Still recuperating from our trip this weekend to the Porcupine Mountains in the U.P. It’s about 6.5 hours virtually straight north of Madison and you just keep driving until you hit Lake Superior. Then you take a left.

We hiked out three miles to our backcountry, rustic cabin only to discover that the folks in the ranger station put the wrong key in the envelope. Ha-ha, very funny. And they were due to close. See, when you think you’re staying in a cabin you don’t bring things like tents. So Steven and I had to drop our packs and run (yes, run) three miles back to the car and speed to the ranger station before they closed to get the right key. Then we had to walk back (and I do mean walk) the same three miles to the cabin where Amy and Jenny had been playing frisbee with Athena and drinking wine.

Let’s recap. Steven and I backpacked three miles, then ran three miles, then walked three miles. Amy and Jenny backpacked three miles and then drank wine.

My legs are still sore and I have vowed never to run again unless it is during a competitive sporting event–preferably one with a ball being kicked about–or unless I’m being chased.

Unfortunately, work is keeping me from writing much although I did whip out a 1500-worder the previous weekend that I think is kind of fun but has no real conflict. Does a story need conflict? Well, kinda sorta. So now I’m trying to decide whether to add conflict (which means a complete rewrite) or hope that brevity and cleverness win the day.

Still no word on any of my pending subs. This makes me irritable. I wish I could get to a place where I happily forget pending stories, but I’m not there yet.