I have been taking a hiatus this week from my associate producer work on Court TV. This has allowed me to be home and observe the miraculous beauty of a Southern California garden as it emerges from winter. This has been a rainy season, which is of course wonderful for the plants. The grass has never been greener and there is more rain expected this weekend.

In less important news, Robert Blake, the onetime actor and part time accused murderer, was acquited this week in the death of his late wife. He has been renting a house down the street from me, and the TV trucks with their brycreamed reporters and satellite dishes, have been invading Hamlin St.

I went to lunch in Studio City yesterday, just across the street from Vitellos, where the Blake murder happened. TV news trucks were gathered around so we knew something unimportant was about to be announced.

Perhaps the “Today” show will devote another hour to the case tomorrow morning after they interview the latest “Apprentice” who is fired. These are the items that pass for news as the snows melt on top of Mt. Kilamanjaro and the Arctic ice recedes in time for Mr. Bush to plant oil wells in the tundra.