Beth's Contradictory Brain

Relationships

Well, she's finally done! We're going to hang out in Seattle again this evening wtih her friend from college. Then tomorrow we drive down I-5 to Sacramento to stay with a friend of ours there.

I've been thinking that it would be really cool if I could persuade all of my regular readers to participate in a discussion on relationships, I know most of you are either married or have been together for years.

During all of our months apart, Nerdstar and I both had lots of time to really think about our relationship, if it's the one we want to have, if we're fully committed to it, and how to make it better. For me it was sort of the idea that well, we're apart for a long period of time, if one of us isn't sure and wants out, this is a convenient time for it. Even after five years together, the answers weren't automatic. There were times I had what I think is close to pre-wedding jitters. The wow, is this really the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, am I certain there isn't someone better, and life sure is a long time.

Nerdstar says she knew from our first weekend together that I was the one for her. I took a little longer to be sure.

What I'd really love is a cross-blog discussion of making life committed relationships work. One thing Nerdstar and I totally lack is role models for this sort of thing.

You can email me your response if you don't have a blog and I can post it here. If you answer on your blog, let me know and I'll post all the links, and comments are always good. Who knows, maybe we'll start a "carnival of relationships".

The first topic I'm curious about is not so much how you knew your love was "the one", but the idea of pre-wedding jitters - or any panic you had when you realized you were committing yourself to them for the rest of your life. Was it easy or hard to make that commitment, was it easier for one of you than the other, is it easy to keep that commitment?

Don't make me list your names and ask your thoughts :-)

Pics

I finally got the pics developed and uploaded on Nerdstar's Fotopage (linked in blogroll).

I really enjoy taking pictures, I always wish I'd taken more of them. I posted the best out of two rolls of film. The ones from the last disposable camera Nerdstar had came out kind of grainy, so I'm glad I've got the real camera with me, even if it means having to be patient while getting them developed.

I'll try to take more pics on our drive from here to Vegas, and then from Vegas to Austin. I really wish I could have mounted a video camera to run the whole time I was driving from Austin to Olympia. Like I've said before, this is such a stunningly beautiful country.

Nerdstar is almost done outprocessing, hopefully early tomorrow she'll be all mine!

update: I'm going to add a few more photos late tonight.

A Day in Portland

We had a fantastic day in and around Portland yesterday. The Lush store was in this amazing neighborhood full of old houses converted into cool shops, but not ultra hip shops. The people strolling up and down the sidewalks were diverse and fun to watch. It was a nice change from the super freaks in the Seattle neighborhood - they just made me feel old.

I had been to Portland over ten years ago on a "business" trip and remembered going to see some really beautiful waterfalls then. While we were eating at one of the sidewalk cafes I asked the people at the next table of they were from around here, they were. I asked about the waterfalls and found out they were only about 35 miles east of town. Way cool. So we drove out to the Columbia River Gorge area and walked around and saw a couple of really beautiful waterfalls. The weather, once again was perfect, too.

Ramen is an overly friendly dog, which translates into not being able to take him anywhere. He's constantly choking himself on his leash trying to get to anyone who might be willing to pet him. I think yesterday convinced Nerdstar why it's important for her to try to get him at least a little better trained at staying calm. (Her as opposed to me because he's her dog!)

It was funny. After seeing the South Park episode where Cartman's cat has all of the other neighborhood cats over for a party, Nerdstar always jokes that's what ours will do while we're out of town. So we cracked up when the people we asked for directions told us they'd had a cat that they had installed a cat door in the basement for, and when they came home from being out of town for the weekend they found seven additional cats hanging out in their basement!

We don't have a digital camera with us. The one I thought Nerdstar would have with her, she actually mailed back to the house. I do, however, have my Canon AE-1 with us, which I think is a cool camera. It just means I'm having to wait to get the film developed before I can post any of them to her fotopage. She took the car today because she had to be on base at 7:30 this morning, so maybe tomorrow I can get the pics developed.

Their luggage is finally here from New Jersey. Later this evening she should know how long it's going to take to get it all sorted, cleaned, and turned in. Maybe we'll be out of here Wednesday instead of Thursday. We're definitely ready to be on our way to Vegas!

This is so time to get out of the army

Just read this article....

About 800 members of the 98th Army Reserve Division from Rochester, New York will begin a year-long mission in Iraq next month.

