well, well, well. i used to think that i needed a huge colossal party to have fun. i still enjoy parties and wouldn't complain if i had one; but now that i am older and a mum, i have different joys that make my natal day complete.

probably the highlight of the day (thus far – it ain't over yet, y'know) was walking the aisles in the supermarket today with BS and BC (beloved child), the latter of whom is 3. now BC, apropos of nothing, says “mommy, i can't tell you what i got you for your birthday.” pause. “I got you socks!”

BS was incredibly chagrined. i laughed so hard that people were staring at me. (attention: lunatic on aisle 3!) BC, of course, only thought that i was giddy with the joy of her future present (which, by the way, was awesome. y'see, my daughter has my JAPpy grandmother's spirit in her. we were in nordstroms last week, and she immediately ran over to these funky Steve Madden socks and screamed, “mommy! you HAVE to have these! you MUST get them! NOW!” after recounting this tale to BS, i guess they took a little trip back to nordie's and VOILA! i now have some really funky socks. **and** a digital camera from BS, i might add. thanks, BS! you rock!) anyway, the look on BS's face was worth the price of admission.

the workmen are working on a saturday across the street, and i have to put on music so that BC will nap amidst the BOOM BOOM sounds. but nothing's gonna spoil my day. *nothing* i tell ya. we had a lovely walk on roosevelt island, marred only by one moron who refused to leash his two wolfhounds and let them shit all over the damn park. i am getting so tired of people who believe that rules apply to everyone *but* them.

but it's my birthday. i won't dwell on some DC asshole. maybe they can shit in the District, but not on my national parkland, mister. take your dookies elsewhere!

… and proud of it, man. seems someone's dumpster is not presently under any existing permit by the local government. oh dear ;-)and did you know that you are not allowed by law to truck in stuff from another dumpster? oh my.

boy, that man from the commercial was right. it's amazing what you can learn when you let your fingers do the walking.

warning: those with a severe aversion to suburban angst need read no further.

since november, there has been a colossal renovation taking place directly across the street from us. in the end, this house will be larger and higher than any other house on this street. that is not why i am so annoyed, however. if their windows are so high that they inadvertantly peek in on me while i am nekkid, then that is definitely their problem and not mine…

but. since november, they have taken out my cable for three days (dumpster truck pulled down the line into the street and they did nothing – no internet and no TV!); i have raised my telephone line as a preventative measure; others have dumped trash into their dumpster, which overflows into the street and into my yard (sometimes with HUGE pieces of wood, which i have had to move out of the street before someone's car gets mangled); the workers themselves leave their 7-11 trash all over, which ends up in my yard; and nails from the project ended up in the street in front of my car, which i know because one ended up in the tire of my subaru, flattening the tire and ultimately costing me $300.

so you think i am a little pissed?

so today, someone came by and started dumping construction crap into the dumpster from another site, with the complete sanction of the head construction guy, who was chatting with them before they began dumping. Beloved Spouse (from now on called BS – boy, he'll love THAT!) came out and took a picture of this. as he was driving away (and i was outside in my jammies), he asked the project manager, brian, whether they had a trash transfer permit. he said yes. i think i might call up the county today and find out fer sure.

i cannot believe the complete disregard these people have shown for us. i met the future new owner and filled him in on what has been going on. he was fairly appalled. but while this is not directly his fault, this type of shit does not make good neighbors. it is hard enough that the BANG BANG-BOOM BOOM has been going on for months — and often intensifies right around the time i am trying to put my daughter down for a nap. i can forgive the usual issues regarding renovation. but the people from Morris Day are just completely uncaring about anyone else in this neighborhood.

::phew:: i wish i could say i felt better after ranting. but i don't.

yeah, right. dip me in shit and call me stinky. i am happy. thanks to my pal karl, i now have this lovely, handy-dandy live journal. thanks, karl! it fits, it doesn't make any noises, and it doesn't make me want to vomit into a bloomingdale's bag. which is more than i can say for a select few gifts i have received in years past for my birthday. (which, incidentally, is saturday.)

anyway, i will write more Meaningful fodder later. now i hear screaming from the kitchen. time to take on my daily role as the maternal *deus ex machina*.

ciao, babe.