When I tell the story, it will be His Holiness with the hammer.

1. "Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, New York, is the North American Seat of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama." I quote the website.

2. Said monks are building a new facility in a spot I can see readily. It will be called Dü Khor Choe Ling, or The Land of Kalachakra Study and Practice. My landlady said something about the Dalai Lama needing to bless the archway at the entrance to the driveway. Or maybe that he already had. Let's go with the former.

3. The Dalai Lama is in Ithaca this week giving a series of public events. They sold out really fast.

4. A little bit ago I was sitting on the couch and ... heard a flute playing, in what my small brain deciphered as a Buddhist monkish way. Eventually I hooked Rogue up on her new leash and went outside to see what I could see. Which was nothing. I did hear voices and laughter, though, as well as what could be described as a praying silence. And hammering. And I sure thought I heard the word/name "Buddha" at one point (granted, it could have been "gouda" or maybe "food-a"). The only thing I finally saw was cars (2) driving away.

I waved.