LOVE IN MODERATION CHILD.

I have returned to you, Rosalind, with stories of an connoisseur from a far away land. He has asked me to help him resolve an issue, and who better to come to for advice than ... you?

This connoisseur is a very wise man-- skilled in the fields of mathematics and glowing-box programming-- but even he cannot solve this predicament for himself:

This man is an avid collector of all things (but all in good taste, of course)-- dolls, doohikies, marbles, wombat toes, thingamabobs, high-rise shoes-- you name it, he probably has it tucked away in the musky confines of his victorian-style armoir. This, of course, requires countless hours of online, thrift-store and yard-sale shopping, not to mention a practically endless supply of money. Unfortunately, our old friend E. Recession has it out for this dear Connoisseur (whom I will henceforth refer to as Marty). E. Recession has all but reduced Marty's savings to a merely liveable amount (nowhere near the kind of luxury he once basked in), which just will not do for Marty's grand lifestyle. Now anyone else might just wave this off, but Marty.... well lets just say ... Marty dwelled on it.

Thrown into a sudden, spiraling depression Marty has decided that in order to retain a humble, but civilized lifestyle, he must become a DJ at local clubs and take on the stage name LADY FOO FOO. Just kidding. He decided he must give up his nasty spending habits cold turkey. But you see, as we all have experienced that slight push from within oursleves when we want something that is just a hair's length out of our reach, Marty needed to make his one last purchase. Just for closure... mostly for novelty. And this, Rosalind is where we have been called in for back up.

It is tuesday morning at the most eccentric, eclectic thrift store in town (which just happens to be Marty's favorite store). A naked light bulb hangs, dimly lit, over a table with a wobbly leg, being held up by a tattered copy of As You Like It. There lay beside each other the two most riveting novelties Marty has ever lain eyes upon : a solid gold fountain pen and an old, broken, yet fascinating pocketwatch. The time has come for a decision.

Here, finally is Marty's predicament: WHICH MUST HE TAKE AS HIS FINAL GRAND PURCHASE? The two cost the same amount, and they each have their own essense of intrigue. While the fountain pen is exquisite, it is just not practical. But, while the clock is in need of refurbishing, it may come into more use later on in life.

The question to me seems to be a question of nature. What takes the top spot: practicality or pure preference? Do we live in a society where image takes you farther than tact? Ultimately, what is the best strategy in the game of Life (and I don't mean the board game) --- simply keeping face? or knowing the inner machinations of each and every detail and working them with the most integrity? -- Let me put it this way: Is the shiny car going to get you far? Or is the White Rabbit going to make his appointment?

Here, Rosalind is where I leave the rest to you. Remember, we have committed to this journey to Vita's Gate together, and so I await your response eagerly.

And on that note, I, and my beloved Checkers pieces bid you ADIEU.