In truth, yoda pumpkin by daylight looks rough. Much better with a candle at night.

Polgara, this was the barack o'lantern: [link]

That's awesome Kat!

My glamourous evening included cleaning out the foyer and spreading Nature's Miracle all over the floor to get rid of any traces of cat pee, in hopes it will stop the damn cat from peeing out there.

I am taking Oz for a checkup tomorrow. If he doesn't go batshit, I am getting them to run some bloodwork to see if the peeing everywhere and generally jerkiness aren't something more than behavioural.

So, I am idly planning my 40th birthday (which is in 2 years) and am seriously considering a no holds barred trip to New York, with a few meals at some fancy places and some less fancy but awesomely delicious places. Cocktails of course (Death & Co., Pegu, Fort Defiance, etc.) Need recs for good beer bars and hotels and every thing else (food, cocktails, stuff to do that isn't eating and/or drinking) I'm just starting somewhere, first Chowhound, now here.

Thoughts from NYCistas?

The beer bars will be different in two years, given how beer is trending. I've been to Ko, EMP and Le Bern, but if I had two years to save, I'd try to go to Per Se. Read the latest Sifton review of it -- it just seems a category above those three, and worth skipping anywhere else just to try. But that's me. Maybe a sushi place, like the similarly-priced Masa?

ETA: (I wrote this before your edit)

electrical safety question: outlet blew in one bathroom (as in sparks, burning smell, scorch marks). I had to reset the circuit. I'm keeping the lights off in that bathroom until I can have an electrician look. The other bathroom is on the same circuit. Should I keep lights off in that bathroom as well?

If nothing happens when you flip the breaker back on, I'd say you can use the lights in either bathroom, just not the outlet. Anything that makes the breaker trip should be avoided.

I tried to call in to work today because I woke with a migraine and got, "we really need you". So... I spent the day with a migraine (and occasionally lightheaded) 25' up in a lift focusing lights in a dark theatre. I was doing okay until carpenters started spray painting from the catwalks above me. I may have snapped at people a few times today. I find it really irritating that I was still the fastest focuser on the crew.

Per Se. Mos def. (Only one of those is a restaurant.)

I am in awe of the Yoda pumpkin. 'Fraid the Bieber tribute pumpkin won't hold a candle to it. Uh, so to speak.

Despite our colds, we took the kids out tonight for just an hour to see two local houses that do big ol' haunted houses on Halloween. One is decorated like a very busy graveyard with lots of zombies and a big Death lurking in the back. Kids like it a lot but it's a bit scary, so we opted not to go into the haunted house. Then on to the other one, which is more horror movie homage and lots of fun. They were having an open house so we got to explore the inside too. Full on homage to classic Hollywood horror movies in front, Haunted Mansion on the inside (yes Jilli, it really is), and Pirates of the Caribbean in the backyard. Including a replica of the Bayou shack! So amazing.

I am bit unsure what to do about Franny and her cold. Her fever abated, but the sore throat bothered her all day. I kinda want to keep her home, but then she misses out on all the Halloween stuff at school. feh. I'm hoping she feels better tomorrow.

Polgara, this was the barack o'lantern:

Sweet! But that was election year, yes? Did you do pumpkins last year?

Officially staying home. Back to bed.