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gwynToday's the day my other beloved Steve, Steve "Patch" Johnson from Days of Our Lives, is supposed to be coming back to the show after abruptly leaving last year, but I honestly don't know if that's going to happen because NBC's been bumping the show for impeachment biz, I've heard. I'll tune in anyway, I guess, to see. He's the only reason I really ever watch DOOL, anymore, but I heard they're separating him and Kayla (again), and that is just not on for me. In the '80s heyday, I lived and breathed for Steve and Kayla, and he influenced so many of the characters I loved subsequently. He and Captain Wentworth have a lot to answer for, I tell you.
After sis_r died, I was seeing a therapist and I was talking about one of the hardest things was figuring out who I was without a twin (this is a common problem, and I really wish the support group Twinless Twins had worked for me, but it didn't), especially when it came to the birthday. It was just so strange, and made me feel unmoored and agitated, to not have someone to buy a gift for, and to know that there was one person in the world who wouldn't forget my birthday, which happened often because it's usually around Thanksgiving, or on it, like tomorrow. And therapist suggested that I buy sis_r a present but keep it for myself, or buy myself something that she would have given me.
That first year, I bought a ring from the Sundance catalog, and I loved it, but after a few years, I was kind of hit or miss about following that habit. I had discovered a very generous Nordstrom gift card in a drawer, completely forgotten, which was expiring soon. So this year, I realized I hadn't bought new shoes in ages, and I wanted something fun and cute but super comfy for lots of walking, becauseminim_calbre and I are doing a girls weekend on Saturday, since I was whining about not being able to do anything fun for my birthday this year because it was on a holiday that most people here reserve for family stuff. We're going antiquing in this little town north of Seattle, then spa stuff there, before coming back to Seattle and staying at a hotel downtown, and going to see Knives Out. All my shoes are either super cute and terrible for walking, or great for walking and hella ugly.
I'm not totally sure about them--both are tight in the same spot (a chronic problem for me) but fit perfectly in every other way, and I'm not certain if stretching would work with a fabric lining, plus I'm not going anywhere near the mall for a while, because of holiday shopping insanity. The weight gain really messed everything up for me, shoe-wise--I already had a super high instep, but now it's become sort of a literal pain to find things that accommodate narrow heel, high instep, more straightish toe curve, and wider ball of foot. Ugh, making everything for some mythical "normal" "average" person, why.
Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to ex and his wife's place for turkey day, and I know they're planning to make me a birthday cake because P loves to bake, so I will be further burdened with glorious cake because Saturday at our fan bash,gattagrigia made me a classic red velvet cake. I kind of hate the modern weird abomination called red velvet that most people make, it has none of that dry cocoa taste, super dark, that the original has, and most people I know have never tasted what they originally were like. But I'm just one person, and I cannot eat all this cake by myself! I feel like stopping my neighbors when they're out walking their dogs and asking them if they'd like some cake.
But first, tonight I have to finish my Stucky fic so I can post that for my usual birthday-day fic posting, and then cook some stuff to bring for the big meal. At least I have a nice bottle of sparkly vino already bought, so I don't have to deal with the grocery store today. My head is really weird today, I woke up groggy and kind of dizzy, and I'm scared the vertigo's back, so am just taking things as slowly as I can.
After sis_r died, I was seeing a therapist and I was talking about one of the hardest things was figuring out who I was without a twin (this is a common problem, and I really wish the support group Twinless Twins had worked for me, but it didn't), especially when it came to the birthday. It was just so strange, and made me feel unmoored and agitated, to not have someone to buy a gift for, and to know that there was one person in the world who wouldn't forget my birthday, which happened often because it's usually around Thanksgiving, or on it, like tomorrow. And therapist suggested that I buy sis_r a present but keep it for myself, or buy myself something that she would have given me.
