Finally. Vacation.

These last four months have been hell. At least relative hell.

I know to people in the Gulf or Sudan my problems are comparatively trivial. Trivial to the point of insignificance.

But as an urban male in modern society I find them troublesome into intoerable. Like everything else it all depends on where you stand while you're watching.

Anyway, I have down time coming up and I intend to spend it in what I call "the Desert Magaritaville." After relentless New York living, deceleration in the American Southwest is more than an answer, it's the cure.

I look forward to seeing you -- and as much of you as possible! -- again in December.

By the way, am I the only one who sees this but in the HBO series "Rome" doesn't Caesar regard people with the same wariness as Tony Soprano?