I'm on Twitter, though I don't do a very good job of it. I never have been able to say anything in twenty words or less. So here are some things I've had on my mind lately, inspired by tweets -- mine, or other people's. (I use the same username on Twitter as here, if you're curious).

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vendredi13 had a birthday. I have to confess that I am a bad friend, in that I don't often remember or even acknowledge birthdays, but this is a particularly significant one, in that she marks the quarter-century. Congratulations, darlin', and to answer your implied question, you're still stunningly gorgeous.

I remember my twenty-fifth birthday. I was living in Raleigh, near nytemiste, and we hung out a lot. I had a big crush on her. There was a lunar eclipse on a weekend a couple of weeks after my birthday, and I got a keg and set up a telescope, and it was the first time I ever felt that a birthday party was successful, though I acknowledge that a lot of the people were there for the beer and the telescope, not me.

I remember feeling lost. I was a quarter of a century old, I was recently divorced, and I hadn't accomplished anything of note. I wasn't a millionare, hadn't published a novel, made the world a better place, or... anything.

Who would've thought that I'd still feel that way, fifteen years later?

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alohomoron went to play crazy golf with some friends. Apparently, they played competitively, and she came in second.

I used to love minigolf. I had my first real job at MetroCenter mall in Phoenix, (where, incidentally, I met dorinda2212, at her job at the game store, which sent my life in new and interesting directions for a couple of years) and there was a minigolf place there. Occasionally, on payday, I'd go out there and play by myself.

I grew up in a church that placed a lot of importance on youth groups doing innocent things together, and I remember that ours went to play minigolf a lot. Corbin and Sean and I always had a good time playing together, though I can't for the life of me remember any of the girls who were with us... though Corbin eventually married one of them.

The last time I played was with lapis_lazuli, on one of her visits out here. I presume we kept score, but I honestly don't recall who won. It just wasn't important.

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This Dresden Codak is pretty funny. Me go too far! Me am play gods!

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Today, some of the folks in the Barony are having a party to celebrate September birthdays, in which category I fall. And I've been invited. And I know and like the hosts, and at least one of the other celebrants.

And yet I'm waffling about actually going. I'm feeling a lot of social anxiety. As alluded earlier, me + birthday parties has not historically been a very good mix.

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I think it was that same year, the year of the telescope birthday party, that nytemiste and I held our black-tie new year's eve party. We'd made a road trip to a large mall a couple of hours down the road, and she'd looked at a formal dress in a shop window, and lamented that she'd have no place to wear it, so I suggested we make an occasion.

We printed invitations, invited our friends, and it came out very well. Ladies in evening dresses, gentlemen in tuxedos, cheap champagne, and a good time. I wonder if it was just the place in life that let me do things like that, or if it was nytemiste's influence.

On further reflection, it couldn't have been the same year, as I was living in different places for the two parties. But I still find myself wondering why I could throw successful parties then, and not at other times in my life.

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I've always wanted to be the guy that people felt free to drop in on at any time. I never have been, but I've always wanted to.

I got a call from ebonyraven last night, inviting me to dinner to celebrate her birthday. We went to Oregano's, which isn't my favorite place, but the girls seemed to like the pizza, so it's all good.

Afterwards, we trooped back to the dorm (it turns out one of the girls is my neighbor) and played Scene It. There was much joking about how I should play on a team by myself against all of them. It comes from being old, and having no life, I suppose.... I've had a lot of time to watch movies.

Broke up a little after midnight, came back to my room, fell into bed, read for a little while, and then did not get up until the next morning, when we had another Thanksgiving dinner which... uh, sorry; wrong story. Anyway, ebonyraven took some pictures; maybe she'll post 'em.

So, I'm 34 this morning... and the 'i' key on my keyboard is sticking. Usually, the sticky key is the 'a'.

I went out to brennabe's house last night, and had excellent chicken parmasian, with angel hair pasta and crunchy breadsticks.

If I were ten years younger, this would probably be an entry about how I'd slept with Bren's roommate, and oh gosh, what does it all mean?

As it is, I didn't even flirt with Bren's roommate.

This morning, I played hooky from biology class, and cleaned my front bedroom. It really needed to be done before the day started to heat up, and I couldn't find the gumption to actually get up and go to biology, anyway.

I'm thinking about droping the class, actually, and retaking it next year, when I can afford the books. At least I was able to buy my trig book with birthday money from Gramma.

Ugh.

I need to go clean the bathroom, before it gets hot.

Oh, and thanks to everyone for birthday wishes, yesterday... I wasn't trolling, honest!

Today is the 34th anniversary of my birth.

I have nothing to say about that.