Ah, Valentines day. The day in which I have to come with a card and a reasonably quality present for HW, else I'll come home and she'll present me with a thick card that folds out to reveal a 12th century triptych icon on thin cardboard, complete with gold leaf inlay halos. Once I finish reading that, she'll hand me my "bag of presents," which will consist of 6-12 individually wrapped presents, including various consumer electronics and a small leather pouch of silver doubloons. And lo, nothing will be said, but HW will have that look, that look that says "I spent roughly 3 weeks salary on this present, and you got me a monkey card and a thong that reads 'Insert Love Potion Here' on the front?"

And there will be guilt.

So I better go to the store on the way home and get her something nice to go with the monkey card.

Anyway, various weekend updates, with Norm MacDonald:

• The ankle is getting better. Still hurts, but the brace is helping (once I got the right size; turns out I have a large foot, not a small one. Who'd've thunk it?), and I've cut way back on my intake of acetaminophen (read: I've stopped snorting it). Sunday night I had an audition (more on this shortly), and was able to get through the dance portion without serious pain or re-injury. I don't even limp as much, unless I'm going for sympathy or free drinks.
• Sunday evening I auditioned for the part of "Freddie Eynsford-Hill" in the Wilmington Drama League's production of "My Fair Lady." I think I did well; we auditioned in the lobby, so my primary vocal characteristic (extreme volume) was amplified a great deal. I sang a number from "Cinderella," and the director seemed greatly enthused. I did a short reading, as well, and didn't bollix it up too badly. I think I at least earned myself a callback, which (if they have them) will happen Thursday. I'll let you know what goes down.
• While I was at auditions yesterday, HW, who was SUPPOSED to be studying (she's taking some class involving special education), procrastinated by making vast amounts of food. She roasted a chicken and used it to make chicken salad and chicken soup; she made tuna salad (yuck); she made egg salad; and who knows what all else. I was thrilled beyond the ability to speak English, and set about gorging myself on everything I could find, particularly the soup, which was like no other chicken soup devised by man, beast, or divine figure. It had spinach, green beans, mushrooms, and a few other things, and was really, really grood. I plan to eat a lot of it tonight while Sarah's at class. I love food so much.
• I may have to start actually spending more time writing. I've got a lot of random story ideas leaping into my brain for no discernible reason. Some of them are pretty crappy, like the one I came up with the other day wherein it turns out that reincarnation is reality, and we just move from life to life throughout time in really interesting ways, except that one guy starts to remember all his previous lives, and then maybe he starts to see his lives in the future, and then maybe somebody gets shot. I dunno. Some of them, I think, aren't bad, like the one I'm mulling over where some dorky guy like me overcomes his fear of conflict when his daughter gets raped and spends 2 years plotting how to kill the rapist and not get caught. Not to mention the lengthy novel I'm thinking about involving a married guy that realizes he's gay. I better start putting stuff on virtual paper before I forget it all.

  I've also been working my musical muse (hee) and doing a little arranging and composing; I wrote an accompaniment to "Ol' Man River" that's very trite and amateur, but hey, it's a freakin' start. Particularly since I can't play the piano. I still work intermittently on a Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis setting that inevitably frustrates me 'cause I suck, but perhaps I'll get somewhere on that soon.

• Mmmm...chicken salad.
• VASTLY IMPORTANT SOFTBALL UPDATE!!!!!!!!! That I should probably have put atop the page! But I'm an idiot!

  Anyway, the check and form have been sent. Assuming they don't already have too many teams, the Prancibald Duckshirts will hopefully be registered to play soon. SO. We need to make sure we have enough players, 'cause I didn't just cough up a $395 fee for us to back out early (which might cost additional penalties). If you live anywhere in driving distance of New Castle County and wouldn't mind giving up some Friday nights this summer to play extremely low-competition softball with a bunch of idiots who may or may not be drunk the entire time, let me know! The more people we get, the cheaper it is for everybody. It'll be more fun than watching donkeys screw, I promise.