Dear Samantha Brown,

I hate you. Maybe a better expression is I despise you. You continually mock me by cavorting around destinations I can only dream around. Hopping around from continent to continent like some pumped up bunny, staying in plush hotels, drinking fine wine, wandering around from city to city. This is damaging to me and my emotional health. I find myself becoming more and more irritated by your peppy demeanor, your curious nature, your silly mannerisms. Yes, I am extremely jealous. Okay? I've stopped watching your shows. Weekends in wherever, Passport to Europe, South America. I've had it! I will no longer torture myself in watching you parade around places I can only wonder about and explore in fantasies.

Signed unfanfully,
Char

PS. I don't really hate or despise you. This is all in sarcasm, but I have stopped watching your shows. I just can't take it anymore. Sorry.

Come September....

Unofficially the first day of Autumn for me. You can't even measure my joy in that aspect. Fall is my favorite season. It's more than just the cooling weather and that certain autumnal scent in the air. It's spending time with family and friends in cozy settings, the beginning of the monarch butterfly migration, taking walks and seeing the trees glow in glorious fiery colors. It settles me. It's the time of year I most feel like myself if that makes any sense.

And I've been busy, trying to jam pack as many staycations as possible. I'd love to travel internationally, but not yet. Soon. For now (August)I've already visited San Fran, the Central Coast various times, I'm heading to LA this month, and I've accepted an invitation to Las Vegas for New Years. So much to do, so little time. I'm still planning on my Mexico trip in either October or November. I'd actually like to experience it during Dia de los Muertos, but I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch. It's hard enough to keep them safe, warm, and unbroken.

Pictures to be posted soon. Not much of an update, but it'll have to do for today.