it doesn't get much better than this

Sitting on a bench a block from the ocean, at Manzanita, grabbing a WiFi signal from one of the motels in the neighborhood.

Sunny, clear, and 70 degrees, and the world at my fingertips, as long as my battery hold out.

My mother-in-law, who fell and broke a major bone here a couple of years ago, is with us, and walking beautifully. She is an inspiration, at 96.

We have many Portland friends here in Manzanita, and are continually running into them. For example, about the time I typed 'sitting on a bench', above, a couple of friends strolled by. We have two social engagements planned for this evening - cocktails with Kim and Dave, and a dessert pot-luck with the rest of the crowd.

It's almost enough to make you forget the ills of the world.

Finally, here's a shout-out to Shirley and Joe, in town very briefly for Joe's Dad's funeral. They head back to Florida yesterday, but managed to set up a sushi lunch at our old Enron-days hang-out, with Duffbert also present. Took me back to those halcyon days of 2000, when we were all paper-millionaires. Fortunately, the sushi is still delicious. Some things CAN be depended on.