…as the English call vacation. After working Monday and Tuesday, I’ve got the rest of the week off. I managed to write columns ahead, as is my wont, so my absence won’t be obvious. (I like being a columnist so much that if at all possible I try not to relinquish the newspaper space.)

I’m not going anywhere this time, just running errands and kicking back, but I had some use-them-or-lose-them days and also am in need of a break.

That said, I’ll continue posting here. Because I won’t be on the computer most of the day, as I am when I’m at the office, it will take longer for your comments to show up. As you probably know, all comments must be read and approved by me before they are posted; that’s just the way the system works. But keep leaving ’em and a couple times a day I’ll check the site.

And no, I didn’t get up at 5:34 a.m. on a day off to post this! I’m writing these words late Tuesday.