Hester

Yesterday: Chicken fingers for lunch and Pad Thai for supper. The beach in my old hometown. Carol, Tina, Tammy, Jean, Chris, Dan, assorted strangers, Mr. H., Mom & Dad, Buddy the bloody dog, Karen, Brenda, Tara, Gordon, Malcolm & Ann. Whew! A bit overwhelming for this anti-social hermit. Melissa & Evy who couldn't make it. Donna, Joan & Mike, who've disappeared.

Story

A little tired, but not actually hungover, despite being out until 1:30 a.m. drinking Corona and rum with Brazilian guys young enough to be my sons. Huzzah!

East Indies

Dr. Feelgood

^Laura Secord chocolate ice cream in a sugar cone, with the edge dipped in chocolate and rolled in chopped peanuts. And a chocolate truffle on the top! < Have to leave for the nightclub in two hours, and I still have to have supper yet and change. Hope the bar stocks Corona! V What are your plans this weekend?

^ prolific poster who positively purrs over plunder

Painting my nails -- pale metallic turquoise.

Decisiveness!

Buckwheat pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup. Lots of e-mail -- no firm decisions. Mr. H. The mysterious Mr. M.

Are Shriners those old Masons in fezzes?

Tostadas with guacamole, mock crab and fresh tomatoes.

Exasperating by the inefficiency of coming to a group decision via e-mail! "I dunno, what do you want to do?"

Doctor Who

pompadour

Veggie burger and 1/2 a pound of golden cherries. The white cat hiding in our bushes, whom we're gonna call "Ghost". Fred, who's going stir-crazy now that he's retired. Tina, who's having a blonde moment in the sky.

^ mixes his rums with root beer!

^No, just natural silver streaks amongst the chestnut ringlets -- and a ton of conditioner! < When the "silver" becomes too overwhelming, I'm gonna go blonde (to match my ditzy temperament). V Passing the question on...

A banana and Lindt 'Cuba' chocolate (hmmm... fruit and chocolate, that's all I've eaten so far today!) Peonies the colour of raspberry sherbet Gwyneth the cat's 'grandma' -- the truant little feline found her way home at last! C.M. ... hmm... this could be interesting... [And Arthur, real pirates don't eat yoghurt!]

chignon

Hi, Cap'n Jim: Yes, Carola Neher looks like a possibility. Did she play Polly in the 1931 movie? Or was that Roma Bahn? (I've come across webpages that claim both.) Lenya was definitely Jenny. Apparently, the 1931 film version (with sound) is available in German and French on DVD. I'd like to see that, but I've only been able to find the European region code so far (and my DVD player only does the North American format): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Georg-W-Pabst-Thre...a/dp/B00069WA7Q Cheers, Hester

Lunch break, apparently. They're back at the endless power-washing. I'm going out (I wish I could say for a drink, but really just grocery shopping).

For the old friends that I won't be seeing tonight and tomorrow, "Reunion Ball" by the Lilac Time . . . P.S. Dillard, Rosy says thanks for your dedication!

Gentle rain ... and silence from next door. (Don't know whether the rain scared off the contractors for good, or if they're just taking a lunch break.) And musically, overtop of the ambient sounds coming in through my open windows, the gorgeous folk-rock sounds of the Lilac Time's debut eponymous album.

Day 4 of the contractors power-washing the neighbours' deck. (15 years worth of stain built up, and they're trying to blast down to the bare wood!) CBC radio chatter on top of the racket.