MANY HAPPY RETURNS ... AT 7TH AND MONTANA!

It was Many Happy Returns at 7th and Montana this morning as "Barnacle Bess" -- the woman known for her overall stick-to-it-iveness -- took her usual perch between the flower bed and the dumpster behind Our Favorite Starbucks. "Bring me a chair and be snappy about it," she barked to Barista Tyler, who complied, albeit in slow motion. "What's wrong with you?!?," she cried, "Step to it, man, pretend you're in the Marines!" "I'm coming, I'm coming," said Tyler, slowly shuffling in her direction, "But don't forget, there's no smoking around here." Bess' Deep Baritone Rasp left little doubt as to her intentions. "Just shut up and bring me the chair!," she croaked. Screenwriter Rob -- who yesterday sold a TV series to NBC -- couldn't resist chiming-in: "Would you believe she's only 26-years-old?," he asked. That, of course, would make her younger than Brandon, who seemed pretty dejected this morning at the thought of turning 30 tomorrow. "Wow," I said, "How scary! If it's any consolation, today is my birthday!" I didn't mention my age, lest it send Poor Brandon into shock ...!