Just was sitting on the back deck wearing...a winter coat. Yes it was a light one--something designed for skiing--but made for winter nonetheless. And it felt good. This is what we experience here. But we also have, nearly every day, lovely, clear, clean air.

As drove about the city last week I appreciated the "exuberant skies" as one Alberta writer called them. As I came around corners, suddenly there the mountains would be, looking close, rugged, mythic. I even experienced, as never before, what I believe I could describe as contentment and happiness about being here. It's all getting familiar and normal now, and having a job close by doing something familiar is helping. (What is that job, you ask??)