I've scheduled myself five days this week. Last night was dead, I was home by 9:30, and will make over $10 an hour plus a free pizza for wiping a few counter tops, laughing at a few locker room type jokes, and cheesing a few pizzas.

I have my friend's mutt for the week while she took her kids to Mexico. We have a fenced-in yard and confirmation that we dislike hairy, food-begging pets. we are not dog or cat people. Give us a nice caged-in, silent thing like our fish and lizard and we're happy. Loving oneself is difficult enough some days, let alone an oily, stinky mouth-beast.

There is a house on my way to work--515 Richmond Rd.--where an artist lives and decorates his or her yard. They have done it for years on this busy suburban street ... Bush's head and anti-war messages ring. On my to-do list is to send him or her a thank you.

All is well except the chilly temperatures, the smell of poop to my left, and the six year-old asking where her lunch is....