Update 1.

We arrived yesterday evening. Our accomplishments thus far:

1. Brought up two bikes with no mishaps.
2. Slept the sleep of the blessed last night.
3. Cabin-napping. (Studies show that cabin-napping is far superior to regular napping.)
4. Two walks by the river.
5. Watched a new episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which featured an egocentric poet/editor of a poetry magazine. Oh! 'twas very heaven.
6. Watched three episodes of In Treatment, which is everything I have been told it would be. Which is to say, excellent.
7. I finished one L.A. detective novel and am now halfway through The Black Dahlia. Which is excellent as well. Remind me to tell you about my whole new L.A. thing. There is a reading list.
8. Started reading through my manuscript. Hey. It's the weekend. I'll get serious tomorrow, which is Monday, which is, in case you forgot, the beginning of the work week.

The people, Idaho is beautiful. There are birds everywhere, all kinds of birds. It is warm but not hot, and there was a wonderful stiff wind swooping around everywhere while we were eating our dinner, which was spaghetti, which tasted like everything tastes up here: perfect.

On pasta.

Running son: I think I'm just opposed to spaghetti because everyone in this family just loves it so much.

Singing son: I love spaghetti!

New mom daughter: Spaghetti is, like, the perfect meal.

Running son: Maybe it's just the noodle. I like thicker noodles.

Me: I like linguini most--it's just a little thicker.

Son-in-law: Yes. I agree, linguini.

The historian: I love angel hair pasta.

Daughter-in-law and new mom daughter: Penne.

Running son: I can think of about 50 better things to eat than spaghetti.

Singing son: No way! I love spaghetti! Like what?

Running son: Like fettucine alfredo.

New mom daughter: Fettucine alfredo is what fat people eat.

Son-in-law: I guarantee you, if fettucine alfredo were as easy to make as spaghetti is, you'd make it all the time and you would love it.

Singing son: Spaghetti is still the best.

Son-in-law: What about butternut squash ravioli? Ever had that? Cause I have, and butternut squash ravioli kicks spaghetti's ass.