My birthday. Sarah and I have a collective Our Birthdays party each year, and this year it also served as a mini-going away for four months (but don’t worry we’ll be back) party.

Instead of getting gifts, I brought a bag of books and video games I needed to return to people, some of which I’ve had for years, like this Dan Simmons novel I’m returning to Nick (I never read it).

I also brought some things I just wanted to lend out while we’re gone. “Anyone want to borrow this copy of ‘Dance With Dragons’? No one? Come on, I don’t want to pack this giant thing.”

My friend, Trupe: Arnie, the symptoms of you preparing to leave are frighteningly the same as the symptoms of a person preparing to commit suicide. Should we be worried?