Please pardon the extended hiatus - the excessive introspection finally got the better of me, and I needed a break from whining about the unfairness of life. Or, my life, in particular.

But ... in order to get you, dear reader, up to speed, here's a short, executive-style summary of what's happened in my life during these last three months:

- Have worked like a dog, monkey, or any other animal that you feel best represents the virtue of hard work.

- Have had several first dates with women who weren't who I thought they would be.

- Have had 2 dates with my sister's best friend, Lainy, who, on the very first night we were out together, took me bowling. I couldn't help but find that charming.

- Have realized that Lainy - who's 25, lives in another state, and is a single mom - is a mirror image of my x-girlfriend, and perhaps that road is better left un-travelled.