Only 4 more days until we're on vacation! Not to rub it in or anything, I just really need this vacation. The first day we're down there, I hope Laura and I go to the spa for a massage. I had one there last time we were down there and, while it was a little expensive, it was very relaxing. Of course, I should add I've only paid for a massage twice in my life. Once at Cesar's Palace, and at this spa in Port St. Lucie.

The lentil soup came out pretty well. It could probably have used a little more simmering, as I'm used to my lentils being a little more mushy. I used a 1/2 cup of red wine, which really gave it some body and character. After cooking it, I stuck it in a thermos and brought it to Barnes & Noble where Laura and I shared a home-cooked lunch. I'll put the recipe up eventually but it was basically this: onion, celery, carrot, garlic, chopped parsely, lentils, and 2 quarts of water. Just to make things interesting, I added 2 hot peppers, and replaced 1/2 cup water with the wine.