My wife indulged my obsession with puzzles by giving me a mini puzzle-hunt on my birthday.  Solving it told me to meet her at a bakery where I was given a cupcake, taken to lunch, and then given another puzzle!  As if the best birthday present ever wasn’t already enough.

I’m lucky.  Shama, you’re the best.

Shama tried to surprise me with a dog for my birthday, but the shelter wouldn’t let her just grab a dog and put it in a box.  I know.  I don’t get it either.  So instead she surprised me by picking me up and taking me to the shelter to meet a dog she had picked out.  His name was “Mugs” and I loved him immediately.

We changed his name briefly to Maurice, but settled on Gus.

Gus and I have some similar features.  Shama says she has a type.  I’m reminded of this scene from 101 Dalmations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv1FlfdJxho

My grandparents were very excited to get me one of those cards that plays music for my birthday.  Unfortunately, they couldn’t figure out how to record the message that plays before the music, so when I opened it all I heard was, “Press and hold button to record your message before the song.”  Sometimes technology just gets in the way.