More than just hot water and soap

Like the Captain of the 'B'-Ark (from that wholely remarkable book) , and like Douglas Adams himself, I am a great believer in the hot bath. It cures all, in fact. For instance, I woke up this morning with the same incurable headache I'd gone to bed with last night. Shirking the Advil liquid gels that had let me down the night before, I instead had a relaxing soak among my bubbles and assorted bath paraphenalia. I emerged a new woman, and the headache has, for all intents and purposes, fled the scene.

Similarly, I was without an angle for my latest article today, but the bath also cured that. Writers block is no match for a good, hot bath. With bubbles.

In my opinion, baths cure colds, headaches, stomach aches, various lower intestinal irritations, IBS, womanly afflictions, and spousal annoyances (the last requires the addition of a chilled chardonnay - consumed, not poured in).

I've been able to pass the bath philosophy on to my daughter, who believes that baths, like crazy straws, hold mystical healing powers. Oatmeal baths are doubly impressive because they also relieve the symptoms of chicken pox, eczema, and impetigo.

So, the next time you're feeling stressed, chilly, or mildly ill, I recommend a nice long soak in a very hot bath. Bubbles are optional.