SILVER LININGS ... AT 7TH AND MONTANA!

It's been raining for two straight days in Santa Monica ... but don't get me wrong, there are plenty of silver linings in the clouds around here. For example, there's nothing like a good storm front to let you know who has the good sense to come in from the rain. I found that out the hard way yesterday when I took a seat at the last empty table inside. I hadn't been there for two minutes when I was startled by an unfamiliar voice. "Mind if I join you?" It was the Zombie, known for sitting in the same chair, in the same pose, for hours on end. Lately he's been spotted wearing a skin-tight, translucent mini-skirt, but yesterday, thank God, he was just wearing a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. I was aghast. Before I could say anything, he sat across from me and assumed his usual position, with both hands firmly glued to his head, as if to keep it from spinning completely around, Exorcist-style. "Err, I'll just be going now," I stammered, but I doubt he heard me. On my way out the door, I ran into Rigolatte, the local Opera Loon known for locking himself in the men's room and belting out scenes from the Marriage of Figaro. He was standing by the espresso machine slowly reciting the Gettysburg Address. I drank my coffee outside, which I guess makes me the Odd Man Out in the rain ...