oh, my beautiful entries! They keep getting eaten. Well, my fault really . . . I'm one of those silly people who close out of all extraneous windows obsessively, but sometimes I get a little click-happy and close the wrong windows. *nervous laugh*

Our Intrepid Hero has every reason to be in a state of readiness to accomplish daring deeds and make the world a better place by tomorrow at teatime. She woke up this morning. woot! She courageously hopped (can one hop with courage?) out of bed and shrewdly chose a pair of socks in which to face the marble staircases that lay in wait for just outside the bedroom door. Across the landing, the remarkable Toothbrush and Hairbrush sang choruses of gargling nonsense for two and a half minutes each. Nonchalantly (or was it lazily?) she made her way downstairs for a lukewarm cup of tea and, not willing to face the cold of the afternoon in a chilly solitude, stoked and poked the fire salamanders in the living room fireplace so that they would mutter for another hour. Then she went back upstairs and hen-pecked at her keyboard until her feline henchmen tittered their amusement audibly.

And then she sat at her keyboard, gazing blankly at the accompanying monitor. She did this for a little while longer, trying to see whether there was one of those "magic-eye" pictures hidden in the pixels. Her dressing gown began to feel an inadequate warmth-keeper. She shivered. In six graceful moves that tilted a picture frame, touched the head of henchman no.1, and stubbed her toe, a sweatshirt appeared over the head of our Hero and the world was right again. Everyone exhaled with relief.

As we can all tell, I'm feeling brilliantly inspired this morning.

I can't wait until classes begin again. By then, my living quarters (mental as well) will be somewhat less chaotic and easier to think in. I love being able to sit down to a (somewhat) clear table with a cup of something yummy, warm socks, and my favorite armchair. The feel of mechanical pencils and fountain pens, sound of beethoven whistling, breathing the light air of my room when the windows are wide open . . . the least I could do is have all that ready by the time the term begins. And now this entry is rambly and long and ready to be quit of. Besides, I want my cafe' latte . . .

woot! ROTK on friday:)