The Past 24 hours of my Birthday.

So... At midnight, GMT, which is the same time zone as me (I Do believe,) I was in the canteen of the theater. It was after a premiere of Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Which I reviewed Here. 3 singers did "Happy Birthday" in English, with unknown numbers from the Orchestra joining in. Then, at my request, the singers sang something German, which is traditional for birthdays. (That was a very nice cannon.) And we drank Prosecco (Or Champaign,) which the Soprano had received as a Toi Toi Toi, (A little gift for a premiere, which gives good luck.) Oh, and we ate the pie which I had made for their premiere, (and as the back-up cake for my birthday.)

It was a pleasant evening, (OK: midnight doesn't really count as evening does it?) And I was very pleased when the Opera Director came back (for she had left very quickly after the performance, with her family.) And I had expressly cut a piece of cake for her. So I was ever so satisfied when she returned to the canteen at about 1:00 am to say goodbye to everyone she'd worked with. She had cake, and Champaign, and we had a nice little time with her there too.

I think we headed to our separate homes at about 1:30, amid warm goodbyes, and well wishes for me. (which were touching. Truly.) So... I got home. And I think that I more or less immediately started writing my review of the "Merry Wives" (see above.) Oh, and if you Have read that whole review, than you may be interested to know that Kirsten (Soprano,) didn't come down to the canteen, to the disappointment of a number of her colleagues. (She also had family there, who she went off with.) Anyhow, I spent a while typing, and then did a little "Surfing" on the net, and touching up my webpage.

Then I read more of a very good book of short stories by an English man, Arnold Bennett. Nearly until the end, but not quite. I went to sleep at 3:30. It wouldn't have been so late, except that the next day, I had the morning free. However... at 8:00 in the morning, an SMS arrived for me, which was the first one of the day, so I lethargically pulled myself out of bed, and stumbled about the room, looking for where I'd put my phone down the previous night. When I'd found it, (and grabbed an apple on the way: I was rather Hungry at that time,) I lay back in bed, and had my little snack, while reading it. And it was pure pleasure, to read the birthday greetings from Anna, (My dear Estonian friend in Dresden.) She has always been very good, and reliable about these little social details. She will Never forget a birthday, or let it slide by just because she's very busy. Well, I read a couple more pages of the book I was in, and then went back to sleep.

That ended (to my objection,) at 11:00. I heard a ringing. After 15 seconds or so, I realised it was the door buzzer -which I immediately decided was someone else's responsibility on this morning. After a few moments, in rang again. -and I thought that others might be gone, or too heavily sleeping. So... once more, I dragged myself from bed, cast about for passably decent clothes to throw on, and rung the door open. (All the time anticipating the moment I would soon lie back down in bed.)

And to my surprise, there was Maria H. (An Architect student I knew well in the fall, who I hadn't seen in a while.) She had come to wish me a happy birthday... and what do you think she brought me? A Cake. She had baked it for me, figuring that I had no one else here that would do that. (And how nearly right she was too.) It was incredibly sweet, and generous, and by then, I felt on the fringes of being famished. (the last meal I ate was before the Opera, at about 5:30 in the afternoon.) So, in a blink, I asked if she were hungry (which she was a little,) and in 3 minutes, (after showing her the nice pictures I'd had developed of ExternSteine, -see April 6 Journal for that.) we were in the street, headed to a buffet brunch. -Which turned out to only be on the weekends. So... I decided on a little picnicky thing. We took a nice Baguette, with fresh tomatoes, a Switzerland cheese, and Camembert, as well as some Pitas with Hummus, and also a couple pieces of her cake, to a little back alley in the old town. (I had stopped there under a tree in the pouring rain a couple of days back, and found it pleasant.

So, we had breakfast there, with the bright sun at our feet (the bench was under the tree, you understand.) And such a sweet little tabby 1 or 2 year old cat came to visit/investigate us as we ate. I first saw it on top of the stone wall, looking down as if it frequently hunted people's cheeses around there. Well... all of that was lovely. And the house right there in the alley is for rent... and the Kitchen, (Who's curtains were open,) looked SO nice. And the facade is charming. And it's an old thing, with wooden beams, and is actually a cultural thingy (meaning that no exterior renovations would be allowed, and only limited interior stuff.) And... well... I might like to live there. I've got the number of the owner, and will be setting up an appointment later this week to see it.

