A whole gaggle (maybe even a bevy, but gaggle sounds about right) of people came to visit me at Camarillo yesterday, so let me rattle them off. First and foremost, my parents and my brother Ray. While Ray may still be assuming that I have a consumerist mindset (which I might exude by daydreaming out loud), I still think that my parents are pretty much in touch with what my needs are at this moment: companionship around a picnic table. It's the greatest of common denominators.

To David, who was first on the scene was I was at the hospital, thanks for always, even if in metaphorical senses, arriving to pick me up to take me home. Some people fear failure. It takes a rare breed to be unafraid of success. I'll visit you in Peru on the condition that I don't have to eat guinea pigs.

Dale and Marie, for flying all the way out from Albuquerque to come see me (in my mind, the alumni game was secondary; don't spoil it for me), I want to offer my heartfelt thanks. There will probably come a time when I am in New Mexico and looking for a place to stay while I get my bearings correct, and it's nice to know that open arms and giddy puppies are available beyond my state borders. My initial idea for a blog name: Not My Fault.

To Grant, I want to give my congratulations to you and Jamie. I look forward to seeing this master closet with the island, so that I can forward all my mail there. Don't wear a patterned tie with a patterned shirt. It looks terrible. Solid on patterns or patterns on solid. And make sure the belt matches the shoes.

In absentia, while I'm here, I also want to thank Liz, Matty J, Richard and Jacob for taking time out of their lives to come see me in my justice-induced squalor. I know that I'm a fairly wretched person right now, and that you're all friends with me pretty much out of habit, but I'll more than make it up to you, to all of you, in the years to come. Every day is a chocolate truffle resting neatly on your tongue: its gift to you is joy and wonderment. And it tastes great with coffee.