ONE FROM THE ROAD: Have been out in Dallas this week. Flew in Sunday night, and just finished a couple-day stint out in Plano. Kind of nice to be in the wide open spaces, to sleep in a crisp, clean, quiet hotel room, and to eat extravagantly for a few days.

Am sitting in the DFW Red Carpet Club, leafing through the new Wine Spectator and chatting with y'all. Very pleasant.

Sure, tonight I'm headed back into the belly of the beast -- a newborn, a tired wife, and a 2 1/2 year-old that's trying to make sure his parents are aware of him at all times. But after my little hotel respite, there's nowhere I'd rather be. It's amazing how much a little battery recharge can do for a guy.