Birthdays and Monsters

Birthdays are strange, lumbering creatures. They come slowly, inexorably. You hear them dragging along, they do not sneak. No amount of preparation or planning keeps them at bay, each of us has our own version of the birthday monster. Mine always brings with it loneliness, and self-doubt. Two of my frequent visitors, yet I'm always convinced I can avoid them if I just try a different strategy. But here they come again, loneliness, a tall spindly fellow, all sharp edges and hollow in the middle, self-doubt trailing behind short and hunched as he shuffles along. No mouth, for he has no voice to speak for himself, his big sad eyes say all he could ever need to.
Some very quick character studies for said monsters:

Ok, that sounded way more depressing than it needed to. Really it's not that bad. I had lunch with my Grandma (Chinese food, while hardly thrilling, is aways delicious) and made some art. Nothing else that's finished, so no more pics.
And lots of people called or posted on my wall to say happy birthday. Interestingly, those people consist of my immediate family, and people I was either never close with or haven't spoken to in years (for the most part), while the people I see all the time have been strangely silent.
Matt Wise said to do a shot with someone in his name. Alas, I lack anyone to do shots with, in his name or otherwise, so that birthday wish will not get fulfilled.