The ABCs of Greece & Italy! X, Y, and Z, and that Friends is THE END!!! :) See you in Asia and Australia, Join Me THERE!!

[vamassey1]

Safe travels! I hope your Mom's recovery goes well.

Enjoyed this update. So many pretty colors.

My youngest is horrible at texting or calling me back.

I would have gotten frustrated with the selfie obsession too.

Beautiful church!

 

[afwdwfan]

Our guide made sure to let us know that we were actually pretty lucky to have run across one at all as they are not always out or seen. So there ya have it. If you go to Mykonos, look for Nikolas or Petros and try not to step in large blobs of pelican poo.

Cool! Kind of an interesting mascot to have.

Moving on, we made our way to the photo-op everyone was waiting for: the old flour mills which are part of the UNESSO Heritage sites of Mykonos.

Certainly is quite a scenic view!

Mikki and I took turns, but the wind sort wrecked them a bit. (I’m not much of a selfie fan- more on this later…) In fact, one couple asked us to take their photos and just as I was about to snap it, his hat blew off and went a LONG way. It took some chasing to get it back, but in the end, they got a cute photo of themselves and a fun memory.

I mean there's a reason they built windmills there.

Mikki is a typical Millennial and hasn't responded to my calls or texts so I don't have the photos she took this day including her selfie. If I get them, I'll add them.

A short diversion while I get my old lady crank on. Sure, a few quick selfie snaps can be fun and can commemorate a visited place, but more than a few times on this trip we got to "enjoy" some long-a$$ waits for a few folks who held the entire group up for sometimes 10-15 minutes at a time while they posed for literally dozens of selfies. The hat had to be adjusted juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right; shades on, NO, shades off; get the skirt lifted just so; OMG, just take your photos and let someone else have a turn! I dunno, maybe it's just me, but don't book a group tour that's on a schedule or that has 25 people wanting a turn at the same spot you are hogging up for WAY too long- do a solo thing. Yes, you'll hear me rant about this again when we get to Zakynthos.

This seems to be people in general these days. Too self-absorbed to see the big picture. I noticed this A LOT last week at Disney World. The amount of primping and posing, taking a selfie, looking at it and starting the process over was a bit much. Like, I'll stop and stay out of your shot for the first one, but after that... outta my way or I'll photobomb you with something you definitely won't want to keep!

I have zero recollection if we did anything else, which makes me think we didn’t and went to bed.

Sounds like the perfect evening then, given all the adventures thus far!

Having to make an “emergency” trip back to Bowling Green to help care for my mom after her back surgery. Taking the red eye tonight after a day of shadowing a hospital CNO here in Tucson. I’ll be there 2 weeks, fly back, have a little more time here in Tucson, then pack up and drive back to Bowling Green for the Summer/Fall.

Whirlwind!

Sorry to hear this... hope her recovery goes well!

 

[juniorbugman]

Having to make an “emergency” trip back to Bowling Green to help care for my mom after her back surgery.

Hope all is going well with your Mom. I am sure that you will be spoiling her and I know that she will appreciate all your care.
I have been reading along with your journey and sounds like it was a busy time.
I too would push all those selfie people out of the way. Try once and go. I had a friend who took too long once to take a group photo so we said - our time is up and left.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

If you recall, we almost died. Sure, we were a little shaken, some worse than others, but most of the group toured on. Our rusty bucket docked at the old Mykonos Town Harbor and we started our walking tour of Mykonos Town.

Did you at least stop to kiss the ground first? I would have.

Our guide made sure to let us know that we were actually pretty lucky to have run across one at all as they are not always out or seen. So there ya have it. If you go to Mykonos, look for Nikolas or Petros and try not to step in large blobs of pelican poo.

I for one, would only want to step into the original pelican's poo, not one of the imposters.

Mikki is a typical Millennial and hasn't responded to my calls or texts so I don't have the photos she took this day including her selfie. If I get them, I'll add them.

I completely empathize with this comment.

A short diversion while I get my old lady crank on. Sure, a few quick selfie snaps can be fun and can commemorate a visited place, but more than a few times on this trip we got to "enjoy" some long-a$$ waits for a few folks who held the entire group up for sometimes 10-15 minutes at a time while they posed for literally dozens of selfies. The hat had to be adjusted juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right; shades on, NO, shades off; get the skirt lifted just so; OMG, just take your photos and let someone else have a turn! I dunno, maybe it's just me, but don't book a group tour that's on a schedule or that has 25 people wanting a turn at the same spot you are hogging up for WAY too long- do a solo thing. Yes, you'll hear me rant about this again when we get to Zakynthos.

