I spent $40 on a belt this week.

The last time I bought a belt was over 10 years ago. On that occasion, I had bought that belt as a neccessity, to extend the usefulness of an ill-fitting pair of pants. This time, I bought it more as a fashion accessory than anything else. I feel so decadent.

It's a pretty cool belt. It's the kind of belt that would elicit a statement like "hey, that's a pretty cool belt" if one were to see it.

Stephens, 1912 - 2006

Mara's granddad, the respectable W.C. Stephens died last week. He was an imposing man. He also lived one hell of a long life - he was 94. I can only hope to be so lucky as to live to 94.

Here's a pic of him when we went to visit back in May. He's the spry chap with the cane.

how did i mess this up

You see, Mara's birthday falls on a particular date in the month of December. This year, I made the error of thinking and planning that this date was actually 2 days later than the real, down home, true date. Thusly, I had no cake ready, only one of several gifts purchased, and a gigantic and overriding sense of utter criminal stupidity. I fucking fucked up.

oh god I just farted quite loudly sitting here in my cubicle.  Surely it was heard by the surrounding denizens in the immediate area around my cubicle.  oh horrible awful day getting worse minute by minute.