A few notes from the New Jersey contingent.

- I just finished a grueling two week trial representing a citizens' group opposing a proposal by JCP&L to construct a monstrously stupid huge transmission line through portions of Monmouth County that included the town where Janet's parents used to live. We were married in the back yard of their house and Johanna and Sean were baptized by Uncle Bob in the Reformed Church in Middletown. It's not over yet but it looks as if we have killed it. It's nice to be able to make a real difference.

- Doing a trial like this is all-consuming. You more or less leave the world as you know it and live in the trial. I got by on about three hours of sleep a night, getting ready for the next day after each day's twists, turns and surprises.

- I said to one of the other lawyers that I enjoyed a Trump-free experience for those two weeks. It was nice!

- Johanna is working with some interesting authors at Henry Holt. I am getting lots of free books – galley proofs as well as final prints. This week's catch is a book about books. How could I resist?

- Sean's first trial keeps getting pushed back. I can't wait.

- It's also been a tense time. One of Janet's cousins is now in hospice and David and Andrew had surgeries.

- Want to hear some utility jokes? A chemist, a biologist and an electrical engineer were on death row waiting to go in the electric chair. The chemist was brought forward first. "Do you have anything you want to say?" asked the executioner, strapping him in. "No," replied the chemist. The executioner flicked the switch and nothing happened. Under this particular State's law, if an execution attempt fails, the prisoner is to be released, so the chemist was released. Then the biologist was brought forward. "Do you have anything you want to say?" "No, just get on with it." The executioner flicked the switch, and again nothing happened, so the biologist was released. Then the electrical engineer was brought forward. "Do you have anything you want to say?" asked the executioner. "Yes," replied the engineer. "If you swap the red and the blue wires over, you might make this thing work."

- Q. Why do fluorescent lights hum?
A. Because they can't remember the words.

You get the drift.