Oh, but I fear I am on a slippery slope. I shouldn't be left to my own devices for long periods of time.

I added a pic of my newest creation to one of my Facebook albums. (It should be viewable by everyone; let me know if it's not.) I played with not one but two - count 'em, two - new techniques for making jewelry in this one. I'm not 100% happy with my beaded beads, but it's at least 85%. I love, love, love my little origami kimonos, though.

I've also started playing with making paper beads. This is scary because it adds to the scrapbooking link I've already got. Plus a friend is going in with someone to start a new scrapbooking store in the near future. When I mentioned to her what I was working on, she said if it comes out well, maybe I could teach a class at the store once it's open. I pooh-poohed the idea when she mentioned it, but came up with how I think I could do such a class and using supplies available at a scrapbooking store (well, except for head- and eye-pins, but that's no big deal).

Oh, and I dozed off on the sofa for a bit one afternoon a few weeks ago and actually dreamed up a necklace design. I've never done that before. But I did sketch the idea out on the notepad that I put in easy reach a while back. I don't draw worth squat, but I've got a few ideas in there, either sketched out or just quick descriptions of technique ideas.

This whole jewelry making thing isn't one of my usual flash in the pan quick obsessions that I drop quickly. I suppose that's a good thing, especially since I've invested a decent amount in supplies. But it's a bit scary too, 'cause I know just how many other bits and bobs I really want to pick up so I can expand my repertoire.

It's almost two months before my birthday, but I'm already thinking about what I want to do for my "special" day. Which is a bit odd, since it's been a long time since I've really given a rat's posterior about the day. Maybe it's because so many people put forth an effort for me last year - what with being all alone in a foreign country and all - but I want to do something special-ish this year. I don't have a desire to revisit last year's jump off a bridge as a birthday present to myself, but I'd still like to mark the occasion in some way that's just for me.

I'd really, really like to go off somewhere by myself - just about anywhere, really, that would get me a passport stamp. But I just don't see how I can swing it. My finances aren't nearly as worry-inducing as they were a couple of months ago, but I still have debts to pay and no permanent job. (I have been freelancing, which is good but not something I can count on in the long term.) That won't stop me from plotting and scheming about it, of course. And if a really cheap airfare for Scotland or Ireland happens to come my way, I may just say the hell with it and go for at least a couple of days. It helps that my birthday falls on a Friday - I could easily do a three- or four-day weekend. Wouldn't be the first time. And I'd be perfectly happy to celebrate my birthday all by myself, doing something I enjoy. Oddly enough, I kind of like the idea of being by myself on the day. I think I've turned into a bit of a hermit in my *ahem* older age.

And would it be weird if I got my own birthday cake? Technically, what I want is a double doozie cookie cake from The Great American Cookie Company - it's my favorite. My mom usually took care of getting one for me the years I got one - including one of the years I was in college and she arranged to get me one through my roommate. I haven't had one for my birthday in a while, but I find myself really wanting one this year. My brother may be here for my birthday, and there's a reasonable chance he would think to get me one, but that's a lot of "ifs". Besides, by the time my birthday rolls around, he's going to have much bigger things on his mind than ordering a giant cookie for his sister. I just don't know if it's kinda pathetic to get your own birthday "cake" - though at least I wouldn't be baking it myself...

I thought I'd have a lazy day today (you know, in contrast to all those other days I jam-pack with activity - not). But somehow, I snuck in some productivity despite myself.

I had never really cleared out the extra closet that had some of my dad's stuff in it. I've never been in a particular hurry to do anything with the closet, so I've been letting it sit. I'd pulled out most of the clothes (but got the last of them out only a month or so ago), but there was still random stuff in there. But today, for some reason, I decided to tackle getting it cleared out. There are still one or two things in there because I really don't have a better place to put them, but it's mostly empty now. I just need to clean the floor in there - vacuumed already, but I need to mop the tile - and I'll have a bit more stash space.

I also threw out a little aquarium that I'm no longer using - my fish outgrew it ages back, but I left it sitting in its same spot on a kitchen counter. Which was madness, really, since one thing I don't have is much kitchen counter space. But now I have a teensy bit more.