options. I bought her the new novel by Jamie Lee Moyer, "Brightfall," which is a retelling of the myth about Robin Hood and Maid Marian. I also bought her two books by Becky Chambers. We had read one by her last year, an entertaining science fiction novel called something like "a visit to a small and angry planet," so this year, I bought the two sequels: "a closed and common orbit" and "something of a spaceborn few." Of course, the first of these didn't show up, so she couldn't read the second one either. I emailed the bookseller about the missing book and they blew me off. Why do you put somebody like that in customer service? (I realize that it is probably a family business, and that was most likely the bad-tempered spouse.) Anyway I emailed back to say how displeased I was, and another person refunded my money. So I didn't put their store on my blacklist, and I won't tell you who they are. I ordered another copy from someone else. Which is still not here yet. She got me a collection by Algernon Blackwood, a recent novel by Tim Powers, and one by Gene Wolfe. And I get to borrow her Kindle.

011220

Now my age is a multiple of 3, and I have 8 novels & a biography that I can't wait to read, including 2 by Tm Powers, one by Gene Wolfe, one mystery by Elly Griffiths, Brightfall, by Jaime Lee Moyer, and a bio of Woody Guthrie. Some of these were Xmas and Chanukah presents.

122019

Another day, another daughter's birthday. So close to that big holiday everyone hates to have for a birthday. Close enough for combined presents to be a thing, but that has always been taken in good spirits.

120919

One of my daughters has a birthday today. I don't think either of them reads this blog, but happy birthday anyway!

111419c

Floating reefs in Jupiter's thousand-mile-deep seas, hundreds of miles long and millions of years old, home to more species of organisms than have ever lived on earth. And this is where the kid wants to go for his 13th birthday. Why not someplace normal, like Disney World Ganymede?

012319

62 years 40 shared with me

011119

happy birthday to me
1 year older
for 12 days
gotta make the most
of my stint as eldest

111018

Birthday in Hell

“Go on,” the demon said, “open it. It's your birthday present.” Hesitantly, Darrell reached for the package. This had to be a practical joke. But every moment of a practical joke was a blessed time in which he was not suffering excruciating torment. He had lucked out drawing Slapsteickkior as primary tormentor. Carefully, so as to prolong the absence of torment, he peeled back the silver-foil wrapping paper, striving to avoid tearing it. He almost had it off, but the last piece of tape stubbornly refused to yield no matter how he pried, teased, rolled, or tugged. After five minutes of this, while the demon drummed his fingers ever more loudly on the table, Darrell just ripped the last corner off. The box inside was so black he couldn't see the edges of the flaps. He found them by feel and pulled them open quickly. He was too anxious to stall any more. Plus, the demon always punished him for stalling, and the longer he stalled the more it hurt. Inside, a rolled scroll was tied with a pink ribbon sporting a frothy chrysanthemum-like bow. He slid the bow off the end of the scroll and unrolled it.

“This certificate entitles the bearer to one year off his sentence for good behavior. Happy birthday.”

He sighed, knowing that the worst part was still coming. Slapsteickkior delighted in explaining his jokes. You had to listen, because there would be a quiz at the end. If you missed any questions, well, it didn't bear thinking about.

“You see you get a whole year off, but naturally your sentence is of infinite duration; you don't get that year off until the end, and there is no end. What I'm trying to tell you is....”

012318b

happy birthday
caught up again
but it's temporary

011118

another year
feels like more of an achievement
every time

061517b

Chocolate chip date cake

This is so good, some years we all choose it for our birthday cake.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons soda

1 cup water (boiling)

one third pound dates

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 cup mayonnaise

-- salt

1 cup brown sugar

one half cup chopped nuts

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

Finely chop dates. Mix with soda and water and let stand.

Combine next four ingredients. Beat until smooth. Combine with dates. Pour into 9 x 12 inch prepared pan.

Combine last three ingredients and sprinkle on top.

Bake at 350° for 40 minutes.

012317

Happy B'day Pice

This is not the birthday poem
that one will be cool, lyrical
witty, slyly informative
no numbers will be employed
reference to personal qualities,
superlative ones,
will be made

oh, what the heck
2, in base 30; it's a great number
you've stood by me
and anything small
furry or not
hippy pappy bithuthdy, again and again.





First draft.

012217b

I have been pretty busy with the Rhysling. Also, trying to write a birthday poem for my wife, which is due tomorrow! Sold a few poems to S*l. Eating good food, but, one hopes, not too much of it. One always wants to use "hopefully" in such a case, but grammatically it gives completely the wrong message.

Speaking of the Rhysling, I am looking for a good cover. This is an enjoyable task. However if you should happen to have a really wonderful science fiction or fantasy painting that is available for free, please let me know about it.

122016

HBD2


Almost the very worst Xmas present
The first time
Almost the best ever since
Flew the coop
Got your own
Laying eggs like bread crumbs
To call us home.

So far from alone
Yet too often so
Walking a path like a doppelganger
You outshine the sun
And all that jazz.

Don't forget
I see you always.

120816c

Crossing the Greater New Orleans bridge, in the dark, with no traffic


Come tomorrow
34 years a parent
hugs across the Pond

090816b

It is not difficult to write a love poem. However, it is, at the best of times, difficult to write a good one. Now consider this: we have been married 37 years. That's 37 birthdays, 31 Mother's Day's, 37 Christmases, 37 Chanukahs (Yes, both), 37 Valentine's Days. I have missed a few, but in the ideal case, that would be close to 200 poems. That's a lot of endearments for someone who isn't all that sentimental. So, in recent years, I have gone with a mixture of tongue in cheek and totally unrelated to the subject. She seems to like them. And, it is the only good use for doggerel. For obvious reasons, I'm not posting any of those poems here, although I might add this year's after I give it to her

082014

.


an animated shell
a ropy struggling mass
and in the earth, things
turn him in his grave

Daughter's birthday

not being nostalgic
don't you have
all the recent ones?

a mysterious package
wends its turgid way
from the land
of intentions