"This is a hard war and we, frankly, inside the Army Reserve have been not properly prepared for it,” said Lt. Gen. James Helmly, chief of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Unfortunately, until newer and better leadership comes along, things like this will keep on happening. When I was over in Iraq, we've had cooks who are not cooking, infantry soldiers who are not patrolling or fighting, and the list goes on and on.

I'm not opposed to freeing the Iraqis and making the world safer from terrorists, but I can't help it but to think that we've been approaching this incorrectly.

What do you think?

Weekend

Friday afternoon Nerdstar found out she has to be at Ft. Lewis until probably Thursday. Due to continued incompetence on the part of her chain of command, they're having a hard time getting the gear they had to leave behind in New Jersey to Ft. Lewis. Oh well. This is why I'm up here with her and not waiting back in Austin, we knew she could have to spend a week or two up here.

She did get the weekend off, so that's good. Yesterday we finally went into Seattle. The weather has been great. We went to Toys In Babeland, but I'm not telling what we bought! Then we met up with a friend of hers from college for lunch. We found this ultra hip barber shop and both got haircuts. My hair was way too cool for me for the rest of the day! We walked around the Capital Hill area for a while then drove over to West Seattle to this little chinese place for dinner that her friend had recommended. It was good.

Today we're driving down to Portland to indulge Nerdstar's fetish for bath products by going to Lush.

I'm baaaaack!

I am finally back from Iraq, it took a few days between Kuwait, then Germany, Canada, Maine, New Jersey (our luggage is still there), Illinois, and finally, Washington!

I was/am so glad to see Beth and Ramen! Looking forward to making up for all the missed conversations, sex, walks, and everything else! It has so far been a kind of grueling week of outprocessing, with leaders who don't necessarily know what they are doing. It's a relief to go back to the hotel room and not the barracks when the day is through!

Beth is so wonderful, she showered me with lots of hugs, snuggles, and ..... well, you know! This past year and a half has been hard on her and I've got lots of making up to do, and lots of stuff to work out , but I am confident that things will hopefully all come together in time.

I am so looking forward to this roadtrip home! Seeing the rest of our pets, and seeing my families again! I will write more after this whole army business is over! I've got some snuggling to do!

Nerdstar

Magic Blanket

It's so nice to finally sleep thru the night again. Not only is Nerdstar my snuggle bunny, she's obviously my magic blanket as well.

We're just hanging out this week. She's spending all day at Ft. Lewis trying to get things done. It's still stunning to me just how hard it is to get anything done in the military. I'm still trying to get her to write about it. Ramen and I are idling away the time at the hotel and taking short walks at a nearby community college. The last two days had lots of sunshine, but today it's finally overcast and a little rainy, but the rest of the week is supposed to be sunny.

Still not sure how long before she's cleared from Ft. Lewis - hopefully this weekend, but no way to know just yet. Then we have to decide on a route to Vegas!

That's about it from here.

Finally!

I pulled into Olympia, WA about 4:30 yesterday. Nerdstar's flight got to the Seattle airport a few hours earlier. Her and her unit had to get all of their gear from the airport to the base, so it was a good thing she was earlier than me. I got all settled into the hotel and she finally called from base and was free for the evening. The Army gets her during the day while we're up here. They still have lots of paperwork, briefings, and turning in of equipment (some of which is still enroute) to do this week. Hopefully it won't take longer than a week, but you never know.

I got stuck at the front gate of the base because I didn't have the piece of paper for the car registration, but she walked from the barracks to the front gate :-) I actually didn't cry when I saw her, I thought I would. I think knowing she was at least safely in the states the last couple of days and the long, long drives thru beautiful country really helped deflate my worries.

We had a nice dinner, although we were both too tired to really eat. Then it was back to the hotel for some long awaited sex and snuggles!!

While we have lots of catching up to do, (especially in sex) being with her is better than ever, just as easy and comfortable as always.

I'll try to get her to write later tonight.

Boise

I'm now in Boise, Idaho. Go figure. Not a city I would have ever thought I'd find myself in. Almost 850 miles today, right at 12 hours. I think around the ninth hour Ramen lost his will to live.

