I-65 Southbound

It was pretty chilly this morning at Jellystone Park. We were up early so we went to our favorite spot for breakfast when we're traveling, Cracker Barrel. As we were leaving the restaurant I saw a local celebrity, Eddie B., going in. Sorry Vicki, I didn't get to say hi.

We're in Alabama now, with the wind at our back and not much traffic. The sun is shining, but the news on the radio is not very good for the folks on the east coast where Hurricane Sandy is. We have winds up to 30mph here.

We made it to Camper's Inn as the sun was setting. We're ready to stop, it has been a long day.

Winter in the Bluegrass

Last week the weather was warm and sunny until Friday. Old man winter is creeping in. Today he brought cold gray skies and a light misty rain, just a warning of things to come. It isn't a beautiful day for travel, but we are headed south via the Bluegrass Parkway on our way to Nashville. I wish our North Dakota friends could meet us there, but they will be a few days behind us and we'll meet them a little farther down the road.

Today is a good day for a toasty warm fire. Maybe Cracker Barrel will have one for us when we meet our former pastor and his wife for a late lunch when we arrive in Nashville.

Political Lessons from the Mouth of Babes!

Today I worked for a short time in a K/1 class where they were learning about government. One child asked me who I thought would be the best president. I was able to turn the question and learned he thinks B. Obama would be his choice. He had support at his table,too. The child across the table said, "Yea, because Romney wants people to marry someone they don't really love and if rich people take a taxi they won't pay as much as a poor person."

I Love My Job!

Even though I retired this year, I am working part-time at the same school. I love traveling with my husband and I love my job, so my principal worked it out for me to work part-time.

I was just in a classroom to help a teacher with a Smartboard problem and as I was leaving a student called my name. When I responded to the child with the hugest grin, the question was, "Do you know how you helped my mom with her web page, the Miller Minute? Do you think you could help me make one called the Miller Davis?" How can you do anything but smile at that?  

Ode to Europe

written by: Cheryl M. Jackson

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Things can go wrong

In Europe, too

 

What has gone wrong

Let me count the ways

To paint a perfect picture

Let’s go back a few days

 

Our flight was delayed

By a couple of hours

After we’d driven

Through more than some showers

 

We made it to London

And walked around town

Only to discover

Group B’s on the ground

 

What has happened

We all had to ask

My nerves were a wreck

And I needed a flask

 

Tensions were high

And a man grew ill

Newfoundland they landed

Perhaps they’ll get a free meal

 

Shannon, Ireland?

Where the heck is that?

Meanwhile on the tarmac

They grumbled and sat

 

“Here we come!”

They all began to shout

No, wait...Just joking

The power’s now out

 

We saw all the sights

Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame

Our luck has changed

Nothing else can go wrong

 

But what to my wondering

Eyes should appear

Oh no! Not that!

It was my biggest fear

 

Just when you thought

Things couldn’t get worse

A pickpocket decided

To take Mary’s purse

 

To the embassy she went

And was back in a flash

Got her passport restored

But still had no cash

 

We rode the metro

A boat and the tube

Enjoyed all the meals

Without an ice cube

 

Just when we thought

Our bad luck was over

Group B should have picked us

A four-leaf clover

 

Group A is now stuck

In the Charles de Gall

The kids didn’t mind

Cuz inside there’s a mall

 

So many things

Should have caused mass delirium

So thankful we are

For the presence of our Miriam

 

We must say goodbye

And wish it weren’t the case

Such memories were made

That time can’t erase.

 

Our kids have been great

And are so resilient

I must say overall

The trip has been brilliant

 

Nearing the Finish

We landed in Chicago at 7:00pm, finally got to the motel about 10:30. The layover in Paris caused us to miss our connecting flight so we leave Chicago just past noon. I'll begin the dial leg of this adventure around 2:00, if the flight to Nashville is on schedule. My brother-in-law is bringing my car to me in Nashville so I can go straight home from there. That will save me at least two hours of driving. Bless his heart!

When I get home I'll be able to get more pictures posted.

Time to Go

Good-bye Paris. Well almost....we just learned our flight has a 4 hour delay.