…is not allowed in these USofA. That limits one’s options.

Yesterday, I left the house at 7 to pick up a couple friends/co-workers. We were heading for Corpus Christi, to greet other co-workers, who participated in the Valero MS 150 – Bike to the Beach Multiple Sclerosis Fundraising Event. This is an annual 2-day, 150 miles bike trip. Folks from all over (as far as Houston) leave San Antonio Saturday morning and arrive in Corpus on Sunday.

I was driving my car, and we drove with the top down all the way (of course). It was a little chilly in the morning, only in the 60s, but by the time we pulled in around 10:30, it was well into the 80s and very nice. We had at least a couple of hours, before our riders would roll in, so we had lunch first – I was pretty hungry since I had not had breakfast. That’s how I found the worst restaurant I’d ever been to: Pier 99.

Today I made it back down to the Riverwalk the first time since coming back from Germany. I missed that place and had to make sure it was still there, so Eric, Phil, and I went to have lunch (and a margarita) and just walk around a bit. It is just such a beautiful place, I love it!! And as we’re leaving, through the hotel basement, up the stairs past the man-made waterfalls, up the last flight of stairs that takes you up to the road just across from the Alamo, there, in that last fountain—-I had to look twice —- stood a stark naked woman rinsing off with a bottle of water, taking turns dumping it over her head and drinking. I had my camera, but didn’t think taking a picture was appropriate – and now I’m kicking my butt. I could have made a VIDEO and put in on YouTube…..sold prints at the Mexican Market, offered them to the Enquirer – but no, I did not take any.

Amazing how quickly vacations go by….

My trip was great. I saw everyone I wanted to see, even so I didn’t get to spend enough time with any of them. And I ate and drank too much, but that’s what vacations are for. It was pretty darn cold most days – I should NOT be able to see my breath in early September!!!!

Gitti picked me up at the airport with our traditional champagne and buttered pretzels, and I got to see her new place and ‘her’ back yard. It’s actually the gardens of the Schwetzinger Castle but it’s close enough to her condo…it might as well be hers. I spent the night there, and arrived in Crailsheim just in time for lunch the next day.

One more night, one more day at work, another night, and off I go…………… Germany-bound. I’m so excited by now – and yet, it’s wonderful – I don’t want to leave this place. And no, I’m by no means saying that I don’t want to go- what I’m saying is that I don’t like leaving -and that’s a great thing. It means that I so thoroughly enjoy and am thankful for where I live, that I don’t have to escape from it for any reason. How much better than that can it get?

This time two weeks from today, I’ll be somewhere up high on the far side of Newark – heading for Frankfurt. And I’m getting really excited about this trip. I’m going home!!!!! Haven’t been there since 2003 – that’s 4 years. I’ve been in the States since 92, on this is only my third trip back – went in ’98 with Melanie and Phillip, and then in 2003 by myself – it was a secret mission on behalf of my dad’s 70th birthday – he was the only one who did not know I was coming. Now that was special. This time it’s just me again, too.