In the story, based loosely on Russian and German folk tales, Odette is an enchanted princess under a spell of the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart; she has been transformed into a swan by day and can only regain her human form at night.

Yeung Lap Ming wrote to tell me, from far afield by the looks of the name, that he has a lucrative business proposal for me. But John Zidek also emailed to let me know me that I have already won 1.5 million pounds sterling (I added the sterling myself just because I like the way it sounds) in the Liverwood promotion.

Since Anonymous was out town this week, even Bunny got a break and I was glad because he seems to just wear her out with so much dining. She needs three or four of herself just to keep up with him and his insatiable appetite.

I also like A Beautiful Mind and not just because of Jennifer Connelly or because they filmed it on my college campus--that's where I walked to class! Right where Russell Crowe is! He only seemed to have lost his mind right in front of Whig-Clio Hall at Princeton.

I try not to pontificate at excessive length about politics like some pundits, as I had enough of that to last me. I used to run back and forth between the Capitol dome and the White House every day, and even got to bask in the glow of Bill Clinton's charisma and Al Gore's rosy cheeks' unnatural glow.

I did have the pleasure of grabbing a quick interview on the run with Birmingham author Gin Phillips between relieving babysitters and running off on a book tour, and I promise a thoughtful review of her book, Come in and Cover Me, that just came out, as soon as I have time.

My Sunday School class, full of egghead university professors and defrocked seminarians as it is, finally petered out on our monthslong discussion of the Book of Mark.

I hope you are not still too stuffed from the holidays because this just turned out to be a food issue, for various and sundry reasons.

The things I do to bring you all the swag and benefits of the Birmingham Weekly! Some say it is keeping the strict weekly deadlines that so quickly roll around again.

Another convergence of coincidences. I love it when that happens. And the remembrance of things past.