It's nice Up North

I took a much-needed mini-vacation (after the hell week of the whole execution thing) this past Sunday-Monday and went up to my uncle's lake house in northern Minnesota. Despite the fact that I lived in Minnesota for almost two years, I never actually traveled anywhere north of the Twin Cities. But my uncle's cabin (top photo) is about an hour north of Brainerd, so that's a good ways up there, and it is, in fact, much, much cooler up there than down here in the sweltering heat of South Dakota. You'll notice the sweatshirts, jeans and long-sleeved swimsuit cover-ups in the photos.

It was very relaxing. I spent Monday doing basically nothing: I read a magazine in a hammock, laid out on a raft in the lake and took a nap, and sat on the deck with my laptop to surf the Internet (the cabin is equipped with wi-fi). All while sipping some fine red wine. It doesn't get much better than that.

The best part? I'll be heading back to the lake next weekend - this time in Missouri, though. Yes, it's time for my annual trip to Branson again. Hee Haw hell, here I come!!!