I'm amazed that in those 12 hours of driving I passed thru maybe 3 real towns - not even cities. This really is the land of golden mountain majesty and amber waves of grain. If you've never taken a long drive thru the open parts of this beautiful country - you really, really should. It was cool to see that the rocks in Wyoming look a lot like the rocks in Arizona. Which makes sense, but it's still cool.

Nerdstar is stuck on some base in Jersey tonight. Even being stateside she can't get out of the logistical hell known as the U.S. Army. We should finally be together tomorrow night.

I want to say a great big thank you to Michelle and Kim for letting me crash at their place last night and taking me to see the play. It really did make this long drive much more enjoyable!

From the Road

It's too early! After over 600 miles and 9 hours, Ramen and I made it to the middle of Kansas. Feels like the middle of nowhere.

I couldn't sleep Wednesday night, so about 2 am I decided to check my email and got lucky and caught Nerdstar online. At that time she still didn't know if they'd fly out within 24 hours or 9 days later. She was on the list for a flight within 24 hours, but you read the complications in the earlier post. I told her to call when she knew anything. I thought I'd hear from her when I woke up Thursday.

I waited all morning and didn't hear from her. I decided to be optimistic and take a chance and go ahead and hit the road with the hopes she'd be on a flight soon.

After driving all day I found a nice little hotel for the night last night and checked in, plugged in the laptop and checked my email. Still no word. All day, and certainly now, I'm hoping it's because she's too busy getting ready for the flight! She has 3 duffle bags and two other bags which has to be checked by customs - which means unpacking everything and packing it again.

I finally fall asleep about midnight and the cell phone rings at 2 am again - it's Nerdstar!

They're on a flight out of Kuwait that leaves around 2 pm this afternoon. I know they're supposed to stop in Germany and New Jersey before hitting Ft. Lewis - but for now we should both be getting to Ft. Lewis sometime Sunday night.

I'm going to hit the shower, grab some breakfast, gas up the car and drive to Denver.

This post brought to you by "On the road again" and "I'm leaving, on a jet plane."

The Latest

Here's the latest...

I am at Kuwait now, at Camp Doha, where central command used to be. They put us up in a big warehouse full of bunk beds and it's unisex.

My main task today is do a 2 hour weapons guard, eat some fast food, read, and try to keep lines of communications open with you so you'll know what's
going on when I do.

5 p.m. her time is about 8 a.m my time. Fortunately, it doesn't matter what time I start driving tomorrow - and hopefully it'll still be tomorrow. If not, well, not much I can do about it other than be flexable.

At least she's where it's safe, but I can't imagine having to spend a week sleeping in a big warehouse full of other people!

Hitting The Road

It's 8 a.m. where Nerdstar is - I'm just not sure what that is. Hopefully she made it to Kuwait nice and safe.

I'm hitting the road in the morning. I'm all packed and everything is all set and I'm ready to be done with this sofa! I'm driving from Austin to Salina, KS tomorrow. Not a very exciting drive. But the rest of the drive should be really cool.

I've been anxious and felt like crying several times today. Maybe it's an odd form of relief, maybe I'm transferring all the fear and worry about Nerdstar to fear and worry about the future. It's going to be hard to reprogram my brain - any suggestions?

It's also weird to know this part of our lives is over - although it will be felt for a long time to come. I'll probably write more about those kinds of things in a week or so.

I must say - road trippin is a good way to start over.

Nerdstar Update

This is the email I got from her this morning:

I am at the airfield now, and they are trying to, as space becomes available, get us on the c-130 flights to Kuwait city, the first flight will leave around noon but I probably won't be on it. Hopefully, I'll be able to get on a flight before the day is over.

I will give you more updates as events warrant.

As for me, I'm off to get Ramen all cleaned up and to do laundry. I haven't been able to shake all the worries and get excited yet. I'll breathe easier once she's in Kuwait. I'll have four days on the road to daydream about finally seeing her again!

Good Reads

Go read Tony because he kicks ass and tells you why you should vote. Tony is the one blogger who makes me yell at my computer as much as watching CNN makes me yell at my tv. But I have a feeling if I ever had the good fortune to meet him I'd be too charmed to yell at him in person.

Now, go read Ryan because he cracks me up. He has a fantastic interview with Bush and Kerry about Coke and Pepsi, Salma and Halle.

