Can we do it? Live by the S Policy — no snacks, no seconds, no sweets — for a mere five days? This is the latest project here in my home. I like the adaptation of the policy that Jane E. Brody describes in “Rules Worth Following, For Everyone’s Sake”: “Perhaps I’ll try the so-called S policy Mr. Pollan says some people follow: ‘No snacks, no seconds, no sweets– except for days that begin with the letter S.” Is it awful to admit that we aren’t going to start until after the Superbowl? And that we’re going for five days, perhaps so that we are free by the S days? Maybe it’s also important to admit that Matt thinks that any fruit at any time is okay with the S Policy. I’m pretty convinced that reading Michael Pollan’s new and short book “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual” might be good. More soon on this project! Anyone care to join us?

And, in case you’re wondering: the chirp persists! Yet, surprisingly, it has not inspired madness! Rather it’s as though a friendly and very consistent cricket lives in our ceiling. However, this is not a long term way to live. So, we’re giving it two weeks before moving to the as-yet-undetermined Plan B. The two weeks time frame came from calling the company who makes our smoke detectors and learning that the chirp, indicating the need for a new battery, always sounds for a minimum of seven days with their alarms. I’ve also learned that gas meters sometimes chirp. Any suggestions for Plan B are very much welcome!