That first year, I bought a ring from the Sundance catalog, and I loved it, but after a few years, I was kind of hit or miss about following that habit. I had discovered a very generous Nordstrom gift card in a drawer, completely forgotten, which was expiring soon. So this year, I realized I hadn't bought new shoes in ages, and I wanted something fun and cute but super comfy for lots of walking, because
minim_calbre and I are doing a girls weekend on Saturday, since I was whining about not being able to do anything fun for my birthday this year because it was on a holiday that most people here reserve for family stuff. We're going antiquing in this little town north of Seattle, then spa stuff there, before coming back to Seattle and staying at a hotel downtown, and going to see Knives Out. All my shoes are either super cute and terrible for walking, or great for walking and hella ugly. I'm not totally sure about them--both are tight in the same spot (a chronic problem for me) but fit perfectly in every other way, and I'm not certain if stretching would work with a fabric lining, plus I'm not going anywhere near the mall for a while, because of holiday shopping insanity. The weight gain really messed everything up for me, shoe-wise--I already had a super high instep, but now it's become sort of a literal pain to find things that accommodate narrow heel, high instep, more straightish toe curve, and wider ball of foot. Ugh, making everything for some mythical "normal" "average" person, why.
Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to ex and his wife's place for turkey day, and I know they're planning to make me a birthday cake because P loves to bake, so I will be further burdened with glorious cake because Saturday at our fan bash,
gattagrigia made me a classic red velvet cake. I kind of hate the modern weird abomination called red velvet that most people make, it has none of that dry cocoa taste, super dark, that the original has, and most people I know have never tasted what they originally were like. But I'm just one person, and I cannot eat all this cake by myself! I feel like stopping my neighbors when they're out walking their dogs and asking them if they'd like some cake.But first, tonight I have to finish my Stucky fic so I can post that for my usual birthday-day fic posting, and then cook some stuff to bring for the big meal. At least I have a nice bottle of sparkly vino already bought, so I don't have to deal with the grocery store today. My head is really weird today, I woke up groggy and kind of dizzy, and I'm scared the vertigo's back, so am just taking things as slowly as I can.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-27 10:22 pm (UTC)happy early Birthday!
Date: 2019-11-27 10:37 pm (UTC)can you freeze some of the excess cake? if so, you could enjoy it again in a couple of weeks
Re: happy early Birthday!
Date: 2019-11-28 02:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-27 11:45 pm (UTC)Also, what time are you going over for t-day? (Because I am sure to once again have an extra pie and would merrily send it with you to the person I have in my address book as "[Name] Gwyn's Friend")
(And I'm heading your direction anyhow at around 1 pm. Apparently. The family group text seems confused.)
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 02:32 am (UTC)I think I'll be heading over around 2ish, but at some point going out to get my free Starbucks birthday treat. I have to cook, though, so should be here from 1ish to 2ish.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 02:34 am (UTC)(PS, I don't know why I didn't just text you!)
no subject
Date: 2019-11-27 11:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 03:31 am (UTC)Let's see.
Fire, nighttime, starlight
Luxury, warmth, sparkly
Music, spring, highways
Also I really really like your three!
Any, either/or
no subject
Date: 2019-11-29 02:29 am (UTC)https://archiveofourown.org/works/21599899
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 12:02 am (UTC)(It's after midnight here, so I hope on that technicality it won't count as congratulating too early for a birthday which is considered bad luck here -- one of the few instances were being too late is much better than too early.)
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 07:59 am (UTC)Meanwhile for celebrating later (say on the weekend after your actual birthday) a dedicated term exists "nachfeiern", which is a commonly done thing.
And while I'm not superstitious, it's deeply enough engrained here, that the idea of getting or delivering premature birthday congratulations makes me cringe.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 12:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 02:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 01:33 am (UTC)Shoes are the worst: I have a couple brands I know will be comfortable fr me, but they are expensive so I end up buying cheaper shoes that I'm always vaguely disgruntled with.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 02:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 05:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-29 01:42 pm (UTC)I hope you thoroughly enjoy spa day! (And find some nice, comfy shoes.)
no subject
Date: 2019-11-30 05:00 am (UTC)As you hunt for shoes I have found this a good resource:
https://www.barkingdogshoes.com/
no subject
Date: 2019-11-30 01:34 pm (UTC)Happy antiquing and a new Chris movie today! I saw nothing but praise for it on movie twitter. Hope that chunky sweater is a feast for the eyes!