Is this a happy dog or what? Pixie and Hank, taken in Pine Mountain, CA April 14, 2005.

OK, I’m going to get this over with now – I am sure my readers are getting sick of me talking about the same websites OVER AND OVER AGAIN, but, hey, I am a creature of habit in many ways, and these people happen to inspire me with every new entry. Having said that, go see Keri Smith’s new, revised site. She just put it up and it looks FAB.

I woke up totally cranky today and feeling emotional. I had to take my car in for an estimate due to a recent minor mishap and was dragging my feet on it. Whenever I have to deal with anything car/auto body/mechanic related, I feel like I am a walking target because I am a girl. Today all that changed for me, thanks to a very tall, very muscular, very tatooed genteleman named Eric at Alexander’s Auto Body in Los Angeles. If this guy isn’t a bodyguard during his hours away from the body shop, he should be (but maybe he’s just too darn nice). He discussed all the options for repairing my car, how to deal with insurance, gave me two very detailed estimates and totally made my day. If you live in LA & have a car that needs any body work, he’s your man.

I love those moments when all of a sudden your day is transformed by someone else’s kindness and genuine desire to do a great job. Just as my mood can plummet when someone is unnecessarily rude, I leap freely into getting in a better mood when someone makes a normally unpleasant experience – having to repair your damaged car – practically delightful.

After my visit to the auto body shop, I proceeded to drive to Santa Barbara, where I had a lovely picnic lunch with my girlfriend Heidi while her one year old daughter Rachel snoozed in her car seat. We sat near the car and periodically checked on her while we ate and talked – and she slumbered sweetly the whole time.

I am now in Solvang, sitting in my living room with my laptop and total silence. I love the soft sound of my typing on the keyboard. I also love how the sound fades more into the background the more I get lost in my writing. That is my mission this evening and tomorrow – to write, and to get lost, and just see where I end up.