Well, here they are-the reason for everything.

We didn't pack up and leave Minnesota just so we could take them on daytrips to Seaside, Oregon, but right now, I have never missed Minnesota less. An hour and a half down the Sunset Highway to dip your feet in the (okay,frigid) Pacific with your beatiful wife and wonderful children on a drop-dead gorgeous Fall Sunday is about as good as it gets. Slackjawed Midwesterner, indeed.