When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not. - Mark Twain

I (heart) birthdays, especially my own. Earned laziness is always a positive thing. So I wake up this morning, Matt's got a lovely array of treats laid out on the kitchen table, including the coolest thing I've seen in a long time: a Selk Bag! Which is basically a twofold pressie: I'm warm, and the heating bills are low. It's Scotland, people. Maybe they make them in white and sequins for my wedding dress.
I've always felt that tiaras and hats should be worn by birthday persons all day, to ensure they receive rock star/princess treatment by everyone they encounter. Examples: I wouldn't have had to wait for 20 minutes in the post office queue; I'd have received a free cake at the place where I bought myself soup for lunch; I'd get a smile rather than a growl from the checkout lady at Tesco. This is a similar vein to Seinfeld's idea that the world wear nametags.

Age is such a weird thing. I was obsessed with it in my 20s, and now it just doesn't matter that much, except when magazines titter on about multiple house ownership and ovaries shriveling up. And in the Long List of Things One Wants to Accomplish - things to do before you're 25, 30, dead, etc. Is age a mindset or an expected group of behavioral traits? I think it can be both. I don't get upset when I see Cher in a barely-there dress or Madonna gyrating or Demi Moore marrying a guy who could be her kid. If you've worked for it, if you've got it, use it, sister. It's about time women got to behave as badly as (some) men do.

Which leads me to Sarah Palin. I've been sent a blog that contains some of the most inspiring words from women voters all over America and around the world. For all those thousands of people who have become enchanted by Palin's Palin-ness, thousands aren't falling for it - which makes me feel better about the mental state of my compatriots. Some of my male friends don't understand the big deal with this choice of VP candidate; this blog might explain some of these issues. Yes, it's about being pro-choice and pro-environment, but it's far deeper than that. Also read this, which is a brilliantly written piece.

The sky at 7:30 am...I do love the Highlands.

AMERICANS: REGISTER TO VOTE. (Absentee ballot deadline: OCTOBER 4)

Finally, the Other Quote of the Day:
Thirty five is a very attractive age; London society is full of women who have of their own free choice remained thirty-five for years. - Oscar Wilde