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I have just finished a complete draft of my Yuletide assignment, a mere 4 hours and 38 minutes before it was due. It's the longest Yuletide story I've ever written, clocking in at just over 8K words, and at the moment it's the only story for it's canon on AO3. Cool.

In other news, it was also my birthday today. Given the year, and the fact that I needed to finish my Yuletide story, it was a low key celebration. The Sweetie's work had scheduled online cooking and mixology classes for today in lieu of a Christmas party. So we made Peruvian potato salad and ceviche, and mixed up a couple of Kentucky Mules. I haven't had any alcohol for over two years on account of it was giving me migraines 100% of the time I had a drink, but I risked it today. And so far, so good.

The family was very good to me, present-wise. I got two comics trade collections (Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, which has ended up on a number of year end best of lists, and 80 Years of the Bat Family, because I may read a lot of Marvel now, but my first mainstream comic love was Batman) and two comic-related movies (Birds of Prey, because how much do I love Margot Robbie's Harley, and Batman: Death in the Family, because it gives you a way to save Jason Todd.)

( Pictorial evidence of me with booze and books beneath the cut )

I've been horrible at keeping up on everyone's birthdays this year, but had to wish Drayce a happy one!



Hope there were many margaritas for your Cinco de Mayo.

For the past three years, I've have (jokingly) been telling the Sweetie I just want Howard Donald for my birthday. This year, he came through. In cake form, anyway:



He's spent the last few weeks Googling pictures of Howard Donald, and working with our local bakery on the design. (The caption stands for Happy Howard Donald Birthday PRZ, in case you're wondering.) This all explains why for the last few weeks he would just randomly say "That Howard Donald is a handsome man," every once in a while.

He is truly the best Sweetie ever.

( Below the cut, me with my lovely cake. )

Hope you had a great birthday! To celebrate, here's a couple of your other favourite guys. *g*

I hope you have a great day, a marvellous year, and that Andy manages to win big for you.

A slightly belated birthday greeting in your time zone. I hope you had a fabulous day!

Happy Birthday, my friend. I hope you have a lovely day!

Since I did a day-late, Howard Donald-inspired birthday post for the Sweetie last year, I figured I had to do another one again this year.

So here it is, Sweetie, from one awesome dad to another...

Best wishes for a fabulous day, from me and a certain famous swordsman.

Hope you have a fantastic, tennis and pop star filled day!