Gifted

My apologies, Gentle Reader, for my egregious absence from das blogosphere over the holiday season. As I'm sure most of you can appreciate, I was fantastically busy cursing the muttonheaded drivers clogging America's failing highway system, arguing with my family about important topical issues like universal healthcare and the relative tastiness of Tofurkey, and hastily putting the shine on the one and only gift I gave: two original collages by Portland-based artist Vivienne Strauss, whose Etsy shop I've been sweet on for some time. I think The Boy quite liked his gifts, particularly since they came with the promise of unrestricted display...

Smart

Does This Make Me Look Fat?

As I am marginally confident that The Boy will not read this entry before his birthday in four days, I feel safe linking you to this, his gift, which is currently en route from Latvia. Viva la internetz!

I Hella ♥ Oakland

Although I often jest about Oakland's notorious and very serious crime problem, there's nowhere else I'd rather live (Montreal, Berlin and Amsterdam notwithstanding, OF COURSE).

Well, yesterday The Boy escorted Sassy Mae outside to take care of some business, and returned with four gorgeous succulents of mysterious origin in tow. It seems someone left them on our porch steps, right next to our freshly worked--but as yet under-populated--garden plots. I think I'm going to leave my unfinished dissertation on the steps tonight and hope for the best!

Pictured Above: A needed gift from a stranger, discovered on our porch steps

Pictured Above: Abandoned couch-cum-public art across from the Huzzah! compound