I seem to be recovering a bit. This morning I could smell my shampoo, a very exciting event after a week of no olfactory activity. You'd think I would have lost some weight, since food has had no taste, and I've eaten a lot less of it the last week. Maybe a pound, certainly not anything dramatic. Why do I still think a few situps will make me look like I did 20 years ago? I know, I'll blame it all on Jane Fonda and Susan Lucci, because they do still look like they did 20 years ago.

I am debating whether or not to leave for Corpus Christi for a meeting. I have a hotel reservation, which surprised me, actually, because I figured the news media would have all the rooms taken. I am weighing the benefits of going to the meeting against the drawbacks of a four hour drive in my better-but-not-quite-good condition. I have to make up my mind very soon.

Since I have done absolutely nothing the last few days but cough, blow my nose, and wander around in a fog, I have nothing to talk about. So I'll give you a little quiz I saw in this morning's paper.

There are four countries in the world with a one-syllable name. Three are well known; one less so. (I confess, I got the less well known country first, one of the well known countries second, struggled to get the third, and had to cheat to get the fourth.) Can you name them all?