-- Friday, February 14, 2000 --

10:27 p.m. Sally Field is tied up and gagged and she's in the closet. She's kicking at the door and I can hear her through the sock: "Ruau araik muhf!" But I'm not listening. I'm not letting her out. We will not say those words.

But, I'm thinking them. I surely am.

What a day this has been.

Beautiful roses and lilies on my desk this morning. Hyacinths in the kitchen. Sweet scented oranges and a whole bag of soft miniature doughnuts with the white sugar that comes off on your nose. Thunk. Ignore her.

The kids in the nursery next door usually throw half-eaten tangerines and wads of Play Doh over the fence, but not today. Today they threw a fetching little basket and a cute tin that said "Zoo" on in it animal letters. It's been a magical day.

Fiona sent me a new Pac Man. Tess and Saundra some squishy hugs. From the lady down undah, there was this:

Yes, a most amazing 24 hours. You see, they've announced the Diarist Awards, and although I'd given up all hope by about the middle of last week that I had even a prayer or a chance, lo and behold, that was not going to be today's reality. Today I have to admit that ...

"Ruau araik ..." Shut up. But yes, I got nominated. Indeed I did. Whoopee, but I did! Let me take a moment and tell you how good it feels. .*:*.*:*. . .!

I'm not ashamed to admit that I've lusted after those nominations, loved the idea of them, and really really wanted one. Do I lie to you in these pages? I do not. Ever since I saw the flashy icons and noticed that it was mandatory that you read the nominated entries if you wanted to place your vote ... well, really. Mandatory reading? C'mere.

Let me have your eyeballs for a couple of minutes and I promise to take really good care of them. Give me a chance. Read a couple of sentences, try the cheese. Flip through at least two pages before you go off in a huff. And even if you do go off in a huff, you're welcome back any time. I'm killing myself here. Enjoy.

Ah yes, I have a childlike joy in these events. I was sad last time when I was not nominated and I am overjoyed this time that I am. But I made a pledge to myself when I started this journal and as my fortunes shift and change, I am now in a position to make good on the pledge: I'm taking you all with me.

Let's see who hasn't been properly recognized lately: how about Monique, who is consistently wonderful? Or Cameron, who is planning a wedding dress that will make your eyes bug out of your head, or Roe, who is also planning a wedding; hers will be a piece of cake. And the guys: Steve, who writes like a dream, but then I always start to laugh, Magnus, who actually has funny dreams, and then there is the Sole Proprietor, who has more talent than most of us on a good day. It's a plethora of guys! And another Bob and Another Day, witty and warm and wonderful. But old.

Each and every one of these writers does it better than most of the stuff you're paying good money to read. So, if you're here to do your citizen's duty and check out these pages and execute the inevitable "She's not so hot/what's this fuss all about?" rapid-reaction-response mechanism, you might want to hop up to the paragraph above, close your eyes and just point your clicker before you race away. You won't be disappointed.

I've got to spread the wealth. I know I can't bottle this feeling, but maybe if I share some of this delicious limelight, brief though it may be, maybe it will last a little longer. A warm glow of happiness, I tell you. Warm.

Each time I think back on yesterday afternoon, sitting here as I was and minding my own business when suddenly I got this obscure note from Paul, of Third Eye. Poor Paul. He had to try to answer my increasingly manic and crazed return emails. He was on serious drugs at the time, I would assume. I hope that helped and that he's healing properly -- I don't know how he managed.

And I don't know how much longer I can keep her tied up. She's so enthusiastic. She wants you to know how much this recognition means. I mean you work hard every day, hoping to make a little difference, do a little turn of phrase, maybe get an email every now and then, when suddenly something like this happens!

And I can't help it. It's true! "Ruau araik muhf! Ruau wrublu wrublu araik muhf!"