THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Well, I made it safely to the big city and back again. Over the months I have been sheltered in the mountains it was easy to forget the "joys" of city life. The hotel where the company booked us was in the heart of the longest stretch of strip malls in the world. Every fast food place, chain store, and possible car dealership was represented as well as the appendent "mom and pop" establishments.

And of course, the traffic. Naturally, my computer generated directions, as expected, sent me the wrong way on one of those six lane roads from hell and it was the "groundhog day" syndrome until the nice ladies at Dairy Queen recognized the error of Microsoft's ways.

So I studied hard and learned everything there is to know about health and disability insurance that the state of Virginia requires. Monday, it's off to Roanoke to take the test and then, dear friends and patient readers it's on to sales school for two unbearable weeks in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is there I will learn the various methods of convincing people the need to protect their ass(ets) from the hazards and perils of this uncertain world. Am I thrilled about leaving again? I'd rather hang by my thumbs. But like they say, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I'm convinced God gives us these "inconveniences" so that we learn to appreciate His blessings all the more.

Since my darling wife had to go to Roanoke I was greeted upon arrival home by Caesar, the Airedale who thinks of our house as his third home. While I was gone, Wanda let him in for a visit. He immediatly went to the guest bedroom and curled up on the bed. He is the sweetest, most obedient, happy dog I have ever known and owns the lady who has the summer and weekend house across the street. Bounding off our deck he did his jump up and down dance until I opened the car door. It was like he knew I was due home. Our cat, Fisal, yawned at my arrival and went back to sleep.

This afternoon I'm making salsa. As Seinfeld pointed out, that's a fun word, saaal' sa. Our church is having the "great saaal'sa encounter" and this writer is a eager contestant. The winner gets saaal' sa bragging rights for the entire area of Willis and Indian Valley and possibly Dugspur, Virginia for the next week or so. It involves jalapeno peppers. I learned the hard way when handling these peppers wash ones hands well before going to the bathroom or touching any other tender body parts. It's off to the kitchen.

I thought of all my blog buddies often during the past week and hoped you were all cheerfully clicking away at your keyboards. I guess it's not so strange that since we become so involved in each others lives we turn up in each others thoughts. Much of this morning was spent catching up on all the stuff I've missed. I don't like to advertise it, but y'all (for all y'all who don't speak redneck, that's a generic term for "you" and is used often, the plural is "all y'all") are remembered in my prayers. It's nice to be back in such good company.