I knew it, knew that I could download the Hard New York Times Sudoku and print it out, but I hadn’t done it. Then, yesterday, I did. Today I printed off another one . . . and now I have to wait until tomorrow to get another one. Gee, addictions can be real bummers.

Needing some sort of a lift, I went outside and raked more leaves. I raked them onto a tarp and pulled them to the street. I have this technique: I pull the tarp mid-way into the street and then double it back on itself so the leaves pile up on the curb/driveway. Well, during one tarping, a car – and this was almost at dusk – came up the street without running lights on, so I was at the point where I was going to double back when I saw it. Rats! I had to pull it farther and when I doubled back, the leaves dumped into the middle of the street. So I madly raked them over to the curb, trying to act nonchalant.

Then I pushed some more piles over and for my finale, rolled out the trash barrels. It was warm here today and I was covered in a sheen of sweat and infused with endorphins. I think my glasses are all smudged, though. That’s saying something for me; I have worn glasses forever and consider anyone who can’t look through Crisco a wimp.

Oh, I had on a denim skirt and didn’t feel like changing so I raked in it; I’m just so sophisticated. I’ll bet that sheen of sweat was mostly Perrier water.