In a few hours I'll board a big bird back to the lower 48 for a two week visit. I have stops planned in Washington DC, Vermont and Florida.
DC will be a good time with the peeps. Vermont and Florida is folk time with ma,pa and sis. A good chunk of my Vermont time will be spent at the Seventh Annual Gathering of Men though. It's an annual reunion for about eight of my high school buddies. We rent a big farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, Vermont, where there is no Internet access or mobile phone service (this is key, so none of the guys can call their wives or vice-versa). There will be much beer drunk, cards played, and trash-talking exchanged. Special prize for the best trash-talking.
Don't despair, My Public. I will send at least one or two dispatches from the road. 'Til then, adios.