Alas, alack. A lot of lacks, actually. Including a lack: a lass. Alas, alack. But I don't mean to be a smart alack, as a lack smarts. Anyway, the first lack you'll have noticed would be the sixth entry of October. I never posted it, and so it is lacking. It will stay lacking, but not because I am lackadaisical. I wrote it, roughly six paragraphs or so discussing some lacks, but it wasn't terribly interesting or funny, so I thought I'd condense all of that drivel into "Alas, Alack." (subcategories: house, money, relationship, friendships, writing, employ, location, and interrelations of lacks in each). So, all those lacks combined into a big lack, but while I don't have the luck I'd like to have licked those lacks, I'll lock them where you needn't look.

    Right. No more fun with that word. Anyway, fleeing the terrible you-know-whats of October, I went home for Halloween. The downside of this is that I missed an exciting Halloween party here in Williamstown. The upside is that I made it home for my mother's birthday, thus avoiding Worst Son of the Year Award for 2003.

    I also got to take in some much-needed comedy. On Saturday night I saw the Ocean State Follies, Rhode Island's answer to the Capitol Steps. Sadly, they gave the worst performance I've ever seen them give-- and I've seen them at least seven times. Luckily, on Sunday I got to see the Capitol Steps, DC's answer to the Capitol Steps, and also the question, if you think about it. They were quite good, as usual. Fast changeover times, high energy, quick bits, good segues, and some new material that was very funny.

    My favorite bit was a compilation piece with the various democratic candidates singing little songs. They had General Wesley Clark sing "I am the very model of a modern major general," and a pair of flamboyant homosexuals sing to the tune of Daydream Believer, "I'm a... Gay Dean Believer," a wonderful tribute to Howard Dean. All in all, not a bad way to spend a weekend, and I ought to try to see exciting comedic performances every evening.

    I have not managed to do so since then, but this weekend promises to be good in spite of the fact that I was sick earlier this week. It's Homecoming weekend, so not only have I written another wacky halftime show, but old friends of mine from across the country will be back in the area to visit, and I'm much excited to see them.

    Finally, on a lighter note, a local town paper had a letter to the editor this week which made my day. In spite of my failure to appear in the Style Invitational this past month due to other... dearths... in my personal life thus affecting my humor facility, this letter was from a random person in Williamstown who recognized my name from the Style Invitational but was for some reason unable to locate me in town. Her letter included the following sentence, which pleases me muchly:

    "Perhaps he is not an individual, but a composite."