Quick mid-birthday update: I got the following from Newton:

Happy Birthday you old cow
Happy Birthday to you, you were born in a zoo...(repeat, fade).
Welcome to the wonderful world of "31", when the reality of being in your 30s finally hits home. It's a delicate psychological balancing act: YES, you've now become the kind of person you used to hate; and NO, you really don't give a shit. After all what's the point? Soon you'll be 40. Shortly after that, you'll be dead.

Have a drink on me dear.

Newton

Thanks ever so for those touching sentiments.

Laura and Jorge called, and Laura was bit peeved to hear that I was quoting her without permission. I do apologize. And she responds: "Now that I'm an adult, I like my quiet little Wilmington life, thank you very much." (Yes, I got permission to quote her on that.) I hereby make a formal apology for any pain and suffering I may have caused. Now please don't sue or release those "Perm years" pictures to the media.

I also got flowers from my parents, and books from my very cool Aunt Elaine and Uncle Walt.

Elaine is my godmother, and her birthday is tomorrow. My sister Amy and I were talking this weekend about how we want Laura and Jorge to have kids so we can become aunts. I've called dibs on being Cool Bohemian Aunt Sarah, and I plan to model my behavior off Aunt Elaine. She lives in California, worked with folks on wineries and such, takes vacations in cool places, sends me weird and wonderful things (a hat from Mongolia!), and is basically a great role model for Cool Bohemian Aunthood. I hope I can live up to her. Happy birthday, Elaine!