It's my birthday and it rocked! I had a Batman birthday which was quite the hit with the 4 year old and meant that there were Batman plates and napkins and tablecloth and many streamers and balloons and a Batman hat and ball. All cool and the streamers will probably be up for weeks because we are just like that around here.

I already opened up the Mom gifts and the Auntie gifts and the great scarf from cousin Amee who was just in Vietnam on business (silk scarf!) Today was all about many cards (including the "Happy 50th" card from my brother - he thinks he is so funny) and presents! Here are the books:

The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson (more on this tomorrow)
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
Bradbury Speaks by the man himself
The Rape of Nanking by Irish Chang

There is also another mystery book my husband ordered from Amazon that has suddenly disappeared. So that will be arriving soon, hopefully.

For music:

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen (why I didn't have this, I have no idea)
Otis Redding's Greatest Hits
Walkin' in the Shadow of Life by the Neville Brothers
Electric Blue Watermelon from the North Mississippi Allstars (they are fantastic)

And the movie gift...............Batman Begins!

I also went and saw the Kurt Russell movie Dreamer today and it really is a great family movie. And honestly - sometimes that is exactly what I want to see. They had previews for the new Harry Potter and the Narnia movie, both of which looked amazing.

And then we made a casserole dish my Daddy always used to make on my birthday and an old favorite comfort food - it was great. And there was cake and candles and many phone calls from folks who sang to me. All in all, it was pretty damn good. Now I just have to figure out what I want to read first, while not forgetting that I'm still loving The Trouble with Tom and The Dream Merchant (which is turning out to be a great adventure book and seems perfect so far for boys in particular) and a new historical novel about the Arctic for Booklist. I'm sure I can squeeze the Bradbury book in there somewhere....right????

Tomorrow is all about Rachel Carson and The Highest Tide. Cheers!