OK - last week was a busy week for me. First, I sent Spyder 44/50 off to a new home in Denver where she will receive more attention than I've been able to provide in recent months due to the logistics of moving her around (BIG bass, small car syndrome). I'll miss her, but it's for the best as she will now have a Dragon Wing as a companion and a new owner who is really looking forward to giving her the attention she deserves. Then, almost as if to ease my sorrow, those devious Alembic elves "wheeled the dessert cart" in front of me and showed me THIS:

She's an "orphan" Series II 5-string that has been waiting patiently to find a new home. Since I was rendered powerless by her charms and had so much fun adopting a darling red-headed Rogue (Scarlet O'Hara) last year, I decided to take the Series II plunge. She has all of the usual Series II upgrades, plus an ebony neck lam, some "comfort contouring" on her body, a custom neck taper, an omega and blackened brass hardware. OOH la la... She will be named "Chocolat" (with French accent) for obvious reasons.