Brooklyn, here I come!

Twelve hours from now (weather and O'Hare air traffic control permitting), I will be half way to New York for the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament! Here's how the tournament works: Six crosswords on Saturday, preliminary standings posted around 8 a.m. Sunday, one more crossword Sunday morning, then the finals (which I do not expect to be in, but I won't turn down an invitation). Friday and Saturday night will be devoted to schmoozing at the hotel bar. Daytime breaks are likely to take me to Jacques Torres's chocolate shop and other short Brooklyn excursions.

And late at night, when the bar closes? Time for bed. In my hotel room that I will have all to myself. I don't mind sharing a bed with my husband—in fact, I much prefer it—but the kid, ai-ai-ai. Most nights, he wanders down the hall before sunrise and climbs into bed with Mom and Dad. And sometimes he snores. Or tosses and turns. Or grinds his teeth so loud. So two nights to myself. Yay!