DRIVING

I think I drove 300 miles today! I started at work this morning, then drove to Morrison, which is about 30-40 miles one way, then back and then to Rockford, which is another 40 or so miles the other way. Then on my way back, I got lost, took a wrong turn and ended up going about another 50 or so miles out of my way. It was, indeed, a fun drive. And I'm not just being sarcastic. I enjoyed the time away from this small town. Driving through the other towns in Illinois, and seeing all the fields and such, along with farms and factories; old farm houses that look abandoned, others which look well ready for the spring crops. And in another 4 months, they will be sky high with corn and soybean crops. But the thing that gets me is the people. While Rockford is pretty much the biggest city within 100 miles, you can see all these little towns across the state where nobody has a neighbor for miles! Even in the small towns, you can still count how many houses are around with pennies of a dollar! So, me coming from a big city like Chicago, I get the sense that I am still pretty much alone in this small town.

Business has been steadily growing. The weather has been a bit rainy, but there were some days of complete sunshine! And it is going to get up to 60 (F) by this weekend! So it appears that spring has sprung. I have some menus to get out there for the March and April specials. And we have kids coming around on Saturdays to do that. My sales still aren't quite as good as I hope for but I anticipate a good summer, nonetheless.

Now for forward thinking: New Zealand - someday, still. I hope to get far enough this year that I will have enough to take the trip come next February. It will be the tail end of summer down there. So my winter will be filled with sunshine in the middle of the dead of winter. I don't know for sure, because I still don't know how the summer is going to measure up... It is still my first summer, after all. But that is the hope for now. I am also hoping for a good cart season this fall! That is also dependent on the whole house thing, and whether I can get the mortgage for it in time.

Damn, I just printed a thousand menus and I already need more toner cartridges? I need to start stocking up on those. Color menus are really classy. I like that I have not skimped on quality. Even though I have a small place, it is big on taste, character, and style.

I guess I should wrap up this post for now. I have to get some sleep, and I have a bit of a long day tomorrow. Humpday is not my best day of the week, but it can make or break us for the week.

Hope all is well with you. Whoever reads this. Love you all for all your prayers and well wishes.