I have sent out an electronic flag of truce to my professors, informing them of my recently established defense system for my computer from my violent sneezing fits. I have begged them to excuse my tardiness in posting for my classes.

I have also taken to putting on DVDs while I study. Did you know that both Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and You've Got Mail have "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on the end credits? Ah, yes. My subconscious is speaking to me about . . . vacations . . . yes, that must be it.

While I mention You've Got Mail with its study-to-able soundtrack--as opposed to any of the Lord of the Rings films--it may be noted that I simply cannot be exposed to things about literature without Calvino (excerpt) coming to my head. Flannery and Ludmilla and Lotaria (ever notice how her name sounds like Lotharia . . . Lothario . . . ?) are all stares, glances, gazes, and looks that communicate quite directly with the feeling that somebody is watching me write or read.

I suppose Calvino has conquered and bested one of his own characters as their (his?) own game in making his presence felt through every book even though he hasn't written them. Bah! If on a winter's night a traveler has so many different levels, and now that we have finished discussing it in class, my brain is teeming with more and better ideas about the many levels of the book. I hope not all Oulipo books are this infuriatingly good. I could reread them forever!

*sigh* Back to Our Town, for Modern Drama.