After that, I came back home, and put the cheeses in the fridge. And I put my laundry in the machine (Today I washed my sheets. -Not that I expect that to really be of any interest to any one. Oh well.) I also saw two of my flat-mates, and chatted with them a little. Then I went off to the theater. It was another chance for my choreography. (What Choreography!?! I explained a little Here.) I was quite pleased today, because I finished one of the 5 sections. And one of the others, that I first started, is about half done. And you must understand that this "Done" only means that I have decided on what steps I think I want. I haven't taught them to anyone yet, so I have no idea what they are like to watch. They are just the first thing that I'd like to see, (try).

So, I felt good at the completion of that, and headed home to get some things for that evening. My wonderful French colleague did me the favour of baking a cake for me (at my request.) And, well... I was bloody tired, after a year here, and 2 years in my last theater... Every time there is a Birthday, we have cake in the studio, off of paper napkins. And among other things I hated about this arrangement, there is the way it TOTALLY limits the cake possibilities. whipping cream and chocolate sauce are not enjoyable, from a napkin and not a plate. And today... (I had conferred with my cake baking colleague,) I wanted to bring Icecream, to have with the cake. And there's just No way you can manage that, without a plate. So... I felt that it was high time to get some cheap, durable, plastic plates (in horrid gaudy colours, just because that's the only way they come.) And, then I got plastic cups, and spoons, to complete the birthday set. (Also all in "Fun," Party Colours ;-)

It was actually challenging to find these things though, and it was only in the third store that there was anything utilisable. (or... just "Usable," I guess.) Then, I returned home, to bring the Champaign, and the Icecream to the theater. And there, was a gift for me, sitting in a little brown box in the center of my room. I took 12 seconds at least, trying to read the mailing address under the Big, Black words written over top. Then... I noticed that those words were "Happy Birthday, from your flat mates." So... it was not seeing the forest for all those trees. They had gotten me a nice T-shirt. It is... probably "In", and certainly stylish, and as such, nothing I would have gotten for myself. I like the colours though, and have great faith in Jero's sense of style. So... I wear it. -And if many people compliment me on it... then I Know it's good. (This happened 5 years ago, when my sister assisted my mom shopping for clothes for my birthday; I thought they looked... so Trendy. -But everyone complimented me on the new duds (and I like to think, also for my apparent stylistic awakening.)

Wearing this new light olive, and dark orange T-shirt, I then returned to the theater. And started choreographing the next section, but found I had no time. So... I mostly just putzed around, and warmed up, until training started. Ah Yes though: Before training, I saw the schedule for tomorrow, and met a little surprise there: If I finish in the ballet studio early enough, I am supposed to go to... one of the choir rooms. For some singing... I guessed. I knew nothing about it, and it was only just before training, that our ballet Director told me that for the Theater-Galla thing next month, I will be singing in the "My fair Lady" number. So, this (I suppose,) is what the Choir room rehearsal is for. (And... for those of you keeping track... someone pointed out how fortunate I was: for in this rehearsal... there are not many people, and one of them is Kirsten, -the same soprano who wasn't in the canteen last night.)

Anyhow... that's tomorrow. Going down to the canteen for our break, (of 15 or 20 minutes,) I thought I saw someone I knew in the courtyard. Someone Whose brown hair (brown for artistic reasons,) glasses, and books, (lots of books,) just... attract me so. Yes: I thought it was Katja, from Paderborn. (there's some writing about her from one depressed night in April, and also from a happy day near the end of that month. It turned out to be her Doppelgänger, of 12 years older. But with such a similar appearance. It was surprising. And it makes me think that I should say "hello" to Katja again, as I haven't spoken to her in quite some time. (At least now, I have the excuse in my head, that all my free time goes to choreography. ALL of my free time... including the last 2 hours I've been writing this!)

Anyways... Once our break was over, the person who's directing this Theater-Fest thingy came to watch the Cabaret Rehearsal (that's the other new piece we're learning for the 3rd of July.) And I don't think I have publicly complained about that here yet. The choreography wants 6 show girls. And we only have 4 girls in the company. So... naturally, there will be two transvestites, to complete the number. And I had no objections at all, that I wasn't going to be one of them. (Not that I object to wearing women's sexy underwear on stage, that's just a part of my profession. No... what I was looking forward to, was free time, because I wouldn't have to be in rehearsals.)

THEN... I was told that I wouldn't have those rehearsals free, because I would be singing in this piece. And I thought, "Awesome!" There is only main character of the musical who sings in this number, besides the dancers. So! I was going to get my "shot" at Musical theater, with the opening Cabaret song, "Willkommen, Bienvenu, Welcome!"

