But first, a few photos!

Can you believe Peg and I showed up at our second book-writing retreat wearing the same dress?! We didn't even know we owned the same dress. Bonus: Since my kids really, really wanted to see the room and jump on the beds (Retreat Central was just three miles from home) -- and since I was happy for their help, along with Dad's, to shlepp the last of my gear up to the room -- Peg and I had a willing photographer on hand for a moment, to document the coincidence. (Thank you, Maya Sweetie!)

And when I say we shlepped in the stuff, I mean
We shlepped in the stuff!

Call us urban campers. I snapped this photo at the end, as we awaited Sean the Bellman to help pack us out. A photo of the incoming load (if it existed) would show lots more groceries. We ate well! Though the room lacked cooking facilities, the elevator stood ready to whisk us down to the doorstep of McGrath's, Hyatt's downtown-Albuquerque restaurant, where the kitchen staff stood just as ready to please, if only to bake Peg's gourmet pizza in their oven or pop my bag of corn in their microwave. We never did actually dine at McGrath's, but we recommend it to any restaurant-goer in the neighborhood, purely on principle.

Lugging in the cappucino maker and accoutrement definitely paid off. Saved us considerable dollars and minutes (OK, half-hours) not spent running down to Starbuck's in the lobby.
Nope, we ate in, drank in... Just hunkered in the bunker and wrote.

Peg brought along her brand-spanking new copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition, our publisher's stylebook of choice.
Oh, and she struck on a possible solution to midlife changes in visual accuity, to say nothing of cutting-edge fashion.

The weather was kind enough to be cloudy all weekend while we hunkered indoors. Not just dull gray, though. We enjoyed our 9th-floor view of blanket after blanket of clouds spilling over the Sandia Mountains. Photos through the window never do justice to such beautiful scenery.

...And we even made it to the hot tub! Only once, but still. While we were there, we "collected" a little story for the book, from a couple passing through on their way from San Francisco (their home of 30 years) to their new home in Amarillo, Texas, a town they had yet to set foot in. Now that's a midlife adventure!

WHICH reminds me: I owe you an update about our story needs for the book, now that our template is much condensed. It's coming. Stay tuned.