The Stupid 365 Project, Day 53 1/2: BREAKING NEWS!
November 23rd, 2010
We interrupt our usual programming for this important bulletin.
This is my wife’s birthday.
I am now fortunate enough to have traveled once more all the way around the sun with the woman I love.
Munyin is my best friend on earth, the person I think about most often, my companion even when I’m grumpy, frustrated, miserable, and dangerous to be around. She was recently awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal for Forbearance for not having shot me even once over the past thirty years.
As essential as she is to my personal life (I actually do have one, despite the ongoing psychic surgery of this daily blog) she’s equally essential to my creative life.
She’s the imaginary person sitting opposite me at the table, even when she’s thousands of miles away, to whom I tell the stories I write. When things are going well, I can feel the tug of her attention pulling me deeper into the story. When that line goes slack, I know I’m just writing writing and it’s time to pull back and take a fresh look.
She’s the first listener for all my books, sitting patiently for hours and hours and hours as I read raw, unedited, overlong, overwritten drafts aloud, and every time she asks a question (or begins to snore) I know I have a problem area. I’d say the books improve 30%-40% because of the way she listens.
She’s my mood elevator when I hit bottom and decide I’m written out forever, which happens all the time. She’s the person who reminds me that I fall apart on every book, usually more than once, and that I’ve managed to finish them all anyway.
She’s the only person in the world I’ll travel with. We’ve been to Asia, Europe, and all over America, from New York to Hawaii, with side trips everywhere else. I now have in my head a personal and highly specialized GPS that tells me exactly how far I am at all times from the nearest clean bathroom.
She’s who I come home to, and whom I miss when I’m not home.
She makes me laugh.
I love her, and I want you all to join in — wait, I’m still screwing with the candles. Okay — one, two, three:
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31 Responses to “The Stupid 365 Project, Day 53 1/2: BREAKING NEWS!” -
Suzanna Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 9:30 am
Happy Birthday Munyin! You are an angel. Hope you have a wonderful day of celebration! xoxo Zanner
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Rachel Brady Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:29 am
Beautiful tribute, Tim! Happy Birthday, Munyin! 
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CJ West Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:35 am
Happy Birthday Munyin! What a wonderful tribute, Tim. I’m not sure which one of you is luckier, but I don’t think that really matters.
I hope you are blessed with another happy 30 years.
CJ
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Lil Gluckstern Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:43 am
Happy Birthday, and enjoy the day!
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Phil Hanson Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Tim, that’s a lovely tribute to your lovely wife (Happy Birthday, Munyin). I wish for the two of you to enjoy many more trips around the sun together.
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Mitch Bower Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Have a great birthday Munyin – even after a short meeting at a book signing in Thousand Oaks I am very happy to know both of you.
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Bonnie Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Happy birthday, Munyin! And many more!
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Larissa Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 2:33 pm
wow. such service! Happy birthday munyin! You’re obviously a very special person.
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glenn w Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Birthday greetings to you, Munyin, and best wishes from a fellow Sagitarian. Tim is a fortunate man, indeed, to have you in his life.
His words about you are beautiful and, of course, well deserved!
It was a treat to meet you when I was visiting Tim a couple summers back.
Enjoy your Day!!
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EverettK Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 3:29 pm
May all good things come to you, Munyin! Thanks for keeping the stuffy old fart’s writing engine purring along.
And CJ, I have NO doubt which of them is the luckier. It’s really kind of unfair, for someone to get both buckets of talent AND buckets of luck.
Hmmm…. maybe it’s not all luck???
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Munyin Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Dear Suzanna, Rachel, CJ, Lil, Phil, Mitch, Bonnie, Larissa, Glen and Everett–What a wonderful surprise this is. I looked at the blog for the first time about 10 minutes ago and it’s a great ending to a wonderful birthDAY. Thank you all so much for your kind wishes & for taking the time to write. I wish you were all here for cake. Love, Munyin
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Timothy Hallinan Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Thanks to you all — I had to prod her to read the blog because she gets quite a lot of my writing, but she got all girlie about it when she finally read it. Thanks for helping me make it a great birthday.
My Captcha is “expectis hightech,” which is what Hermione says when she turns Voldemort into a transistor radio and then tunes him permanently to Radio Disney.
