The Good Life... a weblog about life, technology, and the Opera Web browser

Yesterday, I drove home to switch cars with my dad. On the way, I stopped by Helen's house to hang out. I mentioned that the three CDs I had with me were becoming repetitive. Helen promptly pulled out a Scottish Rogues CD and gave it to me for the ride home.

The Scottish Rogues are a bagpipe and drum group. The first ten seconds of each song are exactly the same. Each song includes a guy whooping about three-quarters of the way through the song and ends with a bunch of people clapping and cheering and asking for Jimmy to play some more music. In other words, I had a hard time telling that each song was different. And here I was thinking Helen would give me something that wasn't repetitive....

I cried today for the first time in recent memory. Maybe it was the stress of knowing I had to pack up my room and that I wasn't going to be able to motivate myself to do it. Maybe it was the dwindling hope of renewed friendship with Rebekah. Or maybe it was years of pain and turmoil rushing back as my father finally reached out to me and I habitually shut him out.

Whatever the cause, these Tuesday Tears have been hiding just behind my eyelids for weeks. Today was their lucky day to spring loose. Will next Tuesday be so lucky?

With three siblings, it can become difficult for everyone to keep track of birthdays. Fortunately, my siblings and I look out for each other: we call and remind each other of other's birthdays. Surprisingly, I'm usually not the one to forget a birthday.

Years ago, we were a very disjointed family living under one roof. Though we are now spread out all over the East Coast, we keep in touch and care for each other better. We had to get farther apart physically to come together emotionally.

Ken, oh brother of mine, today is your 25th birthday. Happy Birthday. Enjoy the lower insurance rates.

Happy 19th Birthday, Trina!