Akhil's back after a basically successful three-week period of "Lucky" training, surreal bachelor-style living at the Animal Kingdom lodge, and minimal but sufficient amounts of cavorting through the Disney parks. So, yes, we've resumed our life together, sleeping in the same place once again. It seems to me three weeks exceeds a comfortable limit for separation from your spouse -- after about two weeks and two days you get a little too accustomed to the solo situation; then it takes a good couple of days to get reacquainted with each other.

So, "the stranger" and I finally used our first-anniversary gift certificate for The Raymond in Pasadena on Saturday night. Too bad, but this time, the food was just okay, and our table was pretty cramped. But it was nice to dress up, get out, and drink champagne together after Akhil's long stint with resort chain food and my steady diet of Luna bars and popcorn. We saw "Melinda & Melinda" on Sunday (B-) and tooled around on the West side, where Akhil thinks he spoke with Laura Innes at the Peet's in Brentwood, but I think he didn't. He DID sit behind Syndey Pollack on the plane back from Orlando Friday night, however. It's true -- he always gets the good airplane stories.

So let me be sentimenal for a second. Over the last couple of weeks I finally felt like I have a "home" in L.A., with true, hip and wonderful friends here that I just don't see enough of. When I listen to that "L.A. Songs" CD Heather left here by mistake, I almost get misty-eyed these days. It only took me a little under six years. People had told me that here it takes three -- I think it's probably more like five.

One last thing: Stay tuned for Baby Tanouye, due any day now. We're waiting, John and Kendra!

Heather's gone to San Francisco and so I'm finally alone in my Glendale abode. Akhil's got two more weeks living down in the, ahem, "Happiest Place on Earth" in Florida. I crashed for a two-hour nap after work tonight, after six days of nonstop dining, driving, shopping, strolling, touring, phoning, and yes, working, while the two of us caught up on things -- adulthood is hard, but maybe mostly for the lessons we've learned too late that we can't apply to situations that are gone for good by now. Heather and I don't agree on everything, but on that, I think we're in sync. She's having the best time of her life right now and I think mine just has to be around the corner.

Best discovery of the week: Father's Office in Santa Monica. The beer selection is super (they've got Belgian white), bar scene is solid, but the burgers are the best I have ever had, living up to all the hype. And I don't even EAT burgers -- go -- order -- eat -- and be sure to get a side of the sweet potato fries!

Akhil found an incredible Web site summarizing Glendale's aviation history recently, and the other day, I wrote up a gloriously detailed post. Just as I was about to wrap up, wouldn't you know it, our power went out (again). Luckily, however, my friend Mike has done a better job on his blog - with graphics -- and all I need to do is link! See here for what I wanted to say about that -- and here for the Go Dickson site itself. Thanks Mike!

The airport in Glendale was located precisely where the Imagineering buildings sit just south of the RR tracks that run along San Fernando Road, where Akhil has worked for the last six years. It's fascinating and heartbreaking to see how different the area is now from what it was in its glory days. The main terminal still stands, and we hear that Disney owns and plans to integrate the building into its future campus development there. I certainly hope they keep their word. It would likely be the last standing tribute to the history of what is now pretty much a sprawling industrial wasteland.

The big event in the household this week is the coming unveil of Lucky the Dinosaur to the general public. Akhil and his team set off this morning to Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando where they'll spend three weeks prepping and training Florida staff before Lucky becomes part of Disney's 50th anniversary celebration, kicking off officially May 5. They got a nice mention on the Animal Kingdom Web site -- and even a video clip. Apparently, there's merchandising too... haven't seen the evidence yet.

That said, the serendipitous arrival of Heather is happening in an hour, as she just happens to be doing the west coast leg of her 22-city "Hello, I'm the new big boss" trip this week. She's here tonight until Monday morning, and we are going to rage.