After my birthday extravaganza in Marin back in January, Melody felt that it would be tough to surpass. So she instead agreed to treat our prior getaway as a joint celebration and keep things more laid back for her own 40th. After imaging some monkeys while she enjoyed a lazy morning reading on the couch, we drove to Napa for Hog Island oysters, Oxbow Merchant cheese, Three Twins ice-cream, Kara’s cupcakes, and Model Bakery treats. We had little time to extend the love as I was off to Las Vegas the next morning to attend VBS7. This was my first time attending the glitzy conference which caters to a younger generation of retinal surgeons, featuring live surgeries, audience participation, and live tweets. I had fun moderating a session, but felt underdressed for the Austin Powers-themed reception and was bewildered by a closing lecture on medical ethics by the former dean of USC. The short overnight trip left me little time to check out the city except for some Popeyes at the airport before my flight home. Before her Napa retreat, Melody had dropped Westley off with Pam’s family. His full day of movies, Funderland, light-saber battles, and brief cousin rivalry left him zonked out by the time I arrived, and made for an easy hand-off as I drove him home for bed.