you're going to be this many! ::holds up both hands, left one with all fingers and thumb up, right one with just thumb up::

I'm going to be 100000!

But I don't look a day over 11010?

Mmm... Twinings Lemon and Ginger tea is exceedingly yummy! Definitely one of the staves of life.

I believe we have already discussed what I am likely to get you for your birthday, which is to say that I'm sure it will come as a *total surprise* (after I cunningly and selectively erase your memories of those discussions, anyway).

Hem.

Also: good grief, that is rather a lot of ginger tisane to drink in 2 weeks. Would you want more of that particular brand, or have you got pallets of it hidden away out back somewhere?

I've already sent markgritter to Byerly's after more, so that particular brand is well covered whenever I want more even without having the guy pull the truck around back.

I'm having a cup of it every morning and then otherwise as needed. So.

Also, surprises are nice, but knowing I'm going to like what I'm going to get and have reliable stuff to watch while working out is also a thing of great value, so if the rest of your schedule makes getting to the memory eraser hard, don't worry about it.

Besides, we've already got one.

Very apropos icon. Well done!

How are you about other ginger(y) things?

(Contemplates sending five chatty emails.)

I am consuming other gingery things in bulk. The ones that come in a tin with a Chinese dragon on the front are not so good, being hard candy that managed to preserve the stringiness of ginger without any of the soft chewiness of nice candied ginger, but they do the trick for times like concerts when I can't make myself tea. Also I eat ginger chews, candied ginger, and chocolate with ginger in. Also my own gingerbread, ginger cookies, and Anna's ginger thins (I am a mite particular about ginger cookies). Also many kinds of Chinese food.

I am not the person in the house who is a fiend for ginger otherwise but I am currently relying upon it medicinally rather heavily.

I had string I had done wonderful things with but it was deemed "uncleanable" so I didn't retrieve any of it. I will have to restock my weaving stash. Then when people say "String or nothing" I can say, "Hah! String!" and produce spiffy odds and ends.

I am like that with "cake or death."

That is awesome of the said grandmother.

I know exactly what I want to make you on the ginger theme, but am unsure as to whether or not Pennsic prep and Bebe will allow it. I shall do my bestest, because new forms of Ginger Therapy are always lovely.

What are your feelings on mint? (the leafy kind, not the gum/candy kind)

Am a fan.

Would you like a birthday party for your birthday? At my house, I mean?

That's very sweet of you, and I appreciate the offer more than I can say, but I am having one at my house. It just contains a much smaller proportion of the local people I like than in healthier years, so I can manage to handle it. Some of "handling it" is stuff that people could help me with, like baking, but some of being the guest of honor for a large party really isn't stuff anyone else can do for me, so I decided to make it small this year.

Understood. I hope it's a lovely one.