Wow

Oprah gave everyone in her audience on that day a car - a new car. Wow. While I'm not a huge fan of her show, I admire her greatly. In fact, honestly, I'd love to have both the influence she has thru her show and the money she has to do similar philanthropic things with.

Fun with kids

It really is stunning just how often "Because I said so." is a very valid response to a three and a half year old. It's closely followed by "What did I just tell you?"

My brother has ended up staying here and hanging out as well. We had a good time at the park this morning, then came home and napped and went to have ice cream. Tonight it was apparently movie night, Lion King, Nemo, and now A Bug's Life. See, it's a good thing my parents have been collecting animated movies for me all these years, first on video, now on dvd.

It's hard to go from all that solitude to having two boys in my house. They're messy!

Looking Forward

This third anniversary of 9/11 finds me looking forward.

I'm looking forward to this afternoon when my nephew is here. I remember in the weeks following that day I worried so much for his future. I was convinced that sometime in his life he would face something similar if not worse, and it broke my heart. But really, every person's life has tragedy in it, as well as great joy and love.

I'm looking forward to next Saturday when I begin my trip up to Ft. Lewis and Nerdstar begins her trek there as well. It's going to be a beautiful time of year to be driving thur the western half of this georgous country.

I'm looking forward to letting go of the fear and worry and loneliness and getting on with life. To finding jobs and having kids and one day growing old.

And really, that's what the anniversary of 9/11 should be about - getting on with life. Not in a forgetful way, but in a way that is damn thankful to have a life to get on with.

Facts and Evidence

On the off chance you're not aware of the document scandal for CBS head over to Instapundit or KerrySpot and get caught up.

Here's what I've been wondering for a while now. Both sides in this election are completely convinced that the other guy wouldn't/couldn't tell the truth if preventing the immediate destruction of the known universe depended on it. I've been trying to figure out how you ever overcome that, either as the candidate yourself, the handlers, the supporters, or whoever.

I know that anytime my character, certainly my truthfullness, is questioned, I have a hard time defending myself. I mean, if they already think I'm a liar, well, what are the chances anything I say will change their mind? So if my character and past behavior can't/don't speak for themselves, what then?

Now we've got this document saga. At what point is evidence evidence and a fact a fact? In this age of everything is relative, everything is a conspiracy, nothing is absolute, how to we know when something really is true?

I don't know. But it seems to me we need to figure it out.

Good Reading

If you're not reading The Kerry Spot, you really should be.

Prissy

You know your cat is prissy and spoiled when there are very loud birds in the tree outside the open back door and she looks at you like, "Well, go chase them off!"

Update:

The dog's life would be much better if he understood the implications of the phrase "I'm going to kill you soon."

The Pentagon's New Map

I caught Mr. Barnett's presentation on C-Span over the long weekend. Then found his blog. He works at the Naval War College and has written a book about the big picture future of the military and intelligence agencies called The Pentagon's New Map. I really can't sum any of it up. I'm not sure any of my dear readers will be all that interested in his stuff, but if you are, spend some time reading thru his entries and then check out his book.

For me, it's good to read that there are serious minded, intelligent people trying to solve some difficult problems and bring about effective reform. All you ever hear in the media, and even sometimes in the blogsphere, is shrill questioning of everything and shouting matches.

Go check him out.

Movies, Hero and Asian Films

It's so nice to read a smart woman with similar taste in movies. Ann Althouse, a new find for me, wrote a fantastic review of Hero and of moviegoing in general.

You'd think with all this time on my hands I would have seen a lot more movies the past few months. But every time I go to Blockbuster and look at just about every movie on the shelves they just bore me, and I'm bored enough without help.

I, too, had heard the great reviews of Hero and how beautiful it was. I even went on Sunday or Monday (how sad I can't remember which right now, all the days are the same this week) and sat thru it in a full theater.

Sidetrack - I think I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again. I hate noise. Especially eating noise. So trying to hear a movie over the din of packages opening and popcorn being crunched drives me nuts.

Hero is a beautiful movie. So that aspect of it was nice for me - just to sit back and take in the colors and backgrounds and movements and let my mind relax. But trying to keep up with the plot - and then actually care about the characters - just ended up feeling like too much work. It can be really cool when movies go back to the same events and show them from different perspectives. This time I just got tired of seeing the same characters kill each other and in the end didn't really care if they all stayed dead.

