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icarusToday's my birthday! And what do I want for my birthday?
A day off. I haven't had a whole day off, with nothing scheduled, for a loooong time, not since I started working six-day weeks and going to the temple on the only day off I had left.
Something has to give, but for now, a day in front of the new fireplace (yay, the kitty boys love it too), watching movies and working on my rug part II is enough.
Now. Presents for myself. I have to buy a computer. But for me ... do I buy jewelry, or a cabinet, or clothes?
I'm leaning towards a cabinet....
A day off. I haven't had a whole day off, with nothing scheduled, for a loooong time, not since I started working six-day weeks and going to the temple on the only day off I had left.
Something has to give, but for now, a day in front of the new fireplace (yay, the kitty boys love it too), watching movies and working on my rug part II is enough.
Now. Presents for myself. I have to buy a computer. But for me ... do I buy jewelry, or a cabinet, or clothes?
I'm leaning towards a cabinet....
Merry Birthday!!
Date: 2011-11-18 09:39 pm (UTC)As for presents for yourself.... Hmmm, that's tough. I tend toward things that will give me a bit of pleasure every day, as opposed to an occasional big jolt of happy, but that's my style. I think you should share a little ice cream with the boys & ask their opinions. ;-)
Re: Merry Birthday!!
Date: 2011-11-19 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 01:35 am (UTC)these homages just happen, I dunno
Date: 2011-11-20 06:15 am (UTC)The tomatoes were chopped and in a covered bowl on the counter (because they were many things, but not idiots when it came to Tesla and anything with potential to stain)- but no sign of John. Rodney let his eyes drift over the assembled group of spices and dried pasta next to the bowl, his mind still a little distracted by level 27 of Sugar Sugar- where would John be? Rodney couldn't hear him, which was strange.
He wandered back to the bedroom. No John- but he grabbed his tablet with the latest issue of Z'Boni uploaded, a new skating magazine with enough technical articles to distract him for whole minutes of time from the utter stupidity of the name. He was still trying to decide if the articles and the (surprisingly accurate) gossip columns were worth enough of his attention to subscribe. He'd been meaning to talk about the balance-targeted yoga article with John anyway.
Back into the hall. The bathroom was empty. His office was obviously empty. He peeked out the back window- he was pretty sure he would have heard the car but you never knew, flash games were still surprisingly engrossing- nope, the Chevy was still there.
He knew John wouldn't be in the front room but checked anyway, for thoroughness' sake. The front room was for holidays when Jeannie or Dave came, and occasionally Rodney's meetings with longterm clients. There was a bookshelf where Rodney collected the stupider books and articles he ran across, so he wouldn't forget the authors' names, and John occasionally stretched in there before he went running, but that was about it.
Rodney padded quietly down the stairs, and when he reached the bottom, he found John on the double-wide chaise Rodney had insisted on buying three years ago because it was the most overstuffed piece of furniture he'd ever seen in his life. It had since become the only place in the house where John would stop moving for more than five seconds at a time, other than their bed.
John was sprawled out bonelessly, Tesla on his chest, napping. Rodney watched Tesla rise and fall with John's steady breathing a couple times- they were getting older, no harm in being attentive- and smiled. John was snuffling a little rather than full-out snoring- which Rodney certainly would have heard from upstairs, and indeed from the lawn- and Tesla's tail was tapping out a gentle rhythm on his chin. The fireplace had small pile of glowing embers, and ESPN flickered silently on the television, muted.
Rodney felt his lips curl into a grin. He'd had a lot of ideas and expectations for how his life would turn out, and so very few of them had been met.
But this- this he had never dared to hope for.
Re: these homages just happen, I dunno
Date: 2011-11-21 09:31 pm (UTC)Oh, this is so tender & thoughtful! Thank you for writing this lovely bit of domesticity for
Re: these homages just happen, I dunno
Date: 2011-11-22 03:30 am (UTC)Re: these homages just happen, I dunno
Date: 2011-11-22 04:15 am (UTC)Re: these homages just happen, I dunno
Date: 2011-11-22 05:46 pm (UTC)Disoriented, John squeeze-blinked his eyes, feeling crusted over. In a testament to the fire, Tesla did no more than open one eye and gaze balefully at John, willing him in place. He snuggled his head closer, fur and wet nose tickling John's neck. But John had things to do, places to be ... what time was it? Was it still Sunday?
Not the sort of thing he could tell from the gray Oregon sky outside their window. Tesla gave a punishing flick of his tail.
Someone had put another log on the fire, and the game was long over: the TV blinked with hockey footage. That someone had also failed to notice John's beer bottle set on the hardwood floor, which usually drove Rodney crazy because he (Rodney) would kick them over and somehow that was his (John's) fault. John plucked it up--Tesla slid a little further down his chest but wasn't giving up--took a swig and grimaced. It was warm and had gone flat. He set it back on the floor.
He scooped Tesla up with one arm and rolled off the couch (the cat stiffened and struggled but was getting used to this). John had a vague recollection he was supposed to be doing something, something important, but the usual weekend list (mow lawn, wire up the gutters, rake leaves, no...) didn't fit.
The smell of tomato and fresh garlic, the smoky scent of bubbling herbs in sauce filled the foyer and grew stronger as he followed it to the kitchen.
Re: these homages just happen, I dunno
Date: 2011-11-22 06:16 pm (UTC)Rodney sat on a stool at the butcher's block, engrossed in a video game or something. He'd helped himself to the cooking wine. John grinned. Rodney couldn't tell the difference between fine wine and barely disguised vinegar. It was both horrifying and refreshing. Woolsey insisted that MREs had ruined Rodney's palate. John doubted Rodney had had a palate to begin with. Although he could differentiate between generic and brand name cheese puffs, it was true. Rodney didn't look up when he said, "Nap time over?"
John straddled another stool. "The game was slow," he offered in excuse, though he'd been napping in front of football games regularly. "Both teams played all defense, no offense. I'd be surprised if it didn't end 0-0."
"Don't you have extra innings to prevent that?"
John paused. He needed to do a better job of training Rodney on the finer things in life.
"Sure, Rodney," he said slowly. "But when the server knocks it into the net you have to take a five yard penalty, and that's a problem when your first basement hooked a gate with his ski in the first inning."
Or he could lure Rodney into an expert conversation on football, preferably at a sports bar. What he needed was internal consistency of moves and equipment, knowing Rodney would never check the real thing. Rodney nodded sagely.
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Date: 2011-11-18 11:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-22 06:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 12:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-22 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 05:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-22 06:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-20 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-20 05:53 am (UTC)How about a pile of gems? You can put them in a bowl on your dresser. No one will believe they're real. :D
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Date: 2011-11-21 03:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-22 06:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-22 06:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-20 11:15 am (UTC)Joyeux Anniversaire
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Date: 2011-11-22 06:26 pm (UTC)