I would like to report that my tooth care regimen:
*floss
*brush
*eat lots of really dark chocolate
has passed its first test with flying colors.  Three years with no dental appts whatever, no cleanings, no nothing - and no cavities.
Go Chocolate!

Am now back in Great Falls, the richer by 2 small agates (one sent home with Dad for polishing) and numerous memories.  We stopped by the Blackfoot river on the way up, and spent half an hour or so 'stretching our legs'.  ie: wandering the gravel bars of the river looking for rocks!  Whee.

Dad and I listened to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on the way over; I think rock hunting would fit right in.  Possibly under Strange Rituals.  "... consists of people walking silently around a pebbly plain, staring at their feet.  Occasionally, they bend over to pick something up, look at it, and throw it away again..."

I was wishing the whole way over that we'd thought how brilliant an idea it would have been to drive the truck and bring Mom and Dad's new kayaks!  When you have a kayak in mind, there is water everywhere!  Nearly...  There was certainly water all over the place on our road, begging to be paddled through.  However, it's a good thing we didn't, because the trip would have taken much longer, and not nearly so much would have gotten accomplished.

From 68 (and damp) to 86 (and dry)... I am finally warm.  Clearly, I have finally lived out in MT and WY long enough to get used to the weather - this is the first time I remember going home and being cold.  In the summer!!  Being too hot is a far more common occurrence in my life.

Yes.... Yes, I am still alive, though I dare say some of you begin to wonder.  I had a lovely time in Washington.  After conventions, I had some time with my folks who have bought a new house recently.  We went through boxes, recovered chairs, hung up pictures... and went to the beach and kayaking!

I saw someone kite-surfing for the first time.  It looked like fun - and like a lot of very extremely hard work.  I think it would be harder than surfing from what I could tell watching, because it seems like not only do you have to keep your balance on the waves which are coming ashore, but you also have to keep your balance against the wind, which was blowing at an angle along the beach and would snatch the kite away - and you with it.  The man we watched fell once, but then he got up again and zig-zagged down the shoreline.  The kite they use is enormous - and doesn't have any solid structural parts at all!  Even the ribs are only hollow tubes that they fill with air until they are rigid.  Hook said kite to your harness (being sure to put on your wet suit first), hop onto snowboard looking deal, grab handle and away you go.

Truthfulness in politics?  An oxymoron, likely.  http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-perry-romney-twist-records-debate-021556685.html

And we are here.

It rained solid from Billings to Sidney. This was a Western Washington in November rain - complete with chilly temperatures and solid grey skies. Yes, we were really glad to see it stop. No, the sun isn't out - it just stopped raining. Yes, there are puddles and ponds everywhere. No, the farmers aren't getting very much done re planting things.

Need some water anyone? We'd be glad to share.

Off to Dagmar!

Shawna and I are going up early to help out. So we leave today after lunch. Which means I'd better go get my packing done...

Alas, I have sad news to relate. Our Killdeer-To-Be are no more. I'm not sure how they could have gotten run over by a car, with the flag and the rocks, but I suppose it was possible... and I would prefer to think that, then that they were stepped on deliberately by a child. Marylee said she saw some boys out near the nest and asked them to leave, earlier.

We had a small moment of silence at the grave. Dustin and Brock were the buriers. Scott and Tessa gave short eulogies. The remainder of us were mourners, and all of us dripped. Very rainy day.

I read that killdeer often have two nests in a season, so I am pleased they can go start again - but I hope they don't do it in our gravel patch this time. :( No way I can keep them safe during convention, if they didn't even manage one big workday. The mother bird sat near where her nest had been and cried for a while and then she was gone - doubtless to build again. Lesson of the day: don't let one disaster keep you from ever trying again.

Ft. Killdeer