Tom and I just spent a lovely afternoon with a couple of friends, sitting around the table on the deck under the umbrella (which became important when it started to spritzel, then turned into a real and steady rain).

Better than a vacation, we finally had a chance for real conversation where Tom could contribute -- it being reasonably quiet on the deck and there just being the four of us. I am finally very mellow and relaxed...

We also sampled some Sea Hagg's poteen (I'm not sure what they actually called it), some of Flag Hill's Karner Blue gin (ineresting aromatics), and some of my infused vodkas -- the Earl Grey made a hit.

Time to go upstairs and under-react for a while before putting Tom and the house to bed. What I was reading last night out of H. Allen Smith's "Life In a Putty Knife Factory" has inspired Tom to start on his memoirs.

Linn