The show included:
* Janet Jackson grabbing her breasts;
* Sean P. Diddy repeatedly fondling his crotch;
* striptease cheerleaders;
* gyrating transvestites;
* simulated lesbian sex;
* Jackson and Timberlake groping each other.
Naturally, I missed it.

I was banished to my bedroom while the Irish Princess held court in the family room - celebrating her name day while in the throes of some sort of a virus, Bridget was propped on the couch hostessing a salon/Super Bowl Party/deathbed scene.

Relieved of any obligation to feign interest in the sports proceedings, I entertained myself with a Culture of Death film festival of sorts: One True Thing plus Dead Man Walking, interspersed with ads for OrthoTricyclen. Depressing. And then I missed the cultural ‘event’ of the season.

The boys had gone to Rick’s parents’ house to watch the game. Rick and Chuck both view half-time shows with the same enthusiasm that they bring to Ice Capades and musical theater, so there was no chance that they had been exposed to the spectacle. All Rick could discuss was his mortification at being seated between his mother and his fourteen year-old son while the TV let loose a barrage of info on ED, ED pharmaceuticals and dreadful side effects.

Well, that ordeal is over for 2004.