Slowtwitch in general and Slowman in particular has been missing in action for a week-and-a-half, and I thought it a good time to check in with our readers and explain why.

Most adults can empathise with those who are in the process of moving. Slowtwitch has finally cut its cords with North San Diego County and completed its move to Valyermo. We first moved up here in July, but only barely. Most of our accumulated "stuff" was still in San Diego. Now the house is sold and vacated, and our stuff is here.

By "here" I mean our stuff is on the premises, not yet in the house. The furniture gets to move in when there's a floor for it all to sit on. That's one more day away. I finished grouting in two rooms yesterday, and tonight I seal the grout. The new base boards will have to wait. The house was fully carpeted when I bought it, but I yanked all that out. I've got a problem with dust, and I prefer hardwood or tile floors over carpet, which tends to trap and hold things that make me sneeze. I've decided to do all the floors in ceramic tile. It's taking longer than I intended because I got all artsy-fartsy with designs and mosaics and such.

I've barely turned on my computer for a week, and it's interesting to see what's hot on our forum. I downloaded my email, and there were about a thousand messages. Most were very useful—nice people offering me good mortgage rates, places to buy HGH online, Norton Systemworks clearance sales, and several inconvenienced African gentlemen who would gladly share their fortunes with me if I'd just front them a little money now.

Some readers might wonder how all the animals have faired during this week of driving back and forth in rented moving trucks. Alpha and Bravo, the two new mousers, both had bad colds when I brought them home. They've recovered since then, and have racked up four victims as of yesterday morning (I haven't checked yet today).

It was intended that Charlie be a cat as well, but she ended up being a dog for reasons I won't go into. She is not particularly useful at mousing. She does like to chase birds, with little success.

I have another two or three days of running around doing things other than writing. I've got to set up the LAN, finish another floor, move furniture. Stuff like that. I shall try to squeeze an article or three in at the same time, and by Wednesday I'll be back in full swing. Afterward, I can finish my Endless Pool installation and commence work on other assorted projects.

This is my explanation and apology for being MIA. Fortunately I'm no longer a POW, which is what I was on my citified quarter acre.