Yes. A thousand times yes. Please just have some consideration for the people around you.

Also, selfies most often aren't even great photos. The subject's head fills the frame and whatever is of interest is blurry or tiny in the background. And I realized long ago that I'm not Brad Pitt, so no one is really clamoring to get an up close look anyway.

The ships she said were dedicated to a family member that was a sailor and who had died at sea or the family was asking for ongoing protection.

Interesting. They're so elaborate.

The next day we’d be in Athens for another hella long day.

Yay?

 

[Steppesister]

What?!?!?!?
Whose photo is it??????

Pilfered shamelessly from the interwebs.

Thanks. At first I thought it was Mykonos, mascot official - Pelican the Petros
Then I realized I was reading it left.

LOL! Nicely done.

Wait... so you're saying the original 1958 pelican is still around?? I knew birds lived long lives, but... whoa!

I don't think so; my understanding is that they have been replaced over the years, and the tradition keeps going... which is kinda cool!

Beautiful!
Postcard worthy.

Thanks, one of my better ones that turned out well.

Maybe you weren't laughing, but the scene sounds pretty comical to me.

OH no, it was pretty funny and we were giggling right along with each other.

Kids these days. You can't live with them, you can't beat them into giving you their pictures.

Well, she's kinda off the hook. She let me know that her phone is toast and she's having a hard time (finding time) getting the photos off.

Really? Steep?

Not terribly, no, but I think the unfortunate boat crossing made everyone a little less adventurous.

I see what you did there.

I try to throw in some fun writing, but I think most goes unnoticed.

Yuck. Luckily, I've not had too many experiences like that. I do remember in the tunnels at Niagara Falls where there were a couple people taking FOREVER to take their photo with their selfie stick while everyone else waited and waited. I wanted to beat them over the heads with it... and then toss it in the roaring, nearby falls.

And as Andy said, it's usually a giant face shot with nothing even showcasing where they even are except the caption. LOL!

Translation:
Warning. Remove child from shoulders before entering low doorway.

Well.... okay. That's disappointing.
The salad looks okay, but that meat does look (and apparently was) dry.

It was def NOT the best meal we had in Greece. So far the best was our first in Olympia with the runner up in Ephesus, which wasn't even in Greece.

Also forgot to comment about the dancing.
Looks kinda strange with just one (or two) dancing. Makes it look like someone might've had a wee too much ouzo.

Ha! Not going to disagree.

That is. But the article I read said it was renovated over 10 years. That's different.

Still interesting to see the changes over the centuries.

Oh! I just assumed they were candelabras. Huh!
And it took me a while to find the ship. I didn't see it hanging below for quite a while.

I tried to tweak the contrast to showcase it better, but that's the best I could do.

No offense if it was good, but.... looks very... pedestrian? Kinda like what you might get in a mall foodcourt?

It was exactly that. Not very wonderful. Celebrity did NOT impress in the food area.

I see what you did there! Bravo!

I was wondering if anyone would catch that.

 

[Steppesister]

I had to look up Mykonos to see where it was located. I never realized how many Greek Islands there were! I'm intrigued by the buildings that are right up to the sea. It is a stunning view.

There are SO many! That's why I think a cruise is a good way to get around and get a good smattering of islands. I think if you tried to piecemeal a trip that included as many as a cruise gets to would take a monumental amount of effort with ferries or flights.

I would be super annoyed by the people would delay the tour schedule. It is very inconsiderate.

It is very inconsiderate. Take one or two and move on. Or wait until you're last..... so you're NOT the last.

The church is gorgeous, and the commemorative incense holders are very interesting.

They really are. I wish I could remember what other ones were or taken photos of them.

I hope the boat ride back to the ship was a lot calmer than the ride there was.

It was just fine. By late afternoon, things had died down enough to be much safer.

 

[Steppesister]

Oh no.
Hope everything will be okay.

Good luck with everything!
Best wishes for a full recovery to your mom.

Hope your mom recovers quickly!

I hope your mom's recovery goes well.

Oh no!! Wishing for a speedy recovery and smooth travels for you!

