Now 3 months into the new relationship, and my previous assessment of this gal as a keeper has only grown more certain. She and I are incredibly well-suited to one another -- it's a very nice feeling.

I made my way to New Jersey at October's end for a friend's wedding. One of the best people I know, and his wife seems incredible, though I didn't have much time to meet her. Very very happy for them both. Then it was just an overnight stay in a little town on Long Island before I would fly back to -- HOLY SHIT, A HURRICANE!

Scratch that, 3 days of extended stay in a house near the shore surrounded by water and with 3 feet of same in the basement before I and a couple other wedding refugees could escape. But it was actually a good time spent with entertaining people. We made the best of it very well and hardly even lost power. Damn lucky Sandy turned west when she did, though.

Life is good -- definitely better than any time in the last 10 years at least. I'm knocking on a lot of wood and hoping the good times continue.

-TTm