Vacation in HD

Life is busy. Money is tight. Time is short.

But we have developed the new 20 minute vacation in our house.

House Hunters International on HGTV. I DVR most of the episodes. When we are home and sick of no sun and fun - we watch an episode. When the commercials are taken out - it literally is only 20 minutes.

We learn that in Italy, a 500 year old villa that has the walls cracking 'isa no problema - thissa house been standing hundreds of years and will be here looong after we ara dead.'

We learn that in Ecuador, there is a cool city (Cuena) that you can buy a brand new house in a gated community for $85,000. Wowza.

We decide that buying a home on an island In Roatan is not a good idea - because - how the heck do you get to a doctor if your sick - who wants to be sloshing around on a small tin boat when you really need an ambulance?

And what is up in Japan? Where 800 square feet is totally fine for a family of 4 - where the toilet is IN the shower?

20 minute International vacations - es bellisimo!

Ringo and the Boy

My son Ben is reading every biography that he can get his hands on.

It started with 'Jungle Jack' - Jack Hanna's book that he read for his 5th grade book report.

Now he continually has someone's autobiography in his hands - reading every chance he gets.

This makes for interesting questions from him.

Harriet Tubman - 'Did they try to get trains underground? I don't understand what underground railroad means.'

Walt Disney - 'His real name was Walter. Why isn't it called Walter Disneyland? Did he want them to shorten his name?'

The Beatles - 'What is mental illness?' I had to ask Ben why did he ask? Ben continues that John Lennon was killed by someone with a mental illness. I found myself explaining what that is and why it might cause someone to kill another person. Now Ben has decided that he is an avid Beatles fan and his new drum idol is Ringo Starr.

Ben asks to look up Ringo Starr on the computer. Soon I'm hearing the 'No, No, No' song playing...heavy sigh...