Deciding how best to introduce this book was the most difficult part of the project. The story was already written for me in the form of a dispassionate diary. All I had to do was organize it, mix in some environmental trappings, sarcasm, a few jokes, send it to a proofreader and, with luck, I could pay the rent. On the way to the bank, an unamusing thing happened. I hadn't gotten through Chapter One before the truth hit me like a runaway Toyota. So I started leaving out what I didn't like and ended up with a few pages of environmental trappings, sarcasm, and some jokes. Bottom line: Cinderella did get her prince, but he started running with the wrong crowd, and she had to pay the price. Then, of course, Americans voted their fears and greed and elected and reelected Pinocchio. Still, I found the courage to continue after meeting up with five other travelers on the Yellow Brick Road. Sadly for all of us, it turned out there is no wizard, just Father Time, Mother Nature, and the NSA/CSS.