I have to say, life is pretty good. I'm preparing for vacation and as I go over everything and make sure I'm not forgetting anything I keep thinking how wonderful life is. This year's vacation takes Ruth and I to Austin Texas for Bouchercon. And while the convention is great (and there will be a full report after) the best part is seeing friends. Over the last few years I have really come to love seeing the people at this convention. Authors, people involved in publishing, people we know from the internet and people we met at previous conventions. I always wonder if I'm going to forget anything. And once I get there, I realize that it doesn't matter. It's who we are there with that makes it worthwhile.

And this year, like previous years, there will be people we haven't actually met in person before. Only read books by, and/or read e-mails from. The downside to this is that after spending four days surrounded by these people you get used to seeing them all over the place all day long. And then before I know it, I'm back home. Of course that's when anticipation for the next year builds again. This year will be softened a little by the fact that the following week we will see some of these people again at the Magna Cum Murder convention.

But it really comes down to the people. And the people in my life have made my life really super. My wife, of course, is instrumental in this. She understands my need for less sleep, and my need to own every book I see. She understands that some nights while she eats healthy I need to eat sausage and fries. She loves me faults and all, and encourages my stronger points. The rest of my family are no slouches either. My "birth" family and my new in-laws. They all encourage me, and they harass me when I need it. I know that they say you can pick your friends, but your family you are stuck with. Well, I don't feel stuck. My family is great.

I also have really great friends. I believe this even more after this summer. I had my high school reunion and saw people I hadn't seen in years. And a lot of them I'm in contact with again. Also the friends that I've made along the way are still around. They listen when I need them to, and they don't mind the quiet when I have nothing to say. I also got to meet more people I know through the internet this year. Between signings and picnics for visiting webspinners (HI Vicki!), I got to meet a bunch of them in person. These people who are there when I can't sleep, and are there when I need to rant. And as it turns out, they are all more fun in person!

Life is good. I have a lot of good books to read, new movies to see, and a wonderful vacation coming up. My job is good, my cats are happy, and there's some good tv on this season. But most of all I've got great friends, and family.

So to all of my friends, old, new, and those I haven't met yet,

Thank You.

Jon