This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Going Home Happy

           As many of you read this I am wending my way across the vast expanse of the state of Texas as my wife and I travel from Houston to Las Cruces, New Mexico.  If you have made this journey, you know what a trek it is.  With occasional driving relief from my wife and a few much needed stops, it shouldn't be too bad, but it will seem like a long twelve hours with home drawing ever nearer.

         It's been a great trip though our visits with family have been all too short.  There is never enough time with loved ones you only see once or twice a year.  I guess the whirlwind tour is better than nothing, but someday we're going to have to find a better solution to this scattered all across the country situation.

        Santa came on New Year's Day for me this year and he was really a she dressed in red and she just happened to be my dear wife.  We were in Houston visiting one of our daughters and her husband. My wife decided that we should go to Best Buy (I thought stores were always closed on New Year's Day) so she could buy our daughter a big screen TV set for their new house. 

      After that mission was accomplished, my wife was in a magnanimous mood and bought me my long desired laptop.  She got it for both of us, but I'm sure I'll be the one using it the most since she usually only uses a computer to check the few emails that she gets.  Dear wife bought this laptop with me in mind and I am so grateful to her for doing so.

        Now that the trip is nearly over and most of the remaining days will be taken up by driving and visiting one more of my sisters, I still won't be on the computer much.  However, for the short while I am awake in the motel rooms at the end of the day, I will no longer have to trudge to the lobby in order to use the public computers.

        So now I finally have my laptop and now I'll have to find excuses to use it more.   Guess we'll need to plan another trip.

        See you after I get home.

        How did your holiday season turn out?  Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?  Did you enjoy time with family and friends?  Are you ready for another year?

20 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed 2010 and I'm so looking forward to 2011. I have to say that I got exactly what I wanted this season. I wanted time and it was granted. Writing, blogging, family time, all of it happened and I'm rejuvenated for the new year.

    I have one question though. Are you doing the A-Z Blogging challenge again this year? I loved it so much last year and would love to do it again. If you are not I'd like to just do it again for me (excluding Sat & Sun for myself) but it really changed me as a blogger and made me a better one.

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  2. What a wonderful wife you have! Be safe on your travels my friend and may you have a wind at your back. It helps with gas mileage :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  3. Our holiday season was fantastic. We had dinners with cousins, children, grandchildren, and friends. The food was fabulous and the fellowship was fantastic.

    We don't exchange gifts so there was no did I get what I wanted, but other than a job, I couldn't have orchastrated a better holiday! It goes without saying that we did enjoy tremendous time with family and friends. More so this year than in years past!

    By God's grace and divine enabling, I trust that I am able to give God the glory and reflect His character through any and all events of this up and coming new year.

    Congrats on your laptop. Kudo's to your loving and thoughtful wife.

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  4. Woohoo! Congrats on the laptop! Glad you enjoyed your vacation :)

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  5. Congrats on the laptop! You will wonder how you ever lived without it, just in your house. Sounds like you had a great vacation and that your holidays were fab. I can't believe that you were in Lafayette! Next time, you'll have to let me know and I'll meet ya'll for lunch. Glad that you finally got your oyster poboy! Bon voyage, cher!

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  6. Congrats on the new laptop!

    I'm ready for another year. 2010 wasn't bad, but I'm eager to start again.

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  7. Dude, you know it's really your laptop!
    Now all you need is an iPad...
    Oh, and I'm hosting another blogfest - I know you'll have a good list.

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  8. Welcome Home Lee, pleased you have your laptop. alas I didn't get my Ipad.
    That was some trek you made.......just 5 weeks until Nashville , just letting the US know to keep all the slides out of my view.

    Yvonne.

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  9. Congrats on the laptop. It really is life changing. At least, mine was.

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  10. Yay!!! I'm glad you got the laptop... well, for you and your wife

    I'm so ready for 2011. Lots of projects!

    Doris

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  11. AlexNYC-- I'm ready for the new year, but I hate to see another one go by.

    Jen -- I am planning to host the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge once again. I will post details starting in February so we can get the word out sooner this year.

    Jules -- Yes, my wife is a sweetheart. We sailed across Texas today much more easily than I had expected, although my wife is worn out from the ride. I okay though after having done most of the driving.

    Gregg -- Your holiday season sounds ideal. To me spending time with family is better than spending a lot of money on gifts. That's the way I've been doing it over the past several years.

    Jemi -- Thanks!

    Marguerite-- The Lafayette stopped was not planned and just turned out to work that way at the last minute. If I ever have a scheduled visit to Lafayette I'll be sure to let you know.

    Golden Eagle -- Fresh starts can be good.

    Alex C. -- I will check out your blogfest when I get home on Thursday.

    Yvonne-- Hopefully everything will go smoothly for your trip.

    Karen -- If nothing else the laptop will give me better opportunity for blogging mobility.

    Doris -- Let's hope that all of our projects are fruitful and successful.

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  12. What a great start to your year--getting a laptop so you can easily take your writing everywhere! (Random tip, something I learned the hard way on my first one: take the battery care instructions seriously!)

    My holidays were great, and I'm so excited to jump into 2011!

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  13. What a nice Christmas present for you! So loving of your wife to encourage you more in your blogging hobby/addiction. :)

    2010 was a good year for me, and I pray that 2011 will be too.

    Thank you for asking; and may this year be peaceful and fulfilling for you and your family, too.

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  14. I hope that you got the 17 in. screen! My daughter has a 15 and I have a 17. As my eyes get worse I am grateful for the 17, but we can't look a beautiful gift horse in the mouth can we?
    My Christmas was yucky, I was sick the whole time!
    Safe travels Arlee, Love Di ♥

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  15. Man, that sounds like a fun drive....
    I love long, LONG drives. I've always wanted to trek through Kansas and Nebraska because I hear they're almost featureless.

    Anyway, have a safe and happy trip!

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  16. crossing texas in any direction is a trek. hope the rest of your trip goes well.

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  17. So the airport scans missed you. Well done. Today is Thursday so I presume you will be home by the time you read this, WELCOME HOME. I'm a little jealous of the laptop but can only look on your trip with envy, I love long drives, so much time to bond with whoever is in the car with you.
    2010 was a horror for me and to tell the truth I am quite happy to put it behind me, January is the month when everyone looks to the future with anticipation while December is the month when everyone just wants to get a chance to put their feet up and take a breather. Yes I'm very glad to be shot of 2010.
    May the Lord bless you abundantly in 2011. With Love, Geoff.

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  18. I'm happy to read that you got a new laptop! Your wife is very wise to buy you this as it can only be put to good use.

    No, I haven't driven across the lower expanse of Texas but hope to do so 1 of these days/nights/days as it's a long journey!

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  19. Amie -- I need to check the owner's manual and I will look at the battery care instructions. Thanks for the tip.

    Anita -- Wishing you all the best for 2011.

    Diana --- Not sure what the screen size is, but it looks okay. We got home safe and sound and now it's back to the usual shtick.

    Andrew - It's a great drive and I never get enough of it. I love driving across Kansas and Nebraska and Texas-- They are not as featureless as some people make them out to be.

    Chris -- The 80 MPH speed limit in most of Texas is a big help.

    Geoff -- I am indeed safe at home and I gave a big thanks to God for giving us such a wonderful and safe journey. I hope your 2011 is a year filled with blessings.

    Lisa -- I have driven throughout Texas many times throughout the years and I never grow tired of it. If you'd like a great vacation experience and like wild scenery I highly recommend the Big Bend National Park area of Texas-- what a wondrous place!

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Lee