It's Better in Wyoming.

"Unlike the Eastern bride I knew who cried in fear when her husband first drove her into the high desert he loved, I felt liberated by landscapes where fences, phone lines, buildings and people were scarce. As Wallace Stegner, the elder statesman of Western literature, put it, in all of this space, Westerners feel 'the dignity of rareness.' It is also true that people chosen by Wyoming need tolerance for the claustrophobia of cabin fever. They need to be enjoying doing things that make staying inside on a winter day feel like a gift. They also need to be the kind of people who couldn’t care less about the lack of big shopping malls or gourmet restaurants." Read the full story here .

for tonight, just one picture of my and maggie's vacation: that's the picture from our hotel in long beach, washington.  sure, we were overlooking a parking lot.  but, beyond that, the pacific ocean!  like, 200 yards from our room! also: waking up to a view of the tetons just outside of jackson! cardamom ice cream in missoula! sweetest dog ever, in ellensberg! voodoo donut in portland! fish tacos at the lost roo in long beach! sleeping in a yurt at beverly beach state park! beer! and more beer! in bend! a fun new board game in twin falls! and, also (and more importantly): great people on the whole route.  it's great to have great friends.