And away we go!

On Friday Big Dave and I are headed to the great state of North Carolina, for a week in a cabin in the woods, followed by a couple of days with my niece and nephew before heading back home. We are really looking foward to this vacation -- and the time spent away from phones, email, computers, and the day-to-day grind. I think we just need to recharge our batteries, so to speak.

My mother will be babysitting the 'kids" while we're away. And by "babysitting", I mean spoiling them so completely and totally rotten that when we get back they'll want nothing to do with us 'cause Nana treated them like little Kings and Queens. The canine will get six thousand walks a day, plus car rides and errand runs to and from town (where he will score at least 4-5 dog biscuits from the bank). Not to mention all-he-can-eat dog treats and chewies from Nana herself. The Felines will undoubtedly get "the good stuff" (canned cat food) in ample quantities, even though I've drawn detailed instructions on their feeding. They will also sleep with her at night, 'cause she doesn't mind being woken up at 3 am with "feed me" demands from 5 very vocal furballs.

And let me say that I appreciate her coming all this way to care for the kids. I really do. But let me share with you the phone conversation I've had with her today. This was an actual conversation. I am not making any of this up:

Me: We really appreciate your coming to watch the pets, Mom.

Mom: I'm happy to do it. It will give you and Dave time together, so you can relax and maybe focus on other things aside from work. Speaking of which, when am I going to get some grandchildren?

Me: You have real grandchildren, Mom. From your son. They live in South Carolina.

Mom: No No.. I mean grandchildren from you.

Me: You already have grandchildren from me. 5 of them, to be exact.

Mom: No.. no.. I mean REAL grandchildren, not furry ones. It's time to get off the pot and let us see some action. It's time.

Me: Mother, if you want more grandchildren THAT bad, I suggest you speak with your son, who has already provided you with two fine examples. In the meantime, Dave and I are working on it, but if you keep insisting on bringing up the subject, I will have to impose a no-grandchildren-penalty for the next six months.

Mom: We've been waiting for years, you know. Years.

Me: So you have proven that you are good at waiting, which means another 6 months won't be that bad, now will it?

Mom: I know it'll happen. Sooner or later, it'll happen. But I prefer it to be sooner.

Me: Yes, mom. I know Mom. We will take your preference into consideration. Now can we talk about somethig else?

And in another week, we will have a similar conversation. And the week after that, yet another conversation... you get the drift.

I really need this vacation.