Mum and the concierge sang a Beatles duet in the elevator

I've been away from home for two weeks, now, and I'm not going back for at least another month. I want to say that it feels strange to be gone for so long, but really, it doesn't. Home is a relative term to me, and while I love what I currently have as a physical "home" in Idaho, I like to make home be wherever and whatever I need it to be at a certain time.

Anyway, I began in California and now am in this hot, cacti-filled desert they call Arizona. It's beautiful here, which I didn't expect because all I'd hear is "HOT" and "DRY" and "LOTS OF BROWNS." But everyone forgot to mention the palm trees and the orange trees and the sunsets. (Oh, the sunsets.) Driving here we passed this expanse of desert and it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. It looked just like one of those National Geographic spreads of the rolling hills of sand dunes in Arabia or some such place. It took my breath away, all that pure, flawless sand in the shape of hills. I half-expected a camel train to come traipsing over one ridge.

Mum and I grouped up with some people we'd never met previously and went to a Taylor Swift concert together. One of these people was my wicked, brilliant friend Faith, who I've known for years and, I'm pleased to say, was just as cool in person as online. The concert was indescribably amazing, and one of the very very best nights and experiences of my life. Taylor Swift is crazy-talented (writing songs, singing them, playing guitar and piano along with), plus she has fantastic stage-presence and is good at telling stories through performing. And she's sassy and fearless and knows how to make every person in the audience feel that way, too. (Read Faith's post and my comments at the end of that for some of the lovely details.)

There are things to look forward to (tremendous things; I am so blessed) and people to see/meet, and there's one computer to the four of us and other people want their turn so I'll sign off now.

I hope you all are making your summers what you want them to be.