Our Vacation Begins

Well, the weather in Miami is now finally gorgeous.  Our temperature highs are in the low 80's with clear skies.  It must be time to get out of town and see something different.  It doesn't seem logical but here we go again.  We have spent the last several months working on various home improvement projects.  We installed a new roof and new rain gutters.  We covered the last remnants of backyard grass with slabs of Florida keystone (coral rock slabs).  We have a new kitchen window due to be installed when we return home and will then be preparing for the January demolition of our current kitchen.  We need to get out of town.

Florida Snow (white sand)

When we were young, our vacation thoughts were of Disneyworld and driving a Mustang convertible down the California coast highway.  Now that we are older our vacation thoughts are more along the lines of Death Valley.

Yes, this trip will take us first to Las Vegas, sort of Disneyworld for adults.  Then on to Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley National Park, Valley of Fire State Park and the Grand Canyon.  We will end our trip in Prescott, Arizona for a family visit with Sue's brother Don and his wife Karen.  This blog will attempt to cover our exploits along the way.

We are now in the final week of preparation for our journey.  If you wanted to buy anything vacation or trip related from Amazon, you are too late.  They are sold out...., we bought it all.  We will now try to cram all 15 cubic feet of the new "must-have-on-vacation-stuff", into two medium and two small suitcases.

Sue's suitcase has clothing and toiletries.  My suitcase has a still camera, assorted lenses, a video camera and assorted attachments, a tripod, USB chargers, battery chargers, extension cords, a laptop, and 1,638 assorted cables to attach stuff together.  As I have no room for clothing I will be wearing everything on the plane.  I will be the one trying to get through the airport security looking like the Pillsbury Dough-boy in a trench coat.

Jack's Suitcase Almost Packed

It will be the beginning of winter and we expect temperatures well below our usual limit of 65 degrees.  Frigid by Florida standards.  Gloves and long-johns will be needed.  We leave in 5 days.  We will keep you posted right here.

Last minute 11/18 update--pre-trip:

Olivier Reyaz Jules

We opted for the no-stress vacation and began planning well in advance but, we didn't count on Olivier Reyaz Jules (pictured above).  Yes, you see, Mr. Jules decided that he would open up a savings account in his name and mine and make himself a partner in my bank account.  He would then transfer money from my checking account into "our" new savings account.  He did this with a phone.  Unlike me, trying to straighten out his mess, who had to show a picture ID, answer personal questions, appear in person and luckily have a former neighbor and bank VP to vouch for me.  Mr. Jules then walked into a branch bank in Margate, Florida, and got a temporary debit card to access his new found wealth.  He then tested the card for $100 and then $800, and then $800 and then $800.  The bank now realized that this might be considered "unusual" and froze my entire bank account.  All of this less than 24 hours before I am scheduled to leave on my relaxing vacation.  Since I had already placed a "FLAG" on my account to not allow anyone to make any changes to my account without notification, the bank felt a little guilty.  A mere 4 hours spent with a teller and bank manager and assorted on-lookers and all is almost right with the world.  I now have another FLAG on my account, just like the original to restrict access.  I understand when I get four more flags they give you a free toaster.

More from the road, later.