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.

I look up flower meanings in Russia to make sure I am not saying "I am a raving bitch and I hate you."

Wow, I'm impressed. Or possibly a slacker. Because I probably would've just brought the bottle of wine. And definitely not gotten deep with the flowers!

I went to a basketball game with other alums and had a good time, but instead of being productive when I got home, got caught in first the internet and then a book. And now some more internet. ...I'm supposed to be somewhere in two hours. Which would be plenty of time to get some good cleaning in...

Moldovans/Russians/etc can be serious about that shit. And they loooove to give and get flowers.

Nora, we're at Pete's if'n you wanna join us...

I think bringing flowers is a great idea, and it's thoughtful for you to check the meanings.

Y'all, I just woke up from a dream in which I was trying to put together a very last minute beach wedding, but happily succeeded in finding a colorful sarong big enough to fit me that looked good on me. Also convinced Stephen Colbert to officiate.

Dream wedding score!

G'morning all. I am currently sort of annoyed that a hippy - dippy acquaintance posted "what cancer cells feed on" (meat, milk, sugar) when my very good and also vegan friend is struggling with metathesized tumors in her stomach and lungs.

Also, I just read an article in Time about the horror of health care costs and it spotlighted a prestigious cancer center in Houston that I think she might be seeking treatment at. The spotlighting was not positive.