E got back yesterday morning after a week-long business trip to Dakar. How did we spend our Sunday together?

First we had a conversation that went something like this.

Me: I think I'm going to watch more of The O.C. - The Complete First Season. [These DVDs have been circulating in Bamako and I am the latest addict. Because the owner of the discs is leaving for Canada soon, I must finish the entire set -- seven discs, 28 episodes -- before I go to the U.S. in June.]

E: Me too.

Me: Well, do you want to watch disc three with me and I'll just fill you in on what's happening? [I watched disc one and two while he was away.]

E: [shocked] I'm not going to watch them out of order!

Me: [insulted] Well, I'm not going to wait for you to catch up!

Ten minutes later we were side-by-side on the couch: two laptops on the coffee table in front of us; two sets of headphones plugged in; two separate discs of The O.C. playing. E watched eight back-to-back episodes, but I could only stomach four.

If he's not totally burned out, we might actually be able to watch the show together sometime. (And by "together," I mean the same episode at the same time, not different episodes on different computers at the same time.)

P.S. It's a really good show. The Bamako fans are planning a Season Two marathon in Toronto later this year.