Bridget and I (Bridget and Me?)

Books

• I began reading Bridget Jones's Diary on Sunday evening. By Tuesday, I was two-thirds of the way through, cheering Bridget on and thankful that I hadn't jumped back into the dating pool yet. If the amount of pre-date primping and post-date stress that Bridget experiences is anything like the real world, I'd rather face her greatest fear—ending up alone, half-eaten by an Alsatian. After all, Bridget is a 30-something who is likely in her early 30s. I am a late-30-something with kids. Even the Alsatian may think twice about getting involved.

Then, on Tuesday evening, as I read about Bridget's attempts to recover from her humiliating breakup with boyfriend Daniel Cleaver, my phone began buzzing. It was my ex-boyfriend texting me to see if there was still any chance for us. Empowered by Bridget and her friends' denouncing of fuckwittage, I was was able to be curt in my responses. I don't know where that situation will ultimately end up, but it felt good to have some girlfriends behind me, even if they were in the pages of a book. Of course by the time the texting finished, I was feeling emotional and needed cheering up. So I stayed up late to finish the book and enjoy Bridget's happy and romantic ending.

• I continue reading Harry Potter #3 with the daughter and have moved on to the next Captain Underpants with the son. Interestingly, the son is currently going through a stage where he refuses to wear underpants. I pointed out the irony of this to him during Thursday night's bedtime reading, and, while he acknowledged that it was funny, I don't have high hopes that it will change anything about the situation. But, as someone mentioned to me recently, it's better that he's running around in pants without underwear than running around in underwear without pants like the book's hero.

TV

• Bridget Jones and life responsibilities have been keeping me busy, so the DVR has been working diligently in my absence. It is at more than 80% full, and the daughter keeps reminding me that it is mostly my shows taking up the space. I can see that I have a date with the DVR in my future. Perhaps I will bring some wine.