I have a cold. There is phlegm and there is coughing. There is a sore nose, and there are red, runny eyes. The other day I took to my bed and felt remarkably better. I spent the entire day in bed (well, the portion of the day that I wasn't driving carpool) and my cold seemed to ebb. Then I got up and went belly dancing and, well, the rest is obvious.

Low and behold, Discover Magazine has given me permission to sleep through my next illness. It seems that in a study of 153 really really hard up people (because who else would voluntarily expose themselves to the cold virus), those who had less than seven hours sleep were 3 times more likely to fall ill. So, from now on, as soon as you get the slightest sniffle, take to your bed. Let the family fend for themselves. Better yet, force them to dance attendance on you. Demand chicken soup and chocolate. That's what I'm doing.