Festive occasions

I don't know which is happier-making, money in the mail or a sudden loss of a kilo plus when you step on the scale in the morning. As it's Sunday, you can figure for yourselves which constitutes today's happiness. As an object lesson, I lugged a 10-kilo bag of road salt home yesterday (22 pounds for the imperialists) and even factoring in the unwieldiness of road salt, like the worst kind of squashy parcel baby, the idea that I'm carrying two of those about my person now is a great impetus to virtue. The realization that I've lost half a bag of road salt since the summer is extremely satisfying. My knees certainly have ceased to grumble as much as they did.

Meanwhile, if the book is correct, it's shiny_monkey's birthday. Happy birthday, shiny_monkey!
( And a meme, as per instruction )