My head is all clean, along with the hair that springs forth from it. I painted my nails a shade of pearly peach, just one coat. I made some soup with a packet of Thai noodles and a few veggies. And while “American Idol” droned annoyingly in the background, I finished my homework! I rock.

Actually I did the bulk of the finishing in my room, away from the TV. But it took about ninety minutes total. The point of this week’s lesson was learning how to gently and kindly tell an author that you have changed what they have written, and why, and then ask if that is okay with them. The essence of politeness and deference, whilst remaining firm.

It’s a total bummer when you’re trying to reconcile the actual balance of your checking account (what is online) and the balance kept in your checkbook. I have been wrestling with this for a week now and I think I have finally evened it out, but there was a negative difference of about $250, dammit. Meaning the record I have been keeping myself was way over. I wonder whatever happened to that money. Of course the fact that I haven’t reconciled this thing since like September may be part of it.

But hey! I have cute new checks!