Not lost, at the moment

Hello folks.

I write this, as promised, from Banner Elk, the most charming of many great little towns in the North Carolina mountains. At the moment I'm sitting in my hotel room, dog cashed on the floor not far away, with the door open facing the awesome view. There is a cluster of goldfinches and swallows that congregates on the utility wires that run outside, so I am staring at them and they are staring at me.

Earlier today I spent a while (with dog and S.O.) climbing a waterfall. This is interesting partly because it was me, climbing, but mostly because it happened in the course of making a couple of HUGE connections and understanding new things about the main character of the project on which I am currently working. So far the research adventure has been full of surprises like the waterfall and the old Mission one climbs past to get there.

It has also been full of things like Dinosaur Kingdom (SEE THE KINGS OF EGYPT!! SEE THE MIGHTY TYRANNASAUR!!! STUDY MOSES & THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!!!), Foamhenge (OH, MIGHTY MERLIN, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME BUILD THIS TRIBUTE IN MY FIELD!!), and getting lost on the Blue Ridge Parkway (or, more accurately, between a real road and the Blue Ridge Parkway -- THAT was fun).

So. I hope you are all well. I definitely am. Assuming I can be dragged out of Banner Elk (I am something of a planning wonk, and this is the best planned downtown -- such as it is -- I've seen in a long time), I'll see you in the Fall.

Next week: Chickamauga!