Hey Jakey,

Sorry I got home so late tonight. I was cavorting on the Mexican Riviera all day with Maura Tierney, who portrays Dr. Abby Lockhart on the hit television show "ER." In the above photo, she appears to be balancing a coin on her head. Smooches, Maura.

Not really, but it was the inaugural 2-for-1 Ladies Night at the cantina across the street from work. How could I say no. So now it's close to midnight, and I'm eating toasted naan bread, trying to soak up the tequila that's making me feel all rumbly in my tumbly. C, F, L and even H were there. We started out with pitchers of Midori margaritas, then graduated to shots of Patron. "Ladies Night" consisted of the five of us making lots of noise in the upstairs bar, and the rest of the joint was empty as can be. We may have scared the 'tender into cancelling Ladies Night altogether.

If I could just get my stupid thoughts together... Anyway, here's a few bulleted items:

* Your grandpa flew to Nebraska today. His sister is on her deathbed and is not expected to make it through the week. I say "his sister" and not "my aunt" because she has never felt like an aunt to me. I've only met her two or three times, 30 years ago. She's easily the least likeable of grandpa's eight sisters, however. That I do remember. That's the general consensus anyway, even among the other sisters. I do wish her well, though.

* I'm tired of subbing for T while he's on his "much needed" vacation.

* I'm going to start working on the magazine tomorrow night, so I'll be home all weekend.

* Also need to decorate the front porch for Halloween.

* Found a black widow hanging out on said porch this evening. I'll have to have daddy do something about that before I go messing about out there.

* P showed up at work today with my new 'puter for the South Lake office. It's a Mac Mini and a 19-inch monitor. Sha-weet! Plus he reassured me that my laptop is indeed budgeted and it'll probably be a month or two.

* I need to make a mixtape for C. She was really sweet and made me two (TWO!) last night. And I actually like them.

* Broke down and bought a new CD on my way home from work yesterday: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros "Streetcore." Fave track so far is "It's All In A Day." I think I played it at least eight times on my way home tonight.

All right. Toast isn't going to cut it. I just need to sleep this off. Love you! Tomorrow's Friday! Let's go to the park or somethin'...