Happy Birthdays, Happy Holidays and disturbing .gifs!

Like so many other New Yorkers, I'm heading home to visit the folks for the holidays. I have all of next week off from the day job - a benefit of employment at an academic institution - and will stay in Virginia, sketching, birding, hiking, taking photographs, reading and generally recharging. I doubt I'll be inclined to blog it up via dial-up, but I must admit to some mild anxiety; what about all those posts I'll miss at my regular blogosphere stops?! At the end of the day, though, such concerns are pretty darned silly, if not outright ridiculous, especially when dusk finds you standing alongside a tidal estuary occupied by thousands of snow geese.

On Tuesday night, I'll celebrate my 28th birthday with the 'rents and some family friends, even though the actual anniversary is two days later, on the 29th of December. To tell you the truth, I've never particularly enjoyed birthday parties. Often I don't mention the date, and it passes without anyone, excepting my parents, realizing. If a party is thrown on my behalf, I'd rather have it be the quiet, intimate affair awaiting me in Virginia.

The aversion is defensive I suppose, the result of my birthday falling four days after Christmas and having had little in the way of ritualized observance as a child; I remember receiving extra waffles at breakfast, a few gifts and a birthday cake each year, but only a couple of parties. (One of these parties is pictured in the photograph above. Check out that R2-D2 cake, which pretty much rocks! I can't help but realize I was a somber, pensive bastard even as a kid. Jesus.)

All the same, I have a feeling I'll miss my studio on Thursday morning. What better way to mark another year of life than to brew a strong cup of coffee and sit, both nostalgic and anticipative, surrounded by the work that brings you pain and pleasure in proportionate doses? Talk radio or an album playing softly in the background. A few warm sun spots on the floor, one of these occupied by the fat cat. The back of my wooden studio chair pressing into my skin, against my shoulder blades. The warm Cincinnati Bengals coffee mug propped on my belly. These are a few of my favorite things.

Anyway, I'll leave you all with this fantastic .gif file, by artist Matt Smears. VVOI, over at New Art, turned me on to it. (Unfortunately, it seems to be too small to enjoy here.)

Happy Holidays to all.