Howdy.

Just got back from a whirlwind car trip down the Left Coast, where I marvelled at the majesty of the Pacific Ocean and logged many hours of mountain driving. Lori and I needed the chance to get out of town and just coast without overwhelming plans or destination, so we rented a car and took the miles as they came. First stop Manzanita Oregon, where we found the most beautiful beach and most charming accomodations of the entire trip ... after that we hugged the coast as far as we could, checked out Mendocino California (an arresting view but the town is a bit "calico" for our tastes) among other cities until we hit San Francisco, where we cruised Fisherman's Wharf (and contemplated the wax museums) and the Haight-Ashbury district (which wasn't disappointing in the least). Then the fast track home up I-5.

We're both more relaxed and in better humor. We lost about $25 each in roadside casinos and I added another "Mystery Spot" t-shirt to my collection (thanks to Confusion Hill in Piercy California). We dug a lot of Motorhead, Coltrane and Alice Cooper on the road and discovered the first wine we've liked enough to get snobbish about (Andrew Rich Coup d'Etat Red Rhone Blend 03). All in all, a successful endeavor.

Now we're back to gangland outside our windows, humiliations in the workplace and an entire DVD review column due yesterday. At least the goldfish didn't die.