Well, we're back. Had a great trip and it's always hard coming back to work after such a relaxing vacation. And most of the time we were in parts of the country where there are very few people and even less traffic, so coming back to Chicago, traffic and the old rat race was particularly difficult this time.

Tubby and Peanut missed us terribly, but have gotten over it by spending some quality time on top of us - on the couch, in bed, you name it, wherever we are lately, they are. Terry started calling Peanut his little Puppycat because she's been following him around like a little puppydog since he got home.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to check in at all while we were gone. The first problem was that in order to use a cell phone modem, you have to have a signal for your cell phone and the first place we went - Big Bend National Park in Texas - there was not only no signal, but no service whatsoever! It was awful not being able to get online, but it was so quiet and peaceful there - not even any jets flying over or anything - I just loved it and would go back in a heartbeat.

Then we get to New Mexico - way down by the border - and 95% of the time I tried to use my cell phone I got some message in Spanish which I had no clue what they were trying to say, but then it would cut me off. I think maybe it was trying to connect me to a Mexican cell or something - so no luck getting online there.

Then we were off to Tombstone, AZ. Got a signal there, and even got online, but the thing is so slow that by the time I got done collecting email (which is a whole other frustrating story) my battery was dead and can't use a cell phone modem with a dead battery.

Once, only once, I did actually connect to the Cat of the Day, but it wouldn't let me on PT at all. Kept giving me the standard "can't find the page" error. I think the thing is just too slow and pages time out before they can be fully opened. Again the battery was running low, so I just gave up on the whole thing. I figured I was on vacation and it was all too frustrating to be dealt with while I was supposed to be enjoying myself, so I just put the computer and cell phone away for the rest of the trip.

Other than that we had a really great trip with only minor problems with the motorhome, which I guess is to be expected when you put 4200 miles on in 2 weeks.

It sure is good to be back to PT though, and to hear all the pet antics that I missed while we were gone.

And Samantha, Tubby said to say Hi, he missed you and he will have some new pictures for you soon.