My night. Katherine decided to make apple cider donuts while I write my last paper of the year. Writing is much harder, but more delicious, when one’s hands are covered in grease and cinnamon-sugar. To be clear, this is the best problem it is possible to have.

I received the backpack from Backcountry in two days (with free shipping!) and eagerly unpacked the bag. It is built like a bunker—the material is waterproof, zippers are taped, straps are double-stitched, and the padding is ample. However, I was getting the bag to replace a backpack that’s basically a bucket (a previous version of the Timbuk2 Underground Day Pack). My main complaint...