Thursday, December 12th, 2002 - Cream It's my sweetheart's 26th birthday, so I wrote him a sweet, silly poem to celebrate. At least, that's the part of the celebration I can tell you all about here . . . A Birthday Bestiary For Tim If I were an ant, I'd crawl about under your feet, gather your crumbs, deliver them as delicacies to my queen. If I were a bird, I'd make your hairbrush my upscale boutique, gather strands of your hair and line my nest, cozy and warm. If I were a cat, I'd rub against your ankles, purring even as you kicked me away. As a dingo I'd domesticate myself, learn to fetch and carry for you. Even as an electric eel, I'd learn to light your way, take pride as you read by my night-light. Feeling froglike, I'd bring you flies, Gamboling as a goat, I'd not eat your things, Heather the horse would carry you far, and as an Iguana, I'd eat the bothering bugs that the frog left behind . . . For you. As a Japanese beetle, I'd *not* eat your plants, Kickin' back as a kangaroo, I'd jump you over slow-moving pedestrians whee! Loving you as a lion, I'd roar out your arrival, Making do as a magpie, I'd bring you shiny things. If I were a newt, I'd hang around, look cool for you, as an orca, I'd power your boats, playing a platypus, well, I'd do the same as the newt, (I guess) and as a quail, I'd lay you yummy eggs. Yes, I would too. Running as a roach, I'd just keep out of your way, As a spider, I'd spin your poems, string them from the corners of coffee shops as you read. As a terrible tapeworm, I'd infest your worst enemy. Uniquely a unicorn, I'd go find you pretty virgins (willing ones) Really, as a unicorn, I would! If I were a viper, I'd not eat your eggs or bite you (or your friends). What I'd do as a wallaby, I haven't a clue; Maybe bring you water, even as a xeric. Young as a yearling, I'd learn at your knee, And finally, as a zebu, I'd pull whatever you attached me to. But, I'm me. And I can only bring you what I can carry, (which is under 10 pounds) write for you as best I can (at the moment) care for you when you're ill (or not) and try not to hurt you through my carelessness. But most of all, I'm made to love you, to try to make you as deliriously happy as you make me to live with you raise our kids with you learn with you write with you grow old with you be with you you and me together make a pretty cool animal. Don't you think? For Tim Pratt on his 26th Birthday from his fiancee Heather Shaw. Ramble

Labor Log: Holly had some mild contractions last night and periodically today. Tonight she had one kind of big one, but as far as I know, that was all (and that was hours ago). So, we wait. Patiently. Writing log: Wrote a poem. See entry for details. Current Publications: "Wetting the Bed" and a collab with Tim Pratt, "A Serious Case of Fairies" in Floodwater In the Shade of You nominated in the long poem category for the Rhysling and will be reprinted in the 2002 Rhysling Anthology! "How to Suck" reprinted in From Porn to Poetry: Clean Sheets Celebrates the Erotic Mind I've been reading: Currently Reading: The Night Watch by Sean Stewart Donate money to my teeth, my grad school application fees, our writerly projects (Floodwater and Flytrap!). Every little bit helps!

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