New study shows that people are paranoid:

What are you saying? Are you implying that I'm too paranoid? I always knew Jesse was out to get me.

Last week Nora 'updated my file' to allow it, so I will note...

Aw, Rick, you may weigh in on any and all subjects! I enjoy your posts. (in case my teasing was unclear in any way on that point)

Re: birthday parties. I am always organizing my own birthday thing, because, well, I honestly don't expect other people to remember it, and then I can organize the when and where and what that I like, 'cause it's my birthday! I don't get the reticsence to plan one's own birthday celebration. Maybe it's the perception that to do so is to troll for presents?

I always knew Jesse was out to get me.

Am not! But Lee might be.

On the birthday thing -- I don't hang out in crowds where it is expected that you will buy an extravagant birthday gift (or any, really), but I can imagine that if you were, it becomes a slightly different situation. Generally my friends buy dinner for the birthday girl, and that's that. Two times weird things have happened: One year, just three of us went out, so I felt bad that they split my dinner between them (so in that case I wished I had invited more people), and last year a friend came who's not from the US and gave me a fairly significant present, and I wished I had told her not to. But otherwise, no big whoop.

Lee's posts always did look shifty.

Personally, I think Jesse and Gud are out to get me AND plotting together to make me look like the evil one.

It's not working, is it?

Mouse riding a frog.

That mouse is so awesome right now.

Among my friends, there's no expectations of presents unless it is for a minor. We'll pick up the tab, usually, but we tend to do that anyway when we're eating out in celebration or commiseration (beyond the usual angst.)

One of my friends always gives presents, but that's just her. She'll give you a present because she found something that made her think of you and today is Thursday.

And I always give another the bright red peeps for her birthday, but that's just a tradition.

We're a pretty gift giving crowd which is fun but financially exhausting. Last year when people asked what I wanted for my birthday I said if they really wanted to do something I could use some handyperson help around my house. So, I ended up having friends help me paint my living room & hallway & hang pictures for me (which is something I suck at doing) and other friends put up ceiling fans for me. That was really awesome.

I never expect presents, but I'm always thrilled to receive them. If I have a party for myself, I always want to say something about presents not being expected, but I usually don't bring up presents at all. Also, I love getting presents for people, especially when you think it's something that they'll love.