Is that a rabbit in your pocket?

Yesterday was L's birthday and she spent it mostly hanging out with me in my office as I worked.

I took an extended lunch and we walked to Centennial Olympic Park, arriving just in time to see the water fountains dance in sync with three pieces of music:

1. Twist and Shout, the Beatles version, which sometimes puts me in mind of Ferris Bueller, and which is so completely convincing that it sometimes takes an effort to remember that John and Paul didn't write it;
2. Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder sans the second verse; and
3. something which may or may not have been the William Tell Overture.

The tons of fun began on Birthday Eve with a midnight viewing of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which is seriously hilarious and should be re-released in theaters and seen by everyone immediately.

Other birthday highlights included:

* pink champagne and a bouquet of lilies and sunflowers waiting for her when she got in;
* a celebratory post-lunch shot of tequila;
* tapas and margaritas at Fuego with friends Erin and Matt;
* late night at the Nunnery for Irish creme and good times.

The Opera of the Egg

Good friend Phil flew in from New York to visit for the weekend. We haven't seen each other in more than ten years. A fine time was had by all.

We met in my (new, temporary) office and he hung out reading The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick while I solved students' problems.

There was a lovely dinner party on Friday night. This was the first dinner party to be held at my magnificent new dining room table. A huge success. L is a natural hostess.

The meal went something like this:

* Prolegomenon and mezcal
* sparkling wine
* cheese and crackers
* a house salad, marking the beginning of the dinner proper
* the main course: a delicious stuffed chicken with red potatoes and asparagus
* libations included (but were in no way limited to) my current favorite chiraz, St Hallett Faith 2006
* all capped off with L's naked strawberry-cherry cake, which was to die for.

The Clothing Optional Midnight Tour of Candler Park set out from the Nunnery at 22:14 with all parties fully clothed and more explored the golf course than the park proper. But "Clothing Mandatory Quarterish-Past-Ten Tour of the Candler Park Golf Course" is such a mouthful.

Other highlights:

* the famous Carroll Street Cafe for a brunch served by my current favorite waitress, Alyssa;
* a matinée viewing of The Clone Wars (Sabitathica's official assestimate: you will hear bad things about this film, if only because Lucas's name is attached to it (though only as executive producer) and people tend to falsely ascribe sinister motives to his artistic endeavors, motives involving greed and cynicism - but don't believe the un-hype. It's highly enjoyable. Lucas's universe comes across well in animation and I hope there's more installments to follow);
* polishing off a not-entirely-full bottle of mezcal and eating the "worm", actually a larval scyphophorus acupunctatus. Heh, good times;
* a viewing of the Silly Walk Sketch;
* the famous Carroll Street Cafe for brunch (take two);
* a trip to Borders to get Phil an Atlanta- gift of The Road which has been coming up again these days. I got a copy for myself too;
* a stroll through the Moulin Rouge rooms at Paris on Ponce;
* dinner and margaritas at La Fonda;
* ice cream at Dr. Bombays;
* playing on the swings and the fun rides in the playground by the park.

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This is Week I of Fall classes, 2008. Things have been busy at the office. Everyone needs my time and my attention.