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ShadoeBeverlyAmberChyna Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:43 pm
HAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAY TO ONE OF THE GREAT ALL-TIME INCREDIBLE HEART-WARMING WONDERFUL CHARISMATIC CHEERFUL AND HIGH-MINDED PEOPLE WE’VE EVER KNOWN! NOTE THE ALL-CAPS. WE’RE SCREAMING!
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Strummed Words Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:03 pm
What a lovely tribute. I feel a song coming on….Happy birthday, Munyin!
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Gar Haywood Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Happy birthday, Munyin! And thanks for helping make Tim’s great writing possible!
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Gary Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Happy Birthday, Munyin!
I hope we can meet some day.
Very best wishes from Gary
My Captcha for today: The munint. Obviously a slight mistranslation of: the one and only Munyin!
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Sharai Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Happy Birthday Munyin!!!!!
Beautiful photos of you both, looking happpy!
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Leah Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Munyin, Although I have not had the pleasure in seeing either of you two these past few years, I think of you two often. Munyin, for you, a wonderful person, I wish you, a wonderful birthday!
Love,
Leah
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Laren Bright Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
What book is this from? Wait…
And who’s the young chick in the photos?
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DeAnn Says:
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Anyone who gets such a very nice B day missive from her partner must be doing something right. Big Happy B
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Pat Browning Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 12:17 am
Happy Birthday, Munyin, and congratulations to both of you on a blissful marriage!
Pat Browning
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Sylvia Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 4:59 am
Happy Birthday Munyin! I hope you know how much we appreciate you and all your efforts at keeping Tim sane and writing!
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Annelie Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Happy Birthday! Munyin
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Penelope Bright Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 6:30 am
Munyin, Happy Birthday! It’s a day late that I am seeing this; however I wish you much loving and continued great health. It must be nice, ’cause look at you!
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Stephen Cohn Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Happy Birthday Munyin! May this be the best year yet!
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Munyin Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Dear ShadoeBeverlyAmberChyna, Strummed Words, Gar, Gary, Sharai, Leah, Laren, DeAnn, Pat, Sylvia, Annelie, Penelope, & Stephen: This is an incredible response to a hermit like me!!!!! You’ve all been so sweet & generous. What a great way to start my personal new year. Munyin
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Timothy Hallinan Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Wow, everyone — I second Mun’s thanks and add one of my own. This is a great birthday present.
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Peg Brantley Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
A belated birthday wish, Munyin. Somehow I think you are the heart of Tim, and without you we wouldn’t have the thrill of him.
The LoML’s birthday is just a few days before yours, and like you and that writer fella, we have traveled to a few places.
I can only guess at your patience, your understanding. But I’m pretty sure I’m right on target with your love.
Happy Belated Birthday, LoTHL.
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Debbi Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Wow! That was beautiful.
And I’m late, of course.
Happy belated birthday, Munyin!
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Timothy Hallinan Says:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Thanks so much, Peg and Debbi — wow, a lot of good writers — Rachel, whose second novel, DEAD LIFT, I just read and loved even more than her first, FINAL APPROACH; CJ, whose THE END OF MARKING TIME is on Kindle right now and well worth everyone’s time; Gar Haywood, whose CEMETERY ROAD was one of the best books of 2010; Gary Archer, who writes under several pseudonyms, and for good reason; Pat Browning, whose ABSINTHE OF MALICE is getting the kind of sales on Kindle I want, and richly deserves them; Stephen Cohn, a classical composer whose music has won him an Emmy; Peg Brantley, whose blog, http://suspensenovelist.blogspot.com/ is an online campfire for the inkstained wretches who — what? what’s ink? — sorry, the carpal-tunnel sufferers who write the books that keep people up at night; and Debbi Mack, author of the two crackling-good Sam McRae mysteries, IDENTITY CRISIS (available now) and LEAST WANTED (coming soon and killer in several senses of the word). Pretty impressive lineup of writers. Munyin will be reading for weeks to catch up with you all.
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Louise Says:
December 5th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Happy Birthday Munyin… so glad to have “found” you and Tim again thanks to the internet. Somehow it helps me feel more grounded. You look as terrific as ever
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