We are back from NY. It was snowing when we left yesterday, but overall the weather was beautiful while we were up there. Kim's official niece Kate, also my unofficial niece, was there so I got to meet her for the first time. She is the best. She chewed on my watch, giggled, made funny noises and was overall adorable. She's almost 8 months old now, and I must say that Kim's brother and Sister-in-law are excellent parents.

I just updated "The Royal We," including a list of all the music we listened to on the trip and all the books I read during the last half of 2003. I figure that everybody does Best Of Lists but I just did a list of books I've read recently and recommended a few. None of them even came out this year.