Slow-smoked BBQ brisket, green and yellow wax beans with sauteed scallion and toasted almonds, twice-baked potatoes, IBC root beer. Then, for dessert, coffee and magic cookie bars.

That was dinner tonight. Everything tastes good, and so I will return to Chicago on Tuesday several pounds heavier.

I did some thrift store shopping with my mom today. She bought nothing. I bought an H. P. Lovecraft book and 3 records for $1.08. This morning I thought fondly of Andy, because Night of the Comet was on the Sci-Fi channel this morning and I watched most of it.

My brother arrived this morning. Right now, everyone but me is at church. We have not had the “big conversation” yet. All we’ve talked about is what meals we’re going to have the whole weekend, where we’re going to have brunch tomorrow. This is how my family works. I’m just going to take things as they come; they’ll bring it up when they want to.

Before driving to Estes Park yesterday I stopped at a thrift store in Wheat Ridge. I picked up “Pet Sounds” on CD, a Thomas Tryon novel (haven’t ever read him) and “The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm.” Score!

It’s really peaceful up here, but so Republican and conservative I can’t even think about it. My parents still have their BUSH/CHENEY ’04 bumpersticker on the minivan. Estes Park is like the GOP inversion of rural Vermont.