How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Remember in the old days when the elementary school teacher would make us sit and write an essay on what you did over summer vacation? I wonder if they really read all those papers? If so, did the teacher get jealous or sad, or think we lied?

Between third and fourth grade, after my father had received a promotion at work and I guess a significant raise, we went to Disneyland in California. We also bought our first color television (yes that makes me old), a Zenith. To top it off we moved into a newly built house. I'm guessing the teacher probably found that all too much and thought I was telling tales.

Last week Jan and I were on vacation. We didn't go anywhere for a night away. We began the week by running the James Francis cross-country race, a 5k at Black Creek park in North Chili. It was a well organized, well marked race with about 220 finishers. Jan finished first in her RROY age group earning ten points and I picked up seven points, in fourth place. Sometimes it's all about picking the right race. We can't control who shows up to participate.

On Sunday we drove to Canandaigua, looked at a cottage we aren't going to buy, swam 1.6 miles in the lake, then had great burgers and beer at a local brew pub we had never been to before. It was a good day.

Tuesday we worked out and then spent our 37th wedding anniversary at the FingerLakes race track and casino. We spent several hours there and came out pretty much even-steven. We began with each having $10 in free play money which I turned into $40 before losing all of it. But it wasn't my money to begin with so that was okay. I also won around $20 on the horses. Jan lost a bit on the machines, but not much.

The sad news of the week was taking our vehicles in for inspection. The $21 fee for each turned into $1500 in car repairs. That wasn't an expected expense. Did I ever write about how I hate cars? Why didn't I take auto mechanics in school? Or plumbing? Or become an electrician or welder? Bah.

And so you have it, my summer vacation in a nutshell. Running, swimming, weightlifting, eating, drinking, gambling and auto repair. I was never bored though.