I know what ketamine is from the CSI ep with Clea Duvall as the lone survivor of a cult mass suicide.

I had no idea Chicago was so flat!

We're flatter than flat here! When growing up in Joliet, there were only a few hills to worry about, and they all led up from rivers/canals to the normal street level (and were a bitch to march on while wearing band uniforms or drive up in an overloaded car with little pick-up).

oh, NYistas, given the retirement news this week, I saw Steve Dunleavy in the lobby at work last week, old old looking, he was retrieving a briefcase at his feet with a cane. Couldn't place him until I saw the news today.

Jesse, were you the one looking for black linen capris? Because Orvis has these in their tent sale, but they're cargo, so I dunno if that's what you were looking for.

I was! But not cargo so much. Also, I only want to spend $20. That's my real issue with finding what I'm looking for... Also possibly my issue with them dying after a couple of years.

Don't tempt me to tranq them.

You could tranq them with TV. I try not to fall back on that tactic very often, but if I'm not feeling well I'll use it.

Tonight we are having dinner with an old friend and catching up. He has been working on an adaptation of a best-selling Asian novel about Mongolia (called "Wolf Totem") for a film, met a woman on a Mongolian political chat board (!) while reserching, hung out with her when he went out there to research without telling any of his friends (!!) and then she came out here for two months and is going to come back and live here with him for good (!!!!!!).

Saturday, I pack for my business trip, clean house and see our other friends for a movie. Sunday, fly to Minneapolis.

TV is of limited use with a two year old, unfortunately. At least, my current one. Short attention span for it.

We are going over to the in-laws house to celebrate by BIL's birthday tonight.

Tomorrow I'm (maybe we) taking the kids to a nice park where they have a duck pond, two playgrounds, and a miniature western town.

I suppose there will be some mowing this weekend as well.

And cleaning, there's always cleaning.

"Horse tranquilizers!"

That's how I explain it to my mother. To friends I call it a date rape drug. It's possible I'm not yet reconciled to this course of treatment.

Had another sleepless night last night. Small nap this morning, but still feeling grainy. But now I have an Ambien script, so this weekend will be spent regularising my sleep schedule. It's out of control. If I can't make the pain go away I might as well sleep through it.

TV is of limited use with a two year old, unfortunately.

Oh man, two is tough. They need almost constant surveillance so they won't get into/onto/under stuff they shouldn't and nothing distracts them for long.

We're lucky right now, the weather is nice and we can just tell the kids to go outside if they get too crazy.

It's possible I'm not yet reconciled to this course of treatment.

Just promise us you won't date rape yourself.