Mets lost. Seats great. Sunny, but cold. Had a hot dog. Think it gave me a headache. Tired. Going to eat something good for me, watch a movie, and go to bed.

Did I say today was shaping up to be sunny and warm? What I meant was "cold and windy with torrential downpour." Whaddya know, those weather.com folks know their shit.

Despite the spitting rain (which later became angry, vomiting rain), I met Nell at the food co-op to tour the place and see how things are done. It seems to cover what I need. It carries most of the products I buy frequently, the prices are dirt cheap, and it's close to both my bank and the health food store--where I can pick up anything that's not covered by the co-op. Plus I could get back to eating meat more often because they have the good kind. You know, where the animals are fed only organically-grown fresh leafy greens and grains, and given only the purest spring water to drink. They are brushed daily, and when not roaming freely through the green meadows, they rest on mounds of fresh straw in clean, roomy pens. And only the most respected recordings of soothing classical music are played just before they are slaughtered, skinned and chopped into bits. It's all about the love, people.

Tonight my "diet guru," Dr. Andrew Weil, made an appearance at the Barnes and Noble to promote his new book. In my usual celebrity-worshipping frenzy I braved the gale-force winds and rain and made my way to Union Square, my dog-eared copy of Eating Well for Optimum Health in hand. I was late, so I missed about the first half of the Q&A. It was the usual stuff about not under- or over-dosing on vitamins, "not all carbohydrates are created equal" and "Yes, [insert favorite disease here] can be minimized by lifestyle and dietary changes." He also made a funny point about how nobody seems to be hypoglycemic anymore--that disease-of-the-week has been replaced by the hip chronic fatiguge syndrome and the ultra-chic fibromyalgia.

The problem was that Dr. Weil was appearing with the co-author of his new cookbook, some woman named Rosie. I'm sure she's a fine human being, but her sugary-yet-grating voice and the fact that she is Oprah's personal chef didn't endear her to me. Worse yet, her namby-pamby approach to healthful eating seemed counter to Dr. Weil's no-bullshit straightforwardness. For example, someone asked if they could go into every American's kitchen and remove one food, what would that be? I immediately thought of a one-word answer: Margarine. But Rosie went on about how everyone has something they like, and she'd never tell anyone to not eat something because as soon as you forbid it, they'll want it, and then maybe they should make their own pastries (what?) and gosh maybe she'd tell them to try alternatives to soda like teas and juices. "So Pepsi and Coke, I guess," was the ultimate half-hearted answer to a simple question that any health-oriented person should have a ready answer for. Dr. Weil was much less diplomatic. "I'd get rid of the bad fats," he said. Which of course I knew he'd say, I thought smugly. Did these authors even talk to each other?

I didn't buy the cookbook, but I did get in line to have my Optimum Health book signed, just cuz. All the time I waited in line, I tried to think of something to say to Dr. Weil. I didn't have any pressing health concerns or issues or questions that I could think of--certainly nothing that could be asked or answered in a few seconds anyway. So I figured some praise or appreciation for his work was in order. The one think I knew I didn't want to say was "It changed my life!" Actually, I say this all the time about this book, because it's true to an extent, but to truly appreciate this you'd have to see me. I always throw my arms in the air, open my eyes wide and say, with a strong sense of irony: "IT CHANGED MY LIFE!" You know, acknowledging the silliness of that statement, and perhaps pointing to the fact that it was indeed me, myself, who is ultimately responsible for any changes in my life. But in this situation, I don't think he'd quite understand the irony of it, and anyway I figured he's probably heard enough of that in the years since he's published the book.

So, what do I do when I get to the front of the line? "This is a great book," I said as he signed. "It changed my life." Pause. "I guess everyone tells you that." Pause. "OK, well thanks!"

For as much as I think about meeting celebrities, I really am a disaster when it comes to actually meeting celebrities. Sigh.

While at B&N I totally splurged. I rarely buy new books, certainly not hardcovers, and when I do I at least try to get them on sale. But in the new issue of Time Out New York there was a review of a fascinating-sounding book called Complications and I just couldn't wait to read it. I bought a copy, hardcover, full-price and all. I had been reading The Two Towers (second in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, if you didn't know) and it's been fine, but after the train trip this weekend I just felt I would scream if I read one more elfin song-poem or description of some sword-or-other. I needed some non-fiction, stat! It's all I can do to prevent myself from reading this thing all night long and missing the Mets game tomorrow. But I know better--I'll just read it during the game!

Happy belated Easter, everyone. I hope you had a lovely time, whether you celebrate with eggs and bunnies or sermons and hymns.

As you may remember, I was in Bethesda over the weekend visiting my relatives. It was great, as always, to see everyone. Grandma was looking better than I had seen her in years—vibrant, energetic, smiling a lot. We managed to get up ungodly early (for me, anyway) to get to church for the 8:00am Easter service. I never go to church except when I’m in Bethesda, so it’s actually kind of a fun change of pace. I always tell people it’s like I’m on an anthropological expedition to the suburbs. Big house! No sidewalks! Mini-vans! Church! Everyone is white and blonde! It’s sort of the polar opposite of my own life.

Here’s some news. I almost had a job, but then it turns out I didn’t. The good part of it is that they decided not to do the job, so it’s not like they chose someone over me. It was just a temporary thing, basically to help a friend, so I’m not broken up about it. And they did ask me if I was interested if something else came up, so it’s not a complete wash.

I saw Training Day last night, and once again I am convinced that the Academy made the right choice in awarding the Oscar^TM to Denzel. Certainly it’s the most phenomenal performance I’ve seen from him, and yes that’s including Malcom X. Now, I think Russell Crowe is a good actor, maybe even a great one. But if you put Crowe’s John Nash up against Washington’s Alonzo Harris, it’s not even a contest. Washington just owns the role, and, even better, he believes in it completely. Denzel understands all the layers of Alonzo, how he became who he is, why he does things, what hurts him, what moves him. Washington did some serious homework and he embodies the role so completely, it would really have been a crime not to give him the prize for this. For once, the damn academy got it right! Ethan Hawke was terrific also, and really I think the film should get more credit in general. It’s far more artful than the average cop drama, not the least because the two main actors are allowed the space to shine. Scott Glenn is awesome too, and Cliff Curtis, and Snoop Dogg! Oh, I could go on. Anyway, it’s well worth seeing.

Last but not least, I’m gonna see the Mets! I probably should have gone today because it’s shaping up to be a gorgeous, warm, sunny afternoon; I only hope that carries into tomorrow. I can’t believe I’m going to go see a game in the first week of pro baseball season, in Shea stadium, no less! Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to see my beloved Mariners live this year unless I go to Seattle. The one weekend they are playing in Yankee Stadium, I’ll be out of town. I think, though, I’ll end up spending more of my baseball time at Coney Island, watching the practically brand-new Brooklyn Cyclones for $10 or less a game.