Well, Alltel Arena opened last night, with cheap tickets, 50% off food, free Coke, and coupons. 8 to 10 thousand of the 16,377 capacity turned up to see the RiverBlades play hockey. Many of them wore hard hats, but the arena held up just fine. Tonight they have Elton John, and then I think they can breathe a collective sigh of relief and get back to normal.

Locally, there was a terrible death at Pacific Grove, when a new bride was swept off a cliff by a 25 foot wave. This place is where Rich and I took sunset pictures when we were at Bouchercon two years ago.> Sometimes "Pacific" is a real misnomer.

I took Fitch to the vet. He's 7 pounds, 5 ounces and fine. He got his shots at last. I was surprised to see Sam's therapist there and we had a bit of a discussion about Sam out in the parking lot.

I finally watched to the end of "A Town Like Alice." I'm really glad I have that one, because I know I'll want to watch it again, all five hours.

We went to Loretto's fall concert. One of the people Bernadette knew came back to solo. She has such a terrific voice. Sister Principal asked Rich if he felt any better. No. In fact, the concert was within walking distance if he had, but we drove.

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So, beginning and ending with Arkansas news, Dick Morris thinks Hillary will take the money and not run. Maureen Dowd says 65% think Hillary would do better if Bill didn't campaign for her. "The President is baggage. And Hillary doesn't need baggage." She has detractors.
And just what has she accomplished, beyond enabling Bill? Arkansas is in 48th place in education, which was her job. Thank you, Hillary!

Hillary Clinton, who was supposed to be in charge of America's millennium and launched the White House Millennium Council to "encourage a wide variety of projects and events that celebrate our historical and cultural legacy," is now preoccupied with sewers in Schenectady, N.Y.
--- James Reston, Jr.