Thursday, August 3, 2000

11:36 p.m. I'm under strict orders to lighten things up around here -- or else. A close family member has registered a complaint about the recent flurry of complaints and I have been warned. No more kvetching. No more harping and moaning.

See? I'm all smiles. Really -- I'm nearly bursting into hysterical laughter in this photo because we made it back in one piece. At the top of the picture there is a barely visible line of brown -- that's the infamous breakwater, on this side of which we've usually stayed and on that side of which lies the big waves.

This side: smiles and clear sailing, as if we're on a lake. That side: whoa, momma ... what'cha have for lunch?

But that's not a complaint -- just an observation.

Let's see ... I was also reprimanded for talking about things I can't talk about. "Just write about something that you *can* talk about," he complained said. Ok.

Today I took a shower. Yup. Washed my hair, too. Grabbed a few minutes at the end of the day, adjusted the spigots just so and guess what? We've got a brand new leak and isn't that the funniest thing? I mean -- I had two showers at once today: the regular one and the new one dripping out of the ceiling!

And not just any ceiling -- this is the one-of-a-kind unique wooden slats-going-the-wrong-way ceiling that makes this house so unique and makes finding a plumber such an interesting quest. But, I'm not complaining -- I'm explaining.

Let's see ... what else is good to talk about in a happy cheerful way? I know -- my hair is finally dry. All fluffy, too. It happened, naturally, once I returned to the computer and continued to do my top-secret, highly classified work. No electricity was sacrificed.

Working backwards through the day: I fixed a couple of paper jams in the printer and nobody got hurt. When the print run skipped a page in the sequence, I carefully counted out the papers, guided by the handy numbers in the upper right-hand corner and then I reprinted the missing pages. Smiles all around, and polite applause for a job well done, I say.

Still dieting. Today is day 29, and it's one of my best days yet. If I posted my caloric intake I would be soundly lectured, and since we don't want any more of that -- suffice it to say that I feel really really good and not at all hardly lightheaded at all. Not at all. And, I'm not the slightest bit edgy or short-tempered. Not at all.

In fact, I welcome the occasional paper jam because it allows me the exercise I so badly need. And not spending all the time eating and noshing and nibbling and chewing has opened up whole new vistas of time for me, too. I'm really happy about that.

Hmmm. What else did I do today? My new favorite show, Will and Grace, was a repeat (again), but that's very nice because now I can begin to memorize my favorite routines and play them by myself when I get bored. And it's just as funny the second time around ... sure it is.

Anything else? Well -- I did watch George W.'s acceptance speech -- not the whole thing, just some of it ... and ... fading here ... trying to hang on to the good vibes ... I've got it under control ... I'm happy as a clam here ... I am, I amm ... and ... there were balloons floating down from the ceiling and ladies in cowboy hats with horns and ... confetti and it's the politics of hope ... and ... I'm watching George and Barbara and Dick ... and ...

kablooie!