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I drove to the desert yesterday. Many apologies to all those who didn't know I was coming and were subsequently ignored. Though none of them check this blog - at least not to my knowledge - so it hardly matters. Spent almost two hours at the Noisy Starbucks while Tara finished her shift (hello Tara!) and wrote two scenes while I was there. Minus the roar of the flyguard, it really is a productive environment. And the egg salad sandwich was very good.

Better than the sandwich was seeing Jenny again. I last saw her leaving from her wedding in a fancy car, white dress billowing, cries of 'hoorah' and all that jazz. She inspired me to make quiche - not that I've followed up on that inspiration yet, but I will - and we had a miniature wine tasting. The wine wasn't miniature. It was just... well, I guess there was nothing miniature about it. Anyway.

On my way out of town, I talked briefly with Spencer about logos and design and design philosophy and blogs and business and classic rock. I'm borrowing a small library from Tara, and I have some of my Christmas shopping done as well! It was a very productive day. And healthy, and fresh, and beautiful.

Every time I visit, I wonder why I don't do it more often. I know there are reasons, but when I am there the reasons seem so inconsequential. I said this last spring, and I say it again. I will try to do better. I will try to go more. I will try.

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