Post-Birthday Post...(birthday)

So I got a lot of well-wishing on my birthday (thanks K., Martin, FarmerScott, Jana, Jane-in-law, Sister and Walaka), gave presents this year rather than recieved (the usual flowers to Mom--yellow roses this year, her favorite; K. got Season Five of "Bewitched," her favorite; Smokey got new food to last three weeks, and some health-cookies of various flavors, both favorites; I got Neato CD Labels for Wishupon, needed desperately) and I found it much more satisfying. I also returned Walaka's fine comics-tome to him (Only had it a week! Not even enough time to MISS it!) and shot the detritus for an hour. A fine relaxing day. Got a lot accomplished, and even if I didn't, it felt like I did.

I got home about 8:30pm, and did some investigation of my birthday: Here are the various horoscope predictions:

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (July 13). You're like an amplifier this year. (Editor's note: WTF?!) Everything you touch seems to become more than it is. Those close to you feel enlivened. Projects are invigorated. The money you spend buys more. By the end of September, one of your major aims has been attained. New family arrivals come in April. Pisces and Libra people are lucky partners. Your lucky numbers are: 27, 1, 39, 44 and 14.

IF JULY 13 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You may need to spend some time disarming conflicting demands between business and family life in the year to come. As long as you strike the right balance, much progress is possible. Since you take it all to heart and really care, you will find the right solution. You should have high energy, and you may even feel as if you are getting younger rather than older. Burning the candle at both ends will still have the predictable result, though. Avoid being cranky or touchy next spring. Creative outlets could be very satisfying.

With the Solar Return Moon just behind the Sun, this is a year in which you are itching to do something new, but you are perhaps unsure about what that "something" is! You are likely closing important projects or "chapters" in your life. If you normally lead an active life with initiating qualities, you may feel quite restless. The year, in a general sense, is best used as a meditative time for inner searching. It is a time for letting go of the past in order to prepare for the new. Although the new is still totally unrecognizable, it is important to allow the necessary surrender to the unknown.

IF JULY 13 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: Actor Harrison Ford (1942) shares your birthday today. You're intelligent, tenacious and patient for whatever you want to go after. You'll work carefully and persistently to achieve your goals. Nevertheless, you're also bold and daring! People are fond of you because you're genuine, down-to-earth and not pretentious. You're always ready to take care of business at hand. Since 2004, you've been reinventing yourself. This year focuses on partnerships and close friendships.

In other words, it's all a load of hooey...or the aforementioned detritus.

Let's see July 13th is also "Fool's Paradise Day." I'm not so sure what that's supposed to mean. But then, July 12th is "National Pecan Pie Day." July 14th is "National Nude Day," bring your birthday suit. It could have been worse--July 15th is "National Tapioca Pudding Day" and "Respect Canada Day." "Respect Canada Day," eh? (Oh, now I've ruined it!)

People who were born on July 13th include Sidney Webb (economist and reformer--not a good lead-in); Wole Soyinka (playwright, poet, novelist and name-victim); Isaac Babel (short-story writer, and paper conservationist); Edward Flanagan (That's Father Flanagan to you, founder of Boys Town); Dave Garroway (Here "Today," gone tomorrow-co-host to J. Fred Muggs); Jack Kemp (football player, Senator and former Veep candidate); Bob Crane (DJ, drummer, star of "Hogan's Heroes" and evidently LOTS of home-made porn); Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard, though I remember him more fondly as John LeCarre's Karla...and Gurney Halleck in David Lynch's "Dune:" "You young pup!"); Stephen Bladd (musician I've never heard of); Harrison Ford (who probably got a big cake on the set of "Indy IV" today--he's 65!); Roger McGuinn (lead guitarist, vocal of "The Byrds"); Cheech Marin (famous stoner); Louise Mandrell (Barb's sister); and Deborah Cox (your guess is as good as mine).

In history on July 13th:

1863: Four days of rioting against the Civil War military draft begin in New York City. More than 1,000 people are killed, including many African Americans, who are attacked by rioters as the cause of the war.

1865: Edward Whymper, an English artist and pioneering mountaineer, becomes the first person to climb the Matterhorn, in the Alps. On the descent, four of his companions fall to their deaths.

1973: White House aide Alexander Butterfield reveals to members of the Senate Watergate committee the presence of a secret taping system installed in the White House by President Richard Nixon.

1977: At 9:34 PM, about 9 million people lose power in a blackout of the New York City metropolitan area. Over 3,000 people are arrested, most for looting, during the 25-hour electrical outage.

And in 1907, 100 years ago, the Patent for the formula for Bakelite was issued, marking the beginning of the Age of Plastic. Heard that on NPR, as you can here.

Oh! And in honor of "Pogo," I can say "Friday the 13th comes on a FRIDAY this month!" A perfect day to get out of bed and get UNDER it!

Next week: Hopefully, the start of a couple of new series; one, another in the "Now I've Seen Everything" group, and the other--a completely different idea. Maybe a book review. Maybe a joke. Maybe more spam poetry. Maybe a movie review...certainly some new Netflix reviews. There's a lot of stuff in the hopper.