THEN... it was explained to me that this was not my part. Oh no. I would be singing with the choir. off-stage. "SO," I wondered, "Why then, was I just lying in the studio for 2 hours while the dancers rehearsed?"

THEN... I got an answer... sort of; that I could sing that solo part (instead of the piano-accompanist, who regularly would sing it for dance rehearsals.) And, when I asked if there was a reason to come to the next rehearsal, I was told that there were.

For example, the lead might get sick and they need someone to jump in, (although I wouldn't be able to do all the other things he has, on that One night.)

Also, one of the Dancers could get injured, (again, for One night? And even then, I could learn the piece in one day, so there's no reason for me to be there while the choreography is being worked out.)

And, lastly "there's no harm in being there." -True enough. And the sleep I got those first rehearsals, lying there doing nothing for a few hours, was nice enough.

But, if there actually IS any reason that I'm asked to be in these rehearsals, they sure haven't told me what it is. I'm a little irate with this, but also don't really care so very much. For one thing, I wouldn't be able to use the free time to choreograph any how, as they're in the ballet studio.

Well... after this stupid rehearsal this evening, the ballet had it's little birthday moment for me. I was given gifts... which were nice, and which may be a little telling about how the Ballet sees me; I was given a cooking apron (very tasteful green, with the pockets in the front.) and an electric mixer. (For these cakes and things I am known by.) And then, we ate the cake from my wonderful French Colleague, (Note how full of praise I am for her? Is this largely from her making something delicious for my birthday? Hmmm... partly, I think. Nothing in the human body knows devotion quite like the stomach. Perhaps now, I understand how much of an impression it makes on colleagues, when I cook something special for them.)

The cake was a simple flat "Tart" cakey thingy, with strawberries, peaches and nectarines on top. It was fairly simplistic, I suppose, but I'm really understanding, (in this exact moment,) how unimportant complexity is, in this situation. It was tasty, it was original, and it was hand made. I am touched by the gesture of it. (Also... it was really tasty, with the vanilla icecream.)

Now, as if that were not enough, I was totally bowled over by my most Excellent, and praiseworthy French colleague, when I got a little personal gift, just from her. Well, there are three levels to my passionate gratitude. (My all out devotion, at the moment.)
1. She took the care to get me something special. Something extra.
2. In my hands, I could feel that it was a BOOK. -no... wait... Two Books!
3. Unwrapped, these two books proved to be J.R.R Tolkien's short tales (Including Tom Bombadil!!! Oh Bliss!) A*N*D, Ursula K. LeGuin's The Left Hand of Darkness. (Both of these books I've heard of, and have wanted to read, but have never seen.)

She has put me in ecstasy. Oh, Happy, HAPPY Birthday! (Oh god; I can just see my future now: being a book hoar. I'll do anything, just for a good "Fix" of fiction. Like any brutal addiction, you start with the little stuff, the light stuff... but then you try the heavier stuff, "Just trying it! What's the harm in that?" But if you don't stop...

If you keep "trying it," then all is lost. Life becomes only aggravating periods of waiting between fixes, and the "sober" moments seem increasingly surreal, and unbelievable, and not actually... Real. Where as, -Once you've had your Fix, -Then you are in the Right world; The world that you know, and understand. There you are in... Your place.

And the degradation will continue... until, until...

Wait 10 or 15 year, and Then You can look at me, and see where the path of literature addiction leads. (And remember... it all started so small, and with this innocent thrilling feeling, on my Birthday, for goodness sakes. A boy's *Supposed* to feel good on his Birthday, So isn't it alright, that he feels excited and alive, with his two new books?)

Enough for that little digression, don't you think?

The LAST thing, which made up these 24 hours of "Official Birthday," happened just as I started writing this whole Long recountation (It Should be a word, don't you think?): I got an ever so pleasing, and unexpected SMS from Liis, My Estonian Opera Directress friend studying in Berlin (and at the moment in Estonia.) we haven't communicated for Months, and it was a wonderful surprise.

And that is where I end this Long old recount, of this Birthday. (And you can see for yourself, what I did with the last hours of it. This whole thing has taken 3 hours of my time. -Of course, now I'm tired, and forget where all the keys are, so it takes much longer to write a sentence.)

All in all... not a bad birthday. But now... I Sleep.
And when I wake up in the morning, I will be Old. (A Quarter Century. How about that?)

Peace to all. I love you world (Oh faithful world, which gave me 2 cakes and 2 Books today!)

Again, Peace.