Case in point: last week, my mother called to tell me that their square dancing club is having an Easter bonnet dance. And my mother has already picked out her outfit: she is going to wear a tea cozy on her head, and dangle tea bags from her ears as earrings.

Seriously.

I made her swear to send me a picture of this, because I know that unless you've actually met my mother, you might need proof before you believe me. Because who would wear a tea cozy on her head as an Easter bonnet? Well, my mother would. Oh yes she would.

And then to follow up this story, she tells me that for their upcoming wedding anniversary, they have gotten tickets to see a concert. You should really try, knowing what you know about my parents, to guess this one before you read the answer. Give it a shot.

Okay, it's Charo. They are going to see a Charo. concert.

Did anyone guess it? Probably not. Did anyone guess anything that was more spectacular than that? Also, probably not. God bless my parents. Square dancing! Tea cozies! It's like they're not even real people.

Well, I'm 29 years old now, and the clock is ticking down to 30. I cannot imagine myself being 30, but I'm not panicking about it, particularly. (Check back with me in November. I might be panicking by November.)

For the first time in years, I have a sense of stability in my life, meaning a job. And unlike the last time I had a full-time job, I actually love what I do. (Well, who wouldn't enjoy working here? The latest is that everyone's music library -- thousands and thousands of songs-- is available on the company intranet. I am listening to Snoop Dogg as we speak.) I like living in (the) San Francisco (Bay area). I love my friends. And I have a whole year to get my shit together before I'm officially supposed to have my shit together. Woo!

I had a great birthday week. I went and saw Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which I loved. I got flowers from my parents, and also a gas card, and a few readers sent me birthday things off my wish list, which was unexpected and wonderful! I got Organizing Plain and Simple, The Fabric of the Cosmos, and How to Cook Everything (maybe I should have started with How to Cook Anything).

Megan gave me some kitchen supplies and Reading Lolita in Tehran, which was not on my wish list, but which I've been devouring all the same. And speaking of devouring, she took me to dinner, and I had this dessert thing involving fried Snickers bars and caramel, whereupon I promptly gained fifteen pounds. And then the people at work had a chocolate fondue party for me. Fruit dipped in chocolate, with angel food cake on the side. Mmm.

Other excitement: Elizabeth was in town, and I got to see her and Elise, and I got to meet Mercutio, who is damned adorable. (Not quite as adorable as Elizabeth, but cute nonetheless.) And that same day I got a phone call from Eric to say that the Niblet, aka Little Mo, aka Brendan Rapp, had been born! I know people with babies of course, but I've never been on the A-list to be called from the hospital before. You can imagine my special excitement.

Finally, this weekend I had a dinner party involving Evil Gay Unicorns, lots of presents, and masking tape bondage. Jenfu wrote about it here, and included some pictures. (You can sort of see my new magical haircut in those pictures. My magical haircut was given to me by my new stylist, Andre. In addition to a stylist named Andre, I have a French house painter named Stefan. The other day he caught me sleeping in the nude. I don't know when my life turned into a Sex in the City episode, but somehow it has.)

The irony of all of this is that, now that my friends have decked me out with everything from tableware to cookbooks to a handmade Books & Pie apron to a vegetable steamer, the new roommate told me that she will not, in fact, share the kitchen with me. And as of tomorrow, I have to have all my stuff out of there.

I have a frantic plan to bake cookies tonight, so I can use up all my baking supplies while I still have the chance. Unfortunately, I might not get home in time. The head of our department is retiring and tonight is the first party for him. (A dinner party for the print production department-- on Wednesday is the party for the whole company.)

So anyway, I have no kitchen again. But the good news is that the house painting is finally starting tomorrow (Stefan and I had a color consultation this morning, and I was fully clothed this time) and the carpets go in Friday. After that, a contractor is coming in to see about installing a small kitchenette of my very own. Which would be preferable by far to sharing a kitchen anyway.

In the meantime, I have a microwave, a wok, and a refrigerator full of wine. I'm sure I'll think of something.