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I just found out from honeyandvinegar that Cracker, the Robert Pastorelli series that Your Humble Narrator worked background on, is out on DVD. The whole series. So of course I ran straight to eBay.

Now, from my memory, I never got any real shots, so any obsessive watching I do will probably be for naught, except for fuzzy me in the back of the office and shots of the back of my head, etc. But you know, it was a really cool series which was never given a real chance, so I'll be glad to watch it regardless. (And you never know - I might have gotten in there somewhere!)

Pastorelli, who starred in the Robbie Coltrane role, was a great guy. Funny, fairly friendly, and surprisingly sexy in person. We spoke a couple of times - work related - and I found him pretty approachable. What's he been up to lately?

Plus there's Josh Hartnett as a young pup. Total unknown at the time. Gets tied to a bed with tape over his mouth in one episode. That'll be fun too.

...like, way too much indulgence.

Since it was so godawful hot (by 11:00 a.m., I was already wilting and feeling a little sick), I took myself to the Burbank mall. Once there, I:

1) Bought a new, high-quality stepladder for my kitchen. After that last near-fall trying to change a light bulb, I had decided it was time to stop risking a broken leg every time a bulb burned out.

2) Bought a lot of stuff at Bath and Body Works' semi-annual sale. I love their stuff and there was lots on sale for $3 and $5. New yummy smells!

3) Had a truly scrumptious Italian meal. Penne puttanesca, spinach sauteed with garlic, a lovely salad and Italian lemon soda. The sliced bread came with an herbed garlic olive oil instead of butter - grand!

4) Saw Ratatouille. GO SEE IT. It is a lovely film. The folks at Pixar get technically more brilliant with each film, and the story and voice work on this one are wonderful. There was one moment especially that made me sniffle and applaud. And wow did it make me want to go have another great meal! (But not ratatouille - my guts decided years ago that I am no longer allowed to eat that. *sigh*)

5) Got caught by a skin-care lady who sold me a WHOLE LOT of great stuff. Three months ago I couldn't even have looked at it, but I've got a really good summer job, so I decided to pamper myself.

6) Dropped by Victoria's Secret for some new underpants. They've got the best.

and 7) Stopped by a shop that sells Chinese furnishings and knick-knacks. Bought a couple of plants in pretty containers, a table-top waterfall (which I've been wanting for years - I LOVE the sound of water), and a beautiful sandalwood fan. (Those are great for the summer - not only do they cool you off, but you get a perfumed breeze.)

I spent FAR TOO MUCH. But hey, I've held my purse strings awfully tight this year, so I thought "What the hell." I've got a bit of money, so I might as well buy some nice things.

Of course I won't be able to spend on anything but food for the next month, but it's worth it. :)