she then launched into a long , winding , somewhat convoluted explanation about sneaking out of the safe house from time to time due to extreme cabin fever , then about some promise she 'd made to herself as a child , then she spoke at length about opera in general and la boheme in particular , then she backtracked to something about a little shop off michigan avenue and haute couture , then she moved on to dinner , then marcus , and then- and then she stopped abruptly .