Got my advance purchase tickets to see "X-Men 2" May 2. In addition to the Wolverine action, the Nightcrawler effects look pretty cool. He's my other favorite X-Man character, and I'm wondering whether Alan Cumming is playing him as a German (which the character is) or Scot (which the actor is). Early buzz is this one's better than the first.

Next mission is to figure out how to get tickets to see "Matrix: Reloaded" at the Uptown since they don't have online ticketing. This is more for Ken's benefit, as well as his brother's, since he'll be going with us. I will admit to being one of the few humans on the planet who doesn't think "The Matrix" was the Coolest Movie Ever. Don't even own the DVD (which seems to be a prerequisite for owning a DVD player, so I expect the DVD police to arrive any day and cart it away). I mean, the effects were great, it was certainly ground-breaking visually, and it made effective use of Keanu Reeves' limited acting abilities, but it just wasn't the Second Coming.

10 more days until "X-Men 2," starring my next husband, Hugh Jackman. (He doesn't know it yet, but when I tire of Ken and he finally leaves his wife, Hugh and I will retire to our dingo ranch in Australia.)

Paid my first visit to the new AFI Silver Theater Saturday night to see "Bob Le Flambeur." Fantastic facility. Now I need to sign up for charter membership and start making use of the ticket discount.

And my little car got a top rating from Consumer Reports. Which, with 54 payments left to go, is good to know. I've been loving it, but I'll admit to a slight hesitation initially at abandoning my well-deserved Honda loyalty for ... Pontiac.

Stuff I don't get: pet birthday notices in the Post, the Honda Element, Hummel figurines, the popularity of "Fear Factor."

Who knew it would be cool to live in Silver Spring? Hollywood Schmollywood.

(Oh, and I'm another year older as of 4.13. Inching ever closer to departing that coveted 18-35 demographic when crappy new products will no longer be marketed specifically to me.)

So, the cherry blossoms were beautiful and all, but the most exciting thing we saw? The future of portable restroom technology.

Spring and winter are still duking it out. Two absolutely stunning days last week; took advantage of one by having a pleasant outdoor lunch with my former shoe team-mates, Lynn and Mark, aka Fiddy. Ken's mom here over the weekend for a brief visit and cherry blossom watching. Then cold and rainy. I knew I put away my winter clothes too soon.

This morning, surreal television images of American tanks in the center of Baghdad. Long, difficult days are ahead for all of us.