Just back in from a trip to beautiful Lake Tahoe for a few days. We stayed in South Lake Tahoe, near Meyers, a small ways from where the fires were. It was nice, pleasant, mostly restful.

While there, I took my son kayaking. We each got our own and rowed and puttered around the lake. This was great! The weather was warm. We were having real fun.

My son asked me what time it was. For the fourth or fifth time. I wiggled a bit to dig the cell phone out of my pocket. Just as some waves from a passing boat rocked my kayak. I leaned too far ... in the lake! Had to swim dragging the kayak a few yards, until I could reach the bottom and flip it back over.

My wallet and cell phone were water logged. Both need to be replaced. Sadly, I later noticed a naked left ring finger. The ring is not so easily replaced. If not for that, this would be funny.

Friday night, Ben and I attended the Potter Party at the Barnes and Noble in Reno, NV. Lively crowd! The events were fun. Lots of people came dressed up. The seconds were counted down to 12:01am, like New Years Eve, and then the first happy patrons left the store with their copies of BOOK 7. It was very exciting. Ben and I were the first two people in group "I" and we were on the road back home with our copy of BOOK 7 before 1am. I'm on page 191.

Saturday night, we went to Sand Harbor, near Incline Village, NV, to see a really riveting performance of ROMEO and JULIET.

Tonight, after a long sweaty drive home, we had a barbecue with our neighbors, Victor and Cathy.

I brought my laptop, but never opened it. I brought my guitar, and I managed to practice and play some. But mostly we kicked back and relaxed.

I'm trying to avoid any and all media until I finish BOOK 7. I'll be lurking around on blogs and websites cautiously, cautiously...