A couple of days ago, the streets in my neighborhood were lined with trailers for the filming of Spider-Man II. I did not see any actors or, really, anyone other than a lackey who rode up on a bicycle and let himself or herself into one of the trucks.

It is interesting: I have lived in this neighborhood for a year, and it will probably never seem as real to me as when I see Spider-Man swooping through it up on the big screen. (Perhaps Spider-Man can be more accurately described as "swinging" than "swooping," but I do believe there is an element of swooping to swinging, and, anyway, swooping is rather more dramatic a word.)

I had entertained hopes of walking Goblin through the set so we could be discovered and make our acting debut, but having been snubbed for the role of Mary Jane Watson, she would not dream of accepting a mere walk-on role.

(Meanwhile, I think I am suffering from narcotics withdrawal.)