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A few weeks back, a friend of mine who's in his late 50s emailed to gloat about his success in the weight room. He'd finally abandoned barbell and dumbbell exercises, he told me, and was totally kicking butt on the machines. He even boasted about his ability to use the entire weight stack on the leg-adduction machine.

"Congratulations," I replied. "You're the strongest girl in the gym."

My friend is a gifted athlete who suffers from chronic back, knee, and foot problems. I've tried over the years to convince him that these injuries, in all likelihood, are systemic and related to each other. If my hunch is correct, that means there's a problem that can be addressed with physical therapy and dedicated rehab.

Most likely, such a problem would originate somewhere in his "core" - the chunk of the body that includes the abdominals, spinal erectors, gluteals, and all the other muscles that act on the hips and pelvis. These are the body's biggest, strongest, and, at times, most problematic muscles.

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Getting back into the swing of work in the New Year is difficult---especially after spending several days last week painting the apartment, playing wii, seeing movies, and reading books that are not necessarily for work.  The biggest shock comes in the morning when the alarm rings, but if I think about what I have to look forward to in 2009, it makes getting out of bed that much easier.

We've got some great books coming this year; one of my favorites is The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  Putnam will publish this fantastic first novel in February.  This book has all the makings of a bonafide hit, and we've already sold translation rights in 8 countries, so things are looking good.

Reconnecting with my Penguin friends and colleagues makes the transition back to the office a little less painful.  For the majority of the year, I spend five days a week with these folks. Even a few days away from them made my heart grow fonder. Seeing everyone this week is like a mini family reunion-without the bad potato salad.

Also, later this winter, I am looking forward to visits from my international publishing colleagues.  February is a time when many of them come to New York to hear about upcoming projects. Although it's technically work, it's nice to reconnect with people I only see a few times a year.