I finished my Statistics/research class! Ya, boy I’m done with that. I know I’ll have to apply that knowledge in my capstone, but for now it’s done. I’m glad I had the grit to keep going with it; I almost quit. But I really want that specialization, so I had to endure.

Just posted a new bit of writing here. It was actually really a difficult assignment. That writing course is almost done, so my next class will be the capstone. I’ll have to choose something I’ve already written to be my capstone project, and I’m a bit tired of Hour of Lead. Maybe I’ll try to work on the Joss story. Or, who knows, maybe one of my Empty Nest writings could be developed. We’ll see. I’m doing a little side study of writing using fairy tales and I’m rather intrigued with that. Joss could be developed in the Prince and the Pauper tradition. I haven’t quite decided if Joss is a twin… or a clone… or someone from a parallel universe that somehow bled through. Could be any of those things. Writing is fun!

I write on my computer, but I like to think about the clackety-clack of a typewriter. I do not write longhand, not even poems or ideas. My handwriting is awful; maybe that’s why.

The reason I called this post “Praise God and Pass the Peas.” is because that was mom’s fun way of saying grace at mealtimes, and it’s always been an expression of happiness and relief for me. It’s the first thing I thought of when I got my certificate for the class. Whew. Praise God and Pass the Peas; it’s OVER.

Well, it’s less than 50 days until the big trip, and I am SO EXCITED, although as time has moved on, it’s become a less constant state. Sort of a low-level subaudible hum… vacation is coming, vacation is coming. Man o man, do we need this vacation. Nathan even more than me. The whole Coronavirus happening has really been beating Nathan down. The man has been running on fumes for months. He can’t wait. I can’t wait. WE CAN’T WAIT! Open highway, here we come, Yellowstone, here we come, Olympic, here we come! Sam, Erica, here we come!

I’m hoping Sam and Erica can take a day or two off while we are there, either for Nathan and me to join them in Olympia or come to Olympic NP to see us. We got our Nation, and State park passes in the mail, and we’re already making plans for what clothes to take, what snacks to take, etc. I found an outstanding young woman to come in twice a day and take care of the girls and T-Mayn and Pleco. Our reservations are all made. I got a Garmin GPS for the car, and we have a bunch of Audible books ready to download to my phone for entertainment. AAaaahhhh it’s going to be so much fun! And I will take my laptop along so I can update from the road.

That’s all for today, I think. Cheerio!