Vacation Time

Just shortly before noontime, I was officially on vacation! I spent the afternoon finishing my packing, getting keys to people, having a lunch, washing my car... playing. Tomorrow morning, I head out toward DC... do the walk. Then it is Baltimore, Atlantic City, NYC and the Catskills. Niagara is now out. When I got home today, I checked my mail--no passport. The officials were doubtful that my drivers license alone would be problem-free at the border, and as I mailed off my birth certificate with my passport app... I decided I would stay 2 nights in the Catskills and just drive home from there. Just about an hour ago, my neighbor came knocking... my passport had, in fact, come--just to his mailbox. So, since I had already booked and pre-paid my room for two nights, I'm sticking with it. The passport will get enough use in June.

Believe it or not, I've been very preoccupied with my vacation, neglecting to ridicule the City of Ypsilanti's Council requesting that we all join in a national day of prayer today to help the city through its fiscal struggle. Or the envelope I got in the mail yesterday with decriptions all over the outside about how Jesus loves me... or some such thing.

Ok, gotta get from here... DC is awaiting its new "madam" I can pimp. LOL

Yesterday was the last long training walk... the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is now just days away. I admit, I'm excited... looking for tent decorations for the Wellness Villiage, getting the last minute supplies, getting my sleeping bag laundered and ready... tonight, I will do a dry run on the gear bag to make sure it doesn't exceed the 30 pound limit and that the bag itself is large enough.

This week for me will focus more on giving my body some rest; shorter walks, strength training and time permiting, playing in my new garden... I also need to get the cats situated and all necessary supplies at hand for SK and Mal--despite SKs threat of refusing the boys treats, I think she will acquiese once a purring sweet faced Calvin or Jakey rub against her.

Despite my excitement about the impending Walk and vacation, I realize all too much that there is just not a lot of time to get all the things that I want done... and if the places I needed to go were open right now, I'd be there instead of here, writing about it. And really, yesterday might have provided more opportunity to get all these things done, except yes, I sat on my patio for 2 hours reading and soaking in too much sun after my training walk.

Vacation is a much needed escape and the first part will find me doing the Walk and visiting friends I have not seen--some for years! And then concluding with hiking in the Catskills and a stop by Niagara Falls on the way home via my Canadian neighbors--providing the US Government will cooperate and get my passport here as they indicated the would several months ago. Don't make me sense a conspiracy!

The time now is upon me to get dressed, get som hula hooping in and get going on some gardening supplies... there is an orientation today, and hopefully a little time for me to work the land--as is said... indeed a full day of excitement ahead.

Your News Update

In a moment of feeling guilty for not reading the news in a few days, I hopped on CNN.com--which was my first mistake... I never read the news on CNN; but it happened--perhaps I inhaled too many nail polish fumes today, I dunno.

Seems one of the popular stories on CNN today is Dr Prison Radio. A Prison Coach of sorts to help you if you find yourself on your way to the "Big House" Note to those in Ann Arbor--they are not talking about the Stadium.

Also, Don Ho, who for many years I was convinced was a fictional character, died at the age of 72.

And, finally, before my head imploded, I caught sight of the headline that read Gonzalez better be prepared for some tough questioning... I'm confused, after firing 8 US Attorneys, why would one think it would be followed up with cake and ice cream?

Eh, whatever!

So, this weekend found me wrapping up my vacation plans. Part of my trip will be coming home via Niagara Falls... I haven't been in over 16 years, from what I hear--it's no longer in the same spot. The Travel Channel is showing a program as I type on the Falls... apparently, if I wait long enough, they will be located in Detroit and I won't have to drive very far or have a passport (beacuse only in Canada can you go behind the Falls... they are not as litigious a society apparently though they are very concerned about protecting their borders lately--not that I can blame them).