"I'm just trying to be a better person."

I went to the lighting store last weekend to buy a light bulb--a very expensive light bulb. It turns out that a three-way compact fluorescent bulb costs about $10! Clever me, as I reached my car and switched hands with the bulb, I dropped it, breaking the darned thing despite the protective packaging. So I march back into the store to buy another and ask them to throw out the broken one. I suppose I had a tiny hope that, like a little kid who drops his ice cream cone, if I showed them what happened, they'd give me a free replacement. I was completely up-front about the damage and sure enough, the Lamps Plus guy took pity on me! Free replacement! I swear that I was fully prepared to spend the extra money, but I feel OK about it because I was honest.

Yet, I wait to be honest on another matter. For the record, I will come forward, but am willing to wait in the hope that things turn out in my favor. The hotel where I stayed last month in Vancouver appears to have processed my payment incorrectly, charging me for one night instead of five. I'm waiting before I call, partly in the hope that they find the error and correct it, but probably more in the hope that by the time I call, they'll feel it's too far gone to correct the error! I aim to wait about 30 days, then contact the business. While I'm skirting the ragged edge of integrity where you have to consider that I still possess the intent to report the error--because I haven't actually done the forthright thing--I believe I'm still honest.

Still, I'm not sure if it's entirely ethical. This may be an example of lie number two!

CDs listened to today:

• William Schuman: Symphony No. 9
• Steve Reich: Drumming