possibly the best birthday ever

I finally got a weekend off, after working 25 days (with only one day off).
And it's my birthday (or was, on Sunday).
So I got the hell out of dodge with my new, dear friend Carla. Friday night I went to a bbq and indoor pool party at my friend's place. Saturday afternoon, Carla and I left for la Mauricie region, and went canoe-camping for 2 days. It was gorgeous, glorious bliss. And I got 12 hours of desperately needed sleep.
Most people don't know this, but canoe-camping is almost as lazy as car camping. We paddled to the first campsite on the lake, set up the tent and cooked a long, slow meal over the fire. The next morning, we "brunched" from 10 til 3, and paddled out on to the lake to swim, sunbathe & play around the boat. We swam and drifted for about 2 hours. And of course we talked, and talked and talked.
The weather was glorious, and not too hot -- finally some sun! -- and the bugs were out, but not too bad and only really at dusk. We went swimming whenever we got too hot. It was actually pretty funny, to be just sitting in the boat in our bikinis, drifing on the lake, lost in conversation, and every so often a canoe with 2 guys in it would pass us, and try to start a conversation. I guess they don't see many women out doing this kind of camping...
And oh, to get lost, and ignore the outside world. Having no cell phone reception was something I cherished. I realized at one point with a jolt just how immersed in the present I was, and it felt awesome.
No schedule, no itinerary... just lazy camping.
Definitely one of the best things I've ever done with a birthday.

lolcats

Something that never fails to amuse me over the last few days: cat macros, aka lolcats.
Start here, with Slate's essay on the subject.

Then start browsing here.

But my favourite, by far, is the walrus: