In cometely light news, I found some Fall clothes I liked at Kohl's today when I made an Amazon return. So I bought them.

Of course, it's 80 degrees here today, so I'm not wearing any of them right now.

ETA: Thanks, shrift.

That sounds like a lovely birthday, Matt.

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey. Going to take a ride to where my son lives about 45 minutes away.

Who else heard the Mamas & the Papas sing this? Just me?

So sorry, JenP.

I brought reference photos of my own hair last time, and new stylist said that actually was more helpful.

Noted! I'll try to remember to take a selfie next Good Hair day.

Of course, it's 80 degrees here today,

There was a guy from DC at the Con I was at this weekend. I was chatting with him & talking about how hot & humid DC was on my bday and he just kept saying, "people forget DC was built on a swamp."

Who else heard the Mamas & the Papas sing this? Just me?

I was trying to fit the rest of the post into the rest of the song.

The meter is a bit off, but the Mamas & Papas in my head make it work.

Auspicious day -- Happy Birthday to Matt, Cash, and megan!

Thanks to everyone for the best wishes. I can't help but think it was also ita's dad's birthday as well.

I have an appointment tomorrow with the blood pressure specialist and Kaiser asked me to check in now, so I did, and one of the pre-appointment questions is “is this a work-related injury” and I said no but now I’m vaguely wondering if it could be what with the stress from work for the last, um, however long it’s been. Probably not, right?

I got this question, too. For something that would likely (hopefully?) not be work-related. Never seen that before.

I spent much of my birthday stressed about not being able to find my new Real ID, stressed about missing a delivery I had to sign for, and stressed about a health-related thing. Unsurprisingly, when I did get to Kaiser, my BP was high! Everything seems to have worked out for the best so I'm really hoping when I have to go back for the inevitable BP follow-up it is back to a respectable number. God I hate getting old.

Happy Birthday, megan walker!

Have you heard about the Bennington College podcast?

I was trying to fit the rest of the post into the rest of the song.

Same

Sorry about the stress, megan! And the high BP. I am looking forward to my inevitable BP follow-up today as the specialist has a very spa-like atmosphere with a comfortable chair and dim lighting and aromatherapy IIRC - probably why my numbers go down into the acceptable range when I go see her

Have you heard about the Bennington College podcast?

I had not, but since Lethem actually gave the graduation speech the year I taught there (though, as he pointed out at the time, he did not actually graduate himself), I may have to listen. Especially since I love the fact that Tartt hates it (since I really don't think The Secret History is all that.) Thanks for the link.

Tartt hates it

REALLY hates it.

Epic, there's a book called "It Came From The Swamp" - written (many years ago) by a reporter for the Boston paper about the weirdness of DC. One of her comments was that with the heat and humidity in the summer, "it's like trying to breathe clam broth" ... which isn't far off.