Hi Everyone! Thanks for your well wishes. I arrived safely after 30 hours of traveling and very little sleep. She still needs quite a lot of care- showering, pottying, dressing, bed changes, cooking of course, and most importantly med management. Added to this, we're gearing up for a night of possible tornadoes. Getting to our shelter may be.... problematic.

 

[pkondz]

Pilfered shamelessly from the interwebs.

LOL! Nicely done.

I don't think so; my understanding is that they have been replaced over the years, and the tradition keeps going... which is kinda cool!

Ah. But yes... kinda cool.

OH no, it was pretty funny and we were giggling right along with each other.

Good!

Well, she's kinda off the hook. She let me know that her phone is toast and she's having a hard time (finding time) getting the photos off.

Nope. No excuse. We want pictures and we want 'em now!

And as Andy said, it's usually a giant face shot with nothing even showcasing where they even are except the caption. LOL!

I saw that.

It was def NOT the best meal we had in Greece. So far the best was our first in Olympia with the runner up in Ephesus, which wasn't even in Greece.

I like how you say "So far"....

Still interesting to see the changes over the centuries.

It was exactly that. Not very wonderful. Celebrity did NOT impress in the food area.

That's... unfortunate.

I was wondering if anyone would catch that.

Hi Everyone! Thanks for your well wishes. I arrived safely after 30 hours of traveling and very little sleep. She still needs quite a lot of care- showering, pottying, dressing, bed changes, cooking of course, and most importantly med management. Added to this, we're gearing up for a night of possible tornadoes. Getting to our shelter may be.... problematic.

Holy crap.

Stay safe!

 

[Steppesister]

Safe travels! I hope your Mom's recovery goes well.

Thanks, Vanessa!! Taking one day at a time. Her incision is an impressive 2 ft long. But I think each day it's a little better. 2 steps forward, one step back.

Enjoyed this update. So many pretty colors.

Aw, thanks, Vanessa! It was very photogenic there.

My youngest is horrible at texting or calling me back.

All of mine are. But she gets a pass this time. Apparently her phone is broken (the one she used on this trip).

I would have gotten frustrated with the selfie obsession too.

I think they THINK they are showcasing the scenery and place, but the focus sure seems to be on getting the hair just right and filling the frame with it. LOL!

 

[Steppesister]

Cool! Kind of an interesting mascot to have.

Super fun to see and so close up too.

Certainly is quite a scenic view!

It was a really pretty island. I did hear that it's a huge party island too, so loud at night. Not my cup of tea but it is pretty.

I mean there's a reason they built windmills there.

Truth!

This seems to be people in general these days. Too self-absorbed to see the big picture. I noticed this A LOT last week at Disney World. The amount of primping and posing, taking a selfie, looking at it and starting the process over was a bit much. Like, I'll stop and stay out of your shot for the first one, but after that... outta my way or I'll photobomb you with something you definitely won't want to keep!

EXACTLY!! Enjoy where you are and let others do the same. The looking at it process lasting minutes at a time. Like a whole private photo session while others just stand around and wait, and wait, and wait.

Sounds like the perfect evening then, given all the adventures thus far!

Yep, sometimes you just gotta call it a day.

Sorry to hear this... hope her recovery goes well!

Taking day by day. Gonna be full of ups and downs for the next few weeks.

 

[Steppesister]

Hope all is going well with your Mom. I am sure that you will be spoiling her and I know that she will appreciate all your care.

So far, so good. Day by day... I think there's a general trajectory of getting better, but it's a slow road. Her surgeon said it might take up to a year to recover.

I have been reading along with your journey and sounds like it was a busy time.

It was a very busy time but oh so worth it! We saw and did SO much!!

I too would push all those selfie people out of the way. Try once and go. I had a friend who took too long once to take a group photo so we said - our time is up and left.

Agreed! And yep, time is too precious for 1 billion photos of the same thing.

 

[Paulaparm]

Hope your weather isn't too bad tonight!

 

[Steppesister]

Did you at least stop to kiss the ground first? I would have.

No. Too much pelican poo.

I for one, would only want to step into the original pelican's poo, not one of the imposters.

As a matter of poo-stepping integrity of course.

I completely empathize with this comment.

There's a fine line between reminding them you exist and harassment.

Yes. A thousand times yes. Please just have some consideration for the people around you.

Sigh, where has that gone?

