exemplar of austere living

When I changed the graphic at the top of my site to say "exemplar of austere living," I was just being whimsical, which I suppose isn't very austere, but I meant it. I've switched from coffee to antioxidant-rich (but still caffeinated) chai, I went to Modell's and bought some dumbbells and carried them home on the subway, I have no online personal ads or active dating tentacles, I have been turning down free drinks at my shows, and I often manage to go to sleep directly after a long spate of work and wake up still having essentially the same train of thought. I'm currently drinking kefir (a probiotic yogurt beverage) with wheat germ, after which I will do some pushups.

I just thought you might like to know more about me since you are reading my blog.

Here is the original top graphic of this website. In 2004, a CBS casting agent told me over the phone that the photo on the right was "too naked" and that I was therefore ineligible to appear on Survivor.

Also, I once received a really weird email about that photo from someone who insisted that it would have to be re-shot with different lighting or whatever and "at the peak time of your fertility." That was kind of creepy. And possibly a contributor to my currently austere lifestyle.