Also: I officially am more entertained by Kitty Halftime than Puppy Gametime. Especially the two cats who keep looking into the water bowl, all perplexed, like there should be a bleeding fish there, or something.

kitty half time ins on pause -- because I had to go find my cat and wake him up - he thought he was annoyed - but then asked for more pets and purrs.

I am beading beading beading. my sholders hurt - but for a good reason.

{{[Trudy}} you and your family have been in my thoughts all day.

SA, and anybody else with residual icky odors mixed with bleach odors in enclosed plastic-walled spaces like fridges or coolers--vanilla extract is your friend. After you've eliminated the source of the smell and washed with soap, water and bleach, and possibly a solution of baking soda in water, make a pad of a dry folded paper towel and put about a quarter to a half-teaspoon of vanilla extract on it, and wipe down all surfaces with it. Don't dilute the vanilla; use a fresh folded towel and more vanilla if necessary. It will magically remove all other odors, and after a few days won't even retain much vanilla odor.

I dunno why it works, but it does. It also works on coolers that were put away clean but possibly damp, and now smell a little musty. Wash 'em out, wipe 'em down with vanilla and they're ready for use again.

This tidbit brought to you by knowledge gained in rescuing many redolent coolers and a number of neglected fridges.

I resisted the urge to ask if they were manly lovers like Supes and Bats.

I'd so pay you dollars to do this.

I have been here (here being MY OFFICE) since 9:30, and I have reviewed every frelling chapter of this document, and fixed all the footers and reorganized all the distance conversions (nautical miles; miles; kilometers), and fixed some references, and ate a turkey sandwich.

I really don't feel like I should be obliged to come to work tomorrow, too.

But I think I will go to TJ's on the way home and buy sushi and TJ-brand scotch and beer. And maybe those fantastic ginger cookies...

That's gross, Consuela. I hope you get to go home soon.

Between Consuela and Teppy, I feel I shall have to go get sushi tonight.

I bet there won't be a cutiehead waiter with a manly lover though.

Coretta Scott King, Wendy Wasserstein, Betty Friedan, my Aunt Mimi, and my Gramma Esther left us this week. Maybe Alito was more than they could take. Maybe they felt that it was time for the rest of us to get to work.

Trudy, this is so lovely. Irritated my allergies.

My condolences to you and your family for losing such incredible women.

Casper on Mick Jagger: "See that skinny little guy, Daddy?"

Bless you, Trudy. It has been a tough week for tough women, hasn't it.

Oh, no. I'm officially disgusted. I just saw a Cingular commercial for the pink Razr, using the Psych Furs' song "Pretty in Pink." No, no, no, no, NO!!!

I dunno why it works, but it does. It also works on coolers that were put away clean but possibly damp, and now smell a little musty. Wash 'em out, wipe 'em down with vanilla and they're ready for use again.

Wow. Thanks for all the information guys. When I finally work up the nerve to crack open my fridge, I will definitely take all of your advice.

Right now, though, my room smells of BPAL and I just can't face the smell of dead moldy college things this evening.

Trudy, I'm so sorry, and you're so right; it's been a tough month. I'm feeling for you.

The only time I've ever been interested in the SB halftime is when NSync, Aerosmith, Missy Elliot, Nelly, and B.Spears were all on it at the same time singing "Walk this Way." Nothing else has ever compared.

My cat Ivan kept looking at Kitty Halftime and then looking away -- like he was trying to pretend that he wasn't interested. . .but he soo was.