Perhaps the saying that absence make the heart grow fonder is true, but time and distance also work wonders on a worn and weary heart and soul. I have flown away from SoCal to the snow laced woods of the Shenandoah Valley and at the moment I have no desire whatsoever to leave. I went sledding this afternoon in the fading winter sunlight down a relatively shallow hill. The snow was all iced over and there were tufts of grass breaking through in random places. Tholnar's coment was that it was like being in Narnia at the end of the Witch's reign. As I looked up at the surrounding hills, letting my eyes wander over the brown tree branches up to the pale blue sky, (and except for the drop in temperature) I couldn't have agreed more...

My postings will be rather spotty and random for the next few weeks. But I will be going into DC a couple of times and midnight mass and hiking and shooting and reading and talking and watching Tholnar milk the cow twice a day - in short just being happy. And then I'll head down to the fey Wandering Minstral's home for more adventures over New Years...
Right now life - for the most part- is good.