Snowbound

While anyone that knows me, knows I love Winter, the protracted mild weather we had in Sept-Dec spoiled me into thinking I'd be able to ride my bike throughout...and that just ain't happenin'. I love the snow, but I don't love snow that sticks around. I believe snow should come in with a bang, but leave while the fans are still enjoying the show. Old snow is like an old band that just doesn't have it anymore, but keeps touring.
Rode to Target today, but it was treacherous. The bike paths are still icy, and the roads aren't a lot better. Still, any ride is better than not riding. The fat tires make a huge difference, but I had to pay attention regardless. First ride with my iPod, and I should probably pretend I never did that and go back to hearing road sounds only. I just don't think I can ride competently with music in my ears. We'll see.
Was hoping to coordinate with Wayne to see the Christo exhibit showing in town, but my schedule is rather full, and it doesn't look like that'll happen.
Seeing "Danielle Ate The Sandwich" with Nate and his significant other tonight at some local pub...that should be FUN!.
-r

It's Time To Hit The Road!

While I don't expect to know where I'm travelling months or years in advance, it is a bit odd to throw a big trip together just a few weeks before departure. Weird for most people I should say, but it's downright normal when it comes to travelling with Greg.

This will be something like our 8th(?) trip together outside the U.S. Let's see if I can list them here: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Bonaire, Mexico, Nepal, El Salvador, Slovenia/Italy, and now it's Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand on this go-round we've slated for Feb! (I sure hope I'm not forgetting one, as he'd razz me incessantly.)

He has been in "uber-vacation-research-mode" for the last month or so, and we'd just about talked ourselves into going to Majorca when we suddenly reversed course and locked-onto Vietnam instead. It's riskier in terms of flights, much further away, much more expensive, and just a lot more work than the trip around that beautiful island in the Med, but we both think we better do something LARGER......... like Asia...while we still can. The flight route to get there is daunting to think about: Den-Chicago/LA-Tokyo-Guangzhou(China)-Ho Chi Minh......most of that standby.

Now, I scramble to get everything done: had to get a new passport, then ship it right back out for a visa for Vietnam, then I'm getting a bunch of shots my doc thinks I need, then off to the dentist so I don't have to get work done in a bamboo clinic somewhere in da jungle, then, then, then.....

Should be fun!

-r