In the aftermath of my natal celebrations, one thing in particular was very clear to me: I have the best group of friends that anybody could ever, ever hope for. We drank, we sang, we smoked, we chatted, we flopped on the squooshy bed, we danced, we drank. (After that last sentence, the word "we" looks very strange.) My handsome love, of course, supplied the 1996 Veuve Clicquot Reserve, and he and I downed it out of my new insanely gorgeous crystal champagne flutes, so fret not that my decadence quotient is suffering due to unemployment. It was the first actual party in the new digs, and I have to say, it went over like a lead balloon that is, in fact, made of ultra-light rubber and filled with helium and starlight. For the record: I am beyond pleased and honored to be friends with all of you. (Even the ones who could not make it due to falling-asleep-on-the-couchness, or living-in-another-cityness. You still rock my face!)
The following, apropos of nothing, is a recommended reading list.
Michael Chabon's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay." Everyone should have already read this, but in case you are of the unfortunate few who missed it, go read it now.
Michael Chabon's "The Amazing Adventures of The Escapist." Do not be fooled into thinking that Chabon writes only of Amazing Adventures like some pulpy hack -- this is a companion volume to my first recommendation, and the last comic therein came very close to making me weep like a baby who was very sad indeed.
Tad Williams' "Memory Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy. Yes, this is full-on fantasy fare, but easily among the best I have ever read. I still exactly remember vacationing with my family in the mountains and sitting outside on the balcony until 5 am, finishing the final volume, "To Green Angel Tower."
Michael Marshall Smith, anything you can get your hands on. Surreal sci-fi, with the most dryly acerbic protagonists you are likely to find anywhere. I just hope that Hollywood gets on with making the movies they have optioned.
Kate -- Cyanophyta. An online treat this time. I know I have her linked off to the right there, but she deserves a special call-out for what might be my favorite thing to read while I sit at my desk. Living in China has clearly done absolute marvels for her writing and her confidence therein, and I can hardly wait until she is back in New York and I can move her up into the Tribe Members category. Maybe she can guide me through Chinatown and tell me what the heck is going on in there.