6:48 p.m.

Little d played a clever game of backgammon with just enough derring-do and luck to beat me by one solitary blot. I enjoy the close ones and don't mind losing a hard fought, close battle. And then all three of us coconuts, at the urging of the youngest charmer, went for a walk where we collected yesterday's mail. Now I'm settling down to read When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris with a Jack & Coke at the ready.