Some days start out awful and then get worse.  Today started out awful, we were running our little diesel gen-set this morning, and it started making a terrible noise.  It also started making a lot of smoke.   The noise wasn't so bad, but the smoke got our attention.  Naturally, I thought the world was coming to an end, that the four months and thousands of dollars spent on that damn thing was going up in smoke.  It turned out to be an exhaust leak.  Fairly easily fixed, once we found the parts.  One little flop sweat upside down in the bilge, and all better.

But this day was different.  It got better.  Much better.  Our friend Rick came to dinner, and the steaks turned out well.   For a new BBQer like me that means I got lucky.

It was good to see Rick.  We did a Harley ride earlier this summer, along with a really great group of people, up to Jasper, Canada.  Got stuck riding through a mid July blizzard.  We were on the road for about 10 days, riding through wondrous country, but the only day we speak of is the blizzard day.  We were wet, cold, freezing and wet and cold and freezing.  Seeing him in the warmth of this California summer evening was terrific.

Judy bought a little plaque for our good friends Randi and Jerry that said: "Friends are family you choose."  Rick, welcome to the family.