Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Last month sometime, I bought my plane tickets to take me into JFK. I couldn't sleep that night because I was so excited. Trying to get the details of my trip planned out has been a bit stressful and time consuming. I still have not nailed down my younger brother who lives in the 'burbs of Philly. But, hopefully it will all work out.

I feel a bit guilty because I'm as excited to spend time in NYC as I am to see my family. I scored tickets to the Rockettes at Radio City and I'm going to see Howard Zinn. He's like a rock star to me - even more so. I'm also planning to hook up with some long time blogging pals which is always fun. It makes the ethereal quality of the internet a little bit real. I hope to have time for a museum or two or three too but we'll see. I'm there three nights but I think only two full days really. The remainder of my two weeks will be spent bed hopping amongst my family in PA, from Philly to Scranton and somewhere in between.

I'm taking a train between NY and Philly which should be great fun. I haven't taken a train since the summer between 8th and 9th grade when I took a train from Chicago to Harrisburg, PA all by myself. Once I arrive in Philly, I'll rent a car - thus the title to this blog entry. I'm hoping I don't meet John Candy along the way though. It seems kind of crazy to do it that way since I'll head out of Philly first but to rent a car at JFK or any where near NYC was $400 more than what I'm paying. Just crazy!

I broke the bank and bought a new suitcase for the occasion. I had to stick it in the closet when I brought it home though so I won't stare at it. Even though the people at work made fun of me when they saw it, I think it's totally cool. I've never had a new suitcase. I went from an olive drab duffel bag in the Army to battered hand-me-down luggage. I took two pictures but neither this one or the other do it justice. It's much more brilliant green. I don't think I'll miss it on the luggage carousel in the sea of black suitcases. The color is called Tendor Shoots but I think it's more of a retro green. It's a Samsonite which reminded me of the Gorilla Commercials from the '70's but when I went in search of it I learned that it was actually American Tourister, not Samsonite that did those commercials.

Forgive my rambling, I'm on vacation count down and I'm excited!

Boo!

I was waylaid a couple of days fighting a bug, or something, but I'm picking up speed. I've added to the sidebar my links and my picture but I might revert back to my Yahoo cartoony self. I liked the fact that I can change clothes and locations often with my cartoony self, whereas my look changes so drastically from year to year that I don't look much like the picture that I inserted and it's about a year old. As a matter of fact, I have new glasses. :::clearing throat loudly::: Heads up to those out there who said they couldn't remember what they looked like. I have a different hairstyle and since I quit smoking I've packed on the poundage. So....we'll see.

Another picture from the road, quite literally, is posted with this entry. I believe it is somewhere in New Mexico but it could be the east side of El Paso too. I chased, drove through, ran from, hunkered down in, storm clouds both going and coming. It made for very little sight seeing except from my car window as I raced along the highway. Speaking of racing... that story will have to wait for another time.