Weight I stable, hovering just under 150 pounds. I haven't weighed that little since 1984.

The house is a mess. In the study, there's office confetti all over the floor (Edmund turned his briefcase upside-down) and piles of unfiled papers on every level surface. In the dining room, there's Christmas wrapping stuff all over the table and unwrapped presents stacked on the sideboard. The kitchen is a maelstrom of cats and dirty dishes. The bedrooms are full of muddle. I have yet to finish either the Christmas shopping or the Christmas baking.

On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia -- or anywhere else that isn't my responsibility to maintain in a civilized condition.

My current objective is to get through the rest of the Christmas preparations without forgetting anything major or breaking anything at all. It would be nice if I could clean the house, but if I don't the world will continue to revolve on its axis.