Well my birthday was a fairly successful venture.

I woke up next to a pretty girl, made myself some black coffee and oatmeal (my new default breakfast), taught one of my roommates rummy and had discussions about hormones, psychotherapy and horse cock with my other roommate.

The girl woke up and we got another friend and had a fine lunch at M sur Masson. I had oysters Rockefeller, this amazing crab dish, the cheese plate and a fantastic bison gratin. Red wine all around.

After that I hit the flotation tanks and a pulsar mind machine session for maximum relaxation.

Then off to whiskey cafe to down an improbably expensive 25 year old scotch, meet up with some friends and see a circus burlesque show / dance party that a friend of mine was putting on.

You know when you know someone and they're throwing an event, but you've never been to anything of theirs and you have no idea if it's going to rock or suck or whatever? This was my experience going in.

I was BLOWN AWAY. This underground venue called the Pound, my friend organized this fantastic circus burlesque show.. it was.. really great.

By the end of the evening I had

- my tie re-tied by this cute guy who looked like a cross between Buddy Holly & Pee-Wee Herman
- convinced a relatively sedate blond girl from Georgia she should go wild
- had my face covered in strange paint
- slapped and was slapped (in a good way)
- danced my ass off on stage
- made this acrobat who'd wrapped himself in chains hanging from the ceiling realize that he could have slept with anyone in the room after his performance (how many performers don't realize this sometimes surprised me)

I also saw the most beautiful woman ever.

Like ever ever.

Oh girls with shaved heads that spin fire speak gutterpunk French patois and make me dream of panthers.