I've had the great fortune to get to spend some time in Redmond (that's close to Seattle) this week. I'm loving the weather that's averaged about 25 degrees cooler than back home. I got to see the end of the lunar eclipse yesterday morning. I got to sit in GREAT SEATS at the Angels-Mariners game Monday night. And I've been able to see my step-brother and his family again. This is the fourth trip I've made to Seattle since September of 2005, and it's weird because I'm beginning to know my way around a bit. I haven't been here enough where folks at the hotel and the cafeterias on the MS campus know me by name (as a couple of the folks I've bumped into here this week do), but I recognized features of the city from the air while flying in, I'm beginning to know how to get around parts of the MS campus (especially those that are in walking distance from the hotel) and a few restaurant landmarks as well.

While I enjoy this area, and given that every time I've been here (including the honeymoon here in 1994) it hasn't rained much at all (one day in all the days I've been here), I don't know that I could live up here. It's not because of the cost of living, it's not being away from the rest of the family (which would be hard), heck, it's not even that I hate cold and winter and would get some of the worst of both up here. I'm just a Texan. Texas is where I love to be and where I belong. Sure, we'd eventually fit in up here I have no doubt, but it would never really be "home." Texas is home, Texas is where I'll stay.

But it sure is nice to visit up here from time to time, especially when it's really, really hot at home.