Santa Cruz, you're not that far...

Well, when I said I didn't want to miss the first rain of the season, torrential downpour and hail isn't quite what I had in mind. Luckily, when we finally returned home late yesterday afternoon the water had subsided, we did not need a canoe to reach our house and there were no puddles in our living room from our sometimes-leaky roof.

The Highway One trip and Santa Cruz were beyond lovely and I may post pictures later. Among the favorite things: Pumpkin patches, riding the rollercoaster (it feels as though it's been years since the last time I did that...though in reality it's only been since Sept. 2001), really good food and, of course, the ocean.

Now, back at home with a vacation hangover and dealing with the fact that life just sort of goes on without you, regardless of your best intentions.