Ali and I started our vacation last Friday. We flew into Atlanta and spent the night with Gabe. It was nice to see them again — For the last couple of years I have been going to Atlanta for Super Comm and staying with them. This year Super Comm was being held and Chicago so I didn’t think I would see them this year. I’m glad it worked out that we got to see them after all; even if it was only for a short while. The next morning we met Jeromy and Mandy at Six Flags and had a lot of fun doing all the things you do at a place like that. We went to Matas for lunch on Monday, and then up to Cheeha to fly kites.

On Tuesday I drove my grandmother to Nashville to see Simon and Garfunkel. She is a big fan (like myself), and when I saw they were going to be relatively close (4 hours away) I knew this was something I had to do. I was able to get tickets for the second row. She loved it — so did I — I think this was the best show of the three I’ve been to see.

We didn’t get home until three in the morning, so I used Wednesday and a day to recooperate — kinda. My brother moved my Opel out of the garage it was being kept in a couple of years ago, and I have wanted to get it back into the garage. So Ali, Grandma, and I went to the shop to see what it would take to get it put up. We worked for about three hours clearing the jungle away, and cleaning the stall up in the shop in order to be able to move the car. My brother came by after work and helped me push it into its rightful place. I hope to some day restore the car, but until then I would prefer that it did not rust apart. We went to my cousin’s house for dinner that evening. They served fish (and chicken for me), and we had watermelon.

Today Ali and I went to the Waffle House for breakfast. I skipped lunch because we were going to see Shrek 2 in the afternoon and I wanted to get popcorn. We then went to Matas for dinner. I’m hoping to make it to Matas one more time before we leave.

I kept telling Ali I was going to take her to places like Tannehill, Ave Maria Grotto, et. al. on this trip. So far the only thing I have delivered on this trip is Six Flags (which she wasn’t in to), flying kites at Cheeha, and Matas. I guess we’ll have to do the others some other time. My grandmother was also telling me of a historic iron works site in Ohatchee, which sounds like it would be interesting to see.

We have been having a great time so far, I wish we had more time. We are flying back to New York on Saturday. Then I have to leave for Evansville early Monday. It is a good thing the 4th of July is coming up so that I will have a few days to rest.

View the photo album for this trip.