My newest, biggest adventure is about to begin. GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!

This should be a trip, in more ways then one.

Been quite a difficult year capping off the accident that got this blog started 4 years ago. Got divorced, lost my job...

There've been upsides too. My stress level has gone WAY down. Me and my boys went on a great vacation RVing around New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns is absolutely worth visiting! Roswell is a goof, almost everything IS alien themed. The museum and art center in the downtown has an excellent exhibit about America's rocketry pioneer, Robert H. Goddard. A big exhibit room with lots of machinery from his shop, various pieces of the rockets he built and about half an hour worth of videos covering his career and life. It's nearly impossible to find anything about the Goddard exhibit on the museum/art center web site and what's there doesn't do the exhibit justice. Real shame. Another stop was Santa Rosa. The Blue Hole there is definitely worth stopping in for a dip.

Now my biggest adventure begins. About two weeks in Vietnam. Literally half way round the world. A bit nervous about getting there and coming back. Have to sit in a small seat for 20 hours each way. I expect that will be uncomfortable. Traveling to and from the airport just adds to the journey. I'll be on the ground a total of 11 days and have about a day and a quarter travel on each end.

Bringing two long books to try and keep my head occupied on the flights so I'm not feeling too stuck in the tiny seat. Also bring two Vietnamese phrase books and some language CDs on my MP3 player. Still up in the air about bringing any electronics beyond a digital camera and the MP3 player.

Got a SWEET hotel booked. A/C, private bath and JACUZZI, morning brunch included for $32/day!!! Went on TripAdvisor to find a hotel. Came up with three options and sent the list to my cô giáo (teacher) for comment. She suggested a fourth she believes is better. After looking at the details went for the one cô giáo recommended. Better room, jacuzzi and breakfast and still less per day than two of the hotels I found. It's always helpful to have someone local looking out for you.