Real Life in Sonoma County, California.

"The natives are restless" a man behind me at the video store says. He is pontificating to a captive audience five people deep waiting in line for their videos. I can't resist, I have to get into this conversation. I turn around. "Why are the natives restless, sir? Do you think it's because there are not enough copies of 'Spiderman' circulating?" Giggles from behind the man, but he himself has no sense of humor. He continues his diatribe about how there is no explanation for the phenomenon of "Restless Natives," where people suddenly throng outdoors in masses for no apparent reason.  No shit. I want to scream at the man "I have found your conversation tiresome! Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance!"

Instead I ignore him and turn to the lady next him. "What is your theory, ma'am?" I ask. She says "It has to do with the negative ions in the air.  People are always out like this right before it rains."  There is not a cloud in the sky, but I like her down to earth approach. Since the video store is a bad place to get into a "we are all spiritually connected" sort of conversation, my reply to her was "I think it has to do with these 99 cent coupons the video store sent us in the mail."