The · Affected · Provincial’s · Almanack

My wife had a rather nice birthday yesterday: Went to settlement on my house (thanks in no small part to my book). Whew--I now have a warm box in which I can grow old. Sounds grim, but to an artist nearing forty, it's a very reassuring thought. Wouldn't recommend pipe dream-based personal finance to anyone, but it seems to have worked out in my case.

Just a reminder: no matter how bad your day is, somewhere there's a warm, well-fed kitten having a cozy nap. So you see, it's going to be alright.

I'll be appearing at Lehigh University next weekend, and one of the students sent over some questions for the campus newspaper:

Why do you enjoy coming back to Lehigh?
The squash soup, mostly--but the hard drugs and criminal element are a close second.

Do you keep in contact with any of the students here?
I've been warned against that sort of thing, but I am friendly with some faculty members.

Do you know if you will be staying over in one of our residential colleges?
If you get a whiff of aftershave on your floor, you'll know that Whimsy is nigh, babies. It could be your lucky night, so be sure to wash up, you grubby little bookworms.

What are your favorite things to do when you're not traveling?
Staying in one place for extended periods of time. It's nice--you'd be surprised.

Is your next book in the works?
Absolutely not--the world doesn't deserve so much of my radiance.

What new topics will you write about?
Heart attacks in small animals. Oh--and French fin-de-siecle cameo glass vases.

Do you have any words of wisdom for students?
Say "no" to monogamy, monotremes, or monotony. Take your pick.

( Editor's page behind the cut )
~W