10:51 a.m. Thirty days hath September. That's the only part of the ditty that I remember. All the rest I have to look up, save February when I was born -- I remember that one. Plus our wedding anniversary is February 29, so we will be celebrating this year, if the world hasn't shut down. If it has, maybe we'll light a candle and finally drink the Roswell champagne.

Actually, that's probably what we'll do in any event. I'm planning ahead.

But for today, a moment to look back and review and take stock and as I said yesterday, tie up loose ends.

For example, the contest. Those weird balls are actually the fuel tanks for the space shuttle. That's why they're the pretty shiny colors of titanium, amazium, and howcumium. That's what the guy who's storing them told me, so ... it's gotta be true, right?

Speaking of planning ahead, ever since last January I've been collecting the gallon jugs that milk comes in. We will probably have about 50 of them by the time Dick Clark comes on live and in heavy makeup at 9:00 our time. If things go wonky, I'm going to fill 'em up.

Speaking of the party, what have I done so far to get ready? Well, I've ... I know, I grouted yesterday, as I'd threatened. It didn't exactly work, and I don't know why. I will now resort to glue. I even used an old comb I had to make those cute swirls, but the white stuff is just sitting there, like dried frosting. Maybe I used too little. Maybe I upset it as it was drying. I did pick up a tile or two to check on their progress.

If worse comes to worse, as my mother always says, I'll just assign someone to stand by the counter and warn people. Until I've had a glass of wine or two, and then frankly, I really won't care at all. Actually, you know what? Why didn't I think of it sooner?

If I have a glass of wine -- right now -- I won't care about what I still have to clean up. A glass of wine and the bathrooms don't look so bad, actually. Another glass and ... hey! Who cares about tomorrow's entry, what with the change of calendar and a new archives page to make and all?

A nice glass of wine. That's the ticket.

I'm beginning to see what my father saw.

Tomorrow? New loose ends.