The last few days have been incredibly hectic. Not that this is anything out of the ordinary. Monday night, I didn't go to sleep until after 1. Then the members of the feline tribe woke me at 4:30 clamoring for an early breakfast. After feeding the darlings, I slipped back into dreamland and arose at 7:30. I then rushed to shower, shave, get dressed, decide which CDs to take, grab a magazine to read at lunch, put out the garbarge, set the security system, race through traffic, stop at BK, race through traffic again. Then all day I felt overwhelmed and frazzled. At lunch I had to zip by the post office to pay my box rent. (This branch of the post office has to have the worst traffic flow problem in the world.)

Last night, as usual, I watched Buffy. But it was so intense, I opted to switch channels. And wound up enjoying "The Mole." It was the next to last episode, and the mole was among the three contestants. I wish now I watched more of it. A totally different methodology than Big Brother or Survivor. More cerebral. (More on this in a moment.)

This morning was almost a photocopy of yesterday - stumble to get out the door, snatch breakfast at BK and bolt through the traffic. If possible, I think this AM was more frenzied than Tuesday. Then I sat in a meeting for 30 minutes scribbling on a note pad. (My customary defense mechanism for meetings is to play anagrams - see how many words you can make from another word. This gives the appearance that you are so enthralled by the occasion that you are making copious notes. Today's word was "banner," and I got about a dozen words. Every few minutes, I'd flip to another page, as though looking for an important point. This adds to your persona as a thoughtful and attentive listener.)

Mardi Gras in NO is a combination of wall to wall partying, lots and lots of drunken people, lots and lots of PP (public puking), hugh parades, gigantic crowds, incredible costumes, and various states of undress.

PAX!