one more note: alyssa and i watched spellbound last night, and it was, in the words of my infix-fixated ling 1 prof, fanta-fuckin'-stic. i went to the spelling bee in '95, so have been anxious to see this ever since it came out. i wish they'd spent a bit more time on the social events surrounding the bee (because that is some AMAZING sociology), but whatever. it was still an excruciatingly absorbing trip down memory lane.

oh, and in case you're wondering: keratitis, fifth round, for a fifty-somethingth place.