Sorry for failing to post yesterday. I don't know what got into me. Or out of me, or whatever. For those of you keeping track, this was only the second day I've failed to blog since January of this year, and the other time was due to a Blogger system upgrade. That ain't bad.

I'm dating a girl from China who's given me an assortment of interesting Chinese prepackaged meals. Opening the refridgerator is suddenly a somewhat alienating experience: I can't read the labels, and everything has an elusive soy aftertaste. One thing that's incredibly cool: the lids come with self-assembling plastic spoons. This is accomplished by means of clever hinges (which remind me of the joints in insect legs). Unfold the spoon and, in theory, you're ready to eat, although I advise disposing of the fold-up utensil after relishing its novelty and using real silverware.

I'm finishing editing the Mars book you've read so much about. Finally seeing it on bookshelves next year will be an epiphany of sorts. Patrick Huyghe, my editor, has been incredibly patient and helpful.