Also, selfies most often aren't even great photos. The subject's head fills the frame and whatever is of interest is blurry or tiny in the background. And I realized long ago that I'm not Brad Pitt, so no one is really clamoring to get an up close look anyway.

THIS!!!!!! ^^^^^ One has to wonder if they even care what's behind them, as 95% never shows. LOL!

Interesting. They're so elaborate.

EVERYTHING in that church was elaborate. The carved woodwork, the metal work, the paintings... all of it. Almost overwhelming.

Yay?

We saw a lot, but maybe too much. Chapter coming soon....

 

[Steppesister]

Hope your weather isn't too bad tonight!

We're glued to Ryan Hall, Y'all. Not quite to BG yet, but approaching Nashville, so we're next. We've had thunder off and on all day. Our to-go bag with meds is packed and ready and we've got a plan to head to the hospital for shelter if the sirens go off. It's close and that's where we were with the one that mowed BG down a year and a half ago. Getting Mom in the car is going to be very interesting, so hoping it's just a rough night of loud thunder.

 

[Paulaparm]

At least you've got a plan! Fingers crossed the bad stuff goes around you!

 

[Steppesister]

Ah. But yes... kinda cool.

I thought so.

Nope. No excuse. We want pictures and we want 'em now!

I like how you say "So far"....

Hmm, now that I think of it....

Holy crap.

Stay safe!

Staying vigilant. Ryan Hall on YouTube is keeping us updated.

 

[Steppesister]

At least you've got a plan! Fingers crossed the bad stuff goes around you!

It almost always does, but you have to be prepared. Ryan's tagline is, "Don't be scared, be prepared!"

 

[pkondz]

Staying vigilant. Ryan Hall on YouTube is keeping us updated.

Never seen him, but hopefully he knows how to move bad weather aside

 

[Steppesister]

Never seen him, but hopefully he knows how to move bad weather aside

Nope, just reports it live when it's bad.

 

[Steppesister]

M is for: Metopes of Marble and More- Athens​

Another day, another view from the porthole. This time we awoke in the port of Athens with high hopes for a great day of sightseeing.

​

I had been to Athens once upon a million years ago and sadly remember very little of that visit… which made this one all the sweeter. Let’s do a run-down of the highlights: literally.

This shore excursion was one of our longest and included a LOT of driving. A lot! Just getting anywhere in Athens takes a monumental effort. (See what I did there?) Plus, there was lunch and a jaunt waaaaaaay out of the city to another location. So, we geared up with all the things- water, phones, extra charging packs, sunscreen and happily boarded our bus.


Without my camera.


Perfect.


Ah well, whatcha gonna do?

Just before our bus let us off at the foot of the Acropolis, we were incredibly lucky enough to have the Presidential Guard of Athens march right beside us! Our guide, sadly not the best one, but still very, very knowledgeable and personable (just unbelievably difficult to understand at times), made sure to let us know that that was something really very special to have come across. Unfortunately, this was the best, but not-so-up-close, shot I could get.

​

Still, it was pretty cool to see them at all without having to go to the Athens Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In case you are interested in learning more about their elite guard, here is the Wiki article on their regalia, duties, history, etc…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Guard_(Greece)

A short word about Tour Guides in Greece... Every tour guide that is registered and licensed has been to school, actual school, to be one. It is the equivalent of a 2-year degree here in the States. Lessons cover ALL of Greek history, EVERY major monument, historic site, and archeological thing, in ALL of Greece. They take a trip to each one and practice giving a tour with all of the expected information and be able to answer questions as well. I was humbly impressed at the level of professionalism and skill at not only knowing their proverbial doo-doo, but with how they can keep a generally clueless bunch of foreigners on task and on time. They have to keep a tight schedule and are ultimately responsible for getting their group back to the dock or tender safely and not late.


The bus driver let us off at the designated drop-off spot and our tour guide pointed out the rendezvous location. Oddly, it happened to be at one of her family member’s souvenir shops where people could end their time in the Parthenon area by, wait for it....

... shopping for crap made in China that no one really needs but seem to buy anyway.

From the "bottom" of the "hill":

​

Dad decided to join us on this day out and the three of us started the long trek up the Acropolis. Okay, it wasn't that bad or that dramatic; all told I think we got to the top in about 15-20 minutes by way of mostly cement sidewalks.


And a lot of steps!

