Life So Far

The whole cancer thing is well resolved. Thanks to everyone who was so kind and comforting. I am a little embarrassed because the problem wasn't comparable to the attention I got.

In other news, it was a fine vacation, after a more than rocky start. The most fun I have all year is at my friends' Ellen and Roger's. They have a hoolie—a rip roaring house party—in conjunction with the Sebastopol Celtic Festival. Musicians who play Irish music come from all over Northern California and have sessions at the house into the wee hours. We all go to the Festival, which is separate and public, but for me the real action is at Ellen and Roger's.

They have a great house and property for this event. Tents are pitched, sleeping bags unrolled, and the enormous kitchen is full of the best food imaginable. We pitch in to contribute, cook, and clean up, and Ellen is a master cook so no one goes hungry. Blessed Daniel, who has Wild Hog Winery, brings many bottles of his finest as well as wonderful vegetables from his wife Marion's garden. (Marion stays home for the crush.) All in all, it's a wonderful hoolie.

From there, Ellen and I drove down to Solvang and Santa Barbara for shopping, beaching, eating, and museum jaunts. We listened to election news all day, every day, and came home highly educated and shopped out.

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