It's time to say good-bye. Finally. Work is done. It's been a busy few weeks, and I've had a short-timer mindset for too long. The reality is here now. The car is packed. I have a very short list of things to remember to do and bring. I think I've thought of everything. I'm pretty good at getting ready for trips and I did a lot in advance this time.

I drive to GA every summer, so this trip down south is a very familiar one to me. We'll be passing by my parent's neighborhood, and I have to run in to their house. Have I mentioned my father's extensive DVD collection? Whereas most people rent them, he feels the need to buy. He's at Walmart every Tuesday buying whatever comes out on that day. He doesn't really like to lend his DVDs, because certain family members are bad about returning them. I think he probably misplaces a bunch of them himself. I'll make sure to write a list of what I take, and I will return them promptly. Emily will watch DVDs on my laptop in the car, and we'll have some to watch on vacation. When we leave there, we'll stop for breakfast at Einstein's Bagels in Waldorf. It's a tradition. Then, we'll finally put some miles behind us. I took 2 audio books out of the library for the trip. I hope that Emily wants to listen to at least one with me, but probably not. She'll listen to her iPod, or watch DVD's. I love to get lost in a book. Regardless of what we do, time will pass. We'll stop at the outlets in Smithfield, NC. I think that's about 300 miles into the trip. There's a fabulous garden and gift center there, Dewayne's. We won't go into more than a store or two; there's plenty of outlets in Myrtle Beach. We'll finally arrive at our hotel in Florence, SC, where's we'll rest for the night. I know there'll be wireless Internet so I'll probably check back then.

And, did I mention coffee? I get to drink real coffee every day. Woo hoo! Coffee and bathroom breaks, here I come.