It's very strange being at "home" in Minnesota for this past week: It's a beautiful place and it's nice to be in the familiar environs but its also slightly eerie. This is due in part to the fact almost all of our "stuff" is still packed away as we had our house rented out in our absence, and to Anne and Leslie not being here, but there is also a strange feeling that Symphony is "home" and we are just visiting this place...

Healthwise, my stupid kidney stone finally passed and it was only somewhat more than twice the size the ER docs thought it was: No wonder it hurt! While we're back here, I'm getting all caught up with my regular doctor and routine physicals...not a thrill, but nice to have done without requiring days of negotiation with our so-called insurance.

I miss the sea. The prairies here are familiar and pretty, but I miss the horizon and smells and sounds of the ocean and the boating community. Evelyn and I will be heading back to Florida on Friday. Already I'm watching the marine forecasts and considering options for getting north to Norfolk, VA, our next major planned stop. It's already pretty hot in Florida and we want to get north with cooler weather. Also, hurricane season starts in just over a month!