I had meant to write quite a long trip report on the Phoenix caper, but it's already after midnight and I don't plan to stay up all night again. It's bad for my (mental) health. I discovered this on Tuesday when I woke up on my couch in Boulder at approximately the same moment the plane I was supposed to be on was taking off for Phoenix. Thus, my trip was delayed for a day. However, I finally did get my ass down there and, though it's too late tonight to relate all the details, I want to say that the hospitality I was shown by Steve and Maggie Larsen was so wonderful it renewed my faith in human beings generally, and Phoenicians in particular.

Also, I bought two Powerball tickets (thus the subtly modified title slug) and fully expect to win $74 million sometime later today. If I don't, it's back to this...

However, if I do hit, all of you who have contributed to my essential and ongoing well being will be richly rewarded. I'll think of something. Perhaps an exotic reptile or two. I understand they make wonderful conversation starters.

But here's the the amazing thing. Well, one of them. The car Steve and Maggie gave me -- gave me you understand -- is one very sweet automobile. And it's a station wagon, which I didn't expect at all. A small station wagon, to be sure, but it'll help greatly with my move to wherever it is I'm going to move to (so far, I have no earthly [or unearthly] clue). Here's a picture...

Another surprise was the blond I found in the back when I got back home tonight. Man, that Maggie thinks of everything! (And the plane is bound to come in handy, too.) Here you can see me and her practicing some basic hand signals. This pattern means: "OK, that was nice, but now I'm going to the Yukon for eight months."