I have a new laptop! My old one has started developing overheating issues, and I figured I'd buy one before I had to spend a day without home Internet--the horror!

But now I'm rebuilding programs and toolbars and going "Fuck! I don't remember the password for Buffistas! Let's see if it's this! Oh, thank god."

I'm very tempted to splurge on the hotel for the first day of my vacation trip. I can do that if I do Motel 6 types for the rest of the trip, right?

Pete loathes surprise parties, clap&sing ambushes at restaurants, all of that sort of thing. He'd probably have the same sort of reaction as Bev's DH. But he loves *planning* that sort of thing, which works out because I am one of the few people we know who likes surprise parties. There have been years where people have asked me what I'm doing for my birthday, and I've answered with "No clue! I'll find out on the day, probably".

I'm not one for staff singing at restaurants, but I'm still a little cranky at the not-cheap restaurant I took my mom for her birthday for not doing anything. I put a note in the reservation! The host at least could have said HBD to her.

My parents told a server it was my birthday and it turned out all the wait staff were opera singers. It was mortifying because EVERYONE in the restaurant stopped to pay attention, but it was also amazing to hear HBD, in Italian, sung in a really powerful baritone.

I like surprises!

I am on the deck of my friends' house in the Ozarks, watching 8 hummingbirds fight over the feeders, and drinking coffee.

We're going to the river this afternoon, and then doing an escape room thing this evening, followed by grilling and sangria. It's just me and DH with our friends, and our 3 teens: 13,14 and 15.is the 7th year in a role we've done this, but the first time with just the big kids and not a bunch of littles. It's pretty awesome.

I love surprises. Although not signing and clapping in the restaurant.

The best restaurant birthday ever was my 30th. I was working for an interior design firm in Fort Lauderdale and we went to our favorite nice French restaurant for birthday lunch. (it was the kind of office where eating out for lunch was a frequent thing) One of my coworkers had given me a "21" card as a joke and when the waiter saw it he clapped his hands in excitement and bent over and kissed me. On the lips! We all laughed hysterically at his enthusiasm.

That sounds wonderful, Strix! Enjoy.

No singing and clapping at restaurants! Only fun cards and none of that "this makes you feel bad so it's funny!" kind of funny either. My family does gag/silly gifts a lot, but we have our own rhythm about it; we do it at Christmas not birthdays, because it's for everyone to share and laugh about. You have to know a person to know what will be funny. I don't know if I'd like a surprise party, I've never gotten one, but I doubt I would. I don't do well with sudden things.

"Oh, no, we want to sing for you!"

So sing. Since it's clearly not for me, I don't have to be there.

And I mentioned it later to Tim: "That was SUPER nice of your brothers to dial down the volume on the 'Happy Birthday' at the restaurant. I might have died otherwise." He said, "Yeah, they kind of hate it, too, but didn't want you to feel neglected."

Aw, that's sweet!

I am very anti-embarrassment.

100% anti-embarrassment. Mine or anyone else's. Can barely stand to watch it on television.

sara, glad the Tribble came back safe and sound!

If you need a little heartwarming, may I recommend the HBO doc Suited?

Thanks for the rec!

then doing an escape room thing this evening

Oh, cool! I did an escape room last weekend for the first time and it was really neat! Have fun!