My birthday comes around and I seem to get thoughtful, pensive. Not too analytical, but just thinking about stuff. I tend to think a lot, and it's not always productive.

So, I'm working on knitting a goofy looking case for my iPod. It's bright and stripey but not protective, other than from scratching. If I were to drop it, it wouldn't protect much. It's the kind of thing that involves thin, fine yarn and small needles. It's the kind of thing I have to pay attention to and can't really zone out to the television while I do it. I'm not entirely sure I'm pleased with it, but I may make another one for a friend when I've got the "bugs" worked out. Then I'll have to embark on a new project. My boyfriend's mom gave me her yarn stash, and I can figure out something, I am sure. I am captivated by the pattern for knitted bowls, made by knitting them out of wool and felting them. They seem so oddly decorative. They can't be used as a regular bowl would, but they would just look nice, a soft, fuzzy bowl.

After that, I have a couple of weekends of activities planned with people I love. Unfortunately it means I can't do some other things that I would like to, but that is the way life is. I can't do everything anymore, even if I want to. And that makes me sad, and feel old. Which brings me back to the whole birthday thing.

I have love, life, health, joy, enthusiasm, a body that works and gets around pretty well, and people. I have talents and things I enjoy being a part of. I have so much that can't be measured on a balance sheet.

I'm still going to buy myself something wonderful. I just don't know what that is yet.