Nice Guy

"In 1891, Robert Louis Stevenson received a letter from a Vermont girl named Annie Ide. Her birthday fell on Christmas, she said, and she seldom received birthday presents.

He replied with a document decreeing that "I, Robert Louis Stevenson, … in consideration that Miss Annie H. Ide, … was born, out of all reason, upon Christmas Day, and is therefore out of all justice denied the consolation and profit of a proper birthday; and considering that I, the said Robert Louis Stevenson, have attained an age when we never mention it, and that I have now no further use for a birthday of any description; … HAVE TRANSFERRED, and DO HEREBY TRANSFER, to the said Annie H. Ide, ALL AND WHOLE my rights and privileges in the thirteenth day of November, formerly my birthday, now, hereby, and henceforth, the birthday of the said Annie H. Ide, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the same in the customary manner, by the sporting of fine raiment, eating of rich meats, and receipt of gifts, compliments, and copies of verse, according to the manner of our ancestors."

He charged her to add "Louisa" to her name, "at least in private," and to use the birthday "with moderation and humanity"—and he directed that if she neglected these conditions the birthday would revert to the president of the United States. She didn't."

Found on Futility Closet...one of my favorite internet sources for trivia.

Two Things

First, if there is anyone who is not Ben that reads this thing, go here. You'll like it.

Next: I have been holding on to this link for quite a while, intending to share. So now I share.
My band's name is: Grenadian British
The title of my first album: A Little More Sincere
And the cover:


Spiffy, no?

Overkill

In my purse I have five packs of gum. Four of them have been opened, all of them are different flavors. I have Trident Original Flavor (which is always, always in my purse). I have Extra Cool Watermelon. I have Extra Classic Bubble.I have 5 Flare (Cinnamon). The one that is not open is Trident Xtra Care, Cool Mint.
I barely have an excuse, I like gum-obviously a lot. I hate running out (I buy 2 or 3 packages of Trident Original from Costco at a time). I'm going out of town this weekend...and I don't want to run out while I'm in the country?
However, this collection has accumulated over a couple of weeks because I like to try different types of gum. Usually I just toss an extra pack of Trident in my bag and keep a spare in my glovebox.
I may have lost it for good this time. Over gum. I may have lost it when I decided keeping a spare pack in my car was a good idea.
Crazy, again.

Priorities

I have been getting near daily reminders that life is short. Everyone's time is so limited and we have no realistic hope of knowing when it will be our turn. So the question is how do we manage our short time?
Do we fight to experience? Do we create our own "bucket list"* now? Do we savor every moment? Take our time, let life happen?
Do we force our lives or mold them?

Here's what I haven't figured out. Everyday I consider the people I value and treasure their existence. I accept experiences, but in most cases, I don't force them to happen to me. I make mental lists and follow them out. Through all that though, am I doing the right thing for myself? Should I make a life list? I have a smaller one in my head, but if I write it out will it encourage me or will I be pushing my own little zen-balance out of whack?


*pardon the phrase

A little peak

Depression is selfish. Yes, it is many other things--debilitating, frustrating, painful, and ceaseless. However, sitting on the outside-depression is selfish. It eats joy presented to it, it tears apart happy moments and it destroys opportunities. And yet, we are supposed to support it, supposed to perk up an be happier for it, in the hopes that it will go away.
I am patient, I will dole out the happiness and the love and the support. However, depression is a drain--in its selfishness, it is pulling out what I have to give and I worry that it will eventually pull out all of it.
Depression makes me worry about worrying. It makes me angry and sad and frustrated and I wish it would go away.
So, there is a little peak into my thoughts for the day.

Everything is fine, everything will be fine. We are all doing great.