I've been in Milwaukee for a day and a half, now, and it's been simply amazing. The rest of the guys are all still asleep between the two houses, here, but I'm up, showered, and feeling relaxed. I made a pasta buffet for the guys, yesterday, and it went well. We watched a lot of YouTube, played Artemis on our networked laptops, and talked about life, the universe, and everything. Topics of conversation included "True Detective", the nature of writing for an audience, the new "Cosmos", furry fandom, the Game Grumps, exercise, dieting, growing older, friendship (it really is magic), "Doctor Who", and -of course- each of our lives since last we've all seen each other.

This annual gathering, whether in March or May, is something I treasure. I usually don't realize it until I get here. But driving past Madison, into Milwaukee on Thursday evening (as the sun dipped below the horizon, behind me), I felt a wave of peace wash over me. It was as if I was driving out from under a cloud with all my tensions and stresses pulled from my body by unseen hands.

I need to bottle this feeling.

Yours,
Sylvan Scott