Only had five different workmen here yesterday at the house. Today so far one, with four more to come.

More and more of the house is claimed by order. Only two more pieces of furniture to assemble and then I start on the basement. Getting done what I can now, then a quick DC trip. By the end of next week I intend to be completely up and running and back in the blogging business from my office (mostly doing it now off my laptop via wireless connection (we set the whole house up).

Plus, damn it all, I gotta keep up all my Enterra obligations, which lately tend to a lot of conference calls..

Thursday in DC I speak to the Army's largest intell unit at a National Security Agency conference in the morning (not open to public, obviously), but later in day at 3pm I speak at the Hudson Institute in DC fro two hours (the current mega brief). Closing in on one hundred RSVPs from all over dial (industry, gov, mil, foreign govs, foreign press), I am told by host Richard Weitz at Hudson (old Harvard bud and one-time CNAer). Trying to get C-SPAN interested through Richard and--hopefully--Putnam, but my connectivity with the latter seems a bit weak right now (probably the crush of spring releases, but puh-leez!).

Spent yesterday and today working my Sunday Knoxville News Sentinel column. This one is my take on Development-in-a-Box. Losta stuff I didn't get in that I wanted to, but I didn't want to rush the explanation so that it got too cryptic.

Mother-in-law got me housewarming gift (besides the amazing antique oak hall tree): "Axis of Evil III" finger puppets with Rummy, Dick, W and Condi. I plan on unwrapping the oak puppet theater I built for Emily years ago and explaining geopolitics to my kids tonight...

That Nona is getting more Democrat by the minute! Bad sign for the GOP.

On another note, I am awfully happy with the Packer draft. Lotsa talent from north of Mason-Dixon line, meaning guys who played college in cold-weather climes. No Florida guys need apply. Proud of my man Ted Thompson.