It is costing me way too much to read Popgadget daily because they find too many cool products I must have. Yesterday I got a set of stick-on camera lenses from Singapore, and, naturally, immediately tried them out on the Sidekick.

They're actually pretty clever for the money (not much). I got the sepia-toned one and the fish-eye lens one (plus one that makes the picture look like your subject is in the middle of a white star in the middle of a blue field -- possibly useful in Texas, but I'm wondering why the Japanese would need it. Of course, that's the beautiful thing about Japanese technology -- it's usually more a question of why not than why).

I worry about the stickiness of the little ring on the lenses. Don't know how long it'll last. If you wanted to kludge the same effect together without employing the lenses (or Photoshop), I imagine you could use a piece of translucent film or an old contact anchored to your Sidekick with one of those little binder reinforcement rings that you put around the holes of your paper when they start growing rather larger than originally intended. But these are more fun. Two thumbs up.

mcgambrell hit me with some of his hot No Justice swag last week. I'm wearing the rose-colored shirt today and plan to convert the pirate one into a tank top for San Antonio summer enjoyment.

And over the weekend I got an Amazon box from Donna and David that included a wish list item I almost bought for myself last week. Complete with red gilding. Mmm.

Thanks, guys! Y'all rock.

Texas Farm to Market would be the best thing about the Aveda school in San Antonio if the Aveda school students weren't so damn good.

Amy and Ashley study the beer, but I'm pretty well set.

I'm officially a Texan. I've developed mountain juniper pollinosis. Interestingly, the allergen is a carbohydrate, which will be good news for San Antonians on the Atkins diet.

The best thing about meeting in the Conference Center is getting to experience Texas in bloom. USAA's Conference Center used to be General McDermott's home, which is pretty cool.

The afternoon brought a group celebration, including Yvette, Janet, Brett (standing behind me in my new Duncan jersey from Tricia), Joselyn, and Amy (photo being taken by Laura). Flowers by Janet; cheesecake by Jean. A group present (a ticket to a future Spurs game of my choosing -- whee!), plus a visit from Zoe, my littlest fan. As I told Janet, I'm going to be shattered the day she figures out I'm a geek. ;)

So... when I got to work today, I was overwhelmed with Spurs tchotchke. My friends are completely insane, and I love them dearly for it. This was the combined effort of like 12 people, but three of the chief perpetrators (plus Sammy's mommy) in the third picture are Yvette, Ashley, and Amy. You'll notice the whole team even dressed in silver and black so as to match (Ashley's on injured reserve). The free throw line is right outside my cubicle, facing in, and I've got a Spurs lamp, Spurs pillows and a Spurs license plate frame. Not singled out are the meowing cat puppet in a teeeeeensy tinsy jersey, and a genuine t-shirt launcher t-shirt along with a signed photo and sticker from the Coyote.

Sometimes it's good to get older. ;)

Somebody wants out. Oh. That's better. --roxy

Birthday a day early with the mom and dad. Got all sorts of cool stuff, including a hip black knitted shrug and a retro book reminiscent of James Lileks's Gallery of Regrettable Food. My folks are so cool. ;)