Back home, and ohhh so close.

That hotel may be fancy and all that, but there is no place like home. I'm glad to be back, had a beautiful drive through the desert and the mountains. The drive to/from Phoenix is really something and, at 6 hours of travel (5.5 hours driving plus 30 minutes of stops), I never mind the distance. Plus, I get a chance to drive really fast (where "really" = ~110 these days — I'm definitely getting old, faster is way too scary) for small portions of the road where it's clear, straight, and non-cop-infested. I was fairly wasted when I got home, though.

Clapotis is nearing the finish line, finally!

I do realize that isn't the most gracious of poses. With a little luck I'll actually finish it tonight. I'll probably have to photograph it at least once before I block it. It's so incredibly soft — Sundara DK Silky Merino — that I just want to bury my face in it all the time. (But really, one should use Kleenex for that..)

Er. anyway.

I can't always e-mail those of you who comment, because the email address doesn't show. So: Hi Viv! I haven't been to Tucson for a long time, but I had a couple torrid romances out there in the past that gave me a lot of time in your town. I've set a few crime short stories in Tucson. It still has that Old West Outlaw feel to some degree.

And yup, Spinny, those are true saguaro cacti — arms and all. We don't get saguaro in San Diego (unless transplanted), though we have quite a lot of prickly pear, even right down near the ocean.

You're all cordially invited to come visit me if you ever need some sunshine... We have a guest room and are quite accustomed to hot-and-cold running house guests.