Why Roommates Are Awesome

Birthdays are eh. I mean, yes it's great that I was born. Of course everyone should celebrate. But *I* don't want to actually do anything. I like staying in to watch tv and nap.

My roommates, however, are made of awesome. Wednesday, I work up to a decorated door and a basket full of goodies. One of my roomies made a cake with a sprinkled 23. It was adorable. I have no idea how I'm supposed to each all this food (although the cake is nearly gone).

My roommates also took me out for dinner. We went high class and got burgers. Mmm ketchup.

Thursday evening, I walked in after class and found them putting together a birthday feast (part II). Eirin had made Filipino dishes like pancit and bangus (which I think is yummy but is totally an acquired taste). It was really sweet, but the expression on my other roommates' faces when they saw the fish was hilarious. Mmm fish.

We also made s'mores outside on the grill. And then later in the microwave.

Anyway, birthday goodness was had by all. This 24th year will be awesome (like my roomies!)

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On a completely unrelated note, I discovered a lost book!

You know. Those books that you vaguely remember from your childhood but can't describe well enough to find again. Years ago, I had read some book about a couple of socially awkward kids who made up a club WEIRD or something and ran around (saving the world, maybe?) There was Baba Yaga and a house with chicken legs. I think they went in space.

This was really the entirety of my recollection, but it's stuck with me for over a decade. I had no idea what this book was or how to find it.

Last night, I was telling one of my roommates about that fairy tale with some girl who has shoes that make her dance until her feet fall off. Or something (no discussion about whether Han Christian Anderson counts as fairy tales...). Afterwards, I was searching for this story online (It's Red Shoes if anyone cares) and rediscovered SurLaLune Fairy Tales (which is a great site!). I noticed a list of modern interpretations of the Baba Yaga story. Since Baba Yaga was the one distinctive element I could remember, I lucked out! My book was Weirdos of the Universe, Unite! which sounds just like a book I would have picked up back in the day.

I am so very excited. I need find a copy of this book and read it. I hope it doesn't disappoint me after 13-or-so years.