Teppy, I love the deep blue of your ring and the tiara setting. Although, my first thought was "Blue Beetle!", because I seem to remember you as a fan of that superhero, but maybe it's Booster Gold?

Laura, that sounds like a perfectly splendid birthday! My family is extremely absent-minded, plus we have three birthdays all in the same week, so I just call my dad and tell him he gets to take us all out for dinner (even though one of those birthdays is his, hee.) It works for us.

If any beer loving Buffistas visit me I promise to bring them to the place we went last night. Brother Tuckers [link] is apparently renowned for the beer selections and fresh brew of the day specials. I don't drink beer (devoted wino) but I did accept a taste of a chocolate variety they were serving. Just a tiny hole in the wall next to the beach. We will surely go back again soon.

Nice birthday observance, Laura!

My forgetful son did remember a day late. The hellion grandson remembered on the day--all on his own since his mom isn't the observant sort of person.

Teppy, that's such a gorgeous stone and setting. Suits you!

Brother Tuckers [link] is apparently renowned for the beer selections and fresh brew of the day specials.

Noted!

Brother Tuckers [link] is apparently renowned for the beer selections and fresh brew of the day specials.

TCG will definitely want to visit if I show him this. Sadly, I think this year is going to be drive only vacations. We need to save up some money again after everything we have spent on the house this year.

Sounds like a fabulous birthday, Laura. Yay!

Just had an espresso so I could get myself geared up for grading. I may have hit too-much-coffee! Oops.

I taught a friend how to drive stick today, in my poor car. I'm not claiming all the friend points for the day, but I think I can nab a decent handfull of them.

Since I smooshed my car I drove my son's jetta the last couple days. Driving stick is so much fun. With his sports suspension that much funner. But yeah, teaching people, points earned.

Fort Lauderdale is an odd place to fly to for pricing. Like the nail tech yesterday said her sister had just flown round trip from NYC for $89, yet another city might be $400.

Although, my first thought was "Blue Beetle!", because I seem to remember you as a fan of that superhero, but maybe it's Booster Gold?

Blue Beetle all the way, baby! Tim said the stone is like the scarab. (Although I actually own blue scarab earrings, carved like a scarab with hieroglyphs on the back. And they predate my love of Blue Beetle by about 15 years.)

Ouch, Calli.

Laura, glad you had a good birthday. May your first son get a clue before this time next year.

So, got a good strong candidate for other roomie. Should get confirmation tomorrow, but if not - well, I've got another dozen emails to go through.

So, last night. I asked what I could bring, he said red wine or flowers. I'm like, uh uh, I know Russians, I'm bring flowers AND wine AND chocolate. I got to Fresh Market, spend 20 min picking out a $15 bottle of wine (so not spendy, but a splurge for me). I buy chocolate for Mama of D, I buy flowers for Mama of D AND fiance of D's brother who is expecting next week. I look up flower meanings in Russia to make sure I am not saying "I am a raving bitch and I hate you."

D dropped the bag with the wine and chocolate on the sidewalk outside his brother's house. So thank GOD I bought the other stuff! The bag of chocolates had a bit of red wine on it, but oh well. I am going to be giving him shit for that for, oh, the next six months when he wants to carry something for me.

Also, hi, drunk with old friend/new roomie L. Good times.