Nilly, I think technically you were a gift with purchase. We purchased the ticket, and you were the gift we received.

Happy Birthday, ita! I don't suppose we can ever thank you enough for all you do for us, but we'll keep sending you sharp pointy objects until you get the idea. I hope you get to kick somebody in the head today! I didn't realize you and shrift were so close in nativity. Might have to aim for the first week of January when sprogging, since this is obviously a prime spot on the calendar.

The cursed writing tasks remain. They require thought and effort. BAH.

Isn't lunch coming up? Maybe you can treat yourself to BK to bolster your spirits.

Go Tom!!

Happy Birthday ita!!

Gift. Hmm. I love my penguin. I use him to torture the other animals, and there's just something adorable about a flapping, squawking, waddling penguin. I'mma have to bring him to the F2F so y'all can see him in his wonderfullness. Plus it gives me the opportunity to have this exchange numerous times:

Me: My penguin is awesome! His name is William.
Poor unsuspecting non-Buffista: Why William
Me: (blinking as if they've just asked the dumbest question ever) Because. he's. a. penguin.

Also, the magnet my sister made, because it's pretty and sweet, and she really took the time to think about what she liked about the people she made them for.

Very neatly packaged, no signs of damage. You took good care of it.

I had to air it out a bit to get rid of the beer aroma. Good thing you weren't in the same time zone!

I didn't realize you and shrift were so close in nativity.

A decade and a day.

t runs away before she gets kravved

for better or worse, lunch today is leftovers from last night. better for me than BK. I kinda overloaded on junk food fabulosity this weekend.

Timelies all!

Happy Birthday ita!

So I'm posting from home. G called yesterday to say that the guys from the heating company said they could come first thing in the morning, and could I be there when they come?(He had a meeting that morning) He said they told him they'd be there between 8:30 and 9:30 am, and that replacing the part should take an hour or so. They got here at 9:20...and are still here. Great. There goes a day of vacation.(I wouldn't even try to use sick leave for this)

I'm not sure what my best gift this year was. Most of my gifts were things I had wanted(on one wish list or another) or money.

Happy birthday ita, and happy belated birthday, shrift!

ION (really), tsunami aid ringtones. Ah, the times we live in.

A decade and a day.

Heh. JZ and I were talking about this last night. "I think Shrift is finally 20. Next year she'll be able to drink." We mocked your youth because we're old and bitter.

Darn. They don't have "aiiieee! splash" ringtones.

Yes, I have officially made the first Sick Tsunami Joke. The line to ostracize me forms at the right.

My best gifts came from my siblings, in very different ways.

My sister, who has no money, cleaned my apartment for me when I was away at a staff conference my birthday weekend.

My brother, who does, contributed funds towards my trip out to Russia to visit him, and finally made a long-planned adventure a reality.