04 March 2005

Georgia on my mind

...and Florida and Alabama and Tennessee. Holidays are on the horizon and soon we‘re off on a two-week clockwise tour of some Southern States. Until three years ago I had never flown, my feet were firmly rooted to the ground. In 2002 I closed my eyes, swallowed hard and flew in a great white bird. Having cracked that fear of flying, Florida has become our regular summer destination.
 
Previously we stayed in rental villas in Port Charlotte and Haines City but this year we have half a dozen hotels booked starting in Georgia. August school holidays is our usual time as it fits with Mrs Virgo's work. Despite the great dollar rate when viewed from here in the UK, I need to somehow manage a new bathroom this year too, so we are economising with an Easter Sunday flight. We jump in a rental car in Atlanta and drive. More details to follow... Two suitcases have already appeared down from the attic. So! I'm a preparation freak! I'm a Virgo!
 
*****
 
Upbeat mood today so we sail the unfamiliar waters of delight. Green Day have just come on MTV giving me 'American Idiot' blazing away in the background. I’m tapping my feet. Am I too old to rock and too young to die? Wrong on both counts.
 
I used to hate holidays, I couldn't relax. But now I'm learning to like them. USA by 777 sure beats our rusty ferries to France. You'll know I'm excited when I tell you I have about twenty location maps printed off the net, a folder full of hotel reservations, a detailed itinerary and an inventory of stuff to take. (Of course I need nail clippers! And string! And a pencil sharpener! and...)
 
By nature I tend to see my glass as half empty rather than half full, so you see I can't force happiness. I'm not often going to write an entry which reads: woke up happy, was happy, went to bed happy. I want to grapple with things. Some of my cyber friends have towering issues in their lives that put my situation into perspective. I'm happy today.
 
*****
 
"Remember when you were young
You shone like the sun"
Pink Floyd – Shine on You Crazy Diamond

16 comments:

Grace said...

A holiday, how fantastic! That is the kind of horizon that would make me happy. I bet you'll get some wonderful photos to post? I'm the same with packing. When we go on self catering hols I pride myself in remembering EVERYTHING....and your never too old to rock and roll if you're too young to die!

Perfect Virgo said...

YT - I even plan my next breath! Just became a way of life and I won't let go. Yes the heat of the South, I can't wait! Still snowing by the way?!!

Grace - I've a suitcase shaped like a kitchen sink, very handy. My little Cannon will be in my back pocket at all times so I won't ever forget where I've been. Oh, clever last sentence!

Anonymous said...

OOHHHHH Vacation :)

Dont forget to pack a laptop as we need you around here...lol. I too cant manage the Im happy, blah blah blah posts. Though I am often smiling through out the day, I tend to stay focused on the task at hand which is getting through another day.
Im feeling the stressors of life righ tnow...Hmmmm can I fit in that sink shaped suitcase...ya think..lol

Perfect Virgo said...

Thank you my little friend, sweet comments indeed. I use a desktop so I'm already worrying how I'll cope without blogging for two weeks!

Your approach of sticking to the task at hand is shrewd. Where I go wrong is trying to second guess the future and fretting over things I can't influence but then we're all different.

Grace said...

I'm sure there will be 'internet cafes' where you are going! :-)

Perfect Virgo said...

Do I detect pressure? I've just been told the holiday's cancelled if I as much as think of taking a laptop!

Doh! This is going to be like losing a leg (for 2 weeks anyway!)

Anonymous said...

2 WEEKS!!!!!! Oh Perfect, I think maybe you should cancel...lol j/k

Perfect Virgo said...

YT - we had a flake today I think. Yes it was on the news. Somehow I guessed you'd travel light and preferably lighter!

DG - Aw, you guys will cope, won't you? By the way I just love your accent. You can't hide it you know, it's there in the keystrokes!!

Recovery Road London said...

Nice blog.

We're almost neighbours. Just a wee strip of water between us (I'm on the IoW).

What a small world.

regards

Kenny
aka
rootsradical

Perfect Virgo said...

Thanks for the encouragement, I'm still learning. Ah, The Solent. You'll find a few familiar pics here then!

Recovery Road London said...

Yup. Sure do. As well as the ones of the DLR a la Docklands and Canary Wharf.

I like the guitars, too.

My main guitars are a US Tele and a Gibson Nighthawk.

Nice to bump in to you.

Gotta hop. Perhaps catch you around the rooms in Soton or maybe at the IoW convention later this month?

all the best

Kenny

Anonymous said...

Perfect,

That was great! I dont know if we will cope, more meetings I guess...lol.
The accent, yeah..East Coast. I neva knew that it showed online, but the first time I wrote the work wicked...they all let me know..:)

Anonymous said...

Perfect,

That was great! I dont know if we will cope, more meetings I guess...lol.
The accent, yeah..East Coast. I neva knew that it showed online, but the first time I wrote the work wicked...they all let me know..:)

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jen said...

Oooooo fun! Must. Have. Photos. Your audience is very demanding that way!

Perfect Virgo said...

J - thanks for reading all the way from Tennessee! We haven't been yet. We go for two weeks at the end of March.