{{{Nora}}} That stinks. It truly does.

The talk about Sideways, etc. makes me realize that I really, really need to get out and visit the West Coast Buffistas at some point.

I'm heading out to St. Louis tomorrow to spend my birthday with my family. I need a bit of a break, since I've been spending nearly every hour of the past two weeks feeling some degree of frantic.

Is it wrong of me to be sad that the Iraqi elections are on my birthday? I wonder if I'll be able to demand a moritorium on news channels back home using my birthday as an excuse.

Nora, every other person in my family is an alcoholic (luckily all in recovery). I know it's my legacy to be constantly monitiring my intake of any substance which could be remotely intoxicating for the rest of my life. I don't like the taste of alcohol, so i don't have that problem, but any other drug I tend to stay away from...just to be on the safe side. Not a fun thing to carry around, espcially knowing it will never go away.

Hi.

Also, Fire bad, tree pretty.

Hi Lee.

Stack any cats lately?

No. I can't while I am at work.

Now I'm picturing an employee manual: "Employees are not to stack cats while on company time."

Hi, Lee. Fire is good when it's in a fireplace and it's cold outside. In LA, nsm, though, true.

I am watching Towering Inferno: The longest PSA ever.

I learned that I should not use faulty wiring. Also, to not use the elevator when I'm on fire. Or that elevators cause fires. Something like that - fire and elevators are unmixy things.

Both of which you just said very effectively in under 100 words. This movie is over 2 hours long. However, it is hi-larious.

Hold my belt.

Nora, for what it's worth, this lady is an alcoholic.

While I understand your frustation, I woudn't consider this incident a huge breakdown of your resolution towards drinking. Considering the quality of the FREE booze you partook of, I admire your restraint. I'd have been guzzling. Don't beat yourself up over it, Love.