Those sinus afflictions are very debilitating, aren't they, Stilly? When I'm hit with one, I feel as if I have taken leave of the top twenty percent of my IQ and the best part of my personality.

Susan, I know what you mean about those long drives. The last time I did the Ottawa-Stratford haul -- all day on the autoroute, doing top speed in the circus parade of 18-wheelers -- I came home safe but exhausted, rattled, and determined never to do it on my own again. It was the effort of keeping my attention focussed all day, not missing the slightest thing for fear of my life, with no one to talk to, hand me peppermints, and take the lid off the water bottle.

On the fitness front, I have been using my new fat-detecting FitBit scale for two weeks now, and in that time I have apparently lost exactly one pound but knocked two points off my body-fat percentage. I'm not sure I believe it, but any motivation will do as long as it keeps me going forward.