When I don't have a lot to say, or what I have to say really isn't worth talking about, I resort to pictures.

I suppose, in terms of historical value, pictures can be as useful as words. Just as I can one day in the future look back and read about what was going on at any given time in my life, I can also see what I looked like when these things were going on.

Of course, I'm cheating to a great extent. These are not pictures of me sitting in my pajamas and robe, with no makeup and my glasses on (which really only occurs two days out of seven, and hey, I'm no fool, why would I want to remember my unattractive side?) - I put up pictures that I'd want to look at ten or twenty years from now.

And this picture-taking session didn't really evolve based on a need to take pictures of myself for the journal. It started with a desire to get some shots of the new, completely adorable baby in my life. Sasha Belle is so tiny and precious right now, and I know she'll get bigger soon, and I just wanted to try to capture her wee little face.

Unfortunately, the webcam combined with the lousy lighting in my bedroom doesn't do her justice. But I hope you can get even the smallest sense of how cute she is!

Bam Bam is, needless to say, pleased as punch to have a playmate. Even though they are the same age, he is twice her size and sometimes gets a little rough, but Sasha is quick to tell him off with a rapid series of yap-yap-yaps if he gets out of line. He just sits back and looks at her quizzically when she does that, which is a hoot to watch.

After the pictures were taken, I decided I'd use them for my next round of the Matchmaker game. Sigh. Crazy, I know.

I haven't signed up yet, just contemplating it again. Now that the bulk of the work on this site is done, I'm getting antsy for a new diversion. And since AM is officially history, and FB seems to pop up infrequently (now that he's an independently wealthy man-about-town - good grief, why couldn't he be cuter?) - I'm at loose ends in the man department.

But while reading a small book the other day, I came across this little checklist that might indicate that perhaps I shouldn't be looking for a man at all right now:

"If you:

• think about your ex at least once a day
• would take him back in a heartbeat (even if you were dating someone else)
• have a crush on a man because he reminds you of your ex
• still carry your ex's photo
• feel like you are never going to be in love again

then you are in no way ready to jumpstart your love life. Psychologists warn that if you start to date before you have recovered from your old relationship, you could set up a situation where you man-hop in your search for eternal love."

I failed 4 out of 5 - and that's only because I don't have a photo to carry.

The big question, of course, is WHY? Why am I still in this place after so many months have gone by???

I don't have an answer for that. I only know that on some days, I really hate having a memory.