One cause for celebration today is Laga's birthday! May the day include many treats and may the year to come be filled with delights.

Yay for being home! Although you may not be back to full energy I do think being back into the normal school routine will help.

DH is feeling better. I seem to have avoided the ick. I've had the windows and balcony doors wide open to keep fresh air flowing and keeping my distance. I love this time of year when that is an option.

You know what's best for your own mental health, Pix, but I don't think you have to be in a place of gratitude at the moment. You've had 63 bad and stressful things in a short period of time.

Happy Birthday, Laga!

Happy Birthday, Laga!

Thanks, Dana. That's fair. My bestie Becca and I are going to go to our local K Spa later this morning to recharge. I booked myself a scrub and massage. I can honestly say that I need this.

I have accepted that J is going to need to be in the condo another month. South Florida landlords are the worst. I've given him a hard deadline of March 1 to be out.

I have accepted that J is going to need to be in the condo another month. South Florida landlords are the worst. I've given him a hard deadline of March 1 to be out.

That's more than fair, and it's good to have a hard date to plan around.

I went to the Edwardian Ball last night, which I expect most of you are familiar with. If is, of course, a celebration of Edward Gorey's work and aesthetic and not so much the reign of Edward VII (though, there's quite a bit of overlap).

Basically it's Victorian Steampunk fantastical, and something JZ and I always wanted to attend, but it was out of our reach financially. And then when we had the money other things (housebuying, cancer) precluded it.

My friend Jes is an artist and her work was shown in their galleries so she's on the Guest List for the first night, and I was her plus-one.

It was so fun and sumptuous, with everybody dressed exquisitely and the setting unbelievably grand (The Regency Ballroom): [link]

But, oh, I had such a huge pang in my heart that Jacqueline never got to go. It was so very much her aesthetic and she would've been giddy with it.

So this month I did two nights at the Bowie tribute (one with Matilda!) while hosting friends, two nights at Sketchfest (one with Matilda!) with Phil and Jennifer, one night at the Edwardian Ball, and I have upcoming shows on Monday (Red Room Orchestra plays the music from Twin Peaks with Kyle McLachan) and Tuesday (Red Room Orchestra plays the music from Harold and Maude). Those last two both at Great American Music Hall.

Phew. I don't think I've ever seen so many events in a month. People can stop worrying about San Francisco's doom spiral.

David, I just saw that Jennifer Tilly is having dinner tonight (or last night? whatever) in Paris with Lynda Carter, so you are in very good company.

David, I just saw that Jennifer Tilly is having dinner tonight (or last night? whatever) in Paris with Lynda Carter, so you are in very good company.

Now I just have to figure out how to get Lynda Carter to the Bowie show next year to maximize the 70s iconography.

I don't think you have to be in a place of gratitude at the moment. You've had 63 bad and stressful things in a short period of time.

I echo this. If being in a place of gratitude is what your brain and heart want right now, that’s great. But you also need time to be angry and upset.

I went to the Edwardian Ball last night, which I expect most of you are familiar with.

I am delighted for you, and also full of envy.

I have friends who went last year, and it looked super cool. And the Regency is where my big dance convention had their Saturday night dance every year! It’s a great space.

I went with my sister to two stores that would t let you try things on—one was an anthropologie/bhldn/some other stuff outlet, and they YELLED at some girl who was trying things on, which was wild. Luckily everything I bought fit. And then a thrift store where they didn’t care but didn’t have changing rooms either. One or two misses there, but much cheaper than the other store so less of a problem. May need a new suitcase tomorrow…