As noted here the other day, I'm on a three-day program of denying myself one familiar comfort per day. Friday was a day without radio or stereo -- quiet, awkward, and just a wee bit boring. On Saturday, the waking day just now ending, the program was caffeine deprivation. This was more difficult than I expected, because my dependence on that particular drug is heavier than I pictured it. Without my daily "fix" or two, I have experienced fatigue, a noticeable inability to concentrate, and now a nasty little headache to cap off a most hazy day. I'm glad to see No. 2 coming to a close.

But Sunday will be perhaps the most difficult day of all -- no internet. Ordinarily, this might not be so bad, but I am going to be chained to the computer most of the day performing a host of offline tasks. The little Explorer and Outlook icons will be taunting me, but I'm not to click on them to save my soul. Literally.

How to cope? Bury my head in the work. For distraction, try the Sunday New York Times, old-fashioned print edition. Interesting music on the stereo.

And a couple of delicious, icy cold Diet Cokes.

See you Monday.