First, I would like to thank the designers at Algonquin Books for creating such a lovely cover for Jonathan Evison’s new novel, a cover that compliments my FORTIETH! Birthday bag so beautifully.

These two beauties landed in my mailbox yesterday along with two checks from my clients. Yesterday was the happiest mailbox day ever.

Second, I have decided that whenever I spend a ridiculous amount of money on anything I will show my friend Kelly first. She reacts with so much enthusiasm at beauty that any drop of buyer’s remorse immediately evaporates. If you don’t recall, and why would you recall the saga of my beloved bag?, it was Kelly’s “beauty crowds me until I die” comment that pushed over the indecisive edge into decisiveness.

Because I didn’t check the mail until I was on my way to the meeting of the Royal Order of Black Sheep Writers, I lugged the bag into Young Jeremy’s house and made the male members of the Order watch as I unbagged the bag.

This bag, it is so fancy that it comes with it’s own, separate bag to store it in. The dudes got a kick out of that, but in general they were not as delighted the bag as I was.

Kelly, however, came in and was delighted with the loveliness. She petted it and oohhed and aaahhed and even put her beer down so she could more closely examine the beauty.

Yes, it’s the kind of bag you put your beer down for. For everyone I know, I apologize in advance if I make you pet my bag. I promise the newness will wear off at some point.