Way far afield, here

Maybe you've heard about South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, his supposedly going on walkabout on the Appalachian Trail, but then it being revealed that he was in Argentina with is inamorata. Sad and sordid. A South Carolina newspaper has some of the e-mails between the governor and his mistress, which include this glorious passage to her:

To me, and I suspect no one else on earth, there is something wonderful about listening to country music playing in the cab, air conditioner running, the hum of a huge diesel engine in the background, the tranquility that comes with being in a virtual wilderness of trees and marsh, the day breaking and vibrant pink coming alive in the morning clouds — and getting to build something with each scoop of dirt.

Yup, nothing says taking in nature like rising at dawn, jumping in a hermetically sealed compartment, cranking up the stereo (enhanced by the sweet rhythm of an industrial diesel engine), and digging it up.

Ah, tranquility.