And with a LOT of people.

​

I think that was last we all saw of each other for the next 2 hours. Possibly more, I have no idea. With each of us going at our own pace, seeing the particular parts and places we were most drawn to, and letting our hearts take our feet wherever they led, the morning gave us glorious light.

The golden sun filtered through the columns casting a perfect glow on the off-white marble; the cloudless blue sky gave a stunning contrast to the perfect lines of the Parthenon. We truly lucked out at the timing of our visit as the lighting was absolutely superb.

Parts of the path were easily accessible, but only to a certain point. Most approaches to the edges of the buildings, as far as permissible, were very uneven and rocky. For those of you who may be planning a visit, there were also escorted elevators to the lower levels back down for those in need.

Photo to show you the rocky area.

​

Clearly, this is an active archeological restoration site marked by the unsightly crane and scaffolding.

​

And clearly most of this ancient temple of Athena was destroyed- earthquakes, time, and pillaging have all taken their toll. But what is still standing (or has been reconstructed) is pretty fabulous. I’ll bet you’re wondering what a “metope” is.


**** Caution, long bit of dryish history and architecture. Skip if you need to.****

I came across that word when doing a bit of research for this chapter and learned that “metopes” are described as: “The Doric entablature includes a frieze composed of trigylphs (vertical plaques with three divisions) and metopes (square spaces for either painted or sculpted decoration). The columns are fluted and are of sturdy, if not stocky, proportions.” In the case of the Parthenon, “The frieze of the Parthenon's entablature contained 92 metopes, 14 each on the east and west sides, 32 each on the north and south sides. They were carved in high relief, a practice employed until then only in treasuries (buildings used to keep votive gifts to the gods). According to the building records, the metope sculptures date to the years 446–440. The metopes of the east side of the Parthenon, above the main entrance, depict the Gigantomachy (the mythical battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants). The metopes of the west end show the Amazonomachy (the mythical battle of the Athenians against the Amazons). The metopes of the south side show the Thessalian Centauromachy (battle of the Lapiths aided by Theseus against the half-man, half-horse Centaurs). Metopes 13–21 are missing, but drawings from 1674 attributed to Jaques Carrey indicate a series of humans; these have been variously interpreted as scenes from the Lapith wedding, scenes from the early history of Athens, and various myths. On the north side of the Parthenon, the metopes are poorly preserved, but the subject seems to be the sack of Troy.”

“In March 2011, archaeologists announced that they had discovered five metopes of the Parthenon in the south wall of the Acropolis, which had been extended when the Acropolis was used as a fortress. According to Eleftherotypia daily, the archaeologists claimed the metopes had been placed there in the 18th century when the Acropolis wall was being repaired. The experts discovered the metopes while processing 2,250 photos with modern photographic methods, as the white Pentelic marble they are made of differed from the other stone of the wall. It was previously presumed that the missing metopes were destroyed during the Morosini explosion of the Parthenon in 1687.”

Okay, enough of that. I know it’s tedious.

Here instead, is a bit more tedium:

Instead of spending most of my time where the hordes were, I headed off to one of the other buildings (there are 4 on the Acropolis) called the Erechtheion. This is where the exquisite Porch of the Maidens is, and oh, how the golden hour made them sing! ​

​

​

​

Just beautiful! There were hardly any people over on that side and I loved having the opportunity to take some people-free photos. While the Parthenon is certainly more grand in terms of size, the Erechtheion is far more “remarkably luxurious” in its sculptures and detailing, according to Wiki.​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erechtheion#Sculpture

​

Saying goodbye to the ladies, I wound my way back over the rocky, uneven terrain to overlook the Theater of Dionysus. It was only excavated and reconstructed in the 19th century. And I gotta say, it was impressive. Best part? We had seen 3 theaters up to this point (it would be our last)- Ephesus, Delos, and now Athens. Ephesus and Delos were mostly un-restored and more “ancient-ruiny”. They gave a cool sense of “old”, but this one helped us see what it might have actually been like in the days of Grecian Tragedy and Comedy. According to Wiki, the theater reached its zenith in the 4th C. BC. There are still theater events and concerts today should you be so inclined. ​

