But I digress.

Does anyone really read all this dribble? All the way through to the end? It’s funny, because I sit here, usually just minutes before the paper goes to press rattling off what’s on my mind at the time. For instance, it’s 2:32am, and all of the pages are on the press but this one. I’m debating pulling one of the other pages and putting in the pictures of the West Shore Farmer’s Market on fire that I decided earlier to omit.

The amazing thing, since Gloria and I gave up watching TV in September, is that we didn’t find out about the fire until almost Noon. I called a new photographer for the paper, Charles Turner, and asked if he could run over and get a few shots of the aftermath. Much to my surprise, when he returned at 2:30pm, he told us, and showed us, that the building was still ablaze. Incredible. For someone with a digital camera and no direction, Charles took some amazing photos.
I think I’m going to put them on the website instead of in the paper. I’m limited to black and white in the paper, but I can go full-color on the web, and these pix deserve it.
I love the Internet. It’s so easy. That’s a message for you stubborn fools that have resisted embarking on the digital highway. GET A CLUE. My mother just got cable, for the first time in her life, last year. Wait until the WebTV box shows up on her birthday. Just kidding Ma. But seriously, two people, one I haven’t spoken with in 7 years and the other over 12, e-mailed me just this week to say that they found me on the Internet. If you’re reading Melissa and Arthur... Hi! But enough of that personal dribble.

If you ever have the chance to get desserts from the 10 best bakeries in Central Pennsylvania, and have a dozen or so friends over to do a taste-testing. You should. Guided by the most wonderful food reviewer I’ve ever worked with, SueBarry (one word), I think we had the most decadent time imaginable. As you will read in the Best-of-the-Burg article, and I kid you not, one taster broke out in Chocolate hives, and another couldn’t drive until she came off the chocolate buzz/high. It was just way too much fun. Wait for the Official MODE Margarita Deck Tour this Summer. Anyone got a bus?

Taking a quick glance at this issue, the things that impressed me the most are probably our new writers and the new MODE@Work department. Please pay extra-special attention to this month’s editorial. I think we’ve outdone ourselves, and I’d like to thank everyone that muddled through our January roof incident with us.

Such patience. (Especially MASS Construction.)

Finally, since you actually read the whole drawling thing. I am making an open invitation to our loyal readers. If you’ve been reading MODE since the very beginning, and you actually like it, I want to know. Call or e-mail me directly. I am looking for just a few of the most avid readers for an extremely exciting project. If you’d like to be part of the future of MODE, then let me know you care. This may sound a little corny, but it’s quite sincere.