It's been a good week, so I can report on the little that's happened in my life...A lunch date, dinner with the "hot neighbor" and a report on The Game (the book, not the rapper).

We've all got the "hot neighbor"...She lives either next door or directly across. We're lucky enough to stumble upon her every couple of days and we say hi and once a month maybe we'll engage in some small talk.

My hot neighbor is Stephanie, she lives across from me. She's a smoker, a workout freak (I know it's a good day when I see her going to or coming from a workout) and I think she's got a boyfriend (or a couple of them), but I try not to pry like that. I hate nosy neighbors.

Anyway I happened to stumble across her while doing laundry and I saw the spare tire that's been on her car for the better part of a month.

Me: You know, you REALLY need to get a tire..

Steph: I know

Me: Especially the way you drive...

Steph: Yeah, I know...I need to eat though.

Me: Well if you get a real tire, I'll make you dinner...

Steph: Fair enough.

I think that was a conversation record for us....A little bit over a minute but I had an armful of clothes to use as an excuse.

Nonetheless a few days later she got that tire and I made that meal. We chatted about a litany of things over grilled chicken breasts, grilled corn, pasta salad and mixed greens. Had a few beers and I found her to be a really nice girl. She's a little young and still seems to be experiencing life. She actually knew that I was a journalist because one of her boyfriends (I confirmed she has two) reads my columns religiously. He thinks I'm "the truth" and I have to agree.

Anyway we decided we might do this once a month or so. Nothing wrong with getting to know the neighbors. If nothing else I have someone knew to pick up my paper while I'm off to Las Vegas or something.

As for The Game. I read an NYT story about former culture writer and famed pick-up artist Neil Strauss a few weeks ago. His book "The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists" [Amazon.com] is supposed to be this great read. Part story, part bible on the secret of the hook up (it's actually packaged in a soft bind with gold rimmed pages like the bible), I giggled like a schoolgirl as I read the first two chapters at Barnes & Noble (at a sticker price of $29.99, it's not an immediate purchase). There was a story about the main pick-up artist grabbing the number of Scott Baio's girlfriend while his "wings" distracted him. Baio seemed to realize he was being teamed up on but it was too late.

And a couple more suggestions about what works and what doesn't. What I love is that all women can read these books and say "I wouldn't fall for this", but they would. That's the whole point, you don't know you're being fed a load of shit, that's part of the secret. So while lines like "You know if I wasn't gay you'd so be mine" seem like a load of crap on written word. Think about it.

And of course it further explains why women are interested most in the guys who initially ignore them. Something that never gets old. I might read a few more chapters and test it next time I go to Ghostbar in Vegas. Unfortunately I won't have Brew and Kizza as my wings this time. If nothing else the book is funny as hell. Instead I purchased "Truth" by Blackburn and went about my day.

Speaking of Vegas, I need to check on flight costs tomorrow. Airline tickets are getting ridiculous, but I need to go before NFL season ends. The weekend of December 3rd is my target date.

Anyway, looks like bed time and I need to buy a flashlight tomorrow in case Wilma heads my direction.