Rebecca's bathroom is gleaming after a thorough scrubbing today; Caitlin's will get the same treatment tomorrow. I used enough chemicals in there that I was afraid to shut the doors afterwards for fear of spontaneous combustion.

We had dinner tonight with one of my college roommates and her husband. (I just counted and realized I had 8 roommates over 3 and 1/3 years of college.) We manage to go out about once every 6 months - it's surprising how many life changes occur in those gaps. Her father passed away since the last time we saw each other, as did one of her two dogs. We were talking about whether she should get another dog to keep the remaining one, who is 15, company. She expressed concern that she doesn't know what the right thing is to do, and then asked if I had ever regretted having children. I was so stunned by the question that I didn't think to ask her if she's sorry she never had any. My answer was of course not. I suspect her answer would have been the same.

Books: I'm trying to read the new Harry Potter, but am having trouble getting engaged with the story. I've also tried Due Preparations for the Plague, but find the style too dense. Bones of the Moon by Jonathan Carroll is next.

Music: More Soul Journey, and a little Bruce Cockburn, plus the execrable junk on the radio stations that Rebecca listens to.

Movies: Lost in America. Take two completely unlikable characters, add in a road trip that is meaningless and tedious, and place it all within the context of a poorly conceived plot and you have this movie. Because I generally like Albert Brooks movies (Defending Your Life is one of my favorites), and had somehow missed seeing this, it went onto my Netflix queue. At least they don't charge by the movie. I bought The Truman Show and Pleasantville today, both of which I watch whenever they come into rotation on TV.

Dreams: The jade plant in my bedroom was on my bed, dying. The leaves were all soft and soggy and the stems were breaking. I had no idea what was wrong with it or how to fix it.