Hey, y'all! I apologize for the sketchy updating - this is only the most crucial week of my life, plus I have a work schedule from the fringes of hell. I sure could use a good, funny sitcom to make me feel better. But I guess The Big Bang Theory will do.

Leonard tells Penny of a recent triumph at miniature golf, describing it in incredibly glowing terms. Sheldon and Amy have come to a huge decision about their relationship. They're getting - a turtle together! Actually, that's about the best step forward this relationship could have. The couple who turtles together stays together. They plan to dress him as a cobblestone for Halloween. So I'm already smiling at the opening credits.

Emily tells Raj that she murdered her roommate, which may or may not be a joke. She has to check on a patient, so she leaves Raj alone in the apartment. And then we never heard from Raj again.

Amy and Sheldon go to pick out their turtle, but can't come to a decision. As they're cooing over a potential turtle, Sheldon casually drops that "Daddy" has applied to be the first person on Mars. Amy is outraged - not that he wants to go, but that he didn't tell her. Truth-telling seems to be a big thing on TV this week.

Leonard tells Penny that he bought her a dirty Valentine's present, which he was too embarrassed to give her at the time. It turns out to be a body paint kit. Leonard is a bit shy, but they decide to go ahead with it. They also decide to make another trip to the store down the line...together.

Bernadette tries to do their taxes, but it's a bit difficult because Howard keeps trying to write off Lego. He gets a call from Raj, who is still alone at Emily's and bored. He casually looks through her nightstand, and accidentally jams the drawer. Trying to fix it, he instead breaks it further. When Bernadette hears what happens, she remarks that they'll really miss Emily.

The body paint turns out to be a disappointment, which leads Penny to conclude that they have a boring sex life. However, it does sound like they're getting old - as people tend to do.

Sheldon comes home, with a bitten finger and no turtle, and a fight going on with Amy, about Mars. He should have told, he shouldn't have told, blah blah blah, move on. Amy tells him to Go to Mars, a rather abrupt dismissal. To comfort her, he plays the Star Trek theme on his nose. Amy is not mollified.

Howard tries to help Raj figure out how to fix it, but it's not going to work. Sheldon pours Amy a hot beverage. He also shows her his application video, which is admittedly quite clever and awkward all at once. I'd send him out as a representative of our species, sure. Also he throws a pie in Leonard's face, so I basically want to marry him by now. Highlight of the episode.

Penny cleans body paint out of Leonard's eye. Raj unsuccessfully tries to repair the drawer. Bernadette suggests that he deserves this for snooping. Emily walks in and is rightly angry. At home, Howard and Bernadette listen in on the argument.

After a marathon session, Penny and Leonard manage to coat the entire sheet in paint. They don't want to throw away the expression of their love, so Penny decides that they'll give it to Sheldon and tell him that Shatner painted it. I have to say, they are really throwing in the timely stories here. Amy tells Sheldon that she thought they were planning the future, turtle and all, so this is especially hurtful right now. He offers to withdraw his application. They finally decide that Amy will apply, too, and they will go to Mars together. They'll even have a family there, so the kids can be Martians. It's the most romantic thing I've ever seen on this series. They decide to remake their video, and this time Amy can pie Leonard.

Emily forgives Raj for some reason, and they have sex. Yay! They agree that it was their first fight and they'll move on from it. Emily also asks if he looked in the closet. She falls asleep, and Raj wonders...

Tribute to Leonard Nimoy, but it flashes by so quickly you can't even read it. Damn.

So. What did I love? Howard and Bernadette listening in on the argument. Amy and Sheldon and the turtle, then the ending with the agreement to go to Mars together. Everything else? Ehhh. It was a fun episode, but not rolling-on-the-floor, and not a particularly emotionally resonant one, either. It worked. As for me, I'm off to paint a turtle to look like a cobblestone.

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