The ancient settlers of Houston, in the mid-nineteenth century, used to describe the summers here as unbearable and lasting until "October 15th." Well, true, there was no airconditioning then and I have often wondered why man settled here in the first place, but it is now a wonderful place to live. And summer, even by their standards, is now officially over.

It's raining here today, which puts the kabosh on bicycle riding--an activity for which this town is ideally suited. It's very green, with lots of lovely trees, and it's flat. Most of the inner city sidewalks are graded at intersections so there's no need to hop curbs. It's true the city is famous for its auto traffic, but once one learns the side streets the mobility and exercise combine for "the greater good of the body." A little Star Trek--"Landru" humor there. Since I am on vacation this week I am willfully allowing the rain to constrain my mobility (though I have a car) so I can play hermit/hobbit for a few days. I have my cable TV, the Internet and my Flight Simulator. Btw, FSX (Flight Simulator 10) came out last week and I am hard up against the fact that my current home PC can't handle that new/improved edition. Now I know what I want to get myself for Christmas.

As I continue with my old FS2002 I seek to enhance my flight simming experience by creating scenery. I have in mind the creation of my own "fantasy island." I've read that such projects are rather easily managed, but I am daunted by the task. I have chosen the location, 361nm south southwest of Oahu, and I've conjured up a name for the rock: "Kalakahulan Island" a combination of my original Scottish surname and Hawaiian, but just sketching the object has given me fits. For inspiration I have been drawing on the old chart of Jules Verne's Mysterious Island, which has stayed with me since I was around 14 years old: