Starting to pack for vacation to Arizona (Tucson) and New Mexico (Carlsbad Caverns.)  Leaving Saturday for a week.  Can't wait.  Downloaded 2 new books onto my Kindle.  Reading "The Shack" right now.  It is a really good book about a guy who spends a weekend in a shack talking to God.  That is oversimplifying it really.  I mean, if a whole bunch of horrible things happened to you, and you had the chance, what would you say to God?  It is very well written and thought provoking.   It is always stressful to go away.  Trying to get as much work done as I can before I leave.  Have to work 80 hours the week before.  I won the Distinguished Performance Achievement award at work.  In Jaunary they will anounce who wins what.  I am at least a silver.  But the gold and platinum winners go on a trip.  4 days off of work (without having to take a vacation day!)  All expenses for 2.  This years trip is to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.  I won Gold in 2004 and got a trip to San Francisco.  So I am praying for at least Gold again.  We got a new manager, who is pretty cool.  So it is a real honor, regardless, to be recognized.  This is a countrywide award, so it is pretty incredible.   My mom is going to watch Kona for the week we are away.  That is such a huge relief for me.  She is so much my baby and I just could not bear boarding her with strangers and her being in a cage for a week.  It would just set her back so much.  I am so protective of her.  She really is like my child.  I sit in here in my home office and she is just always with me.  God forbid, I cannot imagine what I would do if anything happened to her.  She is such a good girl.  My mom has her "puppy", Baylee, who is a Tibetan Terrier.  He is 14 years old.  He stands in the middle of the yard and Kona runs circles around him, literally.  At least I can go away guilt free (somewhat.)   I hate the long plane ride.  I hate sitting still all that time.  It is like getting restless leg syndrome.  I wonder sometimes if I have that.  I can be exhausted and sitting back on the recliner at night watching TV with my husband and I am so uncomfortable.  My legs hurt from sitting still.  I get that way on the plane sometimes.