ETC.

Last week, despite hitting 40, was super. On Valentine's Day, I received the requisite dozen red roses, Sealab 2021 Season Two and Brak Show DVDs, and a home-grilled steak dinner. I bought G a membership in a beer club at our favorite liquor behemoth. Every month he will get to pick up a specially-chosen 6-pack or its equivalent, plus he gets a t-shirt and 10% off any case he chooses. On Tuesday, my boss and other co-worker took me to lunch, and my former boss Vicki, along with Jan, went with us. Jan had an office at my former company, and while she wasn't a fulltime employee, did a lot of video editing work for us. She also is responsible for getting me the freelance job that helped G and me get through 2004. From these sweet ladies I received a bottle of Estee Lauder Pleasures, a potted tulip, books (The Eyre Affair and a trivia book), and a cute little birthday monkey. Later in the afternoon I was looking at some of our unoccupied patio homes with the homes coordinator (who is the aforementioned co-worker), and when we returned to our offices, my parents were there to surprise me with a lovely outfit and America (The Book). I love the stereo G. got me, and we had a lovely gut-stuffing Italian dinner. No horrible surprises or even any mean cards. And it isn't THAT different from 39. But it is different.

By the way, we have a temporary health insurance policy to tide us over until April when we'll get on the group policy here. I really need a checkup but am hesitant to do anything until at least April, for fear of red tape if I have any ongoing problems. I think any problems I have are caused by awful, ugly hormones , which have been the bane of my existence since I was in high school and started sprouting way too much hair on my chin and in other areas. I'm starting to have this fear of being an old woman in a nursing home (PC term at my organization is Health Care Center), having a full beard and being bald, and no one knowing or caring, and having them think I'm an old man.