Motion Detector Light for the back; Target's and the Chrysler Building; The outline of the shopping centers; Hobby Lobby; Other things I wish had been said - Streisand and the heckler; "CSI" last night and Ruby Dee and Gary Dourdan

After this morning's early noises, I even went so far as to look under the house with a flashlight but could not detect anything but very old dirt that had not been disturbed in ages.

But I've been aware for some time that I don't have a motion detector light for that area. Everything I've done so far has used existed outlets. And I'm not about to mess with anything more complicated. And an electrician would cost a fortune.

I have a friend who has been robbed three times. He called an electrician to have a motion detector light mounted on his front porch, and the electrician gave him a Punch and Judy show about having to run new wiring, etc. and said it would cost around a thousand dollars. Then had the chutzpah to ask for a $50 consultation fee.

He installed a light in the same socket as the porch light. The last time I visited, I noticed he had a motion detector light above his back windows. I asked about it, and he said it was solar powered, so you didn't need to do any rewiring.

So after lunch, I detoured to Lowe's and found one. They have so much merchandise, and similar items may be in different places that it's hard to make a decision. In fact, outdoor lighting was in four places. God forbid that you should ask a clerk. Most of them do not have a clue. Anyway, I was amazed that I found what I wanted so easily. Lowe's has a brilliant stock number system that I'm sure most people don't catch. Every item on display has a number by it such as W-SV-13. Then the items below the display are stored in that order. Very clever in my opinion. I'd be willing to bet some of the clerks don't even realize that.

I'll need to look carefully where to place it, or if one is enough. With all the trees, the back is very dark. I'm sure that Druid rituals happen every evening after I go to bed.

I've gotten such a collection of incense that they won't all fit in the round wire basket I bought at Target's. I tried to find something similar by looking in the same area. But I couldn't remember what section I was in: floral, kitchen, decorative, vases, storage, hobby. And then I began to wonder what it's original function was supposed to be, and I realized I'd never given it much thought.

Up and down the aisles I went. East, west; north, south. Left, right; right, left. This went on for at least 30 minutes, just long enough to give me a headache. Then by chance, I found myself in the office supply area. They had three wonderful, fanciful items: silver, wire-mesh reproductions of the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. (Notice that I didn't say Ben Ben" since that correctly only refers to the main bell.) I was overcome with giddy delight, and I had to have at least one of them: I selected the Chrysler Building, still considered by many, me included, to be the most beautiful skyscraper in the world.

Well, I still didn't have my container for the incense. There are three shopping centers here two, divided by a thoroughfare on the north side, and one on the south side. When the idea was first proposed, I thought who the hell will go all the way out there to shop. Apparently, lots and lots of people. Target is at one end of the north side, and Hobby Lobby is at the other end. As I drove I was astounded at the number of businesses.

There are all open-front buildings, the anthesis of the mall. Which makes reaching a store much easier. At the mall, you park and then trudge until you find the store you want. Here, you can park, in most cases, no more than a hundred feet from a store.

Another curious and efficient concept is that the stores are set back from the main road and have their own system of internal streets. The strip nearest the main road is reserved for restaurants and assorted small service-related businesses. I can't think of any merchandise places in this strip.

Hobby Lobby is always an incredibly busy place. They were having a 50% off sale on a large selection of goods. At the front, they have dozens of small booths filled with everything from baskets to candle holders to pottery. All I wanted was a simple container for packages of incense but not something too costly. I knew pottery would not last a week here with the cats. It would have to be metal, wood or very heavy glass.

I found a tall red tin box with a hinged top that I guess was for cookies that might have been able to use. But the hinged top bothered me. There lots of heavy pieces of ceramic, but they were all candle holders. Then, by accident I spotted a stark basket made of black vertical wood slats about 5-inches on a side with the handles about 12-inches in height. The starkness gave it a zen-like look. And when I took it to the check-out counter, I discovered the 50% off applied to baskets, so I got if for $6. The clerk and I had a funny conversation about whether it should be considered a basket or not. She said, "Well, it got handles, it looks like a basket to me." I'd filled it with about a half-dozen packages of incense. I replied, "If I bought it up here filled with Easter eggs, we know it was a basket."

I later thought about the fact that it is so stark and butch-looking, it would be the perfect vessel for use at the Leather and Bears Easter Egg hunt. I wish I'd thought of that in the store.

I had this very funny idea of the way home. At the Barbara Streisand concert at which the heckler would not shut up. She should have stopped, peered into the audience, and said, "Would the heckler stand up (it being immaterial, if she could actually see him or not). Oh, I see. I thought I recognized that voice - Vice President Chaney. Now will you shut the fuck up and if you very nicely ask the people behind the box office in the lobby, I'm sure they will be most happy to give you a refund."

One of my favorite performers, Ruby Dee, showed up on "CSI" in a minor role. I was such a pleasure to see her. I believe this is the first time I've seen her since the death of her husband, Ossie Davis.

She had a very touching scene with Gary Dourdan who plays Warrick Brown. I do wish they would do more with him: He has skin the color of Spanish leather and the most extraordinary cat-green eyes; This makes him one of the most exotic looking performers on tv.

There have been several times on "CSI" in which he has interacted with small children. And he is so good with them that it is a sheer joy to watch. It's far more than acting, it's like some spark of his personality reaches out to them.

PAX! Erin Go Braugh!