TGIF

My birthday is tomorrow, and part of this year's wish is the luxury of time. To do what I please. So for one day, I am casting aside the job search and most domestic duties (cleaning, laundry), as well as the angst I generate over all the unfinished projects in our home.

I want to spend the entire day in the kitchen, cooking. Some friends—one of which is a fellow Libran—are coming for dinner. Our habit with Friday night dinner is nibbles, take-out, or pizza delivery—and tons of cocktails, wine, or beer. This Friday, my goal is to maximize my birthday celebration by executing a somewhat extravagant-for-Friday-night dinner. Oktoberfest is the theme. We'll be eating sausages from Clancy's (beef, bleu, and bender; pork with fennel pollen), roasted potatoes, and red cabbage (rot kohl) as our main course. I'm making homemade mac and cheese for the children (four boys—5, 6, 7, and 8 years old), and we'll feed them first. While the kids occupy the dining table, the adults will nosh on a smoked-trout pate (which I am making) on pumpernickel toast, pickled beets that my mother made, and assorted cherry and grape tomatoes. We'll serve the hard cider I bought in Stockholm, WI, last weekend. The cider is semi-dry and still, and I can't really imagine the mouth-feel. So it will be a new experience, and I'm excited about that.

And, I'm baking myself a cake. I conducted an informal survey on my Facebook page, asking friends to cast a vote for chocolate, pumpkin spice, or red velvet. Many weighed in for red velvet; one friend suggested all three. In the end, the season dictates pumpkin spice, with a cream-cheese frosting. Yum.

John is still asking what sort of gift I want. This is a difficult question to answer, and, apparently, "nothing" is unacceptable. The cocktail ring (square-cut blue topaz surrounded by tiny diamonds) seems frivolous, and I'm kind of against frivolity. We've reached a point in our lives where, if we can afford the thing we desire—iPhone, bikes, books, music, expensive wine, meals out, cooking gear—we indulge in instant gratification.

In the spirit of the day, here's a short wish list of things I'd really like:

~ a peaceful day where each member of the family is happy and helpful
~ a decluttered house (much of that, actually, is up to me, but I'd like carte blanche to throw)
~ energy to overcome inertia
~ a job
~ world peace
~ an Obama presidency

Is it asking too much for just one of these?