Texting: “Hadley, I’m at the Pick Me Up – soon to be your major stomping ground. Lots of peeps dying to meet you . FYI, we’ll be working out of the library.”

DONATELLO: Hey Had, just got your text message…congrats big time!

HADLEY: Still can’t believe I got the job.

DONATELLO: Shucks, girl, I knew you had it in you.

HADLEY: I’m just totally shocked. How do you get a job without an interview? You must be a magician, Donnie.

DONATELLO: I just put in a good word is all. It’s your positive energy all the way. It’s gonna be kick-ass when you get here.

HADLEY: It’s certainly a huge step up.

DONATELLO: Yeah- what are you gonna do with all the money you’ll be making?

HADLEY: I can’t even think about it or I’ll jinx myself.

DONATELLO: Well, luck’s on your side today, missy. So start packing – we need you here now.

Tesla, pot, and an anonymous donor

Trying to stay on the down-low here, but this chick Kira Benson, who works at the Pick Me Up, saw me – ooh’d and ah’d - and fed me some of her homemade carrot cake.  She’s a good one to know because everyone comes to the Pick Me Up and she hears it all.

Colby Stone, our esteemed Mayor, is hot for her – just don’t tell his wife.  He uses his Tesla to seduce young things the way Tiger uses his wood.

But enough about testosterone – or maybe because of it – the BIG NEWS in town is the spanking new, still under construction, Normal Historical Museum, funded by an anonymous VC.  There are a couple of new hires related to it:  Donatello Stefani, the whiz kid who’s designing state-of-the art holographic/CGI displays set to blow a few minds. He’s been here a while, straight from Pixar.  And now Hadley Reese is relocating from SF’s Museum of Modern Art, as head curator.  Question #1: who the heck hired her?

Call me psychic:  Hadley’ll be up in everyone’s grill trying to unearth relics for her museum, and the fur’s gonna fly, I guarantee. Question #2: who’ll be the first to call foul?

In the here and now, I suspect Kira’s carrot cake has her not-so-secret special ingredient, as I’m definitely feeling the love and moving into a state of altered consciousness.  A giddy guinea with the munchies coming on.  Not good.  Need grass – the regular kind.

So while I’m still sure-footed -  over and out, from the land of Nod.

Kira Benson, waitress at the Pick Me Up

Colby Stone, billionaire Mayor of Normal

Donatello Stefani, special effects wizard

Hadley Reese, curator, Historical Museum