It’s hard to rally at 2pm to get a post out there. My brain is mushy, my creative skills zapped, and nobody wants to read a meandering Monday account of Life As We Know It. Let’s do a quick and dirty Q&A instead. Three up, three down. Let’s go.

How do you get to sleep when your brain won’t shut up?

I have two tricks. One is counting backward from 100 by 7s. Why 7s? Beats me. I think it’s because the answers don’t follow a simple pattern so I have to think through each deduction. Whatever the reason, it works.

The second method is A to Z. I pick a category — animals, places to visit, adjectives, foods — whatever pops into my head first is what I go with, then I try to come up with a word for each category. Anteater, baboon, chimpanzee, duck… Arizona, Boise, Canada, D.C…. adventurous, belated, calm, delightful… apple, bagel, cantaloupe, danish… I rarely make it past J before dropping off.

What tip helps keep life under control?

If it takes less than two minutes go ahead and do it now. That little doohickey gets me to walk the laundry hamper all the way to the bathroom, check the mailbox while I have Gracie out, put away the spices, or put up my shoes.

You find a five dollar bill in your pocket. What are you most likely to spend it on?

I remember a time when my instant answer to that would have been a cheeseburger and fries. I’ve also been through phases for 7-11 nachos and slurpee, chocolate, or a milkshake. So I guess basically my answer is some sort of food.