I’m leaving my computer at home – so no email, Twitter, Facebook, working on websites, none of it. I will have my cell phone to call home, but other than actual voice calls, I’m not going to use my phone. This is major for me. I’m quite the computer addict. I decided to leave you with a list so you may know when it’s time to go on vacation or just unplug for a bit.

5 of ways you know it’s time to unplug

1. when you dream in code (html, css, php)
2. when you wake up in a panic realizing you didn’t set your alarm last night, rush into your child’s room to wake them up for school only to realize it’s Saturday
3. when you get a speeding ticket on a back road because you’re running late to pickup your child from school
4. when you hear your spouse snoring down the hall, and you’re still working on a project
5. when your child has to ask you repeatedly for a drink

and one last bonus way to know when you’re ready to unplug, when you feel like this:

Yes, that’s me. I remember the exact moment this picture was taken. I don’t know why I was upset in the first place, but Dad had sat me on the kitchen table. My oldest sister, Sue – who is 11 years older than me and should have known better – snapped this picture of me which made me even more upset. And Dad got mad at me. I couldn’t understand it. But Dad didn’t get mad at me a lot, so it kinda jerked me back into reality and stopped the gushing.

But if you’ve been feeling like this, I pray you get a vacation sometime soon! Or if you can’t do a vacation right now, just get a book that doesn’t make you think and go somewhere away from your house for an hour. Give yourself permission to unplug. I promise Twitter, Facebook, and the rest of the Internets will still be there when you get back. After all, you’ll be here when I get back, right?

So Mom, Dad, and anyone else who might stress this, pray for us to have safe travels And don’t worry. I’ll be tweeting when we get places so that ya’ll know we didn’t fall off the side of the mountain.

Doodle is headed to the beach with Grandma and Grandpa. She’s in very capable hands. So we decided to take this opportunity to run for the hills We’ll be leaving Wednesday afternoon headed to Roanoke. I hope to see my buddy Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity and see if she’s found any sanity yet. Then Thursday we’re on the Parkway all day — all the way to Boone where I hope to meet up with Real Life Sarah. Sarah tweeted yesterday that she wants to have her picture made on my bike I think we can do that!

We’re hanging out in Boone for awhile, maybe hitting the ziplines. Lord, have mercy on me, I’m afraid of heights. But I’m totally determined to *not* ride up on a Harley and then chicken out because the lines are too high. That’s just not cool.

Back home Saturday by the afternoon because Duck’s group is playing Saturday night at one of their hot spots — a local retirement home. Honestly, they love playing Southern Gospel and old Country music, and the residents adore them.

And, since I didn’t post anything about the 4th, here are a few pictures from our weekend project. Duck and I bought Doodle a basketball goal (well, Duck likes it too!) for her birthday. He and I (mostly he — I hate hard labor) put roughly 800 lbs of concrete in the ground and the pole, and over the course of the weekend — got that sucker up! And it stayed up! It’s a miracle I tell ya!

I’m not quite sure what look Duck was going for? Maybe he thought it was going to fall? But actually he was getting ready to slam dunk quite a few. We just won’t mention that it was set at 7’5″ when it should be 10′ for him

I will mention however, that I really don’t like the pictures I take with my camera. I need a new lens, a new camera, or a new operator. Serious lessons would be appreciated. Do ya’ll have any tips?

Last year the day before V-day, I wrote God made me weird. I have some good stuff in my archives by the way. I need to go back and read them! It’s almost like reading a different person writing, and then I think, “oh yeah, I wrote that!”

If you wanted to read about my first Valentine’s Day with Duck, I wrote about that too. Seriously, go read. I’ll wait.

La-te-da-de-doh. Oh good. You’re back.

Well, I have to share with y’all that I absolutely adore Duck. He truly is God’s Perfect Gift to me and only me — so you’re out of luck Last weekend he encouraged me to go to BlissDom and socialize, meet friends, and have a good time. Although I lost my mind and didn’t call him enough — he worries about me — he forgave me.

While I was out of town, he shampooed the carpet in our bedroom (something that hasn’t been done in years probably), rearranged furniture, got rid of some clutter, dusted, vaccuumed, and did the laundry. I can’t tell you how awesome it was to walk into a clean house Yep! I’m keeping him!

He’s also got a great sense of humor. Yesterday I went to eat lunch with him. He told me he was going to run 3 miles and asked me if I brought my stuff to run with him. I don’t run. Well, I’ve learned to run — but only 70 feet at a time (softball bases) — and definitely not 3 miles. See? He knows I couldn’t run 3 miles! He’s so funny!

So, Duck — here’s my v-day card to you. I love you with all my heart. Thanks for buying me a Harley — the one that I actually ride

{edited to fix the link above to God Made Me Weird Thanks Kellie!!}

About a month ago, Jim asked through email, who was interested in a reunion ride of sorts. He arranged a ride up through the country to Virginia, around the lake, across the dam, and back home. We went on that ride yesterday and it was so much fun! I can’t really explain the feeling of being a part of a large group like that. It was amazing! Jim is part of the Blue Knights (a cop motorcycle group) and he got some of his buddies to ride with us. It was pretty cool because they would ride up and block intersections so we could all stay together

There was another couple there, the lady rode on the back of the bike taking pictures. I’m not at all sure how she got such good pictures of us going about 60MPH, but here are a few that they sent me — of me, Duck and Doodle. We had a blast, but it was a little too long for Doodle. She got tired quickly and kept leaning on Duck which made him tire quickly since he was holding her weight as well. I’m glad we all went, but next time we’ll probably leave Doodle with Grandma.