**Bon voyage**

Having survived the end of classes, letters of recommendation, birthdays, burning CDs for my neighbor, I am turning my attention full force to getting out of the country for a bit. 24 hours after picking up #1 son, I am dragging his college-weary butt to Ecuador to visit #1 daughter. He is being a good sport about this as he doesn't share my latin american wanderlust, being more inclined to head to Europe or the ever elusive Australian continent.

I have no idea what his desk looks like now (see prior post), but now that finals are over, he is under strict parental orders to have fun until he board glorious Jet-Blue for his transcontinental flight home with his girlfriend by his side and satellite TV to keep him occupied.

In the meantime, I must, today, finish grading, pick up last minute essentials like 30% deet bug spray and motion sickness pills (several overnight bus rides to various locations). I also have to wrap Christmas presents, pack, do laundry, get more cash (yessir, I would like all those small denomination bills new and unmarked, please), and figure out how to repackage a 77 lb. book shelf into something that meeting the size and weight restrictions for airline travel.

The weather forecast calls for freezing rain for the 24 hours before we leave. This may mean we have to go to the airport early and stay at a nearby hotel. I know from experience living here in the boondocks, driving ice covered rural roads at 3 am is not a good way to insure arriving at the airport on time.

This is the last communication for a couple weeks as there will be no regular Internet access where we intend to spend time. And this is a good thing.

Adios y paz.