​

Or have the money.​

​

As I made my way back towards the walkway that led down off the Acropolis I came to a spot where you could overlook Mars Hill. While its history is quite extensive in terms of ancient political happenings, one that I’m most familiar with is from Acts 17:16-34 (where Mars Hill, or “the Areopagus”) prominently features the Areopagus as the setting for the Apostle Paul's Areopagus sermon during his visit to Athens, notably leading to the conversion of Dionysius the Areopagite. However, it is unclear whether Paul gave his speech before the Areopagus council in the setting of a judicial investigation or trial, or on the physical location of the Areopagus hill as an informal speech. Additionally, the Areopagus likely would not have met on the actual Areopagus hill by the time of Paul's visit, but rather in the agora or the Stoa Basileios." It was wonderful to see in real life places I’d only read about up until then.​

​

With a few texts and a lot of frustration we finally found each other and decided we had enough time still for some coffee and a snack. I ended up with a wonderful “Freddo Espresso” and a large hunk of spanakopita. YUM!!! HELLO!, Beautiful, let’s find a place to enjoy you. "Freddo Espresso is unique and is made out of espresso and blended in a frappe coffee frother. The Freddo Espresso is topped with a cold milk-based foam known as aphrogala in Greece. The drink is traditionally served over ice and many enjoy it with sugar or stevia."- A random internet site.

​

The three of us found a lovely place in the sun to enjoy our snack and we still had some time to kill. Naturally, I found my way to the appointed souvenir shop where I would end my time in the Parthenon area by shopping for crap made in China that no one really needs but seem to buy anyway.

My goal for this trip was to keep the “stuff” to a minimum and focus on taking away an array of wonderful memories. I think I accomplished both perfectly. What I ended up with was a little “something” from each of the major regions we went to over the course of the whole trip. For those of you who’ve followed me for a very, very long time, I have done what I call my “Shop-Around-the-World game” in the past. Basically, I play a little souvenir shopping game around World Showcase at EPCOT that involves a few self-imposed rules that keep this activity in the realm of sanity. Each trinket must be non-consumable, relatively useful, meaning that I can actually find a use for it or see it often so it fits artfully into my décor without being overtly “Disney”, must fit in my carry-on, and must be $10 or under. I have definitely fudged now and then by finding something for less on one pavilion so I can splurge in another, so it averages out.

I leveraged my “expertise” and did a Shop-Around-the-Mediterranean, which meant I had to be super choosy. Honestly, I don’t have room nor need for a lot of “stuff”. I am a minimalist at heart and loathe clutter. So what did I end up with? Well, this would be the last real opportunity to find a little something from Greece, and while there were quite a few things in this little shop, I found just the right something.

This is Dionysus- god of wine and pleasure. It’s no secret I love me a good glass of red wine. And well, everyone loves a bit of pleasure now and then. I’m pretty sure that Dionysus himself endorses massages, pedicures, dinner at Vic and Al’s, and Big Thunder Railroad.

Alright, alright, fine. I had to ask the sales lady who was on the plate. I just liked the look of it. It looks very ancient Greek, no? (Yes, it really is an image of Dionysus.)

​

Anyway, I have this idea that I’ll probably never find time to actually do. I thought it’d be fun to collect a few small representative trinkets from the trip then buy a nice display shelf to arrange them on. Then, I’ll pick out my 5-7 favorite/best photos and have them framed to hang around the shelf to have a little “trip memory corner”. For now, they’re sitting all forlorn-like on a counter waiting to get a little love.

I’m going to call this the end of the chapter as it’s getting ridiculously long and boring now. Sorry for the massive history and archeology overload. It’s been a very rough and full week with very little sleep, so I apologize for the clunky writing. Up next, we continue on in Athens and then onto Cape Sounion…


*********************************************

Personal update:

Mom continues to make slow progress in her recovery. We’re about even now with good days and bad days. There is a lot of pain still and I’m still up every 4 hours giving pain meds and doing other “personal care” duties.

I am here in Bowling Green until the 11th where I need to also use the time to start looking for a per diem job as well as do my taxes. The guy I’d used last year raised his fee to $500 which makes it a hard pass for me. As it is, I will have to take out a loan for next term’s tuition. Boo! Had so hoped to not have to do that, but it was just too stressful to try and work and focus on classes at the same time.

Then, back to Tucson for 2 last weeks of Arizona Spring, packing and buttoning up the RV, and driving back to Bowling Green arriving the first week of May.

Stay safe, y’all over the next few days… gonna be a wild Spring it looks like!