secret: each day

i really like this idea. birthdays are a little bit magical, aren't they? even when they're just a normal day for whatever reason, like having to work or go to school or they're midweek so you're waiting for the weekend to celebrate. still, even in these instances, a birthday is a bit special.

i always feel invincible and loved by everyone. kind of sparkly, nervous and excited. you just don't know what might happen on your birthday. there are tasty treats, like cake and glasses of champagne. there are gifts great and small; handmade cards and bottles of wine (crossing my fingers for whiskey this year), phonecalls and text messages and Facebooks. Love.

Today felt sort of lovely like a birthday- I got up early (so hard to drag myself out of warm bed; I may have stayed up too late last night finishing a series of a tv show) and crept around making a hot drink and putting on gym clothes. I left 5 minutes early to defrost my windscreen before starting the van. Everything was frost-covered and glittery, my breath was clouds of fog, the van was grumpy, but participating. The glorious chill of New England winter was everywhere. It wakes you up and clears your mind in a way that's hard to resent. For it is good to be alive, and don't let anyone tell you different.

treasure: rainy tuesday happiness

despite the cold, rainy day and the fact my hair is definitely not photo-shoot ready, despite my tummy ache from eating wheat last night (in the form of delicious chocolate cheesecake, so worth it) and despite the fact i have to work instead of watch the Armidale Eisteddfod like i'd like to, i'm actually having a lovely day.

maybe it's the fact that i drove a manual car (a van, no less) to work without stalling or crashing this morning. maybe it's the fact that i finally seem to have figured out how to dress weather-appropriate for Armidale. maybe it's the lovely people with whom i shared that delicious chocolate cheesecake last night, reassuring me that Armidale is not devoid of awesomeness (it just hides inside, where it's warm). maybe it's the large chai latte i'm sipping on, filled with warmth and sugar.

or maybe i'm just happy anyway, and all these things are lovely whisperings of noise in the background. it's good to feel happy.

today, i am basically the opposite of grumpy cat, which i figure is happy dog.