I didn’t take a lunch break at work today, so rather than running off to the gym, I am taking the time to use a functioning computer to finally, alas, blog. It’s been a nutty month, but things are really only interesting in the moment, so I won’t regale cyberspace with tales of days gone past.

My birthday, however, was extraordinary- pics to follow, if my laptop ever decides to behave again. The pirate pool party was fabulous silliness, and the peaceful days off that followed were equally wonderful. My life has changed much since my last birthday, and I’m very, very thankful for what’s happened, and what continues to happen.

I learned yet another major lesson over the last twenty-four hours, and that is what to say- and what NOT to say- to the press. I was all over this weekend’s paper, and most of it was good stuff, but one of my quotes ruffled some major feathers in my community and I had some explaining to do- namely, that the quote was taken out of context, and included to incite conflict. But it was interesting to discover the caliber of folk who took issue with my quote- interesting to discover they actually cared what I think. And what I say. But, as with all things when you are above board, it only improved relations in the end… although I did lose precious sleep over it last night.

And tonight is my first meeting of a year-long leadership program in which I’m participating. I’ll be meeting the handful of fellow participants as well as all the mentors who will be working with us. I am very excited about this program and I hope to be able to write about it candidly. This is just an informal meet-and-greet, but in a couple of weeks we take a week-long retreat on the Sonomoa coast and get down to business. And, yes, they pay me for this stuff. Amazing, right? I mean, I’m paid peanuts, but they are keeping the bowl full while I’m gone for a week at the coast learning to be a better leader. Or at least, that’s the hope.

I hope further that my computer starts to work, and that the hot lawyer guy works out, and that I raise tens of thousands of dollars in the near future, and that I learn how to secure corporate funding for my non-profit. That’s all for now.

Thank you all for your birthday wishes. That pic of me on Ian’s blog is terrifying. I totally remember that doll- I loved it to pieces.

So I’ve been a terrible blogger, eh? Well, most of the fault lies with my computer, which about three weeks ago decided to start freezing, like mad, and it’s been in and out of the shop a number of times, and now that it has a new hard drive and new ram, it’s freezing more than ever, which means I don’t know if I’ll even get this post finished. It’s terribly frustrating to write your heart out and have your computer freeze and to lose everything. That’s been my life lately. Plus, I haven’t been home much, and boy does my one-eared cat get pathetic when I’m gone too long.

Birthday month has been strange, wondrous, sad, and fabulous, depending on the day. There is something about actually getting close to the day of my birth- as opposed to just beginning birthday month- that leaves me a little blue. Maybe it’s that every year, I think things are going to be drastically different the next year, but the next year, I’m still me, so things haven’t really changed much.

I have to keep this short, since I’m about thirty seconds from a freeze. I find myself strangely unable, for once, to broadcast either my successes or disappointing failures, but don’t worry- both are happening in spades.

I’m almost thirty-three years old.

So, yeah, I mean, Lucy’s *cute* and all, but somehow, the really important PSA has yet to hit cyber-space, so allow me to do the honors.

Ahem.

It’s….. BIRTHDAY MONTH!!

That’s right- it’s June, and we all know what that means. Four full weeks of festivities to celebrate the day I was born. It’s not all necessarily about me- it’s about all of creation celebrating this glorious month. Years past have included spa days, trips to the beach, hooky from work, parties, trips to Magic Mountain, and general feelings of joy and contentedness. This year will be no different, and all you folks who don’t live in California will have to invent your own fun.

Birthday Month 2005 will include after-school pool parties, trips to various pubs in San Francisco, hikes, day trips, horseback riding, and massages, all leading up to the 26th of this month when, if I’ve heard correctly, we shall all dress up as pirates for the big event. If you’ve ever considered visiting the sunshine state, now might be the time.

In other news, I worked the Napa Valley Wine Auction tonight, where we raised… wait for it… ten million dollars. Did you catch that? Ten. Million. Dollars. One lot went for $650,000.00. One lot. I’d like to point out that that one lot could fund my entire organization for three years. You are wondering, I’m sure, what percentage of that ten million will go to support the arts in Napa Valley. The arts will get exactly… wait for it… 0.0%. Yep, not one red cent, not one wee penny. The arts get a lump of coal.

And with that, I leave you to figure out how you, too, will celebrate birthday month. It only comes once a year! Don’t miss it!

A week in New York is nothing more than a tease, but the Jartacular proved to be as fabulous as ever. However, if you aren’t in the mood to see pictures of a baby laughing, you might as well go back to that knitting blog.

The weekend was one of beautiful babies, fun, pool, and beer, not necessarily all at the same time. It was amazing to finally meet sweet Lucy, who has more personality at five weeks than most adults I know.

Lucy spends lots of time looking at Tessa, particulary when lunchtime nears.

Lucy also spent lots of time sleeping on Gramma- two separated generations of beautiful Williamses.

Meanwhile… out in the barn, Seth was enlivining all fun and games…

…Ian was enjoying the scotch…

and I was in my natural habitat.

But nothing compared to time spent with the little one, whose smiles, snorts, and coos are sweet enough to solve all of the world’s problems.

Happy…

Happier…

Huzzah!

*Sigh*. Why does the Jartacular only happen once a year?