For those that didn't notice or care, I was gone for two weeks vacationing in Oregon, Idaho, Washington and northern California.

Among the eventful things that happened is my wife, Mary, and I stopped in McKinleyville, Ca. (just north of Arcata and Eureka) to visit regular blogger Robb Willis and his wife Phyliss.  We had a wonderful shopping trip at Mor Furniture. 

Of course, that's a lie. I'm not even sure they have Mor Furniture up there, but they sure do have a ton of Humbolt State students who walk around Arcata as if they own it.

We visited my son in Klamath Falls, Ore. and stopped in at the Lava Beds National Monument with its 500 caves.

We went to Hope, Idaho (60 miles north of Coeur d'Alene) where there is a ghetto of ex-Kern County sheriff's deputies. We had an interesting round of golf in front of the governor of Washington.

We stopped to visit my brother and sister in Olympia, Wa. before Robb abused me on the golf course.

Along the way we encountered a domestic violence issue, which prompted an evolving dynamic about the truth.

On Friday, I went to the doctor who felt something on my neck and said "Uh-oh." Those aren't good words to hear. A golfing buddy of mine has predicted I'll be dead in 30 days.

I will blog on several of these topics, plus an incidental on on whether women hold grudges longer than men, in upcoming Talk of the Towns and Fairways and Greens.

Good to be back. I trust you all found plenty to talk about in my absence.