The odds I'll die in a tragic accident have just risen significantly

For various reasons, my doctor decided it would be a good idea for me to get a stress test. (I consider life to be a stress test, but he had something more specific in mind.) So I spent a big chunk of yesterday in a local hospital. It was acutally rather nice to be greeted with, "Are you the author?" One of the persons who worked there had a son who liked my books. Actually, everyone who worked there was great, and made the whole process easy to bear. While I wasn't super worried about the results, I couldn't help thinking about friends of mine who had gone for a stress test and been immediately anesthetized so a surgeon could disconnect four or five veins or arteries from varous limbs and relocate them to the vicinty of the heart. Other than ending up with a great scar for Halloween parties, the whole bypass process didn't strike me as fun. Happily, I got a call this morning telling me everything was normal. (Obviously, the test doesn't check the heart for darkness.) So it looks like I won't be one of those guys who keel over unexpectedly.

In other news, I completed the next leg of the winter travel challenge. I'm heading out again on Tuesday, when there is a bit of talk of early-morning snow. But the charity pool is growing nicely, and there aren't that many trips left. So keep that mojo coming my way.

Lastly, I know that many of you have been eagerly awaiting news of the official date for DLAW (David Lubar Appreciation Week). It will kick off on Sunday, March 13th. Stay tuned for a list of DLAW activities.