Publication suspended

Finally. Summer has arrived in the Northwest Corner. The sun is bright. The sky is blue. The temperatures are in the high 70's. The breezes are soft and gentle, caressing lightly my arms, legs and face, as I stroll down the sidewalk in shorts and t-shirt.

Seattle at its finest: a summer paradise, short in duration, but generous in its gifts.

Well then! I guess it must be time to go hiking in the Scottish Highlands! Take a look at that ten-day forecast. Yes sir, that's one day of partial sunshine. Does this kid know how to pick 'em? And the midge forecast! -- for indeed there is a Scots webpage ominously reporting the midge forecast -- it's for high levels of biting midges, reaching their highest intensity in Glen Coe, a valley through which I'll be hiking. Silly Yank -- look at him trying to admire the scenery while desperately warding off rain and midge.

So be it. The Northwest Corner now shuts down for vacation break. Come back in mid-August, and see what's on its insane publisher's mind. Learn how his diluvial, rain-sodden hike actually worked out in practice.

(I'm kidding -- I'm gonna have fun, no matter how rebarbative the weather conditions may be!)