I haven't written in weeks;

This past sunday, the Patriots and Colts played one of the greatest AFC Championship games I've ever seen; the 2008 Presidential field was blown open with announcements from Senators Clinton, Obama, Biden and Edwards, and Governers Vilsak and Richardson on the left, and Mayor Guiliani, Governers Romney and Huckabee, and Senators McCain and Brownback; and I finished a Camden Joy novel while preparing one of the most delicious white pizzas ever tasted. It's wonderful when so many disparate things come together to complete a weekend.

Also, the State of the Union would be three, four, maybe five times more fun to watch if Stadler and Waldorf from the Muppet Show were seated in the gallery with Mrs. Bush and Dikembe Mutombo. Not that Dikembe Mutombo didn't make all the pomp and golf clapping worthwhile.

It's been a rough-go the past month, which is why I haven't posted much. My commuter/racing bike was stolen, which set me back for a while, and ruined my birthday weekend. Christmas time was great, though, I miss New England and my family. I've been playing catch-up on mailing manuscripts and sending out my resume the past two weeks. I'm not a kid anymore, time to start moving my life forward.

--Patrick