-- Friday, March 31, 2000 --

8:33 p.m. Today was a day to take to the streets and get used to the bliss that is summer, which is a 'comin in. Today was actually hot. Hot! The sun was bright and there was a pretty brisk wind off the ocean, which we didn't know about until we got to the ocean.

Without our roof spinner, you know, we are clueless. And I miss its thumping and straining, although now that I've seen it fly through the air, I don't know whether I'll ever be able to trust it again. Call me cautious; call me wary. But I just don't want you calling me because my spinner is in your back yard again.

We walked at a brisk pace today, in a bit of a rush, and I actually got that old summer feeling of really hot hands. Almost sweaty. We had to walk in the shade, eventually, and that's where I saw this surly scraggly kitty, enjoying the nice wisteria.

Eat your heart out, Gray Cat and White Cat!

We just finished watching The Muse, another Albert Brooks film. It was ok. Not great, not awful. Pleasant. Sharon Stone looked really good in certain scenes, and then kind of raw in others. The person doing her hair in the movie has to be stopped.

This person, or persons, has been screwing with lots of famous heads of hair in Hollywood lately, and you can always tell. The stylist takes a bit of gel and sort of fingers it through the hair. But wait -- the hair has to be brutally chopped off first. Then the finger-curls must stick straight up.

Think of Annette Benning and the electric socket look she wears. Or poor Jenna Elfman and that thing with the hairband. In fact, hairbands and really short hair -- uh uh. I know the idea, the scheme this stylist hatches when the star is in the chair is something along the lines of: "But my dear! You are so beautiful. That Face! We must not let anything distract from the Face" -- pulls hair behind ears and chops it off.

Usually when women cut their hair that short and wear it all prickly, they are having real problems with some other part of their life. It's not until the problems are solved that you see softer, longer,sexy hair again.

At least, that's what happened to me. I was in a very high stress job a few years ago, and when I started working, my hair was very very long. By the time I left it was maybe two inches at the top, standing straight up, and the hairdresser had to use that buzzer for the part above my neck in the back.

It's a real luxury and a big gift to the world to wear your hair long and fluffy. There was a time when I just couldn't afford it. That's one of the reasons I started my own business and it's probably why I ended up cutting my hair myself. In fact, the last time I seriously considered really short hair was during the Flo-bee craze. I thought that was one of the really cool inventions and I really wanted one.

I saw an interview with the inventor one late night. He said he thought it up when he was running the vacuum cleaner hose over his head and I immediately felt a bond with him -- because I also like to vacuum my head.

Feels really good -- refreshing, even. Plus, I thought up a better name for his product: Air-Cut.

I should have written him.

And before I forget, speaking of Albert Brooks -- rent Lost in America if you haven't seen it. Write it down -- it's one of the must-see ones. I'll go into gory detail another time, but if you're married, you should see it. Also, (and here you're just going to have to trust me: Joe vs. the Volcano.)

A great movie about what it's like to be married. And yes, I really should elaborate. Maybe tomorrow.

See you tomorrow/next month! There's a new design! I'm very proud. Plus, we turn back the clocks! How's that for excitement?