I enjoy watching Asian films. I'm pretty sure most Chinese films are made in Hong Kong, so they're in Cantonese instead of Manderin - which Nerdstar speaks. It was interesting that in Rush Hour 1 and 2 they used both Cantonese and Manderin - not sure why. I can't speak but three words of Manderin (hi, grandma, and ok) but I know it when I hear it, as opposed to Cantonese or Vietnamese or Korean.

Love you like the plague

I got a phone call from Nerdstar early this morning. That was great! They've had a lot of problems with the servers, so we didn't get to have our afternoon chat yesterday. Things are moving along for her return home. I know that in a week our communication will be down to emails and whatever phone calls she can make.

As we were winding down the conversation I asked, "How much do you love me?" She said, "Bunches. Like the plagues in Egypt." Huh?? I cracked up. Then she added, "Like the nuclear bombs over Japan - powerful with lifelong affects." I just about lost it. I said, "Your love is like the plague?" "Yeah."

That's my girl.

Grumpy

Tomorrow will mark two weeks with no conversations other than IMs with Nerdstar and another friend or two. I'm about to convince myself I prefer it that way. I'm still too worried about Nerdstar to take much delight in the fact that with any luck she'll be on her way back home in less than two weeks. They've had firefights just outside her base and more mortar attacks the past few days, so until she's actually out of Iraq it's not totally safe.

I've contracted some vague illness the past twenty four hours. Stomach problems, but then in the middle of the night last night I woke up cold, like a fever cold. I actually had to turn the a/c off, turn the ceiling fan off and get another blanket for the bed. But it just didn't seem like one of my normal fevers. And a slight headache for about twenty four hours now. Thankfully aspirin works for that. Some of this might be from foreign germs from the boxes Nerdstar sent home from Iraq. I know when she was home on leave I caught some vague crude from the dust from her duffle bag.

All that to say I'm grumpy. It's weird that with the end so near it doesn't feel it.

Saturday my brother is coming thru and dropping off my nephew for a day or two. I can't wait. The only person I love more than Zachary is Nerdstar. The last time it was just Zach and I was right before last Christmas. Now he talks a lot more and is growing up, so it'll be fun. Then the rest of next week will be getting the car and dog ready for the trip and packing and cleaning. So it'll be better.

I just have to get thru the next four days.

This and That

There are a few new photos up on Nerdstar's fotopage. I'm pretty sure these are some older ones. She's taken almost all of the pics on the page with disposable cameras. The photo labs keep mentioning how the heat has affected the film. When it's 110 in Iraq, I can't imagine how hot it gets in the mail trucks and such. She's had a couple of digital cameras with her, but one didn't work very well, and she sort of gave up on them. When we got to IM the other day (which is becomming increasingly frustrated because the servers are barely working lately) she said she was going to be taking pictures of people posing with the little packages of oreos I sent her last week.

How sad

One other thought about the horrible happenings in Russia. Those poor children and parents. It was the first day of school. A day that is so full of hope and promise and good cheer - well, except for the tears of "oh no, they're growing up so fast" for the parents. I can remember all the pictures of me and my brother on our first days of school - the new clothes, the clean, usually white tennis shoes, the new lunch box, the excitement and anticipation. Would the teachers be evil ogres or nice? Would our friends be in our classes? And now every first day of school for the rest of their lives, as children or parents, is ruined. While they obviously won't have to go back to the same school, thankfully, when they do have to return to school in the next few days/weeks, how terrible it will be for them. It just breaks my heart.

Hostages, Hurricanes and Hearts

At least it's not a slow news day. Too bad the news isn't good.

Here's a great site chronicling the events of the school that was under siege in Russia. I simply can't imagine holding small children hostage without food and water in the heat for days. It's just evil. And while it's tempting to politicize the event, that wouldn't be right either. I just hope and pray the survivors will be ok in the long term, physically and emotionally.

While the news continues to over dramatize (in my opinion) Hurricane Frances, it is a dangerous storm affecting millions of people.

As for Clinton and his heart problems - the jokes are too easy to bother with. I'm no fan of the man, but even if it is probably routine surgery and all, it's still potentially dangerous, and I hope the best for him.

I got two more boxes of stuff from Nerdstar today, mostly gear she doesn't need anymore but doesn't have to turn back in to the Army. They make me sneeze!! Iraq smells funky. It's a totally unfamiliar smell, as makes sense. In the little journal she sent back in this box she writes about the mortar attack that happened back in June where several trailers were hit and she was right there at the scene. I can't imagine.

Fresh

Stephen said everyone would be linking it, might as well be first.

Unwinding

How fun. I was flipping channels after the convention and Fast Times at Ridgemont High is on TBS. I'd forgotten it came out during my freshman year of high school. Wow. That was way too long ago. I remember watching it. I also remember I never did own a pair of Vans.

It's so cool to see who was in it and the careers they've had since. I mean, Forest Whitaker? It seems the guys from the flick had better careers than the chicks. Of course, Sean Penn, but Anthony Edwards, Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, James Russo.

Nice way to unwind.

Update: Now I remember why I was a much bigger fan of Valley Girl that came out the next year. It even has a much better soundtrack. "don't let it get me... the vulture of love."

Bush's Speech

I was pretty bored for a lot of it. It ended a lot better than it began.

"Even if you disagree with me, you know where I stand and what I believe" - or something close. And that's true for me. I know a lot of my readers think he's evil incarnate. I understand, I feel the same way about John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. There's no changing someone's mind if that's what they believe.

I must admit it's been hard to watch this convention as a lesbian. It's all about freedom and liberty and better lives for all, but after so many of the lines I think - but not for gays. I've written enough on how being gay isn't my entire identity, and that there are more important issues for me to vote on that gay marriage. Maybe I can overlook some of the horrible discrimination towards gays because of my Christian background. I give people like George and Laura Bush the benefit of the doubt - that their political stand isn't out of hatred, but out of misguided beliefs. I know beliefs can change.

I've thought a lot about Mary Cheney this week. I can't imagine being her. I saw her mother and sister speak to a group of Republican women the other day, they both spoke highly of her. How hard it must be for her.

Too many disconnected thoughts right now. I'll say once again though, this election won't be close. Not that it'll matter, but Cheney will kick Edwards' butt in their debate, and Bush will kick Kerry's butt.

Stephen of Vodka Pundit liveblogged the whole thing - but this blurb sums it up for me:

"...A certain swagger which, in Texas, is called walking."

I'm pretty sure a lot of people recognize that, even if only instinctively.

Last update: Just in case anyone wants to read it, here's a link to the entire speech.

Music IMDB

If there's not, and I haven't seen or heard of one, there should be a website that is the music industry equivalent of IMDB. Yes, it would be huge, but you could find out where all the members of of your favorite bands of yesteryear ended up, who they played with in side projects, who wrote which songs, and on and on.

Horror

I have become pretty darn good at imagining really horrible situations this past year. (It's a skill I hope to lose soon!) But the situation in Russia with the school being taken over by terrorists and children, parents and teachers being held hostage - that's a nightmare of the greatest magnitude.

I don't even know what else to say about it. Say a prayer for all involved.

Counting Down

It's finally September 1. It's looking likely Nerdstar will be home this month, and with luck we'll both be at Ft. Lewis in Washington in three weeks. Hopefully she'll fly out of Iraq to Kuwait on the 18th and I'll leave Austin and start driving to Ft. Lewis. It should be lots of fun coordinating a trip halfway across the country with a trip halfway around the world.

I'm so excited about my road trip up there. I've been planning it for at least six weeks now. I've got my list of things to pack, my big book of maps of the U.S. and each state, I've arranged for a house sitter to take care of the cats and fish and such, I've got all the info for the hotel we'll stay at near Ft. Lewis, and on and on. I've even started packing.

I've been telling the cats not to worry while I'm gone, I'll be back. And I've been telling Ramen he's getting to go on a big trip with me and will get to see his other Mom soon.

No, I'm not ready to get going at all. HA!

I'll be driving from Austin up thru Oklahoma and part of Kansas (1-35 to I-70), then head over close to Denver then on to close to Salt Lake City, up thru Boise, Idaho then thru Oregon up to Tacoma, Washington. I'm not sure yet if it's going to take me three days or four. It kinda depends on how long it takes Nerdstar to clear out of Kuwait. I'll have the cell phone and laptop with me so hopefully we can stay in touch. It'll be hard for her to find phones enroute.

If any of you dear readers live along the route - drop me an email and maybe we can meet up for lunch or dinner or something.