I hate to resort to alcohol. It's so trite — not to mention slightly stupid. But... yes, the time had come to go out and slap down a few. Times are tough, my friends. But I shall prevail.

I am not the best of friends; it is true. And I often neglect and even complain about my dearest friends; it, too, it true. But in the end, (yes, the love you take is equal to the love you make, but also...) the friends I have are true; tis true. Yes, after all is said and done, they are always there for me — sometimes with a slap or two, but always there.

So... on that note (and it is indeed a sweeter note than I am prone to)... I have taken Maria up on her offer of a night of debauchery. Ok, so that wasn't really the offer — see for yourself — but everything is up to interpretation. And, baby, that's my interpretation. So... onward we go.

Thanks, Maria. Thanks for being there. And thanks for being a friend. :-)
(Now stop gloating!)