Last night, as I was lying in bed reading, I knew what I was doing to myself. I was too close to the end of the book to put it down. You know the kind of momentum you get in the last few chapters, when everything that has happened starts coming together, and you couldn't stop reading even if you wanted to? That's where I was, at a time when I should have been sleeping already.

So even though I slept later than usual, even for a Saturday, I was a little sluggish today. It's a good thing I didn't have much to do. I would like to have worked, but with no money in the bank it's hard to pay bills. The Boss is not going to like it, because he insists we pay off the company credit cards every month. And if I don't get the check in the mail Monday, it's going to be late. But he's the only one who can do anything about it. I'll just have to let him know.

----------

My latest battle with sleep deprivation made me grumpy enough, without the Giants losing to the Dodgers. And then all that rain on the east coast delayed the NASCAR race in Richmond. At least it never rains in Southern California, so I could watch the last race of the outdoor motocross season. There was enough going on to keep me in the recliner most of the day. That's where it felt I belonged.

Anyway, the thing I most looked forward to watching didn't have anything to do with sports. It was the new episode of Doctor Who entitled, "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship." I mean, seriously.

----------

Yesterday when I was with Alex, I learned something about him that I didn't know. He didn't tell me; he won't talk yet. But I found out that he likes to watch game shows. Why? Because of the clapping. He loves clapping. What he doesn't realize is that as soon as he starts speaking in real English words, the wild applause will follow. If he wants to be a game show host (or contestant), he'll have to say things like, "Come on down," and "I'd like to make it a true daily double."

Who knows? "Let's play the Feud" might be his first words. After "Woof," of course.

----------

Despite the rain, the race at Richmond had a lot of excitement. Actually, it was more because of the rain than despite it. The delays shook up the running order so many times that it left the results (not just the win, but the ramifications for the rest of the season) in doubt until the end. I am sometimes asked to defend my passion for NASCAR. I only wish the people who ask the question could watch a race with me. Then they'd understand.