A Return to the Mundane.

Now that I'm back from my most excellent visit with Rebecca, Tim and Grace I'll get back to writing about important world events. I spent time with the kids; saw Doreen and the Harry Potter hat is back where it belongs.

I neglected to describe my free morning breakfasts at the Marriott last week. I needed to distance myself from the scene for a few more days. I made a valiant attempt to partake in some fruit and cereal each morning. 

The service was set-up in a room the size of a sports stadium bathroom with several dozen tables and half the population of six and under residents from the tri-state area. I should have gone back to the room but without Wanda I had no hope of balancing drink, food and my key card. So I wolfed down my breakfast with dozens of screaming children and a large stuffed moose named Mr. Peepers.

Parents should not let their youngsters eat waffles dripping with maple syrup at 6:30 in the morning.

Here is some news I was working on last week.

The Cookie Monster's going to get you!

The New York City Council is considering legislation to regulate the costumed characters who roam Times Square.

The bill would require that the costumed performers be licensed and go through a background check.

City Councilman Dan Gardinski says there are still copyright issues that need to be worked out before the bill can be presented to the City Council for approval.

There have been a number of troublesome incidents involving costumed figures who try to make a living by charming tourists. They include a person dressed as Super Mario who was accused of groping a woman, an Elmo figure pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after unleashing an anti-Semitic tirade and a Superman who kept asking attractive women to "feel my muscle" while thrusting his pelvis at them.

Some researchers claim smoking pot can lead to a life of drug addition and crime. Others think it just gives you the munchies. 

Florida residents Logan Brown, 18, and Christopher Ramos, 20 broke into the Challenger K-8 School in Spring Hill not for things to steal and sell but because they were hungry.

According to a release from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office; "Once inside the school, Brown and Ramos wandered the halls and stole Froot Loops cereal from a room that was open inside the school."

Investigators were able to identify the suspects by posting images from the school's surveillance video on the sheriff's office Facebook page.

A Kansas man who was dressed in a unique way led police on a bizarre high-speed chase. A deputy saw Aaron Jenkins, who was wearing a cowboy hat and a dress, speeding, so he started to give chase.

Jenkins drove his car, which was tagged up with "derogatory statements about law enforcement," into a field and began driving in circles.

While officers set up a perimeter, Jenkins began tossing CDs (some 70's disco and early 80's hip-hop) and blankets out of the car while quoting Bible verses and flashing peace signs. Sheriff Glen Kobalowski said that Jenkins even slowed the car down and "surfed" on the roof.

The soybean field fiasco went on for about 40 minutes and Jenkins was pepper-sprayed several times.

After he finally surrendered, Jenkins was charged with fleeing and eluding, obstruction, reckless driving, speeding and having inexcusable fashion sense. 

A bystander said, "Everyone around these parts knows serge (or twill) is a winter fabric and that hat, just awful. Nobody wears felt anymore."

An arresting officer said, "There are some things about this job I wish I could un-see."

An Arkansas woman, Melissa Valencia is facing charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after police were called because she was running naked while "intoxicated on drugs."

Officers arrived and found Valencia running around and screaming in a parking lot.

"Valencia ran approximately 75 feet to a pole in the parking lot and appeared to be attempting to hide from me," the police report said. "Valencia was speaking but was not making any sense."

Officer Chad Hardwick said. "At first I thought she was going to do a pole dance which would have been horrible. Then I realized she was just trying to hide behind the pole. Unfortunately she was slightly too large."

She was taken into custody and given a blanket and a pair of hospital booties to cover up.

A Chicago native who helped write "How to Survive the Running of the Bulls" was gored by a bull in his right thigh at the San Fermin festival in Spain.

Bill Hillmann tripped during the bull run at the Pamplona festival was set upon by one of the charging beasts. He reportedly "suffered two horns."

Hillmann, who co-authored the book with John Hemingway, Joe Distler and Alexander Fiske-Harrison, is a practiced runner with 10 years of experience under his belt.

Fiske-Harrison wrote "Buffalo" Bill Hillmann was doing well after surgery.

"He's going to be fine and will soon start on a new book "How to Survive Surgery After Running with the Bulls."

It's the best reason I've heard yet.

A Missouri man is charged with first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action after he allegedly shot his wife because he was "tired of her."

When police responded to the home of Bobby Leonard on Saturday, they found his wife Carolyn "on the front porch covered in blood."

According to Ripley County Cpl. Earl Wheetley, a man was holding a towel on the alleged victim's shoulder.

Wheetley was told the victim and her husband had been arguing and then he shot her.

The 59-year-old suspect was in the trailer and he asked whether his wife was dead after Wheetley handcuffed him.

"I asked Bobby what happened, and he stated: 'I got tired of her and shot her,'" Wheetley said.

The woman was flown to a Tennessee hospital to be treated for her wound.

"Last I heard, she was in stable condition," said Sheriff Ron Barton.

Bobby said he's going to take shooting lessons when he gets out of jail.

Back with more tomorrow.