on the page... Jonathan Lethem's As She Climbed Across the Table I'm back to it after a few false starts and intervening reads... the bookstore (and Michael in particular) have got me overloaded with material.

in my CD player... Marine Research Sounds From the Gulf Stream I can't get the catchy "Hopefulness to Hopelessness" out of my head.

overheard... K: "I did that purely for shock value." T: "I'm trying to think of other values it may have had and I can't come up with any."

theme songs abound... I must admit that when Todd told me he heard a song called "Whirly Girl" by OXO on FNX's leftover lunch a few weeks ago, I didn't believe him... but then he took the time to look up the lyrics... my favorite lines: "This girl just combs her hair And takes her tea With millionaires She's sitting in the latest styles With open legs And mysterious smiles"

vroom, vroom... I get all squealy when I talk about my new car... and this weekend was perfect for taking the top off and cruising. Yesterday, driving home as the sun was setting in dramatic pink and orange hues, my hair glowed radioactively in the rearview mirror and I realized that life is good. Thanks, Mom!

film festival... I love this time a year when there are so many fabulous films to choose from... Already Three Kings and American Beauty top my best list... and I'm itching to see The Limey, The Straight Story, Guinevere, Fight Club, and Dogma.

white rabbit... I pounced on Todd this morning and claimed the trophy for the second month in a row.

in my comment field... "I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half-empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth." Janeane Garofalo

gin and tonics Get too many in me and I'm a bag of endless chatter... thanks for listening when you were sure that I could barely hold my focus on you... especially Krista in the hotel lobby with the pizza-crazed lunatic.

stories have been told... Talking to Suzanne last weekend made me realize that everyone knows my stories before I ever tell them... an odd thing. They understand my restlessness and Todd's talent... even before I open my mouth. There's something comforting about that. In other words... thanks everyone, for reading and keeping up with this whirl... even when I test your loyalty by disappearing for weeks on end.

promises... Eric... you promised me wake-up calls with choruses of Rise and Shine... when do I get to collect?