28 NOVEMBER

Americans are besotted by the decimal point. We really like things to be divisible by ten. We like 10th, 20th, 25th, and 50th anniversaries. But the 7th -- "7" the great Hebrew number of perfection -- no interest. No interest in the 12th either, or the. . . .well, you get the idea. It looks like one of the first things we did upon gaining independence was to drop the old money with 12 pence in a shilling, 20 shillings in a pound and 240 pence in a pound. And 21 shillings in a guinea. We preferred 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, a dollar: blessed be the name of the decimal point.

Which leads us round to birthdays. All the significant ones end in "0" or "5". The Love of My Life and the Joy of My Youth is having a "significant birthday" today. It's more than my life is worth to tell you which one, but suffice it to say she is just the tiniest bit depressed about the whole thing. So, we have gone to the L.A. Jewellery Mart, a.k.a. Disneyland for adult women, to choose an appropriate birthday present, or presents, depending upon how the budget holds up. And we have done so. Boy howdy, have we ever done so.

I have garnered uncountable husband points. Consequently, I can recommend to any of my readers who wish to see the sun peeking through the clouds hovering around a Significant Birthday -- emeralds. These can be had in bracelet or earring form and I have reason to believe the ring format is also highly acceptable.

So remember emeralds. This is your tip for today. Don't say reading this blog has never been any use to you.

I have to go busk now if we're going to eat tomorrow. (Does anyone know if those Paypal donation things work?)

Happy Birthday, Mary