Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
Today is my 33rd birthday and I have the day off. It’s going to be 90 degrees out and I have Special Plans with myself for the day, which include a long breezy walk with my dog in the afternoon, and then dinner with a few friends. It is a very happy day.
33 birthday prezzies for which I am deeply appreciative:
1. My health
2. My husband Andreas
3. My parents, individually and collectively
4. Chateau Fetzllings, our home
5. Seattle, the city that I keep leaving and always return to
6. Extended family of aunts, cousins, outlaw mothers, sisters of various sorts, etc.
7. My job (unexpectedly awesome)
8. A community of friends that’s in constant shift, but always solid
9. Dance & stretching
10. Platforms & soapboxes
11. Sassafras & warm sleepy puppy smell
12. Seasonal shifts
13. Afternoon delight/naps
14. Temperate rainforests
15. Deep bass
16. Generosity that comes back around in unexpected ways
17. Enthusiasm
18. Hustle
19. Skin
20. Sweet black tea in bed in the mornings
21. Olympic coastline
22. Smoke
23. Social psychology
24. Emotional articulation
25. The Internet and other connective technologies
26. Waking up without an alarm
27. Gossip/storytelling
28. Particularities
29. Hitachi Magic Wand
30. Crisis competence
31. Learning internal lessons from external triggers
32. Snuggling
33. A voice that projects
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, is in bookstores now.
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mykie
May 16th, 2008 at 5:46 am
happy birthday!
kirida
May 16th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Amen to the Hitachi Magic Wand and Happy Birthday!
lucy
May 16th, 2008 at 7:00 am
yay for lists and may you have a magical, sweet birthday, ariel.
ken
May 16th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Happy birthday. Mine was a week ago - I need to make a list like this too.
Kate
May 16th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Happy Day! I hope you feel most celebrated and content today - excellent idea, making this list!
Alyce
May 16th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Happy Birthday!
Just when I was about to audibly awwww at the sentimentality of it all you throw in the Magic Wand. Awwww became awwhahaha cough choke snort.
catina jane
May 16th, 2008 at 10:21 am
happiest of days sweet lady!
amy.leblanc
May 16th, 2008 at 10:52 am
yet more proof that being in your 30s is awesome.
i can just see you going around town in the sunshine with a silly grin on your face all day. have way too much fun celebrating!
Marianne
May 16th, 2008 at 10:58 am
It’s my birthday, too! The 16th rocks!
Rebecca
May 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Happy Birthday! And whoa! Number 29 certainly pops out a bit!
joe
May 16th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Happy Birthday!
I think I know what S.P. is code for!
Sara
May 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Happy happy, Miss Elish! (Mine is tomorrow!) Your list is fantastic.
Ben Haley
May 16th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
hippo birdie two ewes!
Gigi
May 16th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Happy birthday!
And I’m jealous of your voice that projects.
Carrie
May 16th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a rockin’ natal day!
Changapeluda
May 17th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
hi
you don’t know me but i read your list and fell a lil bit in love with you.
not creepily but sweetly cuz you write such a lovely list…oh and i’m a friend of sj’s by the by….feliz cumpleanos! 33 is a good age to be!
Spandrel Studios
May 18th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Happy Birthday to a fellow Taurus! This is a lovely time of year, and remembering the things you’re grateful for is a great way to celebrate. Hope it’s an excellent year!
RonM
May 20th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Ariel,
Your work is wonderful.
Just found your blog; it was just a few clicks away. Also found your article on blogging (I am convinced and wise advice), and your photos, and now, your list of things to be thankful for. Yes, you are blessed.
Thank you for posting.
Best Regards and Happy Birthday,
Ron
Kristy
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 am
Happy Birthday Ariel! Yes yes I’m late. My birthday is the 17th of May and I think all people born in May are especially wonderful. I just turned 38 and 38 is equally great, so have no fear.