Day 10:Sept 12, 2026 Relaxing at West Twin Lake.

​Seems that a few bottles of wine were consumed last night so we moved a little slower this morning, taking our time. Cici had already left at 5:30 AM to head to Fargo for more family visits, leaving Kasey, Alan, Linda, and me at the cabin.

​"Walking" the dog is less about walking and more about managing the leash. Tad isn't used to being on one and has developed a few bad habits. Add in the fact that this little corner of the West Twin Lake development is bursting with bunnies and squirrels, and for a dog on a leash, it’s pure torture.

​We spent the walk doing a high-stakes leash dance. Tad changes direction so fast I barely have time to react. When he gets excited, he circles right behind his captor, requiring a precisely timed overhead arm-lift to avoid getting wrapped up like a mummy.

​Breakfast turned into a proper 10:00 AM brunch: pancakes, sausage simmered in beer, and scrambled eggs. Amazingly, we managed to get everything finished at the exact same time so we could sit down while it was all still hot. Kasey’s cousin Chuck, who is also Alan and Cici’s brother, arrived right as we were plating up, so we convinced him to join us for a few bites.

​Chuck bought this cabin over 20 years ago and has fixed it up beautifully. He likes to stay busy, so right after brunch, he pulled out the mower and took care of the lawn before joining Alan downstairs to install a new light fixture. 

Alan stays just as busy and set right to work washing the windows, claiming he just "likes to help." 

As for me, I wandered around taking photos of the local flora for iNaturalist.

​After another round of dancing with Tad, I was called inside for a game of Mexican Train dominoes. 

Alan and Linda play all the time and are serious pros. Linda prevailed, and we all celebrated her victory with dinner at her favorite steakhouse (where I particularly appreciated the sign by the restrooms).

​Back at the cabin, we sank into the couch to talk and try to solve the world’s problems. It turns out there are far too many, so we decided to adjourn and continue the conference tomorrow.