I spent yesterday catching up on what you might call love tasks--reading a friend's short story draft, advising on another friend's article, writing a small essay about Longfellow for a third friend's weekly mailing-list series . . . love tasks because they earn me no money, love tasks because it feels good to give away my time and thoughts now and again.

Today, however, I'll be back into the editing saddle: yet another brand-new unopened academic manuscript in need of scribbling. Finish one, and another jumps up in its place . . . an endless cycle of argument and endnotes. I'm mostly grateful. They pay a few bills.