How was everyone’s week? Mine was excellent. I met Sulagna on Sunday FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER and spent the day museum-hopping with her and our lovely friend Rachel, which was a fantastic way to kick off My Birth Week. Tuesday was my actual birthday and it was one of the best, I must say (even though Mallory trolled me with this the morning of). The amount of fuss people made over me on my birthday honestly felt just about right! Some years it’s too much, some years it’s not enough; this year was good.

Also, Mindy made this for me

and hearts shot right out of my eyes, so.

It was a great week at The Toast! We had Tess of the D’Urbervilles, dirtbag. David Brooks wrote us a sestina about poverty. Kendra Fortmeyer published another wonderful short story, with illustrations by Shing Yin Khor (DREAM TEAM, Y/Y?). Mackenzie Mays wrote beautifully about why her dad is still her dad.

THE LADIES CAME BACK. Fictional men who have enjoyed being pegged. How to tell if you are in a Shakespearean tragedy. Some solid relationship advice from Machiavelli.

THAT’S very interesting. I would really like someone to make me this rugelach. If Carrie Brownstein were your girlfriend. Finally, this gorgeous essay on faith, and fear, and what we pass on to our kids, by one of my besties.

Tonight I’m concluding my Birthday Week festivities by going to see Age of Ultron, which I certainly hope will be ridiculous and enjoyable in a manner befitting the only movie I’m likely to get out to see in the theater until, I don’t know, November probably; good babysitters are really expensive, you guys. I’m going to get popcorn with butter and some Reese’s and maybe even…a cola? At which point I’ll be so carb-and-sugared up it won’t really matter if the movie is bad. It’s going to be magical. Magical! I hope you all do something fun and frivolous